PIONEERING EXPERIENCES

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 18

PIONEERING EXPERIENCES

TIE WAIRARAPA SIXTY- YEARS ABO.

MR. ANGUS N'MASTER'S VENTURE.

I STORY OF ENTERPRISE' REVEALED.

There is probably no better known name in tho • Wairarapa than that of M'Master, a family which took up its residence in the district some sixty-four years ago. Mr. Angus M'Master, one of tho stoutest hoart3 who over carved out a homo in an untrodden wilderness, was the first of tho name to journey to tho district. This pioneer found Ms way over tho then trackless Rimutakas, and pitched his whare at Tuhitarata (sweet smelling tree), a section some twenty miles from the town now known as Featherston, but which in tho fortios had no existence It was here that Angus M'Master made-his home and brought up his family, including - his well-known sons, Hugh, Duncan, John, and Donald; it was here ho worked, braved many a danger, endured many a hardship, and finally, after he had retired to Greytown, and had paid his debt to Nature, it was Tuhitarata that was selected as his last resting-place, at the ripe ago of 87 years. To-day Tuhitarata has been cut up into two properties, ono ' Tuhitarata homestead being owned by Mr. John M'Master, son of Angus, the other,. Matawhero, is the property of Messrs. A. D., H. W., and J. P. M'Master, sons of Duncan M'Master, and grandsons of tho old pioneer. Matawhero J is now .managed by Mr. A. D. M'Master, for tho trusteos of the late D. M'Master. A historical sketch of tho early labours of our pioneers s/.ould always bo road with interest by our present generations, who are apt-to become spoiled by tho present-day, comforts. - . Arrived in 1820. , Angus: M'Master wa3 horn at Fort William, Scotland, about 1820. ■: Ho.came to. Wellington in 1S40;. .a grown man. rin tlio good ship Blenheim,'and-for a .■time he was overseer on tho road which was .then being constructed between Wellington and the Hutt. His first hwharo was pitched at a spot near.Evans Bay, and which was known for? somo years as M'Master Bay; It was about 1843 or 1844 that ho cut his way over the ..Rimutakas,.. and, journeying on, camped at Tubitarata, where ho leased a piece of land from Hiko'Piata, who, with Manihera, mentioned in the Bid-will-narrative, was tho leading Maori chief in'tho South Wairarapa. Angus • M'Master was. Hiko's pakeha. . They were firm friends all-their lives; and to-day, at his' own oxprcss wish, tho ashes of tho heroic Native.lio on TtihiI'tarata Hill,; eloso'to , those of the white brother,'.;t>6-^Wh'pm,.in' tlio early years ho had indeed" proved''himself to protector. One'of "'tlie , pieces of enterprise which

characterised the . labours of Angus M'Master in his new settlement was the task of bringing to his home the lifeboat of the Oliver Lang, which vessel had gono ashore near Kaiwarra, where later it served a useful purpose" as a toll-gate adjuncts The boat was brought round by Palliser Bay, and up the Ruamahanga, - - the journey occupying a> week. There ■was no Rimutaka Road in those days, mule traffic by the beach was unreliable, and it was necessary to have .other means of transit to and from such a solitary habitation. The " old boat served a very useful purpose, and its anchor now lies in a place of honour on the verandah of Mr. John M'Master's residence, Tuhitarata, an object of much interest to travellers, who invariably inquire how the "anchor of a ship" (boat) got so far inland. . • First White Child Born In the Wairarapa. The first notable event! after Mr.' M'Master had sottled at Tuhitarata was tlie. birth of his eldest son, Hugh, who has tho honour of boiiig tho first white

child to bo born in tho Wairarapa. The wrivel of ..the little ,etranger,c|jßated in-

Native friends. They regarded him with wonder, brought him presents of potatoes and corn, which they heaped at tho door of his father, and declared that ho must havo a Maori name, and for many years they called him Tuhitarata. This child, when ho grew up, always exercised, with his brother.Duncan, a great influence over the minds of tho Natives. . ...

