PIONEERING DAYS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17361, 24 March 1928, Page 4

PIONEERING DAYS.

EARLY TIMES RECALLED. MR. ISAAC COATES' EXPERIENCES. Mr Isaac Coates writes: — "I must try and explain the proper name for Mr Tetley's sheep station. In the first place, all the workmen whom I have heard speaking of the place have called it Kekeregau (to me the sound is more like Gi-gre-gau), while the family and ail others that I have heard speak of the place call it Kekeranga, neither of which is proper Maori. I think the right name is Kokeranga. The meaning in English, I should sfry, is a place for plenty of that nice sweet shrub, keko, which in the early days used to be so plentiful near Hamilton in the Claude bush, and of which I have had many in the eaily days, but have not seen any for many years. I told Mr Tetlcy about our crossing the river Clarence, and he said that the young man coming with the two horses might have been the cause of one very narrow escape, as had the man with the horses not been there wc would have been in a very dangerous position, seeing that neither of us had ever pulled an oar. However, he said that all is well that ends well. We now come to a parting of friends, for Mr TeHley 'told us that a light two-horse waggon was leaving the nexL morning (Sunday) for Blenheim, in which my friend could go, and so save a 50-mile walk. I saw at at once that the best of friends must part, although we had both slept in the same cabin for 119 days, and been together from March 25 until that day, Sunday, August 17. Mr Tellev told me that he at that time was full handed, but that he would give me a letter to Mr Maddock, the manager of the Starbmrough Sheep Station, in which Mr Tclley was interested, but I could stay with them for a few days if I cared to do so. The next day being Sunday, I could have a look around the place, and as they were going to be busy sheepdipping on Monday I could give ttiem a hand. This I was quite willing to do. I may say here that all the sheep stations were at that time obliged to dip three times per annum as the scab was then very prevalent, both in the South and the .North Island, and was a source of'great expense to the sheep farmers. "On the Tuesday morning I bade good-bye to Mr and Mrs Tetley thanking them both for their great kindness to me and also to my friend Walter Forbes. I may here say that the sea at Kekcranga is very shallow at low tide and the wool is taken in big waggons to the small icraft which come as near to the dry land as thev dare to. Blenheim, which is about 50 miles away, is the next best way to get the wool away. I had a beautiful day on the Tuesday for m> long walk. I was told that should call at Flax Burn, Clifford and Wards sheep station, about 15 miles away, and close to the main road, but I was too anxious to get to my new home hat was to be, and so talked pa and managed to lose myself, which gave me about another five miles of a tramp, or about 35 miles alto-