PIONEERING HARDSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 14

PIONEERING HARDSHIPS.

AN EARLY SETTLER'S EXPERIENCES AND HOW HE WON THROUGH. ■ Mr. S. M. Neville, whose pretty residence, "Thurston," is situated about, one and a half miles from the town, of Blenheim, is one of the best-known settlers in Marlborough. He belongs to the school of hardy old pioneers, who have won success through sheer determination and hard work, and a short sketch of his history as a colonist gives a fair account of the hardships and dangers which had to be faced by the early settlers in New Zealand. Tho many dangers and difficulties which beset his path in the pioneer days had no deterring influence. Ho had an objective in view, and obstacles which to less courageous men would have proved insurmountable were regarded merely as incidents by tho way and lightly overcome. To use his own words in metaphor, he paid heed not so much to ' the spot at which ho was entering the river, but the point at which he wished to emerge—and always got there. Such little inconveniences as sleeping on a bed of snow every night for three weeks neither cooled his ardour, nor docs it seem to havo weakened his iron constitution. Moving Upward, . Commencing life in tho colony as a station hand, he followed this occupation till ho had saved sufficient money to buy a team of bullocks, when he commented carting wool and stores between Amuri and Saltwater Creek. Success attended his efforts, and in a comparatively short

time lie had a number o£ teams on the road. About the year 18G1 or 'Go the sailing vessel Mystery, with a cargo of timber from Collingwood for tho Catholic Church at Brackenfield, was wrecked on the beach at Saltwater Creek, and Mr. Neville contracted to salvo tho cargo. Work could only be carried on at low water, and the somewhat unique payment agreed upon was "thirty shillings a tide." Tho whole cargo was saved and landed saiely at its destination.

In 1807 Mr. Noville entered into a contract to cart and lay between twenty and thirty miles of fencing on the Green Hills Estate. A desperate experience befell the party when on the road to Waiau to commence this work. A start was made from Uronui on August 1, but they had only made one day's journey when they mot a terrific snowstorm. For somo time progress was almost a matter of impossibility, but there was no thought of turning hack. It was quite in keeping with tho temper of the pioneers that they should bravely face the difficulties of such a journey as they know full well lay before them. TLvo danger which attended each step, and the death-traps which lay hidden at every twist and turn of the tortuous road, deterred them not at all. A road had to bo cut through a solid wall of snow, oftimes twelve or fourteen feet deep. The journey of thirty-five miles ] occupied a fortnight, tho average rate of progress being only two and a half miles a day. The only loss was ono bullock, which was killed in tho early stages of tho journey, but when the Waiau boat harbour was eventually reached tho jaded appearanco of tho party bore testimony to tho gruelling experience they had passed through.

Dangers Faced and Overcome. In fulfilling tho contract, constant dangers had to bo faced, but although tha party had many hair-raising experiences thero were no serious accidents. Tho fencing had to bo carted for many miles up tho Conway, and tho river was crossed over ono hundred and twenty times during cach trip, the bullocks swimming with tho load through the deep gorges. At the time of tho historic flood in 1868, Mr. Neville's teams were engaged in calling tho Highiiold and Linden wool. When tho torrent swept down, carrying everything moveable before it, tho drays were awshod away from the'.camp at Saltwater Creek, but afterwards recovered oil the sea leach. Tho bullocks were saved in a roniarkablo manner, Tho law of selfpronation mojed them to clamber on

to floating logs and debris, which ths waters piled up at the spot whero they were camped, and the next morning Ihcy wero got away safely, without tho loss of a single animal. Messrs. D. and D, Cameron's honso was washed away from its foundation, and deposited in an adjacent paddock. It was afterwards pulled back into position by Mr. Neville's bullocks. The store was completely wrecked, aud thousands of pounds worth of goods scattered broadcast about the paddocks. Whou this was happening, Mr. Ncrillo was away in Kaiapoi, and entry in his bank-book, by which he was wrongly debited with a sum of .£l7O, having taken him there, post paste, on horseback. By the timo ho reached Kaiapoi the flood was at its height. The bank was closed, but Mr. Nevillo rode to the manager's house and took that official on his horso to the

bank to investigate tho matter. The water roaehcd to the knee-pads of the saddle, and the bank manager's comments on tho whole situation were not of such a nature as may bo recorded here. It turned out that the cheque for .£l7O which had been debited to Mr. Neville's account had been drawn by a cattledealer named Nicoll. While in Ivaiapoi Mr. Neville witnessed the washing away of tho bridge by tho raging torrents. Services to the Public. In 18G9 Hr. Neville joined tho ranks of tho Benedicts, and shortly afterwards settled down at Waiau, where for nine years he kept the hotel and store, and also acted as ferryman. The Waiau is a difficult and dangerous river to negotiate, and as ferryman the subject of this sketch had

