The First Medical Man in the Clutha District.
Dr. HENRY MANNING.
Dr Henry Manning arrived in Otago, a surgeon, by the ship John Wickliff in March, 1848, going as far as Wellington with the vessel. Returning to Dunedin, he began professional work there. He built a small weather-boarded house in what is now High street. It was the day of small things with the colony, and his house was in keeping with the times. He used to speak of his first residence as the "Pill Box," and its dimensions corresponded with the name. The people of Dunedin were healthy, and there did not seem room for one doctor — and there happened to be another at the same time. After a short time Dr Manning returned to England with patients from Sydney, returning again early in the fifties with immigrants to Nelson, and landed again in Dunedin married, and started once more to work in his profession. In 1856 Mr and Mrs Manning removed to Wairepa, and lived in a tent till their cottage was erected. It was a pretty spot selected for this home, and soon the cottage was covered with ivy and roses. Dr Manning was one of the oldest settlers in the Clutha, and it is fitting that his name should have a place in its history. The life of a country doctor anywhere is a very trying one, but in the early times it was especially so. Distances were long to travel, and the way rough, exposed and sometimes perilous from swollen rivers and wintry storms. Dr Manning had all these hardships, and more of them than most professional men had to endure. Dr Manning was one of no ordinary attainments in his profession, and in more favourable circumstances might have filled a more eminent position. It is not saying too much — it is not saying enough when it is said he brought all his skill in his attendance on his patients by night or by day, in the sick room he was kind and gentle, especially towards womenkind and children, many of whom owe their lives to his prompt and skilful treatment. Dr Manning was never a rich man, but often very poor, yet he was ever most upright and honourable in his dealing with others, and scrupulously paid his way. Dr Manning was by birth an Englishman, but his mother was an Italian, he was not of a robust constitution, and it must have been the more trying to him to endure the exposure in the early days, but he must have reached at least the border of three score and ten when he passed away after a lingering illness. The pen would fain linger over many kind and generous traits in the character of the old doctor, but these few very inadequate lines may recall in some, yet living, many a kind word and act and may bring to remembrunce all that was good in him. Dr Manning rests in the East Clutha cemetery "Till the day break, and the shadows flee away." -Clutha Leader, 1/5/1906.
A few incidents from the life of Dr and Mrs Henry Manning:
MARRIED.
By Special License, this day, February 28th, at Dunedin, by the Key. J. A. Fenton, Henry Manning, Esq., son of the late Geo, Manning, Esq., surgeon, of Harlington, Middlesex, to Eliza Stokes, youngest daughter of the late John Stokes, Esq., of Pauntley Court, Glo'stershire. -Otago Witness, 28/2/1852.
I HEREBY certify that Henry Manning of Dunedin, in the District of Otago, Surgeon, has this day submitted for my examination his Diploma as a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, in accordance with the provisions of an Ordinance passed by the Provincial Council of New Munster, Sess. I. No. 2, entitled, "An Ordinance to define the qualifications and to provide for the remuneration in certain cases of Medical Practitioners."
Dated at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Dunedin, Otago, this 5th day of May 1852.
A. CHETHAM STRODE, Resident Magistrate. -Otago Witness, 15/5/1852.
VACCINATION.
PARTIES requiring their Children Vaccinated are requested to call at Stonehenge, Dunedin, every Saturday, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. HENRY MANNING, Surgeon, &c. -Otago Witness, 17/12/1853.
CATTLE AT LARGE
THIS is to give Notice, that all Animals found Trespassing on my Premises after this date will be carefully Impounded. HENRY MANNING, Surgeon, &c. Stonehenge Dunedin, Feb. 23, 1853. -Otago Witness, 25/2/1854.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE
First of a Series — Liberty of the Subject.
Mr. Editor, — I wish to be informed whether a Court of Equity (so called) is established in Otago? If so, you will much oblige by acquainting myself and others as to the particular parties or party aspiring to the jurisdiction of the said Court. Having recently been a victim to despotism, I am the more inclined to solicit your advice publicly. — Yours, &c. Henry Manning. [We presume Dr. Manning is aware that the Resident Magistrate, or any two Members of the Bench, can sit on any case; and that under the Resident Magistrate's Ordinance, the Court is a Court of Law or Equity. — Ed.] -Otago Witness, 8/7/1854.
