EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 13

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

PIONEER DAYS IN MARLBOROUGH. Tho main features of tho topography of Marlborough, apart, of course, from the wonderful Sounds, are tho great fertile Wairau and Awatero Valleys, running almost parallel from north-east to southwest. These rich plains and the adjacent hills were tho areas wliidi first claimed the attention of tho pioneer settlers, who came principally from Nelson and Wellington. Taking, roughly, a stretch of country between the Wairau Eiver on tho north-west and the CiaTcnco on the southeast, the area is somewhero in the vicinity of two thousand square miles. Tho accessible portions were originally divided between about fifty settlers. Largo ns their holdings may Eoem nowadays, many of them wero too small for tho holders to prosper under the conditions which obtained in the early days, and a certain amount of aggregation book place. . The areas wero selected according to natural boundaries, such as rivers or deep ravines, and boundary-keepers wero employed to keep tho sheep of the different owners separated. The spur of a hill was never taken as a boundary, owing to tho difficulty which would have arisen of controlling tho flocks.

The progress of the province was. for many years protracted by the dreaded scab; which spread from flock to flock till the wliolo country was infected. Eventually tlie disease was eradicated by tho use of lime and sulphur. Wild dogs and pigs were'also a scourge for many years. In favoured spots the pigs, could sometimes bo s?cn in great herds, and their depredations, particularly when the young lambs were about, were alarming. Old settlers state that they have stood on tho spur of a hill and witnessed fully two thousand pigs feeding in a valley in one drove. Eventually a determined crusade was made by the settlers against the pigs and dogs, and their numb?rs were very much lessened. Tho dogs were completely exterminated many years ago, but wild pig's in considerable numbers aro still found in parts of the back country. The following list of the original settlors of Marlborough and the names of their holdings will be read with interest by old residents of the province, and mention of tho names of sterling old colonists who

havo sinco crossed the Great Divide will recall many stirring happenings of the froo-and-easy, happy-go-lucky days of old Marlborough wairau. ; Mr. C. Redwood—Riverlands, now owned by Mr. Adam Bell. Mr. Bigg-Wither—Tho Withers, afterwards owned by Mr. T. Redwood, now part of Carter's Estate. Messrs. W, Eyes and Empson—Meadowbank, afterwards bought by Dr. Richardson, now the property of Mr. Robert 8011. Mr. Joseph Ward—Tyntesfield, afterwards bought by Mr. Herbert Seymour, now divided between Messrs. R. F. Goulter and B. Ward. Mr. C. A. Dillon—Leefield, now held by his grandson, Mr. F. N. Dillon. Dr. Allison —Avondale. Mr. William Adams—Redwood Run. Mr. W. L. Stephens—Summerlands.— Avondale, Redwood, and Summerlands aro now held by Mr. C. do V. Tesche-maker-Shute, and are shortly to bo offered for salo for closer settlement. Messrs. Cantley and Iveeling—Benhopai, now owned by Mr. E. Bell. Mr. Munro—Valleyficld, now held by Mr. William Bel!. Dr. Renwick—Tho Delta, now owned by Mr. W. Pollard. Dr. Munro—Bankhouse, now held in trust for his grandchildren. Messrs. Coward Bros—Erina, now owned by Mr. George Watts. Mr. Charles Watts—iansdOwne, now hold in trust for members of the family. Mr. Sweet—Hillesden. Mr. G. Moss —Wantwood. Mr. J. G. Miles—Stronvar. Dr. Vickerman—Terawlianui. Tho above four properties are now known as "Hillesden." Mr. George Duppa—Birch Hill, major portion now owned by Mr. W. B. Andrews, part held privately by various purchasers. Mr. Cooper—Tract of land south of Birch Hill, higher up river. Mr. C. Timms—Xorthbank, afterwards owned by Bell Bros., but sinco acquired by the Government and subdivided for close settlement. Sir W. Adams—Langleydalei now owned by liis son, .Mr. W. Adnms. A WATER E. The first settler in the Awatere was Mr. William M'Rae, who took up tho well-known Dumgree Station. Later he acquired Marathon from Captain Feron, and Richmond Brook from the late Major Richmond. After somo littlo timo Mr. M'Rae sold his interest in these properties and took up Waipapa, on the Olnreuoc River. Wuipapa wnn recently taien OTer by tho Government and sub-

