EARLY REMINISCENCES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3739, 10 January 1907, Page 3

EARLY REMINISCENCES.

The Forties.

[By Geo. Nye.] In the early ’jo’s Christianity had taken deep root amongst the natives generally, and they settled down to peaceful occupations, in raising produce. This provided them with funds to erect churches and flour mills. Many of the churches built in those days have been pulled down, but the, ones at Otaki and Moutoa, on the banks of the Manawatu, still remain. The Maoris erected two - waterpower flour mills on the banks of the Manawatu and worked them with the assistance of a millwright. Everything went smoothly until the “King movement.” This disarranged everything. Industry was sacrificed in order to follow the King movement.

About this time some 200 Manawatu Maoris were employed by Sir George Gray to make the Military road from Pahautanui to the Paikakariki Hill, at 2s 6d per man per day, of eight hours. The road making was carried on under the supervision of European overseers. Each overseer had charge of 20 men and was paid 3s 6d a day and kept themselves. The superintendant of the Work ahd paymaster was paid 6s a day wet and dry. I merely mention the rate ot pay in order to show the scarcity of money in those days. The Natives carried their provisions from the Manawatu to their work. The labourers and overseers were allowed half a day on Saturdays to procure provisions for the coming week. I was employed on the work myself so speak from personal experience. The natives were so employed in order to divert their attention from the King movement. The natives of the Manawatu, however, were always peaceably inclined. The natives whom I refer to have now passed away as indeed are most of the Europeans of that time-

The following are the names of the pioneers, who took an active part in the early settlement: — The late Charles and Henry Symons, who were the first to commence farming in the Manawatu, also Mr Burr. The ground was ploughed by bullocks. There were no horses in the Mauawatu at that date. Other settlers were Messrs Nankivell, Barnett, Hill, [ones, McDonald, Wilson, Collins, Spinner and also Mr Compton, who farmed on the banks of the Manawatu, growing wheat and other produce. Laterly Mr Compton was employed by the military authorities road-making between Pahautanui and Paikakariki Hill. Most of the settlers were living about 16 miles from the mouth of the river and the coastal vessels in those days went up to the settlement with supplies and to take produce away. The first survey was made by the late Mr Charles Kettle, father -df’Judge Kettle, who was one of the early surveyors sent to New Zealand by the Land Company. He came out in the ship Oriental on 31st Jan. 1840. In after years when the province of Otago was settled, Mr Kettle left Wellington and resided there. The late Capt F. Robinson was the first settler to introduce sheep and cattle in the Manawatu and was the first settler to make his home at the lower Manawatu, now known as Herrington. He and his nephew, Dr Best, had a large cattle station. The latter was the first medical man in this district. A large quantity of butter was made on the station and shipped to Wellington, is a pound being the price in those days. Fat stock was reared and disposed of at the Wellington market. The Captain’s hospitality was a byword and his house was always open to friends and visitors, and his purse always ready to assist those who were in want.

The Rev. James Duncan, who is still with us, in his ninety-third year, laboured among the Europeans and Natives for years. He was the first person to teach the natives arithmetic, and was highly esteemed by them as a Christian minister. The natives gave the Rev Mr Duncan a present of about 100 acres of land to mark their appreciation of his services, on which he is now living.