NOTICE.
PARTIES indebted to the Undersigned are requested to Pay their Accounts forthwith, and all Creditors to send in their Bills. HENRY MANNING, Surgeon, &c. -Otago Witness, 20/1/1855.
CAUTION.
ALL Parties are advised not to credit in my name any Persons, especially one designated as my "wife," Eliza Manning, because I will not be answerable for any Debts contracted after this date. HENRY MANNING, Surgeon, &c. Stonehenge, Dunedin, June 29, 1855. -Otago Witness, 30/6/1855.
NOTICE OF SALE.
TO be Sold by Auction, at an early date, Household Furniture, Plate, Cattle, Horses, &c, at the residence of Henry Manning, Dunedin. Further particulars in another advertisement. -Otago Witness, 20/10/1855.
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.
Wednesday, I8th December, 1855. Henry Manning, of Dunedin, surgeon, was charged with furious riding through, the town, on Friday, the 14th inst. Defendant denied the charge.
John Shepherd, chief constable, stated, that on the occasion referred to, he saw the defendant riding furiously along High-street and Princes-street to the great danger of the people in the streets. He had on former occasions warned the defendant against a repetition of the offence. The horse was at a gallop on the occasion complained of.
The Resident Magistrate held that the case was fully proved, and fined the defendant £2, with costs. -Otago Witness, 22/12/1855.
"DOGBERRY — WRITE ME DOWN AN ASS."
"Noscitur ex Sociis."
WITH reference to the cause lately adjudicated — Shepherd v. Manning — I beg to caution all parties generally, from the evidence adduced in my case, that such conviction will prompt me for the future to exert my vigilance, especially in regard to my "friend," and friends in general, to put a stop to furious riding.
HENRY MANNING. -Otago Witness, 22/12/1855.
FOR SALE, ONE Ayrshire Bull, 2 years old, now running between Boat Harbour and Taieri, branded, late the property of R. Thomson, Esq., Taieri. Also, One Durham Bull, 2 years old, running in the neighbourhood of the Kaikorai, to be delivered on the run.
A Spring Cart, nearly new Set of London-made Gig Harness, new Counter or Kitchen Dresser, with 4 drawers, Cupboard, &c, complete. Apply to Henry Manning, Dunedin. -Otago Witness, 26/7/1856.
Legal Notices.
NOTICE. CRIMINAL INFORMATIONS will be laid against the following persons, known to be Practising Medicine and Surgery in the Province of Otago, who have not Registered in accordance with the Medical Practitioners Ordinance, 1564: —
Henry Manning, Warepa; Daniel H. McCambridge, Mount Ida; William Donovan, St. Bathans; Alexander J, Ferguson, Tokomairiro; John Torrance, Lawrence; John William Wilders Eveson, Queenstown; Joseph Crocume, Waikouaiti; George Dixon Drury, do; James Corse, Cromwell.
By order of the Medical Board of Otago, ALFRED F. OSWIN, Registrar and Secretary. Dunedin, 4th July, 1866. -Otago Daily Times, 5/7/1866.
To the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages for the district of Dunedin, in the Province of Otago, New Zealand.
I HENRY MANNING, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, now residing at Warepa, in the said Province, do hereby give you notice that I intend to apply to you, on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1873, to have my name placed on the Register of Medical Practitioners in the Colony of New Zealand, and I have deposited my diploma along with this in your office in Dunedin for public inspection, in terms of the "Medical Practitioners' Act, 1869."
HENRY MANNING, M.R.C.S., England. Warepa, South Clutha, Oct. 10, 1873.
HENRY MANNING, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England, registered and gazetted 1848 or 1849; late Surgeon-Superintendent under the auspices of the New Zealand Company, barque Olympus, with immigrants, from London to Nelson, N.Z., 1842; ship John Wickliffe, London to Otago, 1847; Cashmere, London to Wellington, 1851, immigrants.
Dr Manning can be consulted as hitherto, by parties residing at a distance, by enclosing the usual fee, L1 1s. -Bruce Herald, 31/10/1871.
KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND.
The following is the list of subscriptions collected in the Warepa and Kaihiku districts: —
...Henry Manning, Ll 1s... -Clutha Leader, 23/5/1879.
DEATHS
Manning. — On the 9th December, 1886, at his residence, Woodend, Warepa, Henry Manning, M.R.C.S aged 73 (surgeon of the pioneer ship John Wickliffe, 1848). -Evening Star, 10/12/1885.
DEATHS
MANNING. — On the 4th October, 1901, at Dunedin, Eliza (nee Eliza Stokes, of Pauntley Court, Gloucestershire), widow of the late, Dr Henry Manning (surgeon of the pioneer ship John Wickliffe); aged 88. -Otago Witness, 6/12/1901.
Tenders are invited for the purchase of "Woodend," Warepa, the well-known property of the late Dr Henry Manning. -Otagp Daily Times, 8/2/1902.
 |
| Romahapa Cemetery. |
MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.
By Robert Valpy Fulton, M.D.
THE COMING OF THE SHIPS.
In 1847 Mr Kettle had finished surveying the site of the future city of Dunedin, then called Otepoti, and only occupied at that time by two runaway sailors who lived in a whare by the side of Kaituna, the little sparkling stream which crossed what was afterwards Princes street, near Jacobs's corner, and ran into the sea among the rocks where now stands the Stock Exchange Building. People find it hard to realise that the Maoris tied up their boats here in a little cove, and the very name Water street conveys little or nothing to the passer-by to-day. The John Wickliffe arrived at Port Chalmers on March 23, 1848, and some of the passengers came up to Dunedin in boats a few days later, and were carried ashore on the Maori boatmen's backs, at the before-mentioned little cove, which was picturesquely flanked with high toitoi, and with flax, cabbage-tree and manuka to the very water's edge. In the John Wickliffe came
DR HENRY MANNING,
the surgeon superintendent, and the first doctor to practise in the Otago settlement. The boats discharged their passengers on to what was not then a muddy foreshore, but a fine pebbly beach with rippling blue waves right up to near where Cargill's Monument now stands. Further to the north the long, low lands extended in a sort of marsh or swamp from the site of the Supreme Court right along what are now Castle, Cumberland and King streets, and the whole of the north end of the town down to what is Pelichet Bay and Lake Logan. Between the cove and this swamp stood up the hill, which was later cut away and thrown into the sea, providing the reclamation material for the bulk of the business portion of the city. From the cove right down what is now Lower High street ran a pretty high, rocky bank, flanking Bell Hill, and from this extended outwards a beach, the upper part of which was afterwards occupied by the cattleyards. From the cove southwards — the whole of the Bond street of to-day being under water — extended a high, rocky bank as far as what is to-day Police street, and from here, with a wide sweep into the hill at Manor place, the swampy flat spread away round towards Anderson's Bay. When the people landed they found the "streets" consisted of pegs and string, which ran through fern, toi-toi, manuka and tutu, across the stream, and up and over the hill soon to be called Bell Hill, and afterwards cut away to allow of the passage of Princes street through what w r as for many-years called "the Cutting." At first the settlers went into a huge barracks near the beach. This was divided into three compartments — the north end for the single women, the middle for the married people, and the end for the single men. This was all superintended by Captain Cargill and his medical adviser, Dr Manning, and it admirably served its purpose until huts and houses began to spring up.
JAS. ADAMS.
