Pioneering Spirit

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 2, 25 September 1937, Page 6

Pioneering Spirit

BREAKING-IN BACK COUNTRY Late Mrs. Roy Andrews' Contribution ISOLATED TE HOE f — — — s . The lecent sudden death of Mrs Roy M. Andrews, of Te Hoe, Tutira, marks ihe passing of a pioneer settler who made a worthy contribution to the settlement of the back eountry in Hawke's Bay. At Te Hoe, which is in the hinterland .and. one of the most difficult places of access in ihe province, Mrs Andrews for the last 27 years made her home. » In her lonely isolation she faced difficulties season by season little realised by those in the more settled parts. Located at the junction of the Mohaka and Te Hoe rivers and adjoining Ngatapa Station, the only means of access, until very xecently, was by a long winding bridle irack over 25 miles in length. This led off the Taupo road on Titiokura and across the Mangahuruhuru range, and nowhere was to be had a glimpse.of any habitation, Of recent years the Pohukura road was made, leading in from Tutira to the top of the Mangahuxuhurus, where it linked up with the orginal bridle track leading down through desolate and waste eountry for twelve miles to 'the Mohaka river, Over this section the road, which is only xoughly formed, is at its best. With her husband Mrs Andrews toiled year after year, breaking in a difficult atea of eountry. The. vast improvement effected is a tribute to their indomitable courage and perseverance. Year after year they toiled, breaking up f ern and scrub eountry so that it would eventuaUy grow grass, Their task was a •difficult one, and the results achieved reflect the extent to which areas in the far distant back * eountry will xespond to proper treatment. For ■ many years the pack-horse was their only means of transport, and in the pack-saddle their wool clip annually made the long trek to where it could be loaded on to a waggon or truck for cartage into the wool store. So difficult at times was the arrangement of transport that their wool arrived too late for the season 's saies and had to be earried over for the next selling season. Suppliea were taken in by tne same means, being forded through the Mohaka river, thence up a precipitous face te Te Hoe.. Enjoyed the Hard liife. Despite the great isolation Mrs Andrews enjoyed the hard lif e. She was much too industrious to be affected by the loneliness that might reasonably be expected under such conditions. With her husband, her son and daughter, Mrs Andrews displayed a rare courage in the pioneering work that she earried out. Only once or twice a year did she come into contact with civilisation, and this necessitated many miles on horseback to meet a conveyance. Apart from Ngatapa, which is about five miles away in a different direction from the Mohaka river crossing, the nearest house is lt miles ' away. Tho extrnue loneliness of Te. Hoe can best be realised when a view is taken from the top of the Mangahuruhurus. it being Ihe only habitation coming into view in the wide sweep of rugged conntry. Far off the beaten track, Te Hoe is little known, except to sportsmen in' search of wild pigs and other game. To any who have called, a ready hospitality has been extended, and .the cheerf alness to be found in this lonely home is very refreshing. With Te Hoe can be associater] 1 perseverance, courage and unceasing effort, and a visit will convinee anyone ; that the days of pioneering in Hawke ;s Bay are not yet past, and that arduofis toil is still being earried on withoat complaint and in the spirit which ha,; aelpod to bnild up New Zealand.