The Schools I have been in.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 1, Issue 5, 20 January 1911, Page 5

The Schools I have been in.

(By JOHN RENNIE). At the Agricultural and Pastoral Show when complimenting the manager of " The Maoriland Worker," he asked mc to write something on farming. I told him I was now a " Bloated Capitalist," and the workers would have but small confidence in what I would say. But all my life I have been a worker, and I will give a short account of my schools and schoolmasters. I was born on a small croft of 16 acres in East Aberdeenshire. My father worked for the neighbouring farmers at one shilling a day, and managed bis own farm in his spare time. We had a few cows and some young stock, a horse to work the farm, and a few implements, but machinery we had none. We grew some oats, barley and turnips, and a little hay in the summer; I had to thin the turnips, make the hay and help with the harvest. In winter, I had to rise at 5 o'clock in the morning to thrash with the flail, feed the cows in the byres, and walk to school four Scotch miles, and on returning in the evening there was the cattle to feed, and so I earned my potage, for that was our daily fare, morning and night. So I leariied in early life the hardships of small holdings. The farm returns were very small. My father's earnings were less than a ploughman's, because he could not go far away, and had to take what he could get near at hand. My brother Gammack went to service at 10. I went at 13, at a wage of £2 for six months' work, to herd cows, feed the young stock, tether the horses (there were but few fences in those days), and dl S potatoes. My mother told mc to do everybody's bidding," an order I had some difficulty to fulfil. However I was willing and did all I could, and spent a very pleasant summer there, and m the following winter went back to school, and made better progress than previously, as I valued ft more. Ihe next farm I was on I got better wages, and had to live in a bothy. The Scotch bothy system was that you were allowed so much meal and milk and you cooked for yourself; I forget just now what the allowances were, but we had enough to make a brose three times a day. Brose is a simple meal to make; you put some oatmeal in a bowl, put in some salt, and pour on boiling water, and stir; then it is ready for the milk. I lived for six months on this, three times a day, with the exception of now and then a visit to my mother, when I got a quarter oat cake. Bothy life was a bit rough, but it was a good school. I have since met some Englishmen who despise oatmeal, but I have also seen sudden conversions, out in the snow when there was nothing else to be had. Oatmeal was easy to carry, and wonderfully sweet when the man is hungry. After leaving this place I went on the railway as a navvy. The rail ay ays were creeping north. Brassey, the great railway contractor, had the contract for the making of the Turriff Branch, and he died during its construction, and the work was finished by his executors with extra speed, and, as good wages were given, and men wanted, I got work at the fivie cutting, and worked there till the line was completed. After that I was on the Bauff section, Avhere I had the opportunity of measuring the cuttings and embankments, and was often selected by the bosses for special work Avhich was easier than filling waggons. In 1858 I came out to Otago m the ship " Jura," and shortly after drifted to Canterbury. My colonial schools I will reserve for another chapter.