Within twelve months Dunedin boasted of a few dozen huts and houses in the short quarter of a mile from the high clay bank at the corner of Manse, Stafford, and Princes streets along to the corner of Rattray and Princes streets, to Ross and Kilgour's shop, many years after Wise's corner, and to-day the Government Insurance Buildings, 30ft or 40ft above the level of the old shops which were down in the hollow then existing. The main street was for several years a mass of mud, and Kaituna meandered across and under an old ricketty wooden bridge made of logs, far too frail for the bullock sledge traffic which essayed to pass along the street — it was no uncommon thing for pedestrians to be bogged up to their waists in the main street in the middle of winter. A few whares, and wattle and daub huts, dotted the lower slopes of the hill which is now cut out into High and streets, these dwellings were surrounded with thick manuka and tarata and mapau, (totara and matai? - GBC) and from their windows, or open shutters which took the place of windows, the settlers shot kakas and pigeons at their leisure, for the birds were at that time exceedingly plentiful. Wild pigs frequented the fern and manuka and the thick pine bush spreading up the hill in Rattray street where Scoullar's and Speight's fine buildings are to-day. Dr Manning did not have much chance of showing his professional powers during the first twelve months, for the whole population of the village was only 444, with 25 births, and nine deaths — the people lived contentedly in their huts made of clay, fern logs, grass and poles, etc., all close to the centre of the town, he had then no distances to travel, but as other ships arrived, and the population increased and the settlers moved further afield, he found his troubles begin, particularly as no other medical man adopted the settlement as a home, until the surgeon of the Bernicia, Dr Robert Williams, arrived in December, 1848. Dr Manning was born in London in 1815. He took the degree of M.R.C.S. in 1837, and came to New Zealand in one of the early ships to Nelson in 1840. He returned to England, and was in practice for a few years before signing on with the Otago settlers to come to the southern settlement in 1847. He evidently found things looked promising for unlike the doctors on several of the next ships, who promptly sailed away again, he announced his intention of staying in the place, and trying what a colonial life would be like.
Dr Manning was a man of curious temperament and striking appearance; tall but slight, with piercing black eyes and long glossy black curls hanging down to his shoulders. Of these curls he was inordinately vain, and many of the old settlers still living remember surprising him in the mornings with his hair in curl papers. He was of a most excitable, almost fiery, temper, many said he was of Spanish or Italian descent, eccentric to a degree, very kind to the genuine poor and to those he liked, but to any whom he considered "purse proud" or ''important," he took violent dislikes, and in the most lurid language expressed his opinion of them and his ferocious intentions if they ever came into his clutches by requiring his medical skill. He was a clever surgeon, a particularly skilful setter of fractures and reducer of dislocations, then perhaps more frequent than they are now. He was very kind to women, and particularly fond of children, to whom he often gave most original entertainments and treats. He very early startled the inhabitants by his eccentricities, striding rigorously through the mud and fern of Princes street attired in his flannel shirt, corduroy breeches, wide awake hat, jackboots, his long glossy curls blowing in the wind, or galloping along the thoroughfare, for he soon imported a fine horse from Australia, and made matters worse by threatening to ride people down, shouting and swearing at them as if he were the only person in existence. He was the first authentic road hog of the town, and on more than one occasion was prosecuted for furious riding in the main street, to the danger of pedestrians, and to the damage of their attire, he having plentifully splashed them from head to foot with the liquid mud which lay everywhere. In spite of all this, his services were necessary — no other doctor having yet come on the scene. He was the first surgeon to the Hand and Heart Lodge of Oddfellows, and patron of the cricket club; a rider of no mean order, later on entering for all the local races as a gentleman rider, and on more than one occasion winning a race with his horse Harry. He was also challenged for a £lO stake to ride his horse, "Black Bess," against Zorab, ridden by Mr Pelichet, on April 17, 1849, at 1 o'clock; challenge accepted, etc. Soon after the arrival of the Bernicia with Dr Williams, he decided to take a trip to the Old Country, and coming back in the barque Dominion in 1851 with Dr Fred Richardson and family, he married in Dunedin in that year Miss Eliza Stokes, a sister of Mrs Richardson. Mrs Manning was as eccentric as he was; tall, striking looking, handsome and well educated, she was a great horsewoman, and rode many miles with him on his journeys down the North East Valley, or up through the dense bush to the various huts at Half-way Bush and further on. One of her peculiarities was to ride with an open umbrella. This was her constant practice, and she was well known for this many years afterwards when she was in the Warepa and Clutha districts. They had no children, but were very pleased to entertain those of the more fortunate who had them, by giving Christmas trees, tea parties, etc. On one occasion they asked all the children they could get, for some were not allowed to accept, owing to parental objection to the worthy couple, who were really not as bad as they were painted. The doctor started out to carve a huge pie which was gaily decorated with coloured ribbons running from the centre to the circumference of an enormous dish. As he cut carefully along each ribbon, he lifted out a triangular slice of fine brown pie crust, which covered the lid of a cardboard box of wonderful shape, and of still more wonderful contents. As each child lifted off its pie crust he or she found beneath a dear little live kitten. The delight of the youngsters present, and the grief of the absent ones when they heard the description of the feast, and what they had missed, can well be imagined.