some very exciting experiences. On more than one occasion he saved persons from j drowning. He has the distinction of being the first pakeha to tako a boat over tho Upper Waiau, and was also ono of tho occupants of tho first boat which crossed the HuTunui. When, about tho year '7-4, the Vogei Government brought a railway expert from India to report on various eligible railway routes in the colony, Mr. Isevillo was selected to show him through the district, his familiarity with the country and exhaustive knowledge of bushcraft specially

qualifying him for this work Somo little time after this Mr Neville performed another distinguished fcrvico to tho province by discovering a new coach road from Kaikoura. The mail coach originally crossed Mount C'ookson near the extinct volcanoes. Tho journey across was fraught with many dangers to the driver and occupants of the coach, and at various points- piles of stones were built up as a warning against dangers which wore wholly or partially concealed by the mantle of snow which covered the'range. llr. Neville discovered a road at a lower level, where the extinct volcanoes with their attendant dangers would bo avoided, He advised thq Provincial .Goyenimeiitj <md

they immediately sent a surveyor to inspect the route. A remarkable feat was performed by Mr. Nevillo and the surveyor (a Mr. Sale, afterwards drowned in tho Akaroa lliver), when pegging oil' the now track. They started from Mason in tlio early morning, and walked to Old Man llill and back, a .distanco of forty miles, completing their task in one day. Some years later Mr. Seville discovered an even belter road, which is used at tho present time. Ho reported his discovery to Messrs. C. Y. O'Connor and Dillon Bell, Government engineers, who had such confidence in his knowledge of tho country that they put tlio work of forming the new road in hand after a most cursory inspection. Taking up Land. In ISSS Mr. Neville leased his Wairan property, and for some years was engaged in cattle dealing 011 tho West Coast. Previous to this ho had entered into partnership with Mr. John Tinlinc and purchased tho Gladstone run of 11,G4G acres freehold and 1)000 acres leasehold, in tho Awatero Valley. After a partnership of twenty-two years Mr. Neville bought out Mr. Tinlino's interest, and he still retains the property. Mr. Neville has tho distinction of being one of tho oldest members of local bodies in New Zealand. For over forty years he has taken an active part in local government, during the greater part of tho period serving on several bodies simultaneously. He made his debut into public life in 18119, when, at the ago of 26 years, ho was elected a member of tho old Amuri Road Board. Gifted with exceptional foresight and administrative ability, ho served his constituents 'well. That the people were not lacking in appreciation of the services rendered was evidenced during the remarkable election of 187Gj when the Counties Act came into force. At this poll Mr. Neville stood against four provincial ex-superin-tendents—Thomas Carter, Joseph Ward, Sir Cracreft Wilson, and Leonard Harper—and was returned at the head of the poll. In 1881 ho left Amuri aud went to Nelson. Very shortly after his arrival ho was clected a member of the Suburban North Road Board. He retained his seat during the whole period of his residence in Nelson, and foT five years was chairman of the board. While at Nelson lie was also elected a member of tho Waimea County Council, representing the Suburban North district, retaining his seat on this boJy also till ho left Nelson. Simultaneously he was a member of the Awatero Road Board, and held this soat after crossing over to Blenheim in 1595. Ho retired from tho board only throe months ago, after 17 years' valuable service. Iu 1896 he was elected to, and still remains a member of, the Wairau Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board, having held tho position of chairman for five years. His kindly and benevolent nature and complete grasp of finance combine to make him a most valuable member of the institution. Ho has the confidence pf the needy ones to whom charity is administered, and of those who are called upon to provide tho wherewithal.

THE SHOP FOR PRESENTS, Visitors to Blenheim are surprised to find, in Market Square, a jewellery establishment which, for tho size and quality of tho stock carried, compares lavournbly with prominent houses in much larger cities. Tho business referred to is that of W. J. Martin, and described as "the leading jeweller." The greater part of tho stock in this establishment is imported direct from tho best manufacturers in England and other parts of the world, and the result is a class of goods is carried and marked at such prices as should ensure the best trade being kept in tho

town. A largo business is also done in tho manufacturing department, and tho firm has recently executed orders for medals for the agricultural and _ pastoral show, the hand contest, and boxing tournament held in connection with tho jubilee of tho province. In this branch of the business tho firm has earned a good reputation for quality and superior workmanship in every ardcle turned out. The shop is spacious and splendidly fitted up with large mhvor-l.wcked showeases, in which the handsome stock is displayed to advantage. The establishment is a credit to the town, and to all appoarauccs is receiving the liberal patronage which it deserves. A reproduction of ii photographic view of llio Interior o£ tlio &hop will bo found ■ in >.|ug isauoi ,