Life was not easy for the pioneer. Ho lived in a four-roomed whare, and as there wero then no sheep, his meat food consisted of goat's flesh. Maori troubles added to his difficulties. On. ono occasion Hiko informed him that ho was. afraid that his people were going to rise up, and that his friend and family (three small children) had better get the boat ready, in caso they should havo to got over in a hurry. This was done, and then to show his absolute confidence in the Native, M'Master gave him the keys of his house, in order that ho might look after tho property as well as possible..- . Happily, the next morning, Hiko brought a message to tho effect that the/Maoris did not intend to create any trouble, and, much to the relief of the settler and his wife, the danger passed away. On another occasion, when-Mr. M'Master had,shot a.Native dog, the Maori owner danced a pas seul around him with an 'unlifted spear. The settler stood silently with folded arms, and this exhibition...of. calmness_.entirely_, calmed .the' wrath of the hot-blooded barbarian. It ■ is recorded that Angus -M'Master' never .showed a sign of fear, and in tho case of his worries and • troubles with the Natives it was another, case :'.of'.tno' triumph' of mind over matter. . ■ '.. : . Difficulties of Travelling.' : :-V '■' ; In those early days butter-niaking was tho great product of Tuhitarata. Butter was half-a-crown a pound in Wellington, and the job of getting the stuif there was well worth the money. Tho churn of tho period was a remarkably simple contrivance, comprising a longtitudinaL keg-shaped affair, and a wooden "contraption" which was worked up and down, the churn, entailing much physical labour. Tho- produce was packed on mules, and taken round to Wellington by way of the beach. The Rimutaka track was later used, also a mule service. Later still, when tho road improved, and the station- was running a wool clip, tho wool was placed in small packs, and run across tho Wairarapa Lake to Pigeon Bush in the Oliver Lang's life-boat. .:' Every; four months, Angus '''M'Master. made to Wellington.- The time usually occupied three days. When, the mouth of the lake was open the traveller was enabled fo canoo over the ferry, but when it was closed he,had to go around by the spit. A notable stopping-place on the route into ; Wel■lingtpjij was Hokowi Brown's, 'at ,_a place near where"Muritai'now , "s'tkncK. Hokowi Brown kept a sort of accommo-dation-housel He was an old whaler with a, Maori wife, and his temper was notorious. • Nearly all ■ the travellers who stayed at his house were manifestly afraid of him, but he himself had the greatest admiration, for, Mr. M'Master, and sometimes lent him the clothes from off his own back, when the industrious settler happened to come through, as was often, tho case, wet to the ekin. • Rapid Progress. .; ■ By tliis- time merino sheep had been imported, ■■ and then later some' Romncys, and gradually Mr. M'Master built up a flock. He extended his estate, Tuhitarata, to about 9000 acres, and then he went farther afield,' and bought Tupurupuru Estate, which comprised about 16,000 acres. This was' stocked with merinos, ..and Mr. James Strang was placed in charge of the property. The flocks soon began to increase, and in tho course of a few-years they stood at 10,000 at Tupurupuru, and 2000 at Tuhitarata. The wool was taken from Tupurupuru on a bullockdray to Greytown (eighi/.bullocks pulled eight bales). Tho driver, George Salisibury, resides at the present time in Greytown. The trip to Wellington occupied about three days. Maoris usually did the shearing, and the payment was £1 per hundred. . The. stoppingplaces for tho wagons between Wairarapa and Wellington, on tho Main Road, were Greytown. and also Pakuratahi, at the bojttom of the Wellington side .of the Rimutakas. The meaning of Pakuratahi, by-the way, is "the sign of the pukekeko," or "the pukeko sign." . .Somo years later, Mr. M'Master. mado his.first land.sale, when.he,disposed.of. about 8000 acres- of the Tupurupuru block to Messrs* Beetham Bros.".' Tho old pioneer was now getting on iii years (he. was closo -on-seventy), and about this time ho sold Tupurupuru to Mr. W. C. Buchanan, and shortly afterwards retired to Greytown, having most nobly carried .out his duties as a pioneer. .. At. the time of Mr. Angus M'Master's. retirement, Mr. Hugh M'Master had been managing Tupurupuru, and Mr. Duncan' M'Master, then only nineteen years of ago,'Tuhitarata. lur. . Hugh' M'Master'was placed in charge of the Brooklyn .farm, while- Mr.' Duncan M'Master continued as manager of Tubitarata. ■ '• ■• ' - ' : A Great Athlsto. Mr. Duncan M'Master is.de-scribed as. being the remarkable son of a remarkable father. Ho had great influence with tho Natives, and he is said to have been tho greatest all-round athlete ever possessed by New Zealand. Ho was tho man who was invariably chosen by tho settlers to represent them in any troubles with tho Natives. These differences wero usually in connection with tho opening of tho lake. Ho was a frcat- friend of the Maoris, and ho knew hov to deal with them. It was never his policy to push tho Natives, to imy extent. He would humour and cat with them, but he never threw away a point. . His all-round coolness in the Native differences ensured him tlio confidenco of both races. ' His record as an athlete is phenomenal. On ono occasion he rode through from Tuhitarata to Wellington, -to tako part in somo sports which were being held on tho Basin Reserve.. Ho won tho mile, tho half-mile, the quarter of a mile hurdles, tho hundred yards,, the hop-step-and-jump, tho pole jump, the running high jump, and another icaco. In all ho won eiglit out of sixteen races. ' Ho rodoback to Mastertori that night, and again competed successfully at some sports held at Masterton.. -He never had to jump morp than once in ' the hop-step-and-jurnp. and his first effort wu about i& foot. His .Dole' jump was

