EARLY DAYS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 February 1942, Page 4

EARLY DAYS

4 LIFE IN WAIRARAPA FIRST FEATHERSTON SCHOOL. CHANGES IN TRANSPORT. Some interesting recollections of life in New Zealand in the early days were recorded by the late Mrs Murray Jackson, of Cole Street, Masterton. “My parents,” she wrote, “arrived in New Zealand in 1852, in the sailing ship Slaines’ Castle. They had a narrow escape from shipwreck through the ship being taken by mistake into Palliser Bay. They got so close in that the ship’s carpenter had to cut the jibboom off to enable the ship to be turned round. However, fine weather prevailed, and the passengers landed safely in Wellington. My parents settled in the Lower Hutt, and for some years my father was in the employ of the late Mr Alfred Ludlam, and looked after his flock of Romney Marsh sheep. The flock 1 was not large, but was well known for quality. My father also worked with the late Mr Jas. Bryant (afterwards of Ohariu Valley) in Mr Ludlam’s beautiful garden, from whence some of our New Zealand trees were forwarded to the Old Country. I believe some were sent to Kew Gardens. , “My parents were at Mr Ludlam s during the great earthquake of January, 1855. I have often heard them talk of the terrors of that time and how the ground shook for weeks after. On the night of the earthquake a chimney fell through the roof, and into the room where my mother was in bed, covering her with dust and mortar. She being unable in the confusion and terror to find her clothing the late Mr C. R. Bidwill (who was staying in the house) put his overcoat on her. After leaving the Hutt, my father lived for a short time on a farm he had in the Ohariu Valley, but as he had some land in South Featherston, he sold the farm at Ohariu, and removed to the Wairarapa where the remainder of his life was spent.

“I was seven years old when I came to the Wairarapa, and remember the journey quite well, travelling from the Hutt in a heavy cart, driven by the late Mr C. Cundy, who, with his wife and one of his sons, had been visiting friends there. We travelled through in a day, and were all very tired when we arrived at Mr Cundy’s homestead. The family all came out to welcome us, and I remember the eldest son carrying a candle on his head. We were soon sitting by a good fire and enjoying qur evening meal. I stayed the night, rejoining my parents next day in their new home (having been left at school in the Lower Hutt while they got settled). “At that time the first public school in Featherston was built, not at all like, the up-to-date buildings we are accustomed to in these days, but a oneroomed weather-board structure, with the teacher’s desk at the far end, opposite the one entrance door; a large fireplace half way down one side; desks and forms along each side wall, the girls and boys being seated on opposite sides in the school. The late Mr J. G. Cox was the first teacher appointed, his home being not far from the school. A teacher’s residence was afterwards built on the school grounds. There were no shelter sheds, but in wet weather the children were allowed to stay in school during the dinner hour and have a good fire. At this time the metalled road ended after going through the swamp below the late Mr Cox’s residence, and people trekked across the plain wherever they thought convenient, as there were no formed roads. A bridge was erected over the small stream below Featherston, but no rivers were bridged for years. It was quite an event when the telegraph line was constructed. “At that time there were no railways. Mr Harry Death ran a van for passenger traffic between Wellington and the Hutt, and the late Mr Hastwell carried passengers in an open trap from Greytown to Wellington. At that time Greytown was the hub of the Wairarapa, and quite a business centre. After that Cobbs’s coaches took up the running over the Rimutakas, and we

thought we travelled in luxury then, and did not need umbrellas to keep off the rain. Mr Hastwell later ran coaches and I well remembei* some of the drivers. Ezra High, always known as “Ike;” also the late Mr Jas. Macara. We always felt safe with these good drivers, and how we enjoyed the lovely scenery going over the mountains, with plenty of time to look around. No motor cars existed and I hardly think a buggy and pair would have been found in the district. I well remember when the railway from Wellington was started, also when it reached Featherston. A dinner was given to celebrate the event.

“It is interesting to look back and think of the many changes that have taken place and the progress made, in these comparatively few years, and where flax, manuka and thorns grew, the land has been cleared and fenced, and many comfortable and nicely kept homes are seen all around. If I remember rightly the coach always changed horses at Pakuratahi, where everyone had dinner. Always a real good hot dinner was ready for us which we thoroughly enjoyed after . our long] drive. The horses, were again changed at Silverstream and then the journey resumed to Wellington. I always liked the return journey best, when after passing the Summit, the horses swung away down the hill and we got the first glimpse of the Wairarapa Plains and home. At that time Abbott’s Hotel stood at the foot of the hill. It was destroyed by fire some years ago.”