The Mannings lived at "Stonehenge," in Dowling street, close to the water, about opposite to where is now the Garrison Hall. On one occasion the stockriders were bringing some cattle through the town to the yards on the beach, and Dr Manning, as was his wont wherever a horse was wanted, was in the thick of them, cracking his stockwhip and shouting and swearing like a Moss trooper. The cattle were wild creatures, which in those days ran where they liked in the bush for many months — huge, shaggy animals with enormous width of horn, ready to dart here or there, go over or through any obstruction, and almost impossible to manage with anything less than a club or a rifle bullet. On taking them down what was Princes street, one great animal broke away and made a tremendous leap straight for the window of "little Johnny Proudfoot's" house, which stood just about the site of the present New South Wales Bank. Here, on the cutting, was perched the shack aforementioned, and in it Mrs Kilgour busy sewing for her little daughter a big white sheet of calico. As the steer jumped for the house she bravely, as a woman will always do when her little one is in danger, stood up and flapped the white sheet right in the animal's face. With a bellow and a snort of fear it turned off and galloped down to the beach yard, where it was rounded up and killed. Dr Manning doffed his hat, and coming to Mrs Kilgour, complimented her on her presence of mind and bravery, and said, "My word, you are a brave woman, ma'am. If you had not been quick that animal would have been straight through your window." The little girl abovementioned, who is alive to-day, related this story, which she had only too good reason to have had indelibly impressed on her memory as one of the narrowest escapes of a long, adventurous life.
An instance of his impetuous and fiery temper was also shown by his action in challenging Mr Justice Stephen to a duel in January, 1852. This was the outcome of a case in the Magistrate's Court of Stephen v. Graham, Mansford, and Webb tor conspiracy, a case which had excited a very great deal of local interest, and stirred the whole community to its very foundation. The idea of the new judge, to the appointment of whom many of the settlers were opposed, having the effrontery to enter into a case like this, and having made many violent threats of personal violence, etc., and used much abusive and ungentlemanly language, caused great offence to many people. When the conclusion of the case came, a sum of money was speedily collected to defray the legal expenses of the defendants, who certainly had the sympathy of the inhabitants of the town. The prosecuting judge having expressed the extraordinary sentiment that "in threatening to break every bone in one of the defendant's body, he was only doing what any sensible person would do, who could not wait for the tardy and uncertain process of the law," most of the persons present were heartily disgusted, and a storm of hisses, cheers, etc., were heard in Court. The proceedings were further made ridiculous by there being upon the Bench of Magistrates the actual solicitor for the prosecutor, and this was allowed on the ground that on that particular occasion he was not acting. When His Honor, the prosecutor, left the Court he was intercepted by Dr Manning, who asked him, with a volley of unparliamentary language, what he meant by casting reflections upon the character of a lady in the community who was involved in the case, and he there and then challenged him to a duel, handing him back his card which the judge had left on him and with it handing him at the same time his own card in the old style necessary on such occasions. Judge Stephen, however, was not "taking any" duel, as the modern American would say, and promptly applied to the Court for protection, and Dr Manning was bound over to keep the peace. What then happened is thus recorded in the Otago Witness dated February 2, 1852:
THREATENED DUEL.
We are informed that Dr Manning has been bound over to keep the peace towards His Honor, Mr Justice Stephen, for twelve months in his own recognisance of £200 and two other bonds of £100 each. The affair appears to have arisen as a result of the scandalous expressions applied by His Honor to . . . in the late proceedings in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The doctor, conceiving it unnecessary to wait for the slow and tardy process of the law, took the opportunity of Dr Stephen's leaving the Court to formally return him a board which His Honor had left him, and to hand him at the same, time one of his own — but finding that course had no effect he yesterday sent His Honor a hostile message, upon which His Honor applied to the Resident Magistrate for. protection.
