Raetihi family reminiscertces

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 466, 15 December 1992, Page 3

Raetihi family reminiscertces

ASTOLDTO

DAVID

OFRIC

The Scarrow family have long been associated with Raetihi and Horopito and the story of the early family is an interesting one. William Scarrow, a sea captain from Suffolk, England, visited New Zealand in 1841 after delivering convicts to Australia. Some years later he purchased land in the Hutt Valley. Later, he would comment that he might have got the whole valley for a song, but said "I couldn't sing". After fighting in the Maori wars, he returned to the Hutt and married a Mrs Hale, a widow from Essex, who had three children Maurice, George and Emma. The family increased with the birth of Julia and Christopher Davey. Christopher Davey Scarrow married Margaret McClean and in 1895 they arrived in Raetihi

with their family, Florence, William, Constance and Norman Douglas. Having farmed

in Sandon and Hunterville before arriving in Raetihi Christopher Scarrow was

prepared for the difficult work of clearing a farm from the 300 acres of bush he owned at Valley Road, just north of the tent village and pa of Raetihi. His first chore

was the felling of the matai tree leaving an 8foot stump to raise his tent against. This stump became the chimney back of a slab fireplace that served until he had

literally carved out a slab walled, shingle roofed, 3-bedroomed cottage for his family. During this time, the bush was still being felled by axemen, most notably the team of Bergamen and Shields, who each averaged around half an acre per day of heavy trees such as maire, rimu, totara,

rata and kahikatea, for which incredible coil they received ten shillings a day! Once the farm was well cleared, and pastures seeded, the family arrived by a covered waggonette with two horses, a trip which took around four days from Hunterville, as the roads were no more than clay Turn to page 5

Raetihi 100

From page 3 tracks through bush. Making the trip more difficult, and more curious to others were the crates of geese, chickens and ducks the family carried on the waggonette, plus the cattle following behind. Although the family arrived with no more than two shillings and sixpence the sale of their butter, eggs and milk allowed them to open a credit account at Marriot's Store for the few other items they needed. In 1897, the birth of a daughter coincided with Queen Victoria's birthday on 24 May so she was christened Gertrude Victoria. Three years later John Alexander was born, two years later Albert Edward, named for the Prince of Wales, and the last and eighth child David Francis, making ten at the dinner table. It was most fortunate that the farm produced vegetables and mutton in abundance and the odd

pigeon pie was not unwelcome! Norman Douglas Scarrow whose family are currently in Raetihi, served in the First World War and returned to farm a block west of Raetihi. He ran the axemen's events at the A and P shows for many years, and was a keen and skilled rugby player, gaining All Black selection in the 1920s but missed the opportunity due to an injury which led to his concentrating on coaching and administration of the game he loved. The br others Albert and David made names for themselvcs in sports as well. In 1927 both brothers competcd in an amateur heavy weight wrestling competition. After some "lively encounters" according to the reports, David won the title of NZ Amateur champion for his weight. Perhaps not surprising brother Albert took up boxing, and he himsclf won sevcral titles.