11 feet. On one occasion, in connection w)th some sports to be held at Wellington, he did not like the pole for the vaulting event. - His-father, triio sport that he was, thereupon carried •the boy's own pole in the trap down to ■Wellington. It was. slung alongside the vehicle, and its arrival in Wellington with its party' created moro than ordinary interest. , A. medal possessed by the M'Masters records the- fact that Duncan M'Master won tlio mile championship in IS7O on the Basin Reserve. Shorthorns. The M'Mastora-founded -the Short horn herd in 1873, and from that time until March, 1907, a period of thirtyfour, years, the name was largely associated all over New Zealand with this aristocratic breed. The herd was commenced with "Candour" or "Charmer." a cow purchased by Mr. Duncan M'Master from the herd of Mr. J. , Gamble, Shouldhamthorpe, England. "Candour" was at that time six years of age. Stock wero also purchased from Mr. J. Pago, of". Christchurch: Amongst the- bulls first bought wero ','Eclipso" aud "Magistrate." A few years later a portion of the Tuhitarata property was cut up, and a section of it named Matawhero. The breed was developed by further importations,'and eventually Mr. Duncan M'Master became the most noted Shorthorn breeder in the island. . There were about fifty purebred cows and heifers, and amongst the sires imported were "Count TJnderby," who cost 200 guineas. For many years the M'Masters , Shorthorns were one of the purebred cattle mainstays of the Wairarapa. From the time of the. first/Wairarapa show, held on the Tauherinikau Racecourse, to 1907, the stock were always to bo seen at the Wairarapa shows, and not only with Shorthorns, but also with horses, cattle, and sheep, fat sheep and fat cattle. Mr. | Duncan M'Master was.ono of tho most, valuable exhibitors possessed by tho Wairarapa A. and P. Association. A sale of tho Shorthorn stock" was held in Carterton in 1887, when everything was sold except seven heifers. Mr. M'Master', however, still'.kept on Breeding Shorthorns, and showing at the various snaws I ...right..up..to. his death in 1896, when the business was continued by Mr. ■ A. D. M'Master, his eldest son, and . present . manager of the estate, assisted. gTeatly by his brother, tho late Mr, Earl ..M'Master, who was an-en-thusiast in'all matters pertaining to the ibrce'd: .-.. Mr: A. D. M'Master kept the 'stock going for'a number of years, until 1907, when he held one of the biggest dispersal sales of stud stock ever

