YE ANCIENTE DAYES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 508, 18 November 1909, Page 4

YE ANCIENTE DAYES.

Writing under the above heading, a correspondent of the Horowhenua Chronicle says : Heatherlea originally formed part of the late Mr A. P. Stewart’s Whirokino, or Purataphua property. Most, if not ail, of the original settlers of this cross road from the Levin-Koputaroa to the Arapaepae have disappeared, and strange faces (to those who were present at the start) take their places, or properties.

Most prominent among these early pioneers, standing out in red letters, is the name of the late H. F. Davidson, son, of the Davidson of “Tulloch,” Scotland, of Scottish laird history. Being a younger son of this worthy and much revered old chieftain, and that of his fourth or fifth wife, he was not long after leaving College before he found his way out to his cousin, Sir William Ferguson, then owning the Oroua Downs Station, whose homestead is on the FoxtonSandon road. Here he received his initiative training in the art of “skinning sheep” for their boiling down plant, besides many other ignoble occupations, which were at that time considered a necessary adjunct to a colonial farmer’s education. And many a good yarn could be spun of the “roughing” he had to put in during the few years he remained in his guardian’s hands.

Some of our present day cadets might profit by his early settlement history, which included many ups and downs and almost every occupation under the colonial sun.

At length he was comfortably located at -Ohoua, a property at Moutoa, which he managed for the Oliver Bros, until subsequently sold to the Strang Bros., of Palmerston North. Then he took up property, known as “Te Waireuga,” on the Heatherlea road, and after clearing off the timber, grassing and fencing, he built the very up-to-date dwelling on the bungalo style, still standing in the ornamental grounds he and Mrs Davidson so tastefully laid out.

It was here where his imported Cotswold sheep first found habitation in their adopted country, and for many years he succeeded in breeding some very desirable rams from their progeny, which, however, deteriorated in bone and size (owing to the absence of lime throughout the Heatherlea block) to such a degree that he subsequently elected to give up stud breeding there as futile, eventually disposing of the lot to Mr J. R. McDonald.

J. R. McDonald, better known as “our Johnny,” which soubriquet was handed down, and will be to his dying day, from infancy, is a typical son of “Ye Anciente N.Z. Settler or Squatter,” and when I say this I need say no more to recommend him to your notice.

But, alas! my pen, metaphorically speaking, itches to scracth a few lines lest historians fail in the future to describe this worthy pioneer’s history. Born beneath a shingle roof, enclosed within toi-reed walls, ably lined by the deft hand of friendly Maoris, and with clay chimney, not far from the Horowhenua Bake, he made his debut; but, be it known, he is not the only one whom history records of men of mark in such humble environment during nativity. A younger son of a large family, also of Scottish descent, who have become sterling colonists, but whom I know would not begrudge the palm to “our Johnny.”, Practically educated at home, a perfect “Kaiwhaka Maori” from the start, he became a shining light, though withal retiring. At that time he resided between Purataphua and Whirokino, in a homestead originally belonging to a still more ancient pioneer, one Nicholson, and, being built of heart of totara, it still remains to tell the tale, though its surroundings (barring a few gum trees) have disappeared. Here he “paddled his own canoe” to such advantage that when his elder brother relinquished the rein, or management, of their father’s native run, known as “Horowhenua,” in despair, he was able to save the situation by coming to the rescue, and stepping in the gap, like “Brave Horatius alone defending the entrance” against “ thrice thirty thousand,” long occupying this much-coveted property. More power to him, say I; and how, from that he carved his way through sand ridge and swamp till he succeeded in owning that strip of country from sea coast to Tararua, and how he erected a model homestead near the Purataphua-Heatherlea road, to say nothing of a hay-shed I lately noticed covering an area of ground, and how he established colours which his own-gotten thoroughbreds carried to victory on many a “Flodden racecourse.” Are they not recorded in ■ the memory and vision of us all? And so we’ll leave this Rangitira-Pakeha-Maori in peaceful possession of his well-earned repose, jaud may his shadow never grow less, or his pearly set of natural white teeth never cease to attract my attention when he holds forth to his Maori brethren, of which he is indeed a leader and chief, able at any time, should occasion occur, of command a Native following, either in politics or otherwise.