divided, the settlers ou the estate all being very prosperous, following is a list of tho original Awatere settlers:— Mr. William M'Rae—Dumgree. Captain Feron —Marathon. Major Richmond —Richmond Brook. This is the only station in tho Awatcro held by the family of tlio original selector. Mr. G. M'Rae, sen.—Blairich, now owned by Mr. Charles Goulter. Sir Frederick Weld (afterwards Premier of New Zealand) —Weld' 9 Hill, sinco changed hands many times. Dr. Bedborough—Upton Downs. Tho homestead is held by Bursell and Blick, grandsons of Mr. Atkinson, who took up Molesworth. The greater part of tho property has been subdivided. Mr. Edward Stafford—Upton Fells. Mr. E. Bolton—Glen Lee, now owned by Mr. Shipley. Mr. Charles Elliott—'Upcott, now owned £ by Stephenson Bros. Messrs. Mowatt and Cross— Middlehurst, now owned by Stephenson Bros. Mr. G. Jlnnro—Laugridge, now owned by Mr. W. Shipley. Dr. Run, now owned by Mr. J. Shirtcliffe. Mr. William Blick—Blick's Country, now owned by Mr. J. Shirtcliffe. Mr. W. A. Atkinson—Molesworth, now owned by Mr. Duncan Rutherford. Mr. T. Redwood—Vernon, afterwards divided between Messrs. H. D. Vavasour and Coleman. Mr. S. V. Stephens—Starborough Downs,. Mr. R. Noweombe—Starborough proper, afterwards, taken over , by Messrs. Beaumont and Wharton. Mr. Beaumont bought out his partner's interest, ; and also purchased Starborough Downs, The lialdons, and Marathon. This great tract of country, afterwards known as Starborough, was eventually acquired by the Government, and in tho midst of tho prosperous settlement the town of Seddon has sprung up. Dr. Fell—An area between Blind River and Lake Grassmere. Mr. W. Atkinson—A small area on. tho Blind River, now held by his grandson, Mr. Bursell. Mr. Aroa—A small area adjoining, still held by members of the. family. Sir Charles Clifford and Sir Frederick Weld—Flaxbourne—Portion acquired by the Government and settled some years ago, the remaining portion is shortly to be privately' subdivided.

Tho prosperity of tho Government settlers is substantial proof of the quality of the land. Mr. J. D. Tilley—Tvekerangu, afterwards bought by the lato Mr. John Symonds. The homestead and 2000 acres now held by Mr. E. Rutherford. The balance has been subdivided. Dr. Short—The Shades, now hold by Mr. J. W. Trolovc. Mr. F. Trolove—Woodbank, now owned by Mr. A. J. Murray. Lord Dashwood—Burtigill (a small area between Dumgree and Ugbrooke). Air. Alexander Mowatt—Altimarloch, now owned by Mr. A. C. M'Rae. Messrs. Philip and Nehemiah M'Rae— Tho Jordan. These two brothers afterwards owned all tho land extending from tho Hodder River to tho Midway River, embracing also Weld's Hill and Blairich. Mr. H. 0. Ottorson—Gladstone, now owned by Mr. S. M. Neville. An area of twelve thousand acres, lying between Altimarloch and Glen Leo was tt aside by tho Government as a shearg reserve for tho uso of settlers higher up the river to whose properties there was no access by road. Practically the only means of transporting the wool to the plains was on tho hack of tho sheep, and for many years all the settlers in tho Upper Awatero district drove their flocks long distances to be' shorn. Instances which may bo mentioned are the Molesworth sheep, which were shorn at Bertigillj Upcott, Muller, and Gladstone sheep at tho Government reserve; Middlehurst sheep at Altimarloch; and tho Langridgo sheep at Valleyficld, in tho Omaka Valley. Tho wool ships were always loaded at Port Underwood. It is interesting to note that the first sheep in tho Wairau were shorn by Mr. T. Redwood, in a Maori wharo near the Bluffs, to tho cast of Blenheim. The principal means of communication between Xelson and Marlborough was for very many years by an overland route of ono hundred and twenty miles, and many stories arc still told by old settlers of thrilling events which happened or this long and dangerous journey. From Kelson to Foxhill there was n tolerably good road, and from thcnco to the Upper Motueka Valley, a bridle track over Spooner's Range. This track was then continued in a southerly direction to Motupiko, via Kerr's Hill, then through nino miles of dense forest to Top House, and from there along tho courso of the Wairau to Blenheim. The first cattle introduced to the Wairau were brought across this track in 1817 by Mr. Atkinson. They comprised one cow and four working bullocks. In 1817 Messrs. Joseph Ward and T. Redwood had a rcmarkablo exporienco when trar«rsing this route with a mob

of 700 sheep, to eettlo on. some land which had recently been vacated by a settler named William Congreve, near the mouth of the Awatero Eiver. Tho sojourners were benighted when iialf-way through the forest, and as a drenching rain was falling their lot for the time being was not a happy one. This was before tho days of lucifer matches, and to make their position worse they wero without flint and steel, and apparently had no means of lighting a fire. Mr. Ward, however, was a versatile man, and securing two hard dry knots of wood from tho forest, he commenced rubbing them vigorously together, after tho manner attributed to tho American Indians. For half an hour or so the prospects of getting a firo in this way seemed slim, but the

excrciso was wearing off tlio benumbing effects of the cold, and ho continued to rub away. 'Eventually a spark Dew, and tlio little heap of powdered wood burst into flame, and soon a great merry firo brightened tlio camp, and cheered the hearts of the weary 1 travellers. This story ,is vouched for by Mr. T. Redwood, who still lives, and is a highlyrespected resident of Blenheim. A curious coincidence ; is that William Congreve, to whoso vacated property the sheep were being driven bjr Messrs. Ward and Hodwood, was afterwards knighted for. invent-, ing tho luciier friatchi- Whether ,it . tho experience of. :Mr. r Ward which-"iii-' spired tho idea of tho match is not recorded.