seen in New Zealand. - There were sixty purebred Shorthorns catalogued, and over 2000 purebred Lincoln sheep. Nearly all' the Shorthorn stock were cleared. Later, Mr. A. D. M'Master visited Victoria, and purchased the well-known 'bull "Silver King," and shortly afterwards, wishing to give his undivided, attention to tho breeding of Lincoln sheep, he .sold the remaining animals to Mr. "W. Howard Booth, of Carterton. At the. recent Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa Shows, the stock absorbed a fair number of prize J list honours, and ably'kept up the reputation ••which 1 ' it had held so long under the.aegis of.the M'Masters. . The Matawhoro Llncolns. : Mr.-A. D. M'Master is now conHning bis efforts to the breeding of purebred

Video buyers, and also to the principal breeders in this country. It ie modi creditable that, notwithstanding all the vicissitudes which have attended th* wool trade in Now Zealand (and they.' have been many) the greatest care. ha« always been taken in. the. selection pS rams. Breeders now find that they, cannot do without' a good coarse'wool; and this is one of the characteristics of the Ma'tawhero Lincolns. . On' several

occasions they hayo topped the marked " at ram fair sales and also for flock. 1874 with thirteen ewes, purchased, rams. At the recent Wairarapa Shov tho M'Master ram, Favourable, was ' awarded' champion, and bo is being' shown to-day (Saturday) at Auckland. A Matawhero-bred ram was first - and champion at,Gisborne. With referenceto rams shown this" year;, two-toothe clipped from 16 to 21 i pounds of wool as. lambs, four-tooths from 20 to 25 pounds, while one shore the magnificent weight of 35 pounds. • These facts serve to.show that tin Matawhero Lincolns are well up to the high standard which.has been set in stock breeding for so many years by the M'Master family. • So far as the type of sheep is concerned, Mr. A. D. M'Master'e aim is for a well-covered fleece, good length, plenty of lustre, due regard being gives.

Lincolns on tho • Matawhero Estate, which now comprises some 3000 acres of land. Tho flock was founded in , from Mr. Hill, of Canterbury (thrco of which were''imported sheep, bred by Mr. Kirkham), and ten bred by Mr. Hair, of AYanganui. This flock was subsequently increased by soventy ewes, purchased in 1874 from Messrs. Hay Bros., Pigeon Bay, mostly, of tho New Ze&l&ixd and Australian Laud Company , s

to bone. There was also required •'■ S heavy lock, plenty of, weight, and wellcovered heads and .points. »•■ In addition to Mr.. A. D. M'Master, his brothers, H. W; and J. P. Master, aro interested in the- estato, and there are.five sisters. . ; '

breed. In 1877 ten owes were imported! frorn Messrs. Kirkham's flock, and pro-r ; geny were, purchased.from Mr. T; H, • v Murray, of Tc Oro/ 'lu-18fJ2-two,-ewei were purchased from Mr. R. Hair, c£ ■■ bred from ■ imported stock. This flock originally belonged to Messrs. Hugh and Duncan M'Mastor, who dissolved partnership in 1879. A dispersal . sale was held jn May, 1907, wbon tic breeding flock was reduced by the sale of 1388 ewes. The Matawkero Lincolns are bred on somewhat poor land; but it lias been shown conclusively that this tended to harden them, and. it wa3 further noticed that they ■ did~ exceptionally well when" sent "out to ' ■' different country. They Lave . novel been pampered, and the flock has been well kept up by .purchases from leading' breeders in New Zealand. Bams bred . from tlie stock have been sold to Monta