EARLY REMINISCENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3738, 5 January 1907, Page 2

EARLY REMINISCENCES.

From 1842 to 1845.

[By Geo. Nye.] The following are the names of many of the early settlers and the pursuits they followed in the early days of settlement in this district >- Messrs John and Thomas Kebbell, saw and flour millers, and storekeepers. This firm settled on the bank of the river at Paikai, and worked up a brisk trade between Wellington and the Manawatu. They disposed of large quantities of sawn timber, flour, wheat and other produce. At Natiy^s--settled-down to peaceful occupations, producing large quantities of wheat, potatoes, maize and scraped flax. The last named was prepared by the natives and sold at £(j per ton to the traders. The scraped fibre was worked up into white rope and cordage. The rope was sold in Wellington at £56 per ton and was used for whale line and running gear on coastal vessels.. The tow was spun up into wool lashings for dumping purposes, and was sold in Melbourne and Sydney at per ton. The natives bargained the flax for stores with the local traders. Prominent among the early stoorekeepers and traders was the late T. W Cook—a yery energetic trader who kept things moving for many years. He built two vessels to meet the requirements of the trade between Wellington and Tyttelton. In the early days very little money passed between buyer and seller. The average wages for labouring men was from 7s to 10s a week and their keep. Another prominent trader was the late Mr Charles Hartley who did a considerable trade with the natives in flax, wheat, maize, pigs and potatoes.