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PATRIARCH OF HALFWAY BUSH
MR JOHN CUNNINGHAM
HIS NARRATION OF THE PIONEERING THERE
The Otago Early Settlers’ Association, not content with the formal recording and registering of voluntary contributions to the history of Early Otago, seeks diligently to get into touch with men and women who really can remember the doings of their predecessors. One of the latest of such findings was a pleasant experience last month, for Mr John Cunningham, who lives in retirement with his daughter in Helensburgh road, Halfway Bush, turned out to be a competent authority on the beginning of settlement m that district, and his story, as related to Mr J. J. Mallard (president of the society) and, Mr W. Paterson (secretary) bears the stamp of authenticity, since Mr Cunningham is educated, has a retentive memory, and can speak of events at first hand.
He was born in Dunedin, in a ferntree cottage that used to stand at the corner of Walker and .Princes streets, just below the old Munster Arms Hotel. His parents, who came out by the Philip Laing, with the grandfather, shifted to Halfway Bush at a time when it was densely wooded, making their home at a spot now known as Kirkland Hill.
One of the problems that James Cunningham, his father, had to face was as to how to get young John educated. There was at first no school on the hills within fair reach. When the first Wakari school was opened by Adam Johnston the youngster was sent there, being at the time between eight and nine years old. It was in a shed near Shanks’s house. He was one of six or seven pupils. Subsequently a school was built of clay just below the present site of the power-house, and John was duly enrolled there. Later on he attended the first Kaikorai school, about the size of a cottage room. It was at Brockville, not far from the site chosen by the Sonntags for their home. That school was afterwards shifted to Kaikorai Valley, and became the forerunner of the big school that the present generation knows. The shift was effected at the time when Macklin was master. It was then a day school and a night school. John was one of the night school pupils, having plenty to do during the day. All boys of that period had to work, and did not consider themselves ill-used. Such education as they got came from observation and stray thoughts from their elders. Mr Cunningham says that all he ever learned in school as a boy was of but passing value to him. The cane was the customary stimulant. For his real education he had to struggle, his upbringing teaching him that if he wanted to get anywhere he must fight for himself and study hard. He sums up the position thus; “At the age of twenty-one I couldn’t do a sum in long division, but when I was twenty-four I passed an examination in trigonometry and algebra which the university students have told me was as stiff as they had to pass. Every moment that I could steal away into the bush I took my books with me and puzzled things out for myself, continuing these studies at home after dark, sometimes till 2 o’clock in the morning. That this self-drilling was of some use to me as a start is shown in the fact that I qualified as an authorised and licensed surveyor, practised as such for forty years, half of which time I was on the Government staff, and now that I am eighty years of age I take my delight in the mathematical books you see around my sitting room. Mr Arthur and Mr McKerrow were the chief surveyors that I served under.”
Asked as to who were the first settlers in the Halfway Bush district, Mr Cunningham rattled off a number of names from memory — G. Godby, D. Laing, Haughton, A. McDonald, A. Shaw, P. Jenkins, Lang, P. Dewar, J. Kedzlie, A Mahon, Lewis, J. Gillies. J. Marshall, F. Marshall (no relation to J. Marshall), J. Matthews, Dunlop, Falconer, Shanks, Sherriff, Barr of Craigilea (the poet), A. Cameron. G. Hepburn, A. Watson, Mosley, A. Chalmers, A. McMillan, D Cameron, Borton, Hood, Cheyne, Jaffray, Roy, Canning, J. Bain, W. McLean, C. Allen.
Mr Cunningham also raked from his memory the names of early settlers at Brockville — A. Dalziel, W. McMeeking, B. Hollinghead, J. Cameron, D. Cameron, J McDonald, D. Christie, J, Laing, Jones, McPherson, Thomson, Oliver, and Williamson.
Whare Flat was so named because a man named Birnie built a whare there in 1856 or 1857. It was purely of the whare order, and tumbled to pieces many years ago. During and after the ’sixties many persons settled on or about that flat, amongst them McRae, McGuiness, McMillan, Gilchrist, McKenzie, McLaughlan, McDonald, Page, Grigg, Strachan, Kay, J. Cameron, McQuilkan, McLeod, Jolly, Bell, McIntyre, Hay, Anderson, Leishman, Thomson, McGregor, and Gibson. None of them did any good. The land was poor, and most of them became disheartened as to their prospects with gardening or small farming. Some of them tried for gold about the gullies near by, but none became enriched in that way. The hope of finding good gold was, of course, engendered by the reports from Tuapeka and the Dunstan. As a fact, Mr Cunningham says, there is gold thereabouts and in many of the ravines between Whare Flat and Waipori. He has found it himself in his wanderings, and so have many others. Encouraged by more or less promising “colours” fossickers have tried this country for years, some to this day, and not a few have got tucker results or something better. Nobody, however, has struck it rich. The early settlers of Whare Flat who set out to try were not experienced prospectors — they did not know the life, and they never got any find big enough to fire them to the work and hardship. Consequently, this last resource failing, they dropped away one by one, glad enough to get a little money and clear out when about 1875 the Dunedin Corporation acquired the whole countryside as a watershed.
Mr Cunningham’s professional career brought him frequently into personal touch with old Otago miners and mining, and he admits having caught the gold fascination. He was the first man to try the Barewood reefs, his partner in that venture being Allan Orbell and Robert Loftus Stanford, and he declares that but for his advanced years and touches of arthritis he would gladly exchange his life of meditation for the stimulating experiences of a fossicker in gullies and terraces not far away that have been gone over superficially, but never exhaustively tried as a digger would try them. Nobody now alive can speak more authoritatively than Mr Cunningham about the topography of the country immediately at the back of Dunedin, and it is worth while to record his statement that many persons make a mistake about the lay of the track from Waikouaiti to Dunedin — the alternative to the journey by sea. It was not a road, but a track, and a Maori track.
Starting from Waikouaiti, it ran over Steep Hill, round the head of Black Gully, then by the west edge of a swampy hill to the saddle at the head of Morrison’s Creek, thus over Flagstaff. The descent was by a leading spur to the North Taieri road. It is as to that part of the country that people make the mistake. The track led to the junction of the North Taieri road just about the place later called the Cottage of Content. Why it should have been given that name Mr Cunningham does not profess to know. He describes it as a shanty, a kind of store whereat the passing traveller could buy food and other things. The North Taieri road referred to was the one that led to Gabriel’s Gully, therefore there were many passers by, and not a few dropped their swags at the cottage to taste its goods. From the Cottage of Content the route was for about a quarter of a mile on the present North Taieri road to the point where the present North Taieri road deviates at Ashburn Hall Creek. Then by a leading ridge to the west side of White Swamp until meeting the present North Taieri road again at the point close to where the corporation’s afforestation officer now lives.
On that Waikouaiti track several settlers lost their lives in the early days, missing their way in snowstorms for want of the bushman’s knowledge. The first to perish that way was a man named Lewis, who had been employed by Johnny Jones and was trying to make his way back to his wattle-and-daub cottage. Mr Cunningham was a boy at the time, and did not know much about Lewis, but remembers the scare and the searching of Flagstaff, where the tragedy occurred, and also remembers Mrs Lewis and her great distress. -Evening Star, 19/6/1931.
We are informed that a prospecting claim has been applied for by a person who has discovered payable gold in a gully six miles from West Taieri. The sinking, we are told, varies from 3 1/2 to 5 feet, and the prospect obtained 1/2 dwt. to the tin dish. We believe that this morning a number of diggers leave town for the scene of the new discovery.
We are informed that a prospecting claim has been applied for by a person who has discovered payable gold in a gully six miles from West Taieri. The sinking, we are told, varies from 3 1/2 to 5 feet, and the prospect obtained 1/2 dwt. to the tin dish. We believe that this morning a number of diggers leave town for the scene of the new discovery.
The reported gold field at the North Taieri, is situated some twenty-four miles from town. It is on this side of the river, about ten miles above Hooper's. The prospector is Simon Fraser. He found gold in a small creek running into the Taieri, and on sinking into the bank obtained a prospect which induced him to visit town to ask for a prospecting claim. The prospect is stated to be 2 dwts to the tin dish, sinking from one to four feet. He produced in all about 4 dwts of gold, one piece of which averaged nearly 2 dwts. The creek takes its rise from Powder Hill, or as it is called in the map Boulder Hill. It is situated on a run formerly belonging to the present Superintendent, but its present occupant is Mr Boyd. The auriferous appearance of the locality was the subject of comment, we are told, years ago. -Otago Witness, 25/7/1863.
The discoverer of the Powder Creek gold, and gold further to the west, Simon Fraser (or Frazer) believed that he was entitled to the reward for discovering an extensive goldfield. He petitioned the local and (presumably after the end of the Provincial System of government in New Zealand) the national authorities on a nearly annual basis for the rest of the century and into the next.
Simon Fraser, now a resident of Wanganui, is petitioning the House for a reward for discovering gold in Otago. Hon. Mr McGowan presented the petition. Mr Fraser has petitioned the House, we are safe in saying, dozens of times on his claims. He must be an old man now, but probably with increasing years he is all the more convinced of the righteousness of his claim. -Thames Star, 6/7/1901.
Simon Fraser died, unsatisfied, in November, 1907, at 85.
Where gold appeared in the streams, there was a good chance of finding it in the hills above. This was tried a few years later.
Mr J. G. Johnston, a member of the party now prospecting on the Powder Hill Ranges, thus writes to Mr John Hughes, M.P.C.: — "The gully I referred to in my last did not answer our expectations, and we did not strike anything payable. We are now trying a spur leading from the west side of the Powder Hill to the Taieri. We have bottomed some shallower shafts, and are now engaged at one which we bottomed yesterday; it is 50ft. The sinking is mostly through hard quartz drift and cement or conglomerate boulders. We are driving this shaft, and will go in under the hill 50 or 60 feet. As the ground stands very well, it only requires a couple of sets at the shaft to keep the mouth of the drive all right." -Otago Daily Times, 8/10/1868.
The first reference to Whare Flat in "Papers Past" is to the ordination in 1866 of a Presbyterian Minister for the North Taieri area which included the Hindon diggings, up the Taieri River, and also Whare Flat. The next reference is the application for voting rights in the same year by one Donald McQuilkan who, having taken up 112 acres of land in the Flat, wishes to be an elector for the Taieri District. His claim is witnessed by his neighbour, James Cameron.
John Cunningham spoke of the settlers coming to the Flat in the 1860s and it is fairly typical of the Scottish settlers that a school for their children was an early requirement. So it is seen in the record that in 1866 there is a request or memorial made to the Education Board to reserve a portion of land in the valley for a schoolhouse. This was duly granted and in 1868 tenders were solicited to build the school. Neil McLeod was appointed the teacher.
At the end of 1869 another tender was offered - this one for the erection of a flax mill on the junction of the Silverstream and Whare Flat - presumably Whare Creek, where visitors now can park their car before exploring further up the valley of the Silverstream.
"Pakeha" was the pseudonym of lhh whose "rambles" are a fascinating collection of descriptions of the Dunedin area of his time.
RAMBLES ROUND DUNEDIN.
OVER FLAGSTAFF TO WHARE FLAT.
Partly with the object of seeing the district, and partly in the hope of discovering a fern which is now becoming somewhat rare in the neighbourhood of Dunedin — the Oleichenia Cunninghamii - the writer and a friend undertook this journey a few days ago. The distance direct is not very great, but as the way lies over Mount Flagstaff, which is over 2,200 feet high, progress is necessarily slow and rather fatiguing. Taking our way up Ross's Creek, past the Water Company's Reservoir, and across the Waikari district, we enter the bush which covers all this side of the mountain, and for a thousand feet or so, toil steadily up the steep ascent. The trees met with here are those generally distributed over the locality, comprising the pines, here and there a totara, plenty of pukatea, mapau, and hinau; while the undergrowth abounds in lawyers and supple-jacks, with a liberal sprinkling of lomarias, Dicksonias, cyatheas, and other sturdy growing ferns. On emerging from the bush, a gentle slope is met with, covered by a thick growth of flax, nearly every tuft of which had one or more flower stalks, and we spent some time in sucking the nectar from the flowers. This was very provocative of thirst, and when we reached the spot where the ruins of Drysdale's house stand, a rest and a drink from the, fine cool spring which trickles out of the ground there, were very refreshing. As this was the last water we were likely to meet with before reaching some of the creeks on the other side of the hill we thought it best to lay in a good stock, so after resting we had another drink and then tackled the ascent of the steep portion of the hill which yet remained. This was soon got over, and from the summit a magnificent view was obtained of the country inland, the Taieri plain, Waihola lake, &c. Dunedin and its vicinity, however, were completely hidden from view by a dense fog which filled the valley, covering the Peninsula hills, and Signal Hill, and rose high up on mount Cargill. The hills on the outer margin of the plain were also enveloped in fog, and though all was clear where we stood, we felt its cold breath on our cheeks ere we left the hilltop and began the descent on the side towards Whare Flat. This took us first over rocky ground, then down a long flax-covered slope, thickly interspersed with large tufts of speargrass (Aciphytta-squarrosa); which rendered walking a matter of extreme circumspection, as the least approach to their bayonet-like leaves was resented in a manner which would put the hardiest thistle out of countenance. At the foot of this slope we went across a small stream, over some curious ridges, down another slope and then we were on the Flat. The word, however, is quite a misnomer, for although there is undoubtedly some level ground, the Flat is made up of a series of narrow ridges with small irregularly-shaped valleys between them.