After a few years Dr Manning took it into his head to start farming combined with a country practice, and he took up land at Warepa, on the south side of the Clutha River. Here the people provided him with a house, there being no Government subsidies in those days, and a doctor had to make the best of a healthy country and be content with a very small income and much "payment in kind." The house was built for him in 1855, some finding labour, some timber, some providing the transport of material, others nails and tools and furnishings, etc. It was on the bank of a small stream, and soon became a very pretty cottage, for. the doctor and 'his wife were passionately fond of flowers, and made the place a beauty spot of rose and ivy, and other climbing plants, which literally permeated the house inside and out, giving it the appearance of a bower. Here, for many years the doctor lived, and was known for a hundred miles south and west, and thirty or forty miles north as the only doctor available. He was most difficult to turn out to those whom he disliked, and his language to them and about them was terrific; but his bark was worse than his bite, and he had a kindly heart in a rugged exterior. He would not take a fee from a poor man, but would hit up the rich or his betes noirs whenever he got the chance. One of his particular "pets" was the Rev. ——, who had on many occasions lectured him on some of his personal habits, particularly his language, which the parson objected to. When the rev. gentleman broke his leg, and sent for Dr Manning, he refused with many oaths to go near him, saying, "Let the —— send for the butcher at ——," meaning the other doctor who lived a great many miles away. Finally attending and satisfactorily treating the broken limb, he was asked to send in his bill at once. "You may be sure I will," said he, and in his account went for £50 next day. The clergyman was very naturally aggrieved at what he thought was an extra stiff charge, but sent a cheque with return messenger. Next morning the old doctor called at the back door of the Manse and asked to see Mrs ——. He handed her the cheque and said, "This is for you, yourself, but don't tell that swine in the front room anything about it," and doffing his wide awake, he walked off without another word, leaving the lady speechless.
Mr Macpherson, of the Wyndham Farmer, sends me the following interesting .story which he extracted from an old identity in his neighbourhood: — "Yes, I remember meeting Dr Manning in Clyde street, Balclutha, when I was about thirteen years old. He pulled up his chaise outside of a shop, and called 'hey boy,' and asked me to carry some package in to the shopkeeper. His good lady was with him, and when the old doc. eventually dragged his stiff old legs out of the vehicle to go into the shop, I was for the moment left talking to her gracious ladyship; there were two fine flossy fat black ponies in the chaise. A dear old lady friend of mine still living used to relate the following story: 'A certain man, residing somewhere in the Clutha district, had the misfortune to break his leg, and in his distress Dr Manning's services were invoked. To the courier who went for the doctor the latter growled out, "Oh, yes! I'll come! I'll fix his leg for him." When he arrived at the patient's side he seized the leg and gave it a twitch, and said, "Is this the broken one?" Of course, the man yelled with pain, whereupon the doc, with a chuckle of fiendish delight, retorted, "Ha ha, my fine fellow, you did not dream when you were riding the tail off the horse I once lent you, that you would have to call me in one day," and then he gave another touch up to the poor devil's broken limb.' (Note. — This is a good story, but we do not for a moment believe that Dr Manning did anything of the sort. He probably swore a good deal, threatened a lot, and in the ordinary setting of the limb - remember the absence of anaesthetics - probably hurt the man a good deal, and deliberately led him to imagine it was done on purpose. Dr Manning was no fool, and would have taken no risks of making the unfortunate sufferer's leg any worse.) When young Tom Ayson was a hefty youth of about sixteen he had hurt his shoulder somehow, and as the pain annoyed him somewhat, he submitted to an amateur's examination and advice, with the result that liniment for a 'slight sprain' was prescribed, and Tom's arm wouldn't hang in to his side properly, although it only pained him a little when in a certain position. Then he and Dr Manning met one day, and the old chap's eagle eye quickly detected the disproportionate appearance of the two shoulders. Ayson stripped, and 'a badly dislocated shoulder' was the professional verdict; 'and, damn it, boy, I haven't got any chloroform with me, so you're in for some pain if you want me to do you any good, etc. Ayson professed to have plenty of nerve, and 'at it' the old chap went — with the assistance of four men and a box weighted with iron (to use as a sort of anchor) and some rope to bind the frame together; and while the four men held Ayson, Doc. Manning twisted and worked the shoulder until he got the arm into the socket, and then ground away for some time to 'work out' the impure oil and other secretions that had coagulated in the socket. That's how Mr Tom Ayson told me, and as far as I can make out, he must have had an agonising experience. Anyhow, it resulted in a first-class surgical job, rough and ready though the methods were."
