VINEGAR POINT

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 16

VINEGAR POINT

AND HOW IT WAS NAMED. Tlio first road from tlio Awatere Valley to Blenheim was through tlio Taylor Pas?, about twelve miles inland from the month of tlio Awatcro Kiver. In many places the highway followed tlio course of a crook bed, and tho experionco of traversing it in a bullock dray was somewhat in contrast with riding in a rubbcr-tyrod gig or motor-car oil the present thoroughfare.

At a sharp, elbow-shaped point of this road, about eight miles from Blenheim, a sad experience befel a party of squatters many year,s ago, and was responsible for tho locality receiving a name which causes sorno wonderment amongst those , to whom tho story is not familiar. In the early days whisky was not obtainable in Marlborough, and tho favourite invigorator was a dark brandy, which in appearance might easily bo mistaken for much less palatable fluid of culinary utility. On the occasion of which wo write' three large landholders—men of comparative wealth and affluencc—were, journeying to Blenheim through tho pass in the accustomed bullock dray, and whoa they had reached this particular bend n tho road it was suggested that the time and place were opportune for a "tot..* The brandy bottle was produced, and one of the thirsty wayfarers put it to his mouth, tilted tho bottom skywards, and commenced to drink. The bottle did not contain brandy, but tho squatter was a wit, and kept silent. The sudden withdrawal of the flask from his lips and tho facial contortions which followed were not attributed by his companions to anything more serious than, the exceptional potency of tho "brandy," a beverage

which, in those days, was of varying and uncertain quality. Without comlnent, the bottle was passed on to tho second squatter, whes-o performance was very similar to that of tho first. An observant person might have noticed in his eountenancs ail expression of mingled disappointment and indignation, but he kept a grim ;ileuco. Tire last of 1 the three squatters was not, for tho time being at least, a close observer of anything excepting the. dark reviver. Ho took the proffered "brandy," and commenced to drink. But agniu the draught was a short one, for the bottle contained vinegar, and, it is'to he feared that the waiting team of bullocks heard tome inspiring language, and waited tremblingly for tho thwack of ,the thong which usually followed such outbursts. The wayfarers had tho novel experience of quenching their thirst at the brook running close by. When (some time afterwards, be it said) they (old (he story, tho spot was jokingly named "Vinegar Point." The namo clung lo it, and will be found on tho map to tho present day, although there are few of the present generation who are familiar with the eircumstanccs which led to Vinegar Point receiving its curious name.

A monument to the memory of the three police officers who were killed in the Houndsditeh tragedy on December 16 last is being prepared for erection in the City of London Cemetery. Tho inscription concludes: "Faithful , unto death."