When fairly on the Flat, we found we were on a very different sort of country from that which prevails on the Dunedin side of the mountain. The igneous rocks had been left behind, and the tertiary system prevailed. All around were broken cliffs of a white friable sandstone, in streaks of various degrees of brightness, and one of them showed a thin seam of lignite. Another section was capped with a thick stratum of coarse gravel, some of the stones were of large size, and it looked very odd to see the rough boulders lying high up over the smooth layers of sandstone: it was just as if the strata had been reversed. Proceeding onward, we crossed another stream, the bed of which was covered with large boulders of a black basaltic rock, showing that igneous rocks were not far distant; indeed and a little way down the stream we observed a bed of basalt underlying the sandstone, which it had thrown up with a dip to the south. The water in the stream was very cold and pure, and the banks were clothed with thick scrub in which tutu and manuka were the most prevalent plants. Leaving this creek behind, we crossed some rough boggy ground, covered with coarse grassy rushes and flax, and then ascended a low ridge, which seemed to continue down the flat as far as we could see. One side of this ridge was a gentle slope down to another creek, the farther bank of which was covered with beautiful trees, rising high over the water; the other side of the ridge continuing broken and irregular, and clad with the common bracken (pteris acquilina). Continuing on our way, we found that the right and left hand creeks met a short way ahead, and their united waters ran through a narrow gorge, under the name of the Whare Creek, until they joined the Silverstream a mile below.
The lower part of the ridge was composed of a material which would have made the fortune of the settler on whose land it is situated, had it only been within a moderately easy access by dray from Dunedin. it was a fine snow white quartz gravel, just the very material for covering garden walks, and could be supplied in any quantity. It may come to be available yet. On a little level at the junction of the two creeks there is a commodious school and schoolmaster's residence erected. The teacher had gone off to town in the morning, but on enquiry we found that there were eighteen children who regularly attended school at present, a number which will naturally get larger every year. At this point we turned aside to call upon a settler who resided on the opposite slope, and were kindly invited to stay till tea was got ready. In the interval we had a pleasant yarn on things in general, and the district in particular, and started afterwards very much refreshed indeed.
Before resuming our march, we examined the banks of the creek for some distance below the junction, in order to ascertain if there were any specimens of the desiderated fern to be had. But we were too high up, and did not find any, so we returned, and crossing the creek above this school, struck away round the hill and along a fine tract of level country, across another creek, a fence or two, and found the beginning of a district road intended in time to traverse the flat from one end to the other. There is a good deal of cultivation going on at this point, and the fresh green of the oats looked lovely amid the dull brown of the fern-covered slopes. There is a large surface of land in course of being broken up for cultivation in the flat, this will yet be a fine agricultural district. A flax mill is being erected in the neighbourhood, for which there is every facility, there being plenty of flax and water-power, but one of the settlers said he would rather see a flour or a meal mill, as it would give them a better outlet for their produce. This may come in time, and there is no doubt that the large amount of water-power now running to waste in the various creeks will be utilised some day. After spending a little time in exploring the banks of another creek, we turned our backs on Whare Flat, and addressed ourselves seriously to the return journey, it being by this time well on towards seven o'clock. The road runs up a long spur which proceeds in a westerly direction from Mount Flagstaff. There is a considerable amount of formation on the roadline, but there is no metalling yet, at least in the lower part; a little higher up we found simply a track. For the first mile or so of the ascent it was very pleasant. The views of the Taieri Plain and the adjacent country were magnificent; but by and by as we got higher it became colder, and the fog which had been hanging about the hilltops all day, came down and completely hemmed us in, our view being limited to a circle of a few yards in diameter. Nevertheless, we plodded steadily on up the hill, only remarking now and then how singularly large the stones and bushes near the track looked. Some boulders, that a few yards off looked as big as houses, were found to be only three or four feet high. Every ridge we crossed we expected to see the houses at Halfway Bush in the valley below; but no sooner had one ridge been surmounted than another appeared beyond. In this way we had travelled considerably longer than we expected, when, all at once, as if by magic, the fog cleared away, and we saw the sun shining beautifully. We instinctively stopped and looked back, and a grand sight lay before us. We had got above the fog, and the Taieri Plain and all the land about was covered from view by a great sea of milk, from which protruded as islands Maungatua, Silver Peak, the hill on which we stood a summit away down towards Tokomairiro, and far away to the west the long range of the Lammermoors, here and there streaked with snow which glittered in the rays of the setting sun. The scene was both strange and lovely, and the effect of the slanting rays of the sun on the mottled surface of the cloud was very peculiar. But it did not last long for, as we looked, the view became lost and the fog closed round us again. We were at this time on a partly level piece of ground with a long, rocky-looking ridge on our right, and my companion wished to get to the top of this ridge to look over. But judging from the way the fog was coming that nothing could be seen it was thought best to stick to the track. It was evident to both of us that we were on the wrong track — we had passed the proper line in the fog — and there was nothing left but to go ahead until we reached some landmark; and we had not far to go, for after climbing another few hundred yards, we found ourselves on the top of the hill, on the very spot we had crossed some six or seven hours before. This was agreeable. But from this point the way down was familiar to the writer, so we plunged into the fog and down the rough slope as rapidly as possible, considering the light was fading, and reached the Waikari road shortly before dark, and from thence to town was easy work.
December 22nd. Pakeha. -Otago Daily Times, 1/1/1870.
WANTED, TENDERS for Driving from three to four tons flax fibre weekly from Whare Flat to Dunedin. Apply James Souness, Filleul Street. -Otago Daily Times, 7/10/1870.
Two years later, land in the Silverstream Valley was bought by a John McRae. His property was the furthest up the Valley, and he named it Glen Rae.
Two years later, land in the Silverstream Valley was bought by a John McRae. His property was the furthest up the Valley, and he named it Glen Rae.
THE OTAGO INSTITUE
ANNNUAL MEETING (excerpt)
On Anniversary Day, March 23rd, came off the tenth of the Club's excursions. It was to the top of Mount Cargill, and was perhaps the most interesting and the most successful of the season. A large number of the higher growing ferns and other plants were collected, and the members enjoyed to the full the splendid prospect of the surrounding country obtained from the summit. The eleventh trip was also a mountain one, being over the Flagstaff ranges to Whare Flat, and thence among the gullies to a spot where an outcrop of coal had lately been discovered. This was reached, and specimens obtained, and the locality examined. The twelfth, and concluding excursion, was to the School Creek and neighbourhood, during which attention was given mainly to the tree ferns — some difficulty in regard to their recognition existing among the members. From the above brief statement, it will be seen that the Club has not been idle, but has performed a fair amount of pretty hard work. -Otago Witness, 3/8/1872.
News of the Week
Pheasants are exceedingly numerous on Whare Flat. Passing through there, the traveller encounters them at every turn. As many as ten were yesterday observed flushed out of a stubble field. To the numerous bush patches and open land, undisturbed by the report of guns, the large increase is attributed. -Otago Witness, 23/5/1874.
FOR LEASE, 115 Acres of Land at Whare Flat, Apply to John Brook, Manse street, or James Cameron, Whare Flat. -Evening Star, 20/7/1874.
Gleichenia cunninghamii, a very pretty and graceful fern, was the attraction for which the Naturalists' Field Club met yesterday, and proceeded over the Flagstaff Range to Whare Flat, where, on a sandy patch above the Whare Creek, yet grows a patch of the desiderated plant. The party was a numerous one, and took their way by the Reservoir, and up to Ross's, where a rest was had by the creek, to gain wind for the path up the steep hill side. Some good ferns were gathered in the bush on the way up, and a few more when the open ground was reached. Once on the top of the hill the extensive view was reward enough for the toilsome ascent. On proceeding over the ridge, the party straggled a little, but had all got together by the time the Flat was reached. After going over the locality, and getting a fair harvest of ferns and lycopods, an adjournment was made to the creek, when lunch was partaken of, prior to encountering the return journey. This was made by a different route, leading up to the top of the hill, and down the town side to the Wakari road, and so home by Balmacewan. Nine new members were elected, and before parting it was arranged to have another trip on Saturday, the 29th inst. -Otago Daily Times, 15/4/1876.
In the late 1870s the solitude of the Whare Flat area was intruded upon by the nearby city. Dunedin had expanded rapidly during the Otago gold rush and was in serious need of a new water supply. The Ross Creek catchment and reservoir scheme of the previous decade was inadequate and the catchment area of the Silverstream was surveyed as ten times the size.
The deciding factor in the planning of a water race to take Silverstream water to Dunedin was the height of the ridge over which the water would come from one catchment to the other - from the Taieri area into Kaikorai Valley. This dictated the height and route of the race, the planned length of race and need for tunnels to pass under higher places. The Silverstream race has a few tunnels which can still be found — some cut through rock to shorten the length of race and some made in a "cut and cover" fashion to pass under farmland and prevent contamination.
Before the Silverstream itself was reached, both in terms if distance and on the timescale, other streams on the way were planned to be taken in by the race. This required the compulsory buying of land.
EXTENDED WATER SUPPLY FOR THE CITY (excerpt)
I understand that the watershed of Ross Creek, from which the present supply is obtained, is only 960 acres, equal to 1 1/2 square mile, or a tenth of the proposed one. As shown by the above table, the first nine miles give double the present drainage area, and five times that amount are secured before reaching the main supply. Flagstaff Creek was measured roughly during the late frost, when very low. It showed a discharge of 800,000 gallons in 24 hours, which is about 40 gallons per head for the present population of Dunedin. The other creeks have not yet been guaged in any way. (Flagstaff Creek joins the Silverstream close to where the Three Mile Hill Rd crosses it. Its intake weir can still be seen in the forest.)
The race is set out to a gradient of 1 in 660, equal to 8 feet a mile, which is the usual fall. For the 16 miles to Whare Flat, up to which the survey is complete, the ground is remarkably favourable, being generally stiff clay, neither are there many gullies that require fluming or large culverts.
The works on the remaining portion of the route are much heavier than on what is past, and will possibly embrace a short tunnel of 10 or 12 chains through a spur between Whare Flat and the Silverstream Valley.
In view of the importance of having the new supply available quickly, I would recommend that the following steps be taken immediately: —
1st. That formal application be made to the Government for permission to lay the water-pipes through the Look-out Tunnel.
1st. That formal application be made to the Government for permission to lay the water-pipes through the Look-out Tunnel.
2nd. That the Government and Waste Lands Board be requested to reserve from sale all Crown lands in the Silverstream watershed above the commencement of the race.
3rd. That the necessary proclamations and notices be issued for securing the land. I shall be glad to confer with the Corporation's solicitors and yourself on this subject whenever convenient.
4th. That a valuator be at once appointed to purchase the necessary land, water rights, right-of-way, &c. He should commence the work at once, even before the necessary powers to take the land compulsorily are obtained. This may prevent speculation and the establishment of fictitious rights.
5th. Whenever the above arrangements are completed, a contract for the first section of the race, say to Flagstaff Creek, 8 1/2 miles, should be let, and immediately thereafter the laying of the mains may be commenced. This will ensure a temporary supply in case of need till the remainder of the works are completed. Meesrs Bright Brothers inform me that the first shipment of the pipes is in the James Nicol Fleming, now 60 days out.
I would also recommend that Professor Black be requested to furnish a detailed analysis of the water of each creek, samples of which will be sent in by Mr Campbell. I may add that Mr Mirams has been consulted in the various matters connected with the new water supply, and he has come over the ground with me, so I believe he agrees with the general tenor of this communication.
In conclusion, I beg that the Corporation will not hurry us too much with the work. The plan of a temporary supply above indicated will remove all fears of a scarcity, and every pound judiciously spent on surveys and every hour's consideration beforehand, is a saving of hundreds of pounds in construction, and an earnest of the efficiency of the scheme.
— I have, &c, W. N. Blair, Consulting Engineer. -Otago Daily Times, 24/10/1877.
3rd. That the necessary proclamations and notices be issued for securing the land. I shall be glad to confer with the Corporation's solicitors and yourself on this subject whenever convenient.
4th. That a valuator be at once appointed to purchase the necessary land, water rights, right-of-way, &c. He should commence the work at once, even before the necessary powers to take the land compulsorily are obtained. This may prevent speculation and the establishment of fictitious rights.
5th. Whenever the above arrangements are completed, a contract for the first section of the race, say to Flagstaff Creek, 8 1/2 miles, should be let, and immediately thereafter the laying of the mains may be commenced. This will ensure a temporary supply in case of need till the remainder of the works are completed. Meesrs Bright Brothers inform me that the first shipment of the pipes is in the James Nicol Fleming, now 60 days out.
I would also recommend that Professor Black be requested to furnish a detailed analysis of the water of each creek, samples of which will be sent in by Mr Campbell. I may add that Mr Mirams has been consulted in the various matters connected with the new water supply, and he has come over the ground with me, so I believe he agrees with the general tenor of this communication.
In conclusion, I beg that the Corporation will not hurry us too much with the work. The plan of a temporary supply above indicated will remove all fears of a scarcity, and every pound judiciously spent on surveys and every hour's consideration beforehand, is a saving of hundreds of pounds in construction, and an earnest of the efficiency of the scheme.
— I have, &c, W. N. Blair, Consulting Engineer. -Otago Daily Times, 24/10/1877.
"Necessary powers to take the land" must have been an ominous phrase for the settlers of Whare Flat.
In accordance with a resolution passed at the special meeting of the City Council held on Monday night, the Water Supply Committee met yesterday morning to consider the question of the appointment of an engineer to review the reports that have already been furnished to the Council on the schemes for the extension of the city water supply. It was resolved to retain the services of Mr D. L. Simpson, the Engineer of the Harbour Board, who has had considerable experience in the construction of water races throughout the Province. Mr Simpson has agreed to personally inspect both watersheds, and to furnish the Corporation with a full report upon Wednesday week, if the Harbour Board will allow him to do so. The special meeting of the Council to discuss the water supply question will be held upon Monday, December 3rd, instead of Monday next. A number of property holders at Whare Flat and Green Island have served the Council with notices objecting to the diversion of Abbots creek, and to the proposed race being taken through their land; while the Caversham Municipal Council has given notice that it intends to dispute the Council's right to enter upon the construction of the proposed works in connection with the Silverstream scheme. Mr Blair has furnished a short additional report with reference to the tributaries of the Waitati. Particulars will be found in our report of the meeting of the City Council. -Otago Daily Times, 21/11/1877
CITY COUNCIL
EXTENDED WATER SUPPLY (excerpt)
The following letter was read from Mr. W. N. Blair, C.E., :-
Dunedin, 19th November, 1877. Sir — Since last writing you on the subject of the new water supply I have had rough gaugings made of the tributaries of the Waitati at the level at which they must be intercepted in order to bring them over the Leith saddle. Their daily discharge is a little over 800,000 gals — the two main branches give 727,000 gals, which is exactly the quantity estimated by Mr Gordon. In contrast to the above I would remind you that Flagstaff Creek on the low level Silverstream scheme gives 800,000, and the three creeks in Whare Flat 1,500,000 gallons. — Yours, &c, (Signed) W. N. Blair. The letter was referred to the Water Supply Committee.
A letter was read from Mr Donald McQuilkan, of Whare Flat, objecting to a race or aqueduct going through his land, sections 46 and 47, block IV., Dunedin and East Taieri, on the ground that it cut up his land and rendered a part of it useless, besides depriving him of the water which he required. Referred to the Water Supply Committee. -Otago Daily Times, 21/11/1877.
WANTED, Six good General Laborers at Road making, Apply on the works, Longridge, Whare Flat. McKenzie -Evening Star, 20/2/1878.
SALES BY AUCTION
FREEHOLD FARM.
WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, and CO have received instructions from Mr Wm. Gilchrist to sell by auction, at above time and place (unless previously disposed of by private contract),
His Farm at Whare Flat, containing, 163 acres, all fenced and cultivated. -Otago DailyTimes, 4/3/1878.
TOWN EDITION.
PUBLISHED AT 5.15 P.M.
For rest of News see First Page.
LATE ADVERTISEMENTS.
HALFWAY BUSH ROAD BOARD.
TENDERS will be received by the Clerk at the Half way Bush until 5 p.m., or Tuesday, 15th October, for Work at Cameron's Creek, and Formation of Road to McMillan's, at Whare Flat.
Specifications may be seen at the office of the Engineer, Mr Robert Hay, Princes street. JOHN STONE, Clerk, pro tem. -Evening Star, 7/10/1878.
Cameron's Creek is the creek also known as Kay's and now known as Sligo's.
Mr Donald Reid, on behalf of Mr William Taylor, of Whare Flat, has forwarded to the City Council a claim of L2,375 as compensation for damage and loss sustained by him arising from the Silverstream waterworks. -Evening Star, 15/1/1879.
Mr William Taylor's claim in today's money, at time of writing, amounts to $415,615.
THE COURTS
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION (excerpt)
OUR DUNEDIN LETTER (excerpt)
WRIGHT, STEPHENSON, and CO have received instructions from Mr Wm. Gilchrist to sell by auction, at above time and place (unless previously disposed of by private contract),
His Farm at Whare Flat, containing, 163 acres, all fenced and cultivated. -Otago DailyTimes, 4/3/1878.
TOWN EDITION.
PUBLISHED AT 5.15 P.M.
For rest of News see First Page.
LATE ADVERTISEMENTS.
HALFWAY BUSH ROAD BOARD.
TENDERS will be received by the Clerk at the Half way Bush until 5 p.m., or Tuesday, 15th October, for Work at Cameron's Creek, and Formation of Road to McMillan's, at Whare Flat.
Specifications may be seen at the office of the Engineer, Mr Robert Hay, Princes street. JOHN STONE, Clerk, pro tem. -Evening Star, 7/10/1878.
Cameron's Creek is the creek also known as Kay's and now known as Sligo's.
Mr Donald Reid, on behalf of Mr William Taylor, of Whare Flat, has forwarded to the City Council a claim of L2,375 as compensation for damage and loss sustained by him arising from the Silverstream waterworks. -Evening Star, 15/1/1879.
Mr William Taylor's claim in today's money, at time of writing, amounts to $415,615.
THE COURTS
McRAES
STEALING CATTLE. Charles Lewis was charged, on the information of Kerin Claffy, with stealing ten head of cattle.
Kerin Claffy was the first witness examined. In the month of April he owned ten head of cattle, which were running on Run 121, and about six miles from Macraes. Last saw them about three months ago. They were then grazing about three miles from the township. On the 18th April went to look for the cattle, but could not find them, and gave information to the police. Next time he saw the cattle was on the 29th April in the paddock of accused at Whare Flat. Saw prisoner then, and asked him how my cattle got into his paddock. He replied he did not know. Said to him it was very strange how the cattle came there without being driven there. He replied that part of his fence was down. The paddock was about 45 or 50 miles distant from where I had last seen the cattle. I never sold the cattle to prisoner or any other person.
Cross-examined by the Bench: The conversation I have described between accused and myself took place in the presence of Constable Gallagher. Some parts of the fence of the paddock in which the cattle were were down.
Thomas Graham, a carrier, residing at Macraes Plat, deposed: Saw the cattle which are the subject of the present inquiry, about the 2nd April last, six miles from Macraes, at a place called Manuka Flat.
In answer to prisoner, witness said there were four or five of the cattle he could recognise without reference to their brands. There were fourteen of the prosecutor's cattle at the time he saw them. The four or five he could identify were among the fourteen he saw.
Charles Dore, a shepherd at Cottesbrook station, deposed: On the 18th of April he was mustering sheep, and saw the prisoner near the Peat Hills driving a small mob of cattle — ten head — towards Dunedin or Whare Flat. Noticed they were steers and heifers, and there was one yellow and white bull. Could not describe the cattle beyond that the top of each left ear was cut off. The place where he met prisoner was about 30 or 36 miles from Whare Flat. Saw the ten head prisoner was then driving in the possession of Mr Claffy at Macraes that day.
Cross-examined by prisoner: When I noticed prisoner I might have been from a quarter to half a mile distant. When I spoke to you I was about 15 to 20 yards from the cattle.
Examined by the Bench: When I asked prisoner where he got the cattle, he said he had bought them up-country, and was taking them to Whare Flat. It would take from two to three days to drive the cattle from where I met prisoner with the cattle to Whare Flat on account of the nature of the country.
Constable Gallagher deposed that on the 29th April he apprehended prisoner at Whare Flat. The cattle, the subject of this inquiry, he found in the paddock of the prisoner. Prisoner said he did not know how they came there. He did not drive them there.
In answer to prisoner, the constable said: The lower part of your fence was down.
Prisoner, when asked if he had anything to say, remarked: "A great deal of the evidence that has been taken I will confute. I am not guilty of the charge."
Prisoner was committed for trial in Dunedin at the next sitting of the Supreme Court.
Inspector Mallard came up specially from Dunedin to support the prosecution. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 15/5/1879.
Charles Lewis was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to two years with hard labour.
THE SILVERSTREAM WATER SUPPLY.
As was stated in our last issue the Mayor and councillors yesterday inspected the works in progress on the Silverstream contract. The idea of the visit was that by personal inspection the Corporation officers should be afforded an opportunity of deciding whether the works were being truly and satisfactorily carried out. The party, consisting of His Worship the Mayor, Crs. Aldrich, Barnes, Isaac, Carroll, Woodland, Ross, and Gore, the City Surveyor (Mr S. H. Mirams), Mr Campbell (engineer for the works), and Mr Massey (town clerk), left the Council Chamber at 9.30 a.m., and, proceeding by way of the Halfway Bush, reached the race shortly after eleven o’clock. It was then deemed necessary to partake of a “snack” before the work of inspection began. The party then proceeded to walk over the completed part of the contract, the traps meanwhile going over the hilltops. The Town Clerk kept to this more pleasant style of' travelling, as also did two of the most loquacious members of the Council, who thereby lost an excellent opportunity of holding forth at a future time on the advantage of the proposed supply. The first contract, now completed and handed over to the City Corporation, extends from Look-out Point to Flagstaff Creek, a distance of about seven and a half miles, and cost about L9,000. As in the case of contract No. 2, the work was let to Messrs Proudfoot and McKay. This section commences at Flagstaff Creek and terminates at Whare Flat. On the second halfmile some very bad ground was met with, and since the cuttings were formed a number of slips have taken place, but these will have to be removed at the contractors' risk, as provided for. About forty men are now employed on this contract, which should be completed before the end of the year, and which includes two tunnels. The supply of water then available in the City will be about five million gallons per day, or more than double the quantity now obtainable. The length of the contract is about six miles, the price being L5,200. Before completing the visit of inspection luncheon was indulged in on the roadside, the sharp walk across the hill tops having increased the visitors’ appetites. Contract No. 3 is now being surveyed preparatory to being let. It extends about seven miles north from Whare Flat, and will connect with the Silverstream at two places. It is estimated that when this contract is completed the supply will be equal to 10,000,000 gallons daily. The quality of the water met with at various stages of the journey was excellent. The creeks tapped on the first two contracts were Gow’s, Flagstaff, Jolly’s, Whare, and Whare creek proper. Next year it is proposed to plant trees along the prettiest parts of the race, and when this is done the Silverstream contract is sure to prove a pleasant spot in the summer months for pic-nic parties.
The reservoir will be about 400ft higher than the present reservoir. The return journey was made by way of Taylors flax Mill and Mr J. B. McGregor’s homestead — an almost impassable road. In crossing the Silverstream at one place the carriage containing the Mayor and three of the heaviest members of the Council got stuck, and when at length the ford was reached and the parties had barely time to congratulate themselves on having regained terra firma, the springs of the vehicle gave way. The whole of the party then dismounted and followed the example of His Worship, who, quickly divesting himself of his coat, commenced repairing in a workmanlike manner the damaged trap, which was soon set right. The drive was continued along the West Taieri and Mosgiel roads, a stay being made at Mosgiel for tea. Dunedin was reached shortly after 8 o’clock, everyone having spent a most enjoyable day's outing. -Evening Star, 21/10/1879.
On the same date was published a differing account of the same tour of inspection. It is worthy on inclusion for it racier style of writing (although the prevalent racism of it introduction is unfortunate). It also playfully suggests that, while the pleasures of the day were indulged upon, the business of the day was barely touched. No doubt the journalist involved was calculating a fine balance between reporting the day's events fully and hopes for a future invitation.
THE SILVERSTREAM WATER SUPPLY.
VISIT OF INSPECTION TO THE RACE.
Whenever the Ministers in Wellington — or at least certain of them — felt jaded and overdone with the affairs of State, they paid a visit to the Natives. A grand korero was discovered to be necessary, and forthwith the Hinemoa was ordered out and a trip North entered upon. A week or so of dried shark and other Native luxuries — and it is wonderful how like to those of civilisation these "other" luxuries have become — was generally enough to recruit honourable gentlemen. In New South Wales we are told about a Zigzag Railway, to which, whenever the Ministers there want a holiday, a picnic is initiated. The work is an important one, and in the public interest needs inspecting, and it can be inspected none the less efficiently because some pleasure is mixed with the business. So the Dunedin City Council, when they want a picnic — a day's outing far from city strife and din — discover that the Silverstream Water race wants inspecting. Once on a time, it is declared, they took horse and set out in a body to find the source of the proposed Silverstream supply; but riding on a warm day, to man of heavy weight unaccustomed to the saddle, if it have any pleasure in the anticipation thereof is apt to become somewhat painful in its reality. The city fathers begun, as they sometimes do, nearer home, to disagree upon the mountain top; they fell out about the road; some went one way, some another; and there is not a well-authenticated record of any single one of the councillors seeing what they went out to see — the Silverstream where the water for the city was proposed to be taken out of it. The foregoing is perhaps not true, and we shall be willing enough to contradict it if be; but on the face of it the story has a certain amount of probability. Ever since the days of John Gilpin, horses and city fathers have been, as Pinafore has it, "antithetical elements." But nowadays the councillors set about a trip of inspection to the Silverstream race with a wonderful amount of sagacity and forethought. They have been there before more than once. They have carriages ordered to the door, a cold collation carefully stowed beside them as they take their seats, and Roederer and pale ale provided ad libitum. Given good weather, therefore, and a good time is pretty well a matter of certainty. Yesterday morning, for which time a trip of the kind alluded to had been planned, was delightful as regarded the weather, and everything else requisite had been provided. There were four double-horse carriages drawn up at the Council Chambers at 9 a.m., and certain needful cases having been securely fixed inside, there took their seats — his Worship the Mayor, Crs Carroll, Isaac, Aldrich, Woodland, Barnes, Gore, and Ross, Mr Massey (the town clerk), Mr Mirams (the city engineer), and Mr Campbell (the waterworks engineer); and of course the representatives of the Press were there also. Through Roslyn and Half-way Bush was the route chosen to reach the tace, and a pleasant drive indeed it was in the glorious spring morning. The councillors were all in the highest of spirits, and debateable subjects were forgotten; Councillors Isaac and Barnes rode amicably together, oblivious of any such thing as an attempt to "sit on another man's nest" by moving for new lamp-posts for Leith Ward. Councillors were up on important business, and they rose to the occasion, thus merrily did the cavalcade proceed till the race itself was reached, which was at a point on the main road to West Taieri, on the hillside just above the plain. It was now somewhere after 11 o'clock, and as the important work of inspection was about to begin, a "snack" was deemed a requisite. This having been successfully negotiated, the work began. Mr Campbell explained that from the then position of the party to Whare Flat, where the race in the meantime ended, was about six miles. The carriages could go over the hills and meet the party at Whare Flat with the eatables. Councillors Isaac and Woodland and the Town Clerk immediately reseated themselves, and henceforth took no interest in the race. They sat calmly in the carriages, and went over the hills contentedly, out of sight of the race altogether. They did not even pretend to have come out for an inspection of the race. The others manfully started on the walk, and for a time took much interest in the inspection, and declared that the charming society of the bushy gullies, and of the windings in and out and round about of that wonderful race, repaid all the trouble of the pedestrian exercise. The beautiful Taieri Plain was beneath them; the blue empyrean above them, all the glory of the spring morning on the breezy uplands roundabout them, and they were doing their duty to the citizens who had placed them in such a position of responsibility and trust. But about four miles and a-half of "duty" knocked Poetry off its perch; and when Whare Flat appeared in the distance, with the trap drawn up, and Cr Isaac, busy spreading a snowwhite cloth over a couple of gin-cases, the track of the race was left for a district road, and a bee-line made for the buggies and the bottled besr. A very pleasant time of about half-an-hour was then spent. Mr Job Wain had supplied the good things, and very good things they were. Even the members of the party who had kept to their seats in the traps discovered a wonderful appetite, while the others ate and drank as men who deserved it. Presently another start was made, and after a drive of about three quarters of a mile the end of the race was reached, at what is known as Whare Creek. This creek is a very fine one, having a strong stream of water running on a bottom of boulders. The water is as clear as crystal, and such good judges as were of the party passed a verdict of the very highest class upon its quality. Leaving this creek, the whole party proceeded in the carriages down its side till the valley of the Silverstream was reached, and then began one of the roughest drives on record. The road along the bank of the stream was inexpressibly rough, full of ruts and holes; while, to add to the discomfort of travelling, the bed of the stream had to be crossed some dozen times, and the fords were of the most primitive character, the boulders making progress most difficult. The climax was reached when, in a clayey rut, the carriage containing the Mayor, Crs Woodland, Aldrich, and Carroll broke down. An examination showed that the springs on both sides were broken, and there were grave doubts about getting the vehicle home. Everybody went to work, however, and with flax the springs were tightly bound up again, thus rendering traveling possible. The worst feature of the affair was that it involved a delay of about three quarters of an hour. After some two or three miles of this kind of country, better roads were reached on the Taieri Plain, near Mr N. J. B. Macgregor's homestead, and the main road to West Taieri was soon arrived at. Here a split occurred, our trap taking the hill road back to town again through Half-way Bush, the others going on round by Mosgiel and Saddle Hill. In the former were Crs Isaac, Ross, and Aldrich. The others, after tea at Mosgiel, arrived in Dunedin shortly after 8 p.m. The trip, looked at from a pleasure point of view, was thoroughly successful. There were the pleasurable elements of a delightful drive in the early forenoon, a lunch well-deserved by a stiff walk, the excitement of bad roads, and a break down, and a calm drive in the evening through the rural scenery of the Taieri Plain. No doubt, also, from a duty point of view, the trip must have been satisfactory to the City Conncillors.
About the race itself that everyone went to see, we need say very little. The portion to be inspected was the second contract, extending from Flagstaff Creek to Whare Creek. Flagstaff Creek is situated close to the West Taieri road, which runs down the hill on to the plain from Half-way Bush. It was up to that creek the first contract — now completed — extended, and the water from it is now running into Dunedin. The second contract extends from Flagstaff Creek round the spurs northward in the direction of Upper Silverstream to Whare Flat. On this flat three creeks are tapped — Jolly's Creek, a southern branch of Whare Creek, and Whare Creek proper. Messrs Proudfoot and Mackay are the contractors over this portion, as they were over the first constructed, and although the contract time is up in about a month it is not expected that they will have the work out of hand before three months. In two or three places the country through which the track runs is very rotten, and slips of large extent have occurred, which will take a good time to clear out. In respect of slipping country, however, No. 2 contract is not so bad as No. 1.
When this contract is completed, the creeks from which the water will be brought into town will be Gow's and Flagstaff Creeks (on No. 1 contract), and the three mentioned on Whare Flat (on No. 2 contract); besides a few small tributaries on the line of route. No doubt whatever can exist that the supply from these sources will, in addition to the present supply, keep Dunedin beyond the possibility of a scarcity of the needful element in the summer months for years to come; while it need scarcely be said that the water is of the purest quality.
To reach the Silverstream, a further length of race of about six miles is required, and we believe the Council will lose no time in bringing this under contract also. This, however, is only to the nearest branch of that stream, the Council having a right to take water also from the northern branch, seven miles further away still. The taking of water from this farther source will probably not be gone on with in the meantime. -Otago Daily Times, 21/10/1879.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
The value of the Silverstream water supply is being appreciably felt in Dunedin at the present time, although perhaps the fact is not generally recognised. Had there been nothing but the Leith supply to depend upon, the long spell of dry weather we have experienced would have brought it to a very low ebb, and if the water had not been stopped entirely, at any rate all engines would have had to go short, while there would have been no possibility of a continuation of the boon we have steadily enjoyed —that of having the streets watered. In the Silverstream race at present there is a supply from two creeks, Gow's and Flagstaff, and those have become considerably reduced in volume owing to the dry weather — so much so as to cause a fear of the supply giving out. The depth of the available water in the reservoir is now only 20 feet. The Corporation, however, have obtained a promise from the contractors that by next Saturday Jolly's Creek will be turned into the race. This will give nearly double the quantity now coming in, Jolly's being the first of the three Whare Flat creeks, and one of considerable size. If this were in, therefore, all fears of a scarcity of water would be done away with. -Otago Witness, 21/2/1880.
Into the late summer of 1880, water supplies for Dunedin were becoming precarious, even with the added flow from the Whare Flat area. City Councillors were divided on what to do...
THE WATER SUPPLY.
At the meeting of the City Council yesterday the above question formed a subject of consideration. The first matter that came before Council in connection with it was in regard to the
SILVERSTREAM WATER-RACE. Mr Campbell, engineer for the Silverstream forwarded the plans and specifications for the final section of the Silverstream race, extending from Whare Flat to Silverstream, a distance of nearly six miles; the estimated cost of the work to be about L5000
Clr Barnes said he was going to make a statement on his own account on this matter. He had taken the trouble of going over the whole race at his own expense, and he was prepared to say that it would be a complete failure. Instead of L30.000 it would cost L130,000. It would be a complete failure.
Cr Fish mentioned that Mr Davys, the water inspector, gave a very bad account of the supply, and as a practical man he would suggest that Mr Davys be asked to be present at next meeting of the Water Supply Committee.
Cr Carroll moved that the plans and specifications be referred to the Water Supply Committee and that that Committee be empowered to call tenders for the construction of the section. As regarded what had been said by Cr Barnes, the difficulties in connection with the Silverstream race could be met by a little puddling.
The Mayor: That is being done now.
Cr Barnes: It will all cost money. It will be a complete failure.
Cr Carroll referred to the necessity of the race being gone on with, and the work not stopped half-way. If the present warm weather lasted, the supply of water to machinery would have to be stopped, and that was not to be borne in a city like this.
The motion was carried.
THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.
The City Surveyor reported as follows with regard to the water supply: —
I regret to have to report that there is only 8 feet of water in the reservoir and that if we have to use the low-level supply for the Water-of-Leith, I fear that it will be scarcely fit for drinking purposes. The only way to reduce the consumption is to discontinue the water-engines.
Cr. Carroll said this was a question more serious than the majority of the citizens were aware of. He would recommend that it be left to the Mayor, if rain did not come on shortly, to stop the supply to machinery.
The Mayor said the Water Committee were fully alive to the necessity of watching the supply, and had met twice last week.
Cr Fish expressed his opinion that the Silverstream scheme had been an unmitigated bungle all through. He had no hesitation in saying so. Mr Davys, the water inspector, had told him that at one portion of the race, at McGregor's he thought it was, a whole (hill?) would come down. That should be looked to.
Cr Barnes said they would never get a supply of water. It all leaked away in the race.
The Mayor said the leaks were being puddled, and that was found to meet the difficulty.
It was agreed that the question of acting in the matter of cutting off the supply should be left in the hands of the Mayor and Chairman of the Water Supply Committee.
Immediately upon the termination of the Council meeting, notices were issued of the Council's intention to stop the supply to all machinery. -Otago Daily Times, 10/3/1880.
ANOTHER SILVERSTREAM COMPENSATION CLAIM
Mr William McRae is complaining of the unprotected and dangerous state of the Silverstream water-race passing through his property, wrote “I have come to the direful conclusion that the life and property of myself and all that belong to or depend upon me in the Glen Rae valley, are placed in imminent jeopardy by the careless manner in which immense boulders of stone are precipitated down the face of the cliff, and gathering a fearful velocity and momentum in their descent, make havoc of all that impedes their downward progress, be it animate or inanimate. Nor is this all, but as not a few of those boulders have found temporary resting places in the face of the cliff, protected meantime by scrub, twigs, etc., all these must in the near future, on the least disturbance of their repose, either by rain, frost, or any other cause, make and take a second departure on their own account, and thus, when least expected, prove the missiles of death and destruction to man, beast and property with which they may collide in their downward career, so that in view of the circumstances stated above, and many more contingent upon them, the only alternative left me out of the difficulty, though to me and my family a very painful one, is to quit and give up possession of all my lands there to the municipality of Dunedin to use and deal with as that corporate body may think proper, and to this step which only a cruel necessity and a due regard for life and property could possibly reconcile us to." For this evacuation Mr McRae claimed L1,000, or failing an acceptance of the offer, “aided to no inconsiderable degree by the aversion and reluctance which himself and every member of the family felt in quitting the old home,” he offered to accept L500 provided the land was properly fenced — “a step which the most ordinary prudence shows to be imperative as well as in some small measure compensate for the damage to the pasture caused by the debris of the race having been thrown over it, together with the loss of cattle already sustained in this unprotected race." On Cr Gore's motion it was resolved to inform Mr McRae that tenders had been accepted for fencing the land. -Evening Star, 24/8/1880.
One thousand pounds works out at roughly $172,000 these days. It is possible that, by the time the race was being built, the McRaes' farm was becoming unprofitable. Mr Calcutt, the Council's "valuator," stated: "I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of yesterday's date, enclosing claim of Mr John McRae, which shall have attention. I have seen Mr McRae on the matter, but his demands appear to me so over-stated or extortionate as to prevent my agreeing with him."
The farm was offered for sale in 1886 but there were no takers — the McRaes were still complaining about the effects of the race in 1887. Apart from the above, there is little to find about the McRaes. I assume they were father and son due to their ages at death and it seems that they moved to the Middlemarch area — William died in 1898, aged 98 and John the following year at 42.
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| Middlemarch Cemetery, DCC photo. |
Alexander, brother of William, sold the Nenthorn property in 1907, the same year he married Jessie Sligo. He farmed at Hartfield, between Middlemarch and Hyde until his death in Dunedin Hospital in 1929.
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| Andersons Bay Cemetery, DCC photo. |
DUNEDIN INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION (excerpt)
Mr M. Donaghy, of Dunedin, shows a variety of rope, cords, and lines of his manufacture from manilla, and from flax and hemp of different kinds — including, of course, the so-called New Zealand flax, or Phormium tennax. His lines are all well laid and even.
Messrs Passmore Bros., of Whare Flat, near Dunedin, have exhibits of a similar class, but with nothing exceeding an inch in diameter. Their cords, lines, and twines have a very good appearance. -Evening Star, 18/6/1881.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of Mr William McRae are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of his late Wife, which will leave his residence, Whare Flat, Silverstream, To-morrow (Tuesday), the 30th inst., at 9a.m., passing through the Octagon about 2 p.m., for the Southern Cemetery.
GOURLEY AND LEWIS, Undertakers, George and Maclaggan street. -Evening Star, 29/8/1881.
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| The grave of Bessie (62 years, arrived 1854, died 1881) and Peter (11 years, died 1873), McRae. Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo. |
1881 also saw another Councillors' inspection of the Silverstream water supply project.
THE CITY COUNCILLORS AT THE SILVERSTREAM.
Saturday morning was not at any time very promising for a pleasure trip, and at nine o'clock, the hour appointed for the City councillors to leave the Town Hall for the Silverstream, it was decidedly unfavorable. A fine Scotch mist was falling, and the sky gave promise of soon converting it into a heavy rain. The hearts of our civic fathers are, however, large, and it takes a good deal of wet to turn them from the path of duty. Shortly before the hour of starting one of them was noticed gazing anxiously — first at the threatening sky, and then at the light summer garments he had on. When he appeared at the Town Hall he was clad in more sombre vestments. Another worthy member waved his hand majestically, in the distance, to the party, but shook his head, with a very emphatic "no," when asked to accompany them. The members of the Council whom a Scotch mist and threatening sky did not turn from the path of duty were His Worship the Mayor, and Crs Gore, Gilchrist, Blyth, Thomson, Carroll, Barnes, and Fagan; Messrs J. R. Sinclair (solicitor), S. H. Mirams (City Surveyor), J. E. F. Coyle, C.E., and A. Hardie (a claimant for compensation for land taken and damage done by the Silverstream), were also present. Some little delay was experienced in the start, but by half-past nine the party, comprising three closed carriages and a provision vehicle under the superintendence of Cr Barnes, were well under-way. They toiled wearily up Stuart street, through the Kaikorai, and along the Half-way Bush road to the place of halt — a merry little jolt of about two hours. The first consideration after so long a journey was naturally the refreshment of the inner man, and to this pursuit everyone applied himself strenuously. So vigorous, in fact, were the efforts of two worthy councillors that they nearly resulted in a casualty. The provision cart, which had been unhorsed and left at the side of the road adjoining a steep incline, was mounted by one and vigorously attacked in the rear by another, when suddenly it was found to be slowly moving towards the incline. A general rush was made and the danger happily averted. The vigorous member in the rear, however, was not satisfied, and he gave expression to his dissatisfaction by remarking that there must be something wrong when he could push as much as two horses could draw. Since the time of leaving town a great change had been experienced in the weather, which was now almost all that could be desired, and the main object of the trip being to inspect that portion of Messrs Hardie and Rossbotham's land through which the race ran, a start was made to accomplish it. A short distance through the bush brought them to the race, and about half-an-hour's gentle walk to Mr Hardie's estate. The nature of Mr Hardie's claim is for land (close upon seven acres) taken by the race, and for damages sustained by the severance of his property. The amount originally asked by him was L200, but he now expressed willingness to take Ll50, and that amount being considered reasonable, His Worship the Mayor was authorised to settle it to-day on certain conditions. Mr W. Rossbotham's, the next and only other place to be visited, was found to be a considerable distance from the first claimant's, and nearly an hour was spent in reaching it. The object of this visit does not appear to have been connected in any way with a settlement of the claim, but rather to find out if possible upon what grounds it had been made. It is stated as being for ground (about an acre) taken by the race and for the loss of water in Gow's Creek, which formerly ran through plaintiff's land, and for this loss the plaintiff claims L3,003 2s 6d. ($567,560 in today's money) The land here is of little if any more value than Hardie's, so that the claim may be said to be almost exclusively for the water right. As the party wandered slowly along towards where this valuable stream enters the race some anxiety was evinced to see it and ascertain the nature of the water that was worth so long a price. One worthy councillor believed that when they got to the creek they would find no more water in it than in his flannel shirt. This, however, was found to be a mistake, and though it was only about 12in wide by 1in deep, it certainly contained more moisture than any flannel shirt ever yet worn by a city councillor. The general opinion on seeing the stream was that the Corporation could do very well without it, and more than one member present suggested that they should make a hole and let the water run back into its natural course again. An effort no doubt will be made on the case coming on for hearing to got the Court to visit the spot before determining the amount of compensation to be awarded. The inspection of this property having concluded the business of the day, a speedy retreat was made in the direction of Whare Flat, where the luncheon was to be; and from the hearty manner in which the whole party partook of it, it was evident that their seven miles' walk had not impaired their digestive organs. The rusticity of the feast seem to add additional charm to its enjoyment, and it was some time before the party could be got homeward bound. Through Mosgiel was chosen as the return trip, and after a very enjoyable day's outing the party again arrived in town at a little before six. -Evening Star, 24/10/1881.
On the above occasion, the intended destination of the intrepid Councillors was not the end of of the race at its intake on the Silverstream. The completion of the trip had to wait for the official opening of the scheme. It was as picturesque a walk then as it is now.
OPENING OF THE SILVERSTREAM WATER-RACE.
The actual completion of this very important scheme for the water supply of Dunedin and suburbs was yesterday commemorated by a formal opening ceremony, at which his Worship the Mayor and the greater number of the councillors assisted. Besides several officers in the employ of the Corporation who have lent material aid to the work in questions, invitations had been issued to the four city M.H.R.'s., of whom unfortunately only one (Mr M. W. Green) was able to attend. Messrs Fish and Dick are at present away from town, and an apology was offered by Cr Fagan for the absence of Mr Bracken, who was unable to escape from business duties. At 8 o'clock precisely some four or five buggies, hired for the occasion, were in waiting at the Corporation buildings, but the arduous task of safely bestowing the various cases representing the commissariat for the day necessitated some slight delay, and it was therefore nearly a quarter to 9 before the cavalcade finally took its departure. The scenery passed through is sufficiently well known to need no description, and suffice it to say that at about 11 o'clock the party halted at Whare Flat, about three and a-half miles from the head of the race, where preparations for their arrival were evidently afoot. A structure, which it is difficult to accurately describe, had been hastily erected, resembling an arbour and a Maori whare in proportionate degrees, save that it was lightly — very lightly — thatched with evergreens, and, as subsequent experience proved, not entirely weatherproof. In front of this triumph of inventive genius (which sheltered a well-provided table) two flags had been hoisted in honour of the occasion, and a small number of spectators, awaiting the arrival of the procession, were exuberant in their manifestations of approval. The band of municipal wayfarers here partook of some slight refreshment, and immediately afterwards commenced the ascent of the adjoining range in order to fittingly assist at the formal ceremony of "turning on the tap." Arrived here, it was discovered that a small stage had been erected over that portion of the race, through which protruded an iron handle, to be turned by his Worship, who thus raised a slide below and threw the channel open. From the upper part of this arrangement was suspended a bottle of real Roederer, which it further became Mr Ross' duty to break with a two-foot rule, thus affording the citizens of Dunedin a taste of that celebrated compound in the first water drawn from the new supply. His Worship then, amid loud cheers, declared the Silverstream water-race formally opened, and expressed no doubt as to the scheme proving an immediate success.
The question that then arose was whether or not it was due to the ratepayers that their representatives should push on manfully to the front — meaning, of course, the head of the race; and having regard to the fact that the appetites of the company still needed sharpening, it was decided that such a sacrifice was demanded of them. A walk therefore commenced along the picturesque ranges through which the race has been conducted, and before the 3 1/2 miles had been covered it became evident that one or more of the party had "had enough." However, the journey was pluckily completed, and arrived at the head of the race, perseverance was amply rewarded by a glimpse of the fairy glen from out of which the silver stream emerges. Only for bodily fatigue, further exploration might possibly have been attempted; but as matters stood it was deemed advisable to use all promptitude in returning to the buggies and the bottled beer. Half a mile on the journey back the chairman of the Water Supply Committee, who took naturally a not unimportant part in the day's proceedings, showed signs of being "baked," and by a masterly stroke of diplomacy secured a mount from one of the guests. After this arrangement all progressed merrily, and at about 2 o'clock the party sat down to an excellent cold luncheon in the whare aforesaid. This having been done full justice to, his Worship the Mayor rose to propose the usual loyal toasts, which were duly honoured.
The toast of "The Legislative Assembly and House of Representatives" followed, to which Mr M. W. Green, M.H.R., briefly responded. Owing to his recent connection with the Legislature he was enabled to say but little on the subject. It seemed from the returns they had before them that a large number of members in the last Parliament had been defeated in their elections, but he had no doubt that the new representatives would for the most part prove equal in ability. He had great pleasure that day in visiting the source of what was henceforward to be the Dunedin water supply, because he wished to acquire a practical insight into all local works of any importance, so that in the event of their coming before the House he might be in a position to speak of them from personal knowledge. His desire now was to act as a representative of the city as well as of the particular division for which he was elected. He would conclude by proposing success to "the new water scheme," coupled with the names of those gentlemen who had been so active in carrying it into effect — Messrs Blair, Campbell, and Mirams.
Mr Blair said that he had come out there to enjoy himself, not to make speeches, and would not trouble them further than to thank his Worship and the Chairman of the Committee for the entertainment provided for them. He must express his pleasure at witnessing the completion of this work, which he regarded as an undertaking of great importance; and though he might perhaps have been the originator of the scheme, he must point them to Messrs Campbell and Mirams as the gentlemen who had carried it into effect. For his own part he thoroughly believed in it, and would advocate it against all other schemes that had been proposed.
Mr Campbell followed, stating that he also believed the scheme to be the best one that could be devised for the supply of Dunedin, chiefly because it could be prolonged indefinitely, so that they would never have to do as other cities had done — continually originate fresh methods of water supply.
Mr Mirams, who also responded, after some preliminary remarks, said that he, too, thought the Council had secured a first-class service, and that if necessary with the increasing population, they could bring down three times the quantity now required.
Several other toasts were then proposed and responded to, amongst those of "The Visitors," "The Mayor,'' "The Vice-chairman," &c, and the proceedings finally terminated with a few eulogistic remarks by his Worship on the indefatigable manner in which Cr. Barnes had worked with Chairman of the Water Supply Committee and during the whole period of his connection with the Council.
A very pleasant excursion was thus brought to a close, and the party returned to town by 6 o'clock. -Otago Daily Times, 16/12/1881.
OUR DUNEDIN LETTER (excerpt)
In a recent communication reference was made to the Gaelic Society existing in this city. During the past few weeks several of its members have been agitating for the establishment of a Gaelic Church in Dunedin, with the Rev. A. C. Gillies as its pastor. The advocates of the movement claim that if a Church where the service was carried on in the grand old Gaelic tongue was established, flocks of hearers would attend from the Half-way Bush, Whare Flat, Saddle Hill, Mosgiel, Brighton, and other places to listen to the Word of God in their own native and dearly-loved language. As yet, however, no decided steps have been taken in the direction of the formation of such a Church, but it is confidently expected that the idea will be put into operation before the end of this year. In and around Dunedin there are a large number of Highlanders who speak the Celtic tongue, and who would no doubt be glad of having a place of worship such as is contemplated. -Tuapeka Times, 22/2/1882.
A very enjoyable evening was spent by the young folks of Whare Flat, in the school-house there, on Friday evening last, when a conversazione was given to the Passmore family on their leaving the district. Several people from Dunedin, Kaikorai, and Peninsula were present. Misses Ferguson and Sligo and Messrs W. Hay, J. Stewart, and J. Passmore contributed to the success of the evening by rendering songs in good style. Dancing was kept up till an early hour. -Evening Star, 28/2/1882.
WHARE FLAT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) July 24th.
The weather has for a week past boon something terrible Some snow has fallen, but it is now melting, and causing the streams to rise very high, and as there are no bridges on Silverstream it is very dangerous for any person crossing on horseback, as there are sometimes logs floating down the river, which are apt to break a horse's leg. As the rain is now all over, we shall be able to get on with our ploughing as soon as the ground is a little dry. The roads are very bad, especially that part know as "The Cutting." One of the residents has been going round the Flat with a petition to have that part of the road metalled, and it is understood that the work will be taken in hand as soon as possible.
There have been several slips on the water-race, which will employ the workmen for a good many days. They have got a very good plan of preventing slips. When a big slip is to be cleared away, some of the clay is thrown aside, and the rest is propped up with with wood. By this means a considerable saving is effected by the Corporation.
Everybody hereabout is busy with "bunny." Some of the residents are rather backward in laying poison, as they think they can effect a clearance with their dogs. They will find out their mistake in time, however. If they tried phosphorus, it would be much cheaper for themselves. The poisoned oats are very destructive to the pheasants when they are laid on any distant run. -Otago Witness, 29/7/1882.
PROVINCIAL (excerpt)
A correspondent writing from Whare Flat states that in taking a walk from the Whare creek along the race to the intake lately he saw some hundreds of yards of slips, and only three men employed shifting them. They are at work in wet and dry weather trying to master them, but so far as he could see they are not fit to cope with them. It would take (he says) a dozen men two or three months to get the water through. The men have no place in which to dry their clothes, only having a tent, and Sunday is the only time they get to cut and carry their firewood. -Otago Witness, 26/8/1882.
WHARE FLAT. (FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
November 17. Entertainment. — A social gathering and conversazione took place on Friday evening last in the Whare Flat schoolhouse, and proved a most enjoyable evening's entertainment. A number of visitors were present from Roslyn, Maori Hill and Kaikorai, but I regret to state that a few old faces in the district were conspicuous by their absence, for reasons best known to themselves. It is to be hoped that in future they wil1 take off their war-paint, bury the hatchet, and go hand in hand with one another as in previous years. The committee of management were deserving of praise for the excellent manner in which the affair was carried out. -Otago Witness, 22/11/1884.
KNOX CHURCH (excerpt)
The Outfield. — The Session reports with pleasure that services were held on alternate Sabbaths at Whare Flat and Mount Cargill, and at Leith Valley monthly. The services at Whare Flat are in the charge of Mr R Chisholm, one of the elders, who receives valuable assistance from Messrs Heaney and R. Brown. The people of that secluded district show their appreciation of them by their steady attendance. -Evening Star, 2/4/1886.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
Mr B. Bentham wrote calling the attention of the Council to the state of the cutting opposite Mr Robert Kay's house, Whare Flat, and suggested that a two-railed fence be erected on each side of the road for a distance of about a chain and a-half. — The inspector was authorised to fence the road. -Otago Daily Times, 3/4/1886.
WHARE FLAT.
November 11. — A most successful picnic was held here on the Prince of Wales' Birthday. It had been looked forward to by old and young, and the weather proving fine there was a large attendance. A thoroughly enjoyable day's recreation was brought to a close by a dance in the schoolhouse at night, the assembly not breaking up till daybreak. -Otago Witness, 18/11/1887.
SERIOUS GUN ACCIDENT.
Mr George Black, aged about twenty years, employed in the office of Messrs Macassey, Kettle, and Woodhouse, was the victim of a misadventure on Saturday afternoon. He was in the company of Mr Charles Irvine (son of General Irvine), these young men having been out holidaying in the bush beyond Whare Flat. Rabbit shooting was their principal pastime. Each had a gun. About five o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday a rabbit started up within a few yards of them, and Irvine was just in the act of firing at it when Black unfortunately rose up from a stooping position and received the contents of the gun in the back of his head. The spot where this happened was at South Coal Creek, about four miles beyond Whare Flat, and close to the reservoir. Some miners were located not far from the scene, and on being apprised of the occurrence four of them made a stretcher, and on it they carried the injured man some four miles down to Whare Flat, depositing him at the schoolhouse, where he received such attention as those present could give him. One of the men then rode into town for a doctor, and at 9 p.m. information was also telephoned from Roslyn to the Dunedin police. No time was lost in getting Dr de Zouche to proceed to the scene of the accident, he being accompanied by Constable Duggan. The doctor rendered what aid was possible under the circumstances, and then ordered the sufferer's removal to the hospital. Mr Jolly, a settler, very kindly got out of his bed, went to the fields for a horse and yoked it up, and Black was then taken to town at an easy pace, arriving at the hospital between five and six o'clock on Sunday morning. While being conveyed to town the patient was conscious, and the constable asked him how it happened. The reply was: "It was quite accidental." That was all that was said. Constable Duggan saw that Black was very weak, and forebore questioning him further. The medical examination revealed the extent of the injury, it being found that Black had sustained a compound fracture of the vertex of the skull. An operation performed by Drs Gordon Macdonald and Hocken resulted in the removal of a number of fragments of bone, and it was found that the brain tissue was lacerated. The sufferer had resided with his mother at Heriot row; his father is in Melbourne.
Mr Irvine makes a statement in effect as follows: — "We were going along by the water-race. I had a double-barrelled gun; Black had a single-barrelled one. We saw a rabbit running round the curve at the edge of the bush on a bank. Black stooped down to watch it. I got a sight of it, and aimed, as I thought, over Black's head, but he rose up suddenly. He had his left side to me, and the shot struck him near the back of the head. He was only about four yards away from me. I ran to him and wrapped a handkerchief round the wound, put a coat under his head, and got him a drink of water from the creek. He tried to speak, but could not. After I gave him the drink he said something, but I could not catch what it was. I went to the nearest farmhouse, and asked the man there to come. He said he could not, but he directed me to a place about three miles away, where I got assistance."
It will be observed that fully twelve hours elapsed from the time of the accident until Black arrived at the hospital. From all that we can learn, there must have been a certain amount of dilatoriness displayed by the settlers of Whare Flat in dealing with the case as the exigencies of the circumstances demanded. It was not until the doctor and constable arrived that arrangements were made for sending the sufferer to town. Had this been set about at the earliest possible moment, instead of first waiting for the doctor, the very long delay in obtaining the necessary succor would have been considerably shortened.
On inquiry at the hospital this afternoon we were pleased to learn that Black is progressing very favorably, considering the serious nature of his injuries. -Evening Star, 12/11/1888.