It may interest some of our young readers to know that in those olden times their predecessors had a regular Robinson Crusoe existence. Mr James Adam, in his interesting account of what life was like in the forties, describes in the Jubilee Number of the Otago Witness his primitive house. "On my ground in Princes street there was a clump of mapau trees, but before cutting them down I stretched a line through them for the ground plan of the house — trees which coincided with this line I left standing, merely cutting off the tops; and those which were out of the line were cut down and out in line by digging holes. By this plan the walls were made strong in one day. The Natives then put small wands or wattles across the uprights about 12 inches apart, fastening them firmly with stripe of flax, and over all they laced the long grass to the wattles and did the same to the roof, and at the end of four days my house was habitable. This was a grass house, and the "wattle and daub" houses were made in much the same way, except that the wattles were nailed across at intervals of a few inches inside to upright posts, then the whole was plastered inside with a mixture of-well-wrought clay and chopped grass. This made draught-proof walls, and the thatched roof was warm in winter and cool in summer; the windows were calico stretched across the openings, and the fireplace was generally a very large affair, occupying pretty well the whole end of the house; the floor was the natural soil packed level with the spade before the walls of the house were erected. .Mr Adam says: "My cottage stood where the Empire Hotel is (now the Grand Hotel site, with motor cars and trams crossing, and crowds of people on race days), but then my family could not see it for the trees. The entrance was through a leafy arch from Princes street, and at the first sight of the rustic cottage a cry of joy burst from my little girl and the rest of my family. Here was a sweet reward for all my labour and toil, for I was anxious that their first impressions should be favourable. Tea, the never failing beverage in the bush, was proposed. A fire was kindled outside, and the kettle hung upon a triangle of poles, while the frying pan was doing duty further down. That was the finest repast I ever had. The cottage apparently in the centre of an impenetrable bush; the shades of evening closing over us; the gipsy encampment round the fire; the happy countenances of the loved ones turned a plain cup of tea into a delightful picnic not easily effaced from the memory. (Think of this in front of Cargill's Monument in the year of grace, 1920).
On another occasion he had to drive his two fine, black ponies 25 miles in the depth of winter, through a heavy snowstorm, to see the child of a local schoolmaster ill with croup. The journey took many hours, as the roads were frightful and it was pitch dark, and on the doctor's arrival he found that the little sufferer had passed away. The grief-stricken father came out to settle with the doctor, who was almost frozen stiff in his buggy, but he said: "I won't take a penny from you to-day, but later on if you can find any five pound notes about, send one along to the old doctor, but don't be in any hurry about it." Another time Badcorn, of Milton, had broken his leg, and Dr Richardson had set it, and given careful instruction to his mates how to dress and attend to it. Unfortunately the man was left in a shed attached to a drinking shanty, and his mates or those responsible, took little notice of what the doctor had directed. Finally Sam Young went off and fetched Dr Manning, who said he had never seen such a leg in his life, huge with swelling, and discoloured, in fact on the way to gangrene. However, by hook or crook he saved the leg, and Badcorn lived to a ripe old age. Dr Manning used to go away for weeks at a time from his district to other places, such as Glenkennich, Crookston, Kelso, Tuapeka to attend in the houses of wealthy squatters, who would keep him, and give him a right royal time till his task was over. He would then come back to Warepa, to find the settlers had had to go many miles for assistance In his absence. He was very fond of dogs and horses. One of his dogs he called "Forty," because he got him on his fortieth birthday; another one, with which he was photographed, Carlo, he was seldom without. His horse, Harry, he was also apt to refer to as if human, and on one occasion when asked for a subscription to some sports' meeting he said : "No, I won't give a penny, but my horse, Harry, will give £10." Whether he stumped up for the horse the story does not say. Mr John Christie, of Warepa, whose descriptions are too good to be lost, says: "I always remember Dr Manning, for he attended me for a broken arm when I was a small boy. I remember his picturesque figure, his good lady, his retriever dog, his lurid language, his beautiful home in the Warepa bush beside a pretty stream. The verandah covered with roses, and with roses and ivy inside and outside the home, and pleasantest of all I remember his orchard and the apples which he so freely gave me; but such apples, and that was nearly 50 years ago. In appearance he was of foreign aspect, Italian or Spanish; long, black curls hanging down to his shoulders, dark skin, and black, piercing eyes. His professional skill was at that time considered of very high order, and his personality was unique. He had a specialty in language, particularly for anyone whom he considered a bit uppish, and as to road boards and roads they were to him the chief butt of his caustic tongue." Many other stories could be told of this strange, old-style practitioner, whose very dress came from another century, for he wore a John Bull style of collar, with turned down flaps, and an old English style of stock tie, long grey coat, and top boots, etc. He often expressed his great wish not to be buried anywhere near the aforementioned clergyman, and used to break into a volley of oaths when the subject was mentioned. Curiously when he did die, which happened in 1884, his burial place proved finally to be quite close to that of the man he hated so intensely.
