THE 'EARLY DAYS

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 1736, 22 January 1913, Page 5

THE 'EARLY DAYS

IN THE WAIRARAPA. C-eorge Butler Earp, well known iu> Wellington in the early- days wrote a book, "New Zealand: It's Emigration and Goldfiekly," published in 1853. In tKs volume ho briefly referred to the settlement cf the Wairarapa. "The •first station at Wairarapa," he wrote, "was established by Messrs Clifford jviul Vavasour in the beginning of the year 1814, since which time the stations have gradually increased in number. The present number of .[■• beep and cattle stations is thirteen, of which six have been formed during the, past year. These receive their supplies from Wellington, but sufficient wheat is cultivated at each station, as soon after its formation as the 'season permits to supply ,thos>B who have the care of it with flour, and a garden well stocked with vegetables is to be found at most of the stations. A yearly rent is paid to the Natives by the owners of- the different .stations, averaging about twelve polmds- a year each. : The ferry Wcrops the lake is also in the hands of the Natives, and is a source of much annoyance to the settlers '.from the arbitrary and; exorbitant ■charges usually exacted." Mr Albert 'Allom, a pioneer of the Wairarapa, wrote to Mr Earp in the earlv fifties: —"the whole of the land, available for sheep or cattle runs for a distance of fortv miles from Plliser Bay—that is in what T will call the lower and mid valley—is now occupied by squatters, and persons wishing to form stations •must now go further north, towards 'Ahuriri. . . . The Quantity o.f land occupied by these fourteen runs is 100,000 acres. T think tfiat fully 25 per cent oiirrht to be deducted for unavailable hill, swamp, and woodlend."