DUNEDIN, Nov. 12,
George Black, the victim of the shooting accident at Whare Flat, in which he received a charge of shot in the back of his head, is a little better this morning. Later news says that, contrary to expectations, he is making favourable progress, and has been conscious this afternoon and evening. -South Canterbury Times, 13/11/1888.
FATAL TERMINATION TO AN ACCIDENT.
George Black, a young man who was injured on the 10th November by receiving in the back of his head the charge of a gun of his companion, Irvine, while out rabbit shooting, died last night. -Taranaki Herald, 28/11/1888.
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| Southern Cemetery, Dunedin, DCC photo. |
A case of interest to those connected with our schools will be heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday. Mr Sutherland, teacher of the Whare Flat School, is being proceeded against at the instance of a parent, who alleges that his child was beaten about the head, with the result that brain fever was brought on. Damages are laid at L20. -Evening Star, 4/3/1889.
A SCHOOLMASTER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT.
THE CASE BREAKS DOWN.
The ease of Havard v. Sutherland was heard at the Resident Magistrate’s Court to-day. The plaintiff, W. Davey Havard, caretaker of the Silverstream water race, residing at Whare Flat, sited Alexander Sutherland, head-matter of the local school, for damages, it being alleged that defendant had on the 5th December assaulted and beaten plaintiff’s daughter, Eleanor Ann, “whereby plaintiff was deprived of her services in the management of his household affairs, and had to incur expense for medical attendance.”
Mr Sim appeared for plaintiff, Mr Solomon for defendant.
On the application of Mr Solomon witnesses were ordered out of Court.
In opening the case Mr Sim said that the circumstances under which the claim arose were these: Defendant was the head-teacher in the Whare Flat School, and plaintiff’s daughter was attending that school. On the day in question defendant had occasion to punish the child, and instead of administering it in a proper way, he struck her on the head with a book. The girl went home at the dinner hour, and was unwell and unable to go back to the school in the afternoon, She was, in fact, taken seriously ill, and two doctors had to be called in to attend her. The girl was about twelve years of age, and therefore unable to administer her own affairs, so that there could be no doubt about the right of plaintiff to recover under the circumstances. Learned counsel quoted ‘Pollock on Torts’ in support of the contention that, it being once established that the child was of some pecuniary value to plaintiff, it was competent for His Worship, sitting as a jury, to grant damages in excess of the pecuniary loss sustained by plaintiff. The rendering of services was the foundation of the action, but that once established there was a right to claim damages for a larger sum.
Plaintiff said that defendant was headteacher in the Whare Flat School, and had been there for about three years. Plaintiff’s daughter attended that school last year. She was twelve years of age last August. She lived at home, and used to assist in fetching wood and water, and in other duties. On the 5th December witness went home at 5 p.m., and found his daughter lying on the sofa, complaining of her head being bad. Witness put wet cloths on her head, and continued that treatment until the 10th. She did not get better under witness’s treatment. She did not go to school, and was unable to do any thing at all. Witness went for Dr Stirling on the 10th, and he arrived on the 11th, and attended her until the latter end of January. She was ill all the time. Witness got Dr Ferguson on the 11th January. He saw the child only once. Witness saw defendant on the 7th January. Defendant asked how the girl was, and witness said he had better go and see her. Witness said that he intended to hold defendant liable. Defendant replied that he was very sorry; he had been as cautious as he could be after what witness had told him before. He admitted that he had struck the child, and said he was very sorry. The conversation referred to as having occurred previously took place in November. The child had been unwell, and witness had told defendant that he would have to be careful not to strike her on the head, as that was the cause of her complaint. These were all the conversations that witness had with defendant.
To Mr Solomon: Witness had been on good terms with defendant; there had, at any rate, been no feeling on witness’s part. He had not reported this matter to the School Committee, nor to any of the members of that body. It was not correct that witness had said to Mr McKenzie, chairman of the Committee, that he would do an injury to Sutherland before he left Whare Flat. If Mr McKenzie said so witness would say it was a lie. The first time witness heard that defendant had struck the child in December was through a Mrs Thomson, of the Kaikorai. When Dr Stirling arrived he examined the child, who said that she had been struck on the head. Witness knew on the 10th December that the child was ill through the teacher striking her on the head, but he was not quite sure about it until the doctor came. Witness had not spoken about the matter to defendant until the 7th January; he did not know it was necessary for him to do so. It was untrue that witness had in the presence of witnesses said that Sutherland had done nothing to hurt his child. He had never said so to anybody. The child was ill in November, and complained of pains in her head. Witness then got medicine for her from Dr Stirling. Witness had in November complained of Sutherland striking the girl, and he promised he would not do so again. This was said in the presence of Miss McMullen. Witness had not brought Miss McMullen as a witness; he did not think it was necessary, as Sutherland had told her he was not going to deny that.
Eleanor Ann Havard said that on the 5th December Mr Sutherland punished her. He was working out a sum on the blackboard. “We could not give the answer, and he cracked us on the head with the sum-book.” By “us” witness meant herself and three other pupils. It was not a very large book, but Mr Sutherland hit witness pretty hard and hurt her. She did not go to school after dinner, and had not returned since. Her head was sore that afternoon. Mr Sutherland had cracked her on the head about a month before, using a supplejack with a knob on it, and she was then absent from school for about a fortnight. She never had pains except when she was struck on the head.
To Mr Solomon: Mr Sutherland had often hit her on the head with a stick and made her cry. He had struck her on the head more than a dozen times — ever since she had been in the third standard — for about two years. He struck her about every other day. She did not have pains in her head until November.
His Worship: By that she means, of course, lasting pains.
Mr Solomon: Quite so.
Witness, continuing, said that on the 5th December Mr Sutherland hit her with the side of the book, she standing with her face towards him. [Blow illustrated on Mr Solomon’s head.] Witness did not tell her father; she told her mother and Mrs Thomson. Witness had never fallen out of a tree, and had not told Maggie McKenzie that she had fallen.
Dr Stirling said that he was consulted by plaintiff about his daughter on the 13th October last. He prescribed for her according to what plaintiff told him. Witness saw the child on the 11th December, and judging from the symptoms considered that there was acute congestion of the brain. He attended her until the 10th or 11th January. She had not then quite recovered. He had seen her to-day, and she did not seem to have any fever, and was quite intelligent.
Mr Sim: Would such a blow as the girl has described — with a book of that sort...
Witness: No, not with a book of that sort. It would not be sufficient to induce congestion. I do not see how it could.
Counsel here produced a letter, written by witness, which was handed into the Bench.
His Worship, after reading the letter, said that the doctor had evidently been led to understand that the girl had been severely beaten, but he afterwards thought that the book produced was not sufficient to cause the injury.
Mr Solomon said that that was just the position he took up.
His Worship: Suppose you had never been told anything about the beating on the head, would you have suspected blows?
Witness: I should fancy there must have been some injury caused by some outward application.
Mr Sim: And you say that a series of blows would be sufficient to cause what you saw?
Witness: Yes; I think so.
To Mr Solomon; Witness could not imagine the blow from the book causing the “bogginess” or bruises that he found on the head. If the child had been severely beaten for a period of two years witness would expect to find marks of the beating. The injury on the head was of recent date, and might have been caused by a fall.
To Mr Sim: Witness had not charged Mr Havard yet; but supposed he would charge a couple of guineas, as on a previous occasion.
Maria Rolleston, (Rollinson?) eleven years of age, said that she was in the same class as Eleanor Havard. On the last day that Eleanor Havard was at school they were doing sums shown by Mr Sutherland on the board, and when they could not give the answers he tapped them on the head with an arithmetic book.
Mt Sim: How hard? Just take the book and hit me in the same way. Witness did so, and Mr Sim remarked that if it was like that it was a very gentle tap. [The book used was Goyen’s ‘Exercise and Compound Rules’ — a cloth bound volume of 102 pages.]
To Mr Solomon: The children did not cry when struck, and on other occasions when Mr Sutherland hit them on the head with a stick he did not hurt them.
Mr Solomon: And this is the inhuman schoolmaster!
Millar Anderson, a boy attending the Whare Flat School, said that he was one of those struck with the book. It was a pretty hard blow. Mr Sutherland had more than once struck Eleanor Havard on the head with a stick.
To Mr Solomon: None of the children cried on the day they were struck with the book. Mr Sutherland was sometimes kind to them and sometimes he wasn’t.
Sarah Leishman, ten years of age, was another of those who had been struck with the book and with the stick. It was a gentle tap with the book. The stick stung at first.
Mr Sim: Has Mr Sutherland spoken to you about this case?
Mr Solomon: Is that a fair question to put to your own witness?
Mr Sim: When did he speak to you?
Witness did not answer.
His Worship: What did Mr Sutherland say?
Witness, after some hesitation, replied: He did not say anything about what I was to say here.
Mr Solomon: Did he not tell you simply that you were to speak the truth?
Witness: Yes, sir.
Mr Sim intimated that that was all the evidence he had to offer.
Mr Solomon submitted that a case had not been made out, and on Dr Stirling’s evidence defendant was entitled to a nonsuit. That was the only proper way to deal with the case. A more absurd and preposterous charge he (learned counsel) could not think of.
His Worship: A master has a right to chastise a child, but the manner and amount of the chastisement must be correct and proper. It is clearly not proper to beat a child about the head.
Mr Solomon did not say that that was right, but all he had to meet was a charge of assault on the 5th December, and the evidence brought forward by the other side showed that that was impossible. He contended, therefore, that he was not called on for a defence.
His Worship: Do you say anything, Mr Sim?
Mr Sim would admit that he had not made out such a case as he had expected, and it might be that it was a case for only nominal damages. The teacher had no right to correct in the way he had.
Mr Solomon said that he was prepared, if necessary, to go into all the circumstances.
His Worship: The case on plaintiff’s part has clearly failed, and the only covering made for it is the mistake made by Mr Sutherland in chastising the child in even the slightest manner by beating it on the head; but from Dr Stirling’s evidence I am fully satisfied that the brain trouble was not caused by plaintiff. I see no reason to depart from the usual course. Plaintiff will be nonsuited with costs (L4 8s). -Evening Star, 8/3/1889.
Mr Sutherland tendered his resignation later that month.
ILLICIT DISTILLATION.
An important seizure of distilling plant was made yesterday morning by the police at Whare Flat, some eleven miles from town. Constables Cruickshank, Beattie, and Miller were making a search of the district, when, in a sequestered spot, they came across an illicit still, complete in all respects, together with about 270 gallons of "wort," or liquor in a state of fermentation. Two men named Alexander McGregor and Murdoch McLeod, who were about the place, were arrested and brought into town. The accused were formally charged at the City Police Court this morning before Messrs J. Elmer and M, Wilkinson with having in their possession and custody at Powder Creek, near Silverstream, an unlicensed still, head, and worm, contrary to the Distillation Act, 1868.
Mr Haggitt said that he was instructed to appear for the Customs Department. The still was only discovered yesterday morning, and as he was not prepared to go on with the case he would ask for a remand till the following morning.
Mr J. A. Cook said that he appeared for McGregor, and had no objection to offer to the adjournment provided that bail was granted. Mr J. Macgregor (who appeared for McLeod) also agreed to the application for a remand. The accused were remanded till tomorrow, bail being allowed in each case in the accused's recognisance for L200, and two sureties of L100 each. In answer to Mr Cook, the Bench said that they would accept one approved surety of L200. -Evening Star, 3/4/1889.
Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1889. TELEGRAPHIC.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
Dunedin, this day. At the Police Court yesterday Murdoch McLeod and Alex. McGregor were fined £100 for having an illicit still in their possession at Whare Flat, 12 miles from Dunedin.
Dunedin Gossip
It has always been a surprise how people can be found to go in for illicit distillation when so many cases are found out and punished, but if what is stated in regard to the recent case at Whare Flat, near Dunedin, be correct, it need not be a matter of surprise. In a secluded place at Whare Flat, two men, McGregor and McLeod, have had a complete apparatus in operation for twelve months and more. They were caught at last and fined £100 each. Now it is said that they made a profit of £50 per month while at work, but putting it down at £25 per month each we have £300, and the £100 fine leaves £200 profit. Not at all bad for those who have tastes in the direction of smuggling. -Cromwell Argus, 16/4/1889.
THE CITY MAYORALTY. (excerpt)
Mr C. B. Chapman, a candidate for the mayoralty of Dunedin, addressed a meeting of ratepayers held last night in the City Hall.
Some months ago, in company with the mayor and some of the councillors, he visited that portion of the Silverstream water race situate at Whare Flat where the inspector had his residence, and from what they could see of the race it appeared to be kept in good order. He had not time to reach the source of the race at Powder Creek, about five miles further up. The race, he had been informed, was fifteen miles in length from the reservoir at Chain Hills up to its source. It required a good deal of attention at times, particularly at this time of the year, in consequence of vegetation, which had to be cleared away frequently. The inspector also had a large amount of trouble in seeing that all the water-courses and gullies in close proximity to the race were kept dear of anything that would pollute the water. On several occasions complaints had been made in the papers of dead animals being found, and search was now made for any nuisances and any carcasses found were at once buried. — (Laughter.) Since complaints of this nature had been made in the papers the inspector had been in the habit of searching both sides of the race and in the gullies to see that there were no impurities about. — (A Voice: "Dead cats.") He mentioned this for the purpose of showing that the Council were always attending to the water race, and they would be glad at any time to know of any nuisance that existed in that quarter. Of course, as time went on, the race was becoming more secure from damage than it was at present. As the ground became firmer there was less damage, so that there was more profit attaching to the water. He would not refer to the Ross Creek reservoir works, because they were so close at hand that nearly everyone was acquainted with them. -Evening Star, 20/11/1890.
WHARE FLAT.
December 7. — A most successful concert was held in the Whare Flat Schoolhouse on Friday, 27th ult., in aid of the prize fund for the school children. There was a very good attendance, and after a few remarks from the chairman, Mr Thos. McLay, the concert was opened by the school children singing a short piece, which was followed by Miss Kinder singing "Swanny River." Miss Sligo and Miss Taylor were the other lady vocalists, and they received most imperative encores. The songs of Mr James Stewart and Mr George McMillen, from the Kaikorai, were quite a treat in themselves. At the interval Mr Mucklejohn, Taieri, danced a hornpipe, which was highly appreciated. The second part was something similar to the first. The chairman returned a hearty vote of thanks to all who had assisted in making the concert a success. After the concert there were refreshments for one and all, which were most abundantly supplied by settlers. All then retired to the old schoolhouse, which was prettily decorated with evergreens, and dancing was kept up till daylight. All present seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. -Otago Witness, 10/12/1890.
RURAL RAMBLES. (excerpt)
FROM WANAKA, TO DUNEDIN,
Via Morven Hills, Lindis Pass, Waitaki Valley, Ngapara, Oamaru, and Back Again
— and Sundry Rambles Round Dunedin.
By Richard Norman, Albertown.
The next morning Mr Grant, the manager of the Woodhaugh Paper Mills, very courteously showed me over the paper mill. There is as much money spent in this plant as would buy a couple of ordinary sheep runs. Only two kinds of paper are made at present — brown wrapping paper, and blue wrapping paper for candles. A paper bag making machine is on the premises, and turns out the bags like snowflakes in a whirlwind. The material used to make the paper is cotton and linen rags of every description and colour, old sacks, and ropes, &c., damaged flax, and large quantities of silver tussocks, which come from Brighton way, and represent the circulation of a lot of cash every week. Old paper is re-worked up also. A few years back a woolclasser invented and patented a machine to wash wool. It comprises a large oval bath, with an oval cone in the centre, and a stream of water shooting into the side, the wool floating round and round in the stream in the bath, and the water escaping through perforated zinc at the sides. Here is exactly a similar machine, which has been at work for ages past. The only difference is that this is made of cast iron, and is narrower, and the water escapes out of the bottom. There is no cone in the centre, simply a cast-iron centre board. By an ingenious contrivance, the exhaust steam from the first cylinder receives a few drops of cold water, which condense it quicker, and it drives another cylinder, and then it receives a few more drops of water and drives the third cylinder. So that the steam is utilised three times. Consequently, without any waste or extra expense, the steam engine does three times as much work as it did under former methods. I spent a very profitable and entertaining half day here.
A few days afterwards I went to Whare Flat, which is about six miles out of Dunedin. I made many inquiries as to the proper road to take, but found that many people had never heard of the place, and many others had heard of it but had no idea where it was. As the result of my inquiries, I took the road past the Ashburn Asylum, and made a short cut across gullies full of fern and scrub till I came to a shepherd's dwelling, the mistress of which kindly directed one of the children to show me the road to Mr Robert McIntyre's farm, which was my destination for the night. Mr McIntyre was overseer on the Wanaka station for a few years during Mr Robert Stewart's management. The name does not by any means describe the physical features of the place, as it is a wide open valley about three or four miles long, with the Silverstream running along the bottom towards Mosgiel. Each side of the valley is perhaps a mile wide, and the farms are situated on the Dunedin side. On the opposite side, and as far back as the eye can reach, the country is very undulating and is covered with manuka brushwood. The place took its name from a little flat, an acre or two in extent, on which a shepherd's hut stood. It is rather a lonely-looking spot. Mr McIntyre lately erected a wind mill to cut chaff, and as it is a good, sound, practical affair, costing but a small sum, I shall describe it, especially as there are many farms on which a similar one would be very valuable for pumping water. Four pieces of timber, 4ft x 4ft and 10ft or 12ft high form the corners of the frame, and a platform is erected on the top. An axle, or more correctly a shaft, runs through it facing the prevailing wind. Five arms are on the end, and the "wings" or "sails" are made of 1/2in pine boards, which are fastened on to the arms with bolts, and when not in use they can easily be taken off. Of course the arms must be trimmed so as to give the sails the requisite slope to the wind. A grooved pulley on the shaft carries a rope to a groved pulley on the chaffcutter, and the shaft has a smooth pulley with a break on it to stop the wind mill when necessary. A platform near the ground holds a lot of ballast to keep everything steady. Much more driving power may be gained if the wind mill stands on an eminence. Any intelligent, handy man could make a wind mill with these directions. After enjoying Mr McIntyre's hospitality I went to the bottom of the valley and followed it up, coming out on the road which runs past the reservoir near Woodhaugh. I passed the schoolhouse. Miss Kinder is the teacher, and she has about 20 scholars, nearly all girls. One resident here is Mr John Anderson, who resided on the Wanaka station for a year or two about 20 years back. Another resident is Sir Donald McQuilkan, Bart. -Otago Witness, 26/5/1892.
WHARE FLAT.
August 10. — The 4th of August was celebrated in our district, as in other parts of the country, as Arbor Day. Our teacher, Miss Kinder, and all her scholars turned out and planted a good many trees of different varieties in a very garden-like manner, planting them firmly in the ground and, in straight rows around the school grounds. Imagine, then, the disappointment of both teacher and scholars on coming down next morning to find all the trees they had planted pulled out of the ground, the roots carefully cut off, tied up in bundles, and fixed on to the school door. I hope the school committee will be successful in bringing the miscreant who perpetrated the outrage to justice, as he has left a small mark of identification, as is the case with most criminals. I see by the speech made by our friend Dr Stuart at the celebration of Arbor Day in Dunedin that he was a lover of trees and loved to see them growing, but our friend at Whare Flat must be a hater of trees and hate to see them growing. I trust therefore that justice will not fail to award to him the punishment he so richly deserves. -Otago Daily Times, 18/8/1892.
A deputation of residents from Whare Flat comprising Messrs McQuilkan, Leishman, McMillan, and McDonald met Mr R. Chisholm at the Shamrock Hotel on Saturday, and presented him with a handsome marble inkstand with the following engraved thereon: — "To R. Chisholm, Esq., as a mark of gratitude for his valued services in conucction with the spiritual wants of the district. Whare Flat, September 1892." Mr McQuilkan, who made the presentation, said that the residents of Whare Flat were desirous of giving some small token to mark the high esteem in which Mr Chisholm was held in the district and their gratitude for his long continued energy in conducting religious services in the district, and they hoped he would live long to enjoy it. Mr Chisholm, in returning thanks, said he had been completely taken by surprise, as when he had received a note asking him to meet the deputation he had no idea of the object of the meeting. He could not but be gratified at knowing that his services were so much appreciated. -Otago Daily Times, 5/9/1892.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
Mr John McDonald wrote asking' for permission to put a gate on the road opposite his property at Whare Flat, and leading from Kay's bridge to Blueskin. — Referred to Cr Bunting to report. -Otago Witness, 13/10/1892.
In the above excerpt we have a contender for the owner of one of the houses still able to be found in the area. At time of writing, the remains of a wooden house lie on the ground near the intersection of the Halfway Bush-Whare Flat road and Rollinsons Road.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
He (the Inspector of Works) had examined the double ford on the Silverstream road to Whare Flat, and found that to make the road round the bend to avoid crossing the stream about one acre of land would have to be taken from Mr McGregor's trustees. To make the deviation a strong embankment, either of masonry work or of wood, one chain and a-quarter in length and 6ft in height, would be required to be made, and a cutting at each end of the bank about 10ft in length, to ensure an easy grade. He estimated the cost at from £60 to £70. The only other way to avoid the fords would be to turn the stream down a channel in Mr Leishman's property. If there was no objection to this plan, it would cost less than half that proposed by the settlers. -Otago Witness, 11/5/1893.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
Considerable improvement had been made during the month on the road from Silverstream to Whare Flat, the only cost being an extra man to help the settlers — Messrs Leishman, Dodd, and McMillan — who had given good assistance with their teams. The long ford was now done away with by turning the stream. Two new dray crossings and 30 chains of formation had been made. -Otago Witness, 10/8/1893.
MARRIAGES
McLennan — Leishman. — On the l5th September, at the residence of the bride's parents, Morven Hill, Whare Flat, by the Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland, Alexander McLennan, Esq., of Bellfield, Macraes, to Jane McRae, eldest daughter of Robert Leishman, Whare Flat. -Otago Witness, 28/9/1893.
LADIES' GOSSIP
WEDDING AT WHARE FLAT.
A wedding of considerable interest took place at Movern Hill, (sic) Whare Flat, on September 15, when Mr Alexander McLennan, of Bellfield, Macraes, was married to Miss Jane McRae Leishman, eldest daughter of Mr Robert Leishman. The bride looked lovely in a handsome gown of white cashmere, bodice and balloon sleeves of white merveilleux silk, orange blossom adornments, full court train, wreath of orange blossom in her hair, which was covered by a flowing tulle veil. The bridesmaids were four in number (sisters of the bride), the chief of whom (Miss Maggie Leishman) wore white nun's veiling trimmed with heliotrope ribbon. The three youngest wore white nun's veiling and pale pink. The bride was given away by her father. The bridegroom was accompanied by Mr Clark as best man. The Rev. H. R. M. Sutherland officiated. After the ceremony the guests (84 in number) sat down to a sumptuous breakfast. Dancing was kept up till morning. The happy couple left amidst showers of rice, and were escorted into town by Piper Urquhart. The presents were costly and numerous, and included a handsome silver eggstand, silver tea and coffee service, silver butter cooler, silver breakfast cruet, case of silver afternoon teaspoons, silver teaspoons, two dinner sets, breakfast set, tea set, a handsome cushion, two lovely tea cosies, two toilet sets, five pairs vases, a beautiful whatnot, one dozen ivory handled tea knives, two costly lamps, two flower baskets, &c. Some very pretty costumes were worn. The bride's mother wore a handsome black velvet; Mrs Brown (Dunedin), black grenadine skirt, black silk bodice trimmed with old gold and lace; Miss Fraser, brown velvet; Miss A. Fraser, pink nun's veiling; Mrs Robertson (Maori Hill), black grenadine and jet trimmings; Miss Robertson, silver grey nun's veiling trimmed with white lace; Mrs Ross (Palmerston), black satin; Mrs Chisholm (Roslyn), black satin, pink vest; Mrs Thompson (Roslyn), grey tweed; Mrs Passmore (Waikari), black silk; the Misses Webster (Kaikorai), white trimmed with heliotrope ribbon; Miss Johnston (Roslyn), black grenadine; Miss Sligo (Caversham), brown skirt, cream silk bodice; Miss Dolly Sligo, grey costume; Miss Anderson (Taieri), green velvet; Miss A. Anderson, white and pale blue; Miss Moir, grey cashmere; Miss Currie (Taieri), maroon cashmere; Mrs McIntyre, grey tweed; Mrs D. McIntyre, maroon cashmere; Miss McIntyre, black sateen and white bodice; the Misses Rollinson, grey cashmere; Miss Kinder, figured delaine; Mrs Dodds, terra cotta; Miss Weir (Mosgiel), dark tweed; Miss Brocket, red cashmere; Miss McQuilkan, black cashmere; Miss Taylor, navy blue costume; Mrs Lennie, black cashmere. — LOOKER-ON. -Otago Witness, 5/10/1893.
WHARE FLAT.
November 9. — The annual concert and dance in aid of the school prizes was held in the Whare Flat Schoolhouse on the 5th inst., and was a most enjoyable affair. There were a good number present from all parts of the district, the Taieri being especially well represented. Mr Swann supplied the music, which gave every satisfaction. A string band from Mosgiel opened the proceedings, followed by a piece by the school children; also songs by Miss Kinder ("When we went a gleaning"), Miss L. Rollinston ("Old rustic bridge"), Messrs Gibson, Davis, Meiklejohn, Butterfield, and Flynn; and a clog dance and hornpipe by Mr A. Turnbull. A political stump speech was well delivered by Mr Wilson, and was well received, some capital hits being made at local failings. Great praise is due to those who took part in the proceedings for making the affair so successful. A vote of thanks was passed to those present. Refreshments were provided, and done ample justice to. At the dance Mr D. Macquilkan, jun., fulfilled the duties of M.C. very efficiently. Dancing was kept up till a late hour, when everyone went home well pleased with the night's enjoyment. -Otago Witness, 16/11/1893.
TO LET ON LEASE BY TENDER
For a term of Three Years from the 1st April 1894,
1470 ACRES OF LAND AT WHARE FLAT,
The property of Mr Gellibrand, being Sections 2 of 32, 33, H, 44, and 3 of 45, Block IV, Dunedin and East Taieri Districts, and Sections 12, 13. 14, 15, 16, 19, 1 of 25, and 26, Block V, same districts.
The above property is now in the hands of Mr W. M. Wilson, whose lease expires on the 28th February.
A portion of the property is fair, ploughable land, and the remainder good grazing country.
Its proximity to Dunedin (being a few miles distant only) should make this a desirable place for a grazier or dealer.
There is a Dwelling House, first-class Woolshed, and other improvements on the estate.
The owners reserve the right to terminate the lease at any time (in the event of a sale being effected) by giving the tenant six months' notice.
Tenders close with the undersigned on FEBRUARY 26.
For specifications of lease and further particulars apply to
THE MUTUAL AGENCY COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND (LIMITED) Dunedin. -Otago Witness, 22/2/1894.
NOTICE is hereby given that poison for Dogs is laid on the Craiglowan (late (Gellibrand's) Estate, Whare Flat, and all persons trespassing thereon after this date will be prosecuted. R. A. Ewing. -Evening Star,11/5/1894.
The relationship between Whare Flat settlers and the large interloper, the Dunedin City Council, was often a strained one. The Silverstream Water Race deprived some settlers of the water which flowed through their land and also leaked and occasionally burst to send too much through and in the wrong places. One solution to ongoing problems from the Race was to sell to the City, which was happy to end the problems and destock the land to improve the purity of the water. John McInnes' offer to the Council of his land at "a very low figure" came with an implied end to his complaints and claims over the Race. It also meant the departure of another settler from the Flat.
Mr John McInnes wrote agreeing to accept the offer of £2 per acre for his property at Whare Flat, provided he was allowed two months' time to clear off the stock and crops now on the ground. —Referred to the Water Committee to act. -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1894.
Selling out to the Council might have been, for some settlers, something of a lifeline. The land in the hills around Whare Flat was never good for much beyond grazing and there was not much flatter land for cropping.
CITY COUNCIL
Mr N. Macleod, of Whare Flat, offered to sell to the Corporation part or all his land, about fifty-eight acres, intersected by Silverstream waterworks. — Water Committee to report. -Evening Star, 19/7/1894.
In 1895 the City of Dunedin, recognising the continuing need for a more reliable water supply, proposed a reservoir in the Silverstream Valley. One proposed site was on McKenzies Creek, where the water race crossed under the road up the hill to Halfway Bush. Another proposition included a pumping station on the Silverstream near Powder Creek - the option which was eventually chosen.
OMNIUM GATHERUM.
NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Yesterday was the anniversary of, the Queen's accession.
A Whare Flat correspondent writes that the fall of snow has been very heavy there and in the Silverstream district, where every bush is bent with the weight of the snow. -Otago Daily Times, 21/6/1895.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (excerpt)
The Water Committee report that Mr W. A. Ewing had been requested to prevent the discoloration of the water in a branch of McQuilkan's creek, Whare Flat, by his mining operations. -Evening Star, 13/8/1895.
CITY COUNCIL
Mr Ralph A. Ewing drew attention to an impurity in the City water supply at Whare Flat in the shape of a dead horse, which was lying in the middle of one of the streams that feed the race. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, and must have been in the stream for a long time.
The city surveyor forwarded a letter from Mr W. D. Howard, inspector, with reference to the same matter. Mr Howard wrote stating that he found a horse lying in a small tributary which runs into North Whare Creek, about four chains from the main creek. The horse had been dead a week or ten days, he thought. The body was not decayed and the skin was not broken. Mr Waldie said the horse was not his, but he would bury it the first thing on the morning of the 28th inst. The little creek was dry except when the rain or snow came down from the mountain, and the Whare Creek had not been running into the race since June 14.—Referred to the Water Committee to report. -Evening Star, 29/8/1895.
A most enjoyable and successful soiree was held in the Whare Flat Schoolhouse last Wednesday evening (says the 'Taieri Advocate' of 18th instant). It was the first affair of the kind ever held in the district, and was for the purpose of welcoming the Rev Mr Paulin (formerly of Queenstown) who was some time ago inducted into the charge of North Taieri and Whare Flat districts. Tea was served in the old school building, which was very nicely decorated for the occasion, and an abundant supply of good things were provided by the ladies of the district. An adjournment was afterwards made to the schoolhouse, where addresses were given by Rev. Mr Paulin, Revs. R. R. M. Sutherland, D. Borrie, and R. Dickie. Sacred songs and recitation were also given by ladies and gentlemen present and the choir rendered selections nicely. During the evening Messrs Leishrnan, McMillian, and McQuilkan spoke, welcoming the Rev Mr Paulin to the district, and all expressed the hope that he would long be spared to go in and out amongst them. Mr C. Findlay returned thanks on behalf of the North Taieri friends, of whom there were a number present, and a most enjoyable and sociable evening was brought to a close. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 20/9/1895.
Some of the residents of Whare Flat are complaining of the damage done to their property by the floodgates created by the Dunedin City Council being opened and the water allowed to flow on the adjoining property. The 'Advocate' understands it is alleged that damage to the extent of £40 has been done to one property, and that the owner intends to take the matter to the Supreme Court should he be unable to get satisfaction from the City Council. -Evening Star, 3/2/1896.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
The Water Committee recommend that the sum of £1 10s be offered without prejudice in full satisfaction of Mr J. McMillan's claim of £5 for alleged damage to his land at Whare Flat by slips from the water race in July last. With reference to Mr N. Macleod's complaint of the flooding of the creeks on his land at Whare Flat by the opening of the flood gates on the water race, and to his claim for compensation for alleged losses during the past twelve years, the Committee report having inspected the property and come to the conclusion that Mr Macleod has no claim. Messrs Nelson and Donald and Mr E. Mitchell and partner have been granted licenses to prospect for gold on the waterworks reserve at Powder Creek and west of the Silverstream, subject to certain conditions and to a charge of 5s per man per month. -Evening Star, 25/2/1896.
Powder Creek was given it name due to the fineness of the gold when it was first found there.
THE COURTS TO-DAY
A Dividing Fence Dispute. — This was a case under the Fencing Act, 1895, to decide an application by William Anderson Ewing, of Dunedin, settler, to erect a rabbit-proof fence on the boundary between his land and that of Robert Kay, of Dunedin, stonemason, at Whare Flat. Mr Fraser appeared for the plaintiff; the Hon. W. Downie Stewart for the defendant. — After the case had been partly heard it was adjourned for a fortnight. -Evening Star, 12/3/1896.
LOCAL AND GENERAL
A correspondent writes to say that on Sunday last a number of boys from the Kaikorai neighbourhood, armed with shanghais, were out at Whare Flat, evidently for the purpose of killing tuis, which, at this season of the year, are to be found sucking the honey from the flower of the kowhai tree, and are easily killed. Our correspondent points out that the tui, which he justly describes as the loveliest bird in our native forest, is protected, and he thinks that a warning should be given to the public. It would be a salutary lesson to some of these boys, who have neither the eye nor the ear for the beautiful, as it is exemplified in the tui, if they were introduced to the bench at the Police Court. -Otago Witness, 7/10/1896.
Excerpt from the decisions of the Judges at the Exhibition to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
R. A. Ewing, Whare Flat, Flagstaff. — Specimens of lignite from a seam at Whare Flat. This lignite preserves its colour and does not fall to pieces when exposed to the atmosphere. — Certificate of award; bronze medal. -Otago Daily Times, 7/6/1898.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (excerpt)
The Water Committee report having written to Mr W. A. Ewing thanking him for the care taken in the past to keep the debris from his mining operations on McQuilkan’s Creek, Whare Flat, from finding its way into the city water supply, and, as last month’s rains had swept down the creek a small quantity of coal, requesting a continuance of such care in the future. The city surveyor has been instructed to have the coal cleared out of the creek. -Evening Star, 26/7/1898.
WANTON DESTRUCTION.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I wonder if those boys (if they are boys) who damaged the water trough on the Whare Flat road with firearms have ever ridden or driven horses over Flagstaff. Surely not, or they would refrain from doing so malicious a thing as to deprive dumb animals of a drink of cold water. The water trough was put there by Whare Flat settlers to hold water, not as a target for their firearms. As there are capital opportunities in the vicinity of the trough to see without being seen, it is to be hoped the offenders will be dropped on and their deserts meted out to them.
— I am, etc, Settler. Whare Flat, October 25. -Evening Star, 25/2/1898.
WHARE FLAT.
September 7. — Spring has again returned to us, but nature has not yet recovered from the terrible effects of the past winter. Some of the trees seem as if a great fire had passed over and scorched them, notably the hini hini, tutu, and — strange to say — manuka also. Whare Flat has, in consequence, lost much of its wonted freshness. Still there is a reserve of beauty which deservedly places it in the fore front as a rural retreat, and so accessible to Dunedin. Take whichever road you choose, you will find much to interest and admire, but from the schoolhouse to as far up the stream as you may go it is a real treat to a lover of nature. On the road from the Taieri up Silverstream will also be found ideal spots for fern fanciers; but to Powder Creek belongs the palm — "umbrageous grots and caves of cool recess," with a wealth of moss and lichen covered trees and underwood. So overhung is the creek in places as almost to shut out old Sol.
Mineral Spring. — It is well known that the water supply of your city is largely drawn from this district. It may not be generally known that there is a spring of mineral water on the main road which has some of the qualities of the famous Taieri springs. I am not aware whether any analysis has been made of it. It is clear, and pleasant to the taste. It is on record that a bullock belonging to one of the settlers sampled it regularly in returning from the yoke, and it would appear benefited greatly by it.
The Coming Goai (kowhai) Blaze. — New Zealand is blessed with many lovely spots, but few can offer so varied a programme to the student of nature as this locality, take it at any time of the year you may. A few weeks hence, the lovely goai will be ablaze with her golden tassels, if grim winter has not claimed her as another victim. Then the chaste clematis will assert her sway, and right up to April, when the ribbonwood puts on her mantle of white, which she retains till the colouring of the tuku tuku and moko moko gives warning that winter is near. — Occasional correspondent. -Otago Witness, 14/9/1899.
CITY COUNCIL
A STORAGE RESERVOIR AT WHARE FLAT.
The discussion, adjourned from a previous meeting, was resumed on the following motion, moved by Cr Carroll —“That, with a view to proceed at once with the construction of a storage reservoir at Whare Flat, the Water Committee be empowered to obtain such professional assistance as may be required to make the necessary detailed examination of the ground, to prepare the necessary plans and specifications, and to obtain an estimate of the cost of the work, and to report to the Council.”
Crs Haynes, Solomon, and Christopher spoke in opposition to the motion, which was supported by Cr Crust.
Cr Carroll then replied, and on the motion being put to the meeting it was lost by six votes to four, Crs Gore, Crust, Dawson, and Carroll voting in favor of, and Crs Denniston, Solomon, Miller, Howlison, Park, Haynes, and Christopher against it. -Evening Star, 19/10/1899.
F U N E R A L N O T I C E.
The Friends of the late ROBERT TURNER are respectfully requested to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Longridge, Whare Flat for the place of interment at the Northern Cemetery, TO-MORROW (TUESDAY), the 13th inst., at half-past 12.
A. J. WYNN &HOPE, Undertakers, St. Andrew street. -Otago Daily Times, 12/3/1900
PERSONAL
On Thursday evening Mr Ralph A. Ewing, who is paving the Whare Flat district, in order to visit America, was presented by the members of the School Committee with a case containing two handsome pipes. In making the presentation Mr McQuilkan, in the unavoidable absence of the chairman (Mr Dodds), referred to the great interest taken by Mr Ewing in the affairs of the school, and to the many valuable services rendered by him both as chairman and as a member of the Committee. Mr Ewing suitably responded. -Evening Star, 24/8/1900.
Ralph Ewing studied the quarrying for phosphates in the US, and on his return he established the Ewing Phosphate Co. He divined that the "decomposed limestone" of the Clarendon area to the south of Dunedin was something else entirely.
About August of 1899 something entirely new came to the Whare Flat area. Tuberculosis, or consumption, was a dreaded disease with a high level of fatality. It was not known with certainty what caused it. It was known, however, that gentle exercise and good food could help the body cure itself. The Ewing house and outbuildings, on the slopes of Flagstaff above the Silverstream Valley, were remodelled and additions made. The hospital was known as the Nordrach Sanatorium.
WHARE FLAT.
The annual break-up and distribution of prizes in connection with the Whare Flat School took place on Tuesday evening, the 18th inst. The proceedings took the form of a social. The Rev. T. Paulin presided, and upwards of 50 residents and friends were present. The Chairman, in his address, congratulated the children and the teacher (Mr A. J. Ferguson, B.A.) upon the progress of the school, and expressed his appreciation of the hearty manner in which the parents assisted the work of the school. A short musical programme was then proceeded with, several songs by the children being loudly applauded. In consequence of the generosity of the residents of the district a number of very fine prizes were distributed to the scholars for general excellence and attendance. A very enjoyable hour was then spent in games, into which all present seemed to enter as heartily as they did into the refreshments that were afterwards handed round. The singing of the National Anthem and of "Auld lang syne" closed the meeting, which is acknowledged on all hands to have been one of the most successful and enjoyable functions ever held in Whare Flat. -Otago Daily Times, 22/12/1900.
Last evening the comet presented an extraordinarily attractive appearance. From the south (left) side of the tail a bar of light shot out at an angle of thirty of thirty-five degrees. This was connected with the tail by a fan-like veil of what may be termed tail matter, giving to the comet somewhat the appearance of a half-open fan. It is probably this fan, together with the dark cleft which runs down the centre of the perpendicular tail, dividing it evenly, that gave rise to the first impression that the comet had two tails. The luminous bar seemed to stretch higher than the tail, but as a dark cloud cut off both, this was not quite certain. As the moon recedes and the nights darken the aspect of the visitor will probably grow more striking. A bright star is now visible through the tail.
On Saturday last the residents of Whare Flat spent a pleasant evening, when Mr Robert Ewing, in conjunction with Mr R. Crow, gave a limelight entertainment in the school hall in aid of the funds of the school. The night being fine there was a record attendance, so that the funds, which were at a low ebb, have been substantially increased. The pictures shown consisted of a number of photos taken by Mr Crow and a friend during a trip round the goldfields, a collection of views from Scotland and England, and a series of South African War pictures. Mr Ewing worked the slides successfully, and Mr Crow proved himself equal to the task of explaining the pictures as they appeared. At intervals songs were rendered by the Misses Clark, M. Rollinson, and Ferguson, while Mr R. McKenzie contributed a number of selections on the graphophone. Mr Ferguson, in proposing a vote of thanks, referred to the many ways in which Mr Ewing and his friends have assisted the Whare Flat School. -Evening Star, 7/5/1901.
The "Great Comet" of 1901 is that known as Comet Viscara. It was discovered on April 12 and visible to the naked eye until May 25.
OMNIUM GATHERUM
Last Friday evening Mr A. J. Fergusson, of Whare Flat, school teacher, was waited upon at his residence by the members of the local school committee, when Mr Colin Campbell, on behalf of the residents of the district, presented him with a handsome dressing case. In doing so he referred to the many good qualities of their teacher and of the appreciation of the parents and others of his many services in connection with the district, and wished him success in. his future calling. Miss Fergusson was also presented with a slight memento of the appreciation of her services in connection with the local church. Mr Fergusson, in reply, thanked the deputation for their kind and generous gifts to his sister and himself, and said that they both would always cherish fond recollections of the many kindnesses extended toward them by the residents of Whare Flat during their stay there. -Otago Witness, 26/6/1901.
| BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF NORDRACH COTTAGE SANATORIUM AND SURROUNDINGS AT WHARE FLAT, NEAR DUNEDIN. — Hicks, photo. -Otago Witness, 5/5/1902. |
The above illustration would seem to be taken from the hillside of Flagstaff, with a view of the Silverstream Valley beyond.
THE