The death of Dr Henry Manning occurred at his residence, Woodend, Warepa, on Wednesday last at the age of 73. He arrived in Otago on March 23, 1848, as surgeon of the pioneer ship, John Wickliffe, and practised in Dunedin for a few years, during which time he had the reputation of being a very clever surgeon. Dr and Mrs Manning (a sister of the wife of Fredrick Richardson) resided in a stone house in Dowling street, which was originally occupied by Mr James Blackie, the first schoolmaster in the settlement, and was subsequently the abode of the late Mr A. Livingstone, rector of the first high school. The deceased gentleman was somewhat eccentric at times, and there is little doubt that this peculiarity served to detract considerably from his usefulness as a medical man. He was, however, a genial gentleman and a popular favourite. Many years ago he removed to Warepa, where we believe he remained in practice up to the time of his death. Woodend cottage was visited by the writer some 16 years ago, and it was one of the most delightful places of residence one could wish to inhabit, embowered in roses and climbing plants of every imaginable shade of colour, and prettily situated near the Warepa bush. He leaves a widow, but no children. —(Otago Daily Times, December 9, 1884). -Otago Witness, 6/4/1920.
A photograph of Dr Manning, complete with luxuriant curls, may be found here. A case of Dr Manning's surgical instruments was donated to the Otago Early Setters Museum (now Toitu) in 1931. It would seem that the Rev.....was none other than the Rev William Bannerman, DD, the first Presbyterian Minister of the area and who is indeed buried not far from Dr Manning.
OF THE EARLY DAYS
INTERESTING DOCUMENTS
A DOCTOR'S CONTRACT.
(BY TELEGRAPH-SPECIAL TO THE POST.)
.DUNEDIN, This Day,
Captain Cargill's copy of the legal instrument by which he was appointed as agent for the New Zealand Land Company for the purpose of forming the settlement of Otago is now amongst the treasures of the Otago Early Settlers' Museum. The document bears the date of 22nd November, 1847.
Another exhibit of interest is the original of the charter of the ship John Wickcliffe from John Sands, the owner, by the company.
The letter from the court of directors of the company appointing Henry Manning surgeon superintendent of the ship is also now housed at the Early Settlers' Museum. In it the directors say that "To render easier performance of our duty and to ensure to you the will and co-operation of the ship's officers the following gratuities are sanctioned upon your certificate being confirmed by Captain Cargill: — To master 2s, to first mate 1s; and to third mate or the person who serves out provisions, 1s for every emigrant landed in the colony contingent on effective humane and orderly conduct towards the emigrants of those officers respectively; also to the schoolmaster, £10; to schoolmistress £5, to two constables 2s 2d each week. To hospital assistants 2s 6d each week, and to cook and cook's assistant 1d per week for each statutory adult between them."
Then follows a paragraph setting forth the remuneration of Dr. Manning: "10s for each adult landed in the colony, £1 for each birth on board, and gratuity of £25, but subject to a deduction of £1 for every death." What would the doctors of the present day say to such a payment-by-results contract? -Evening Post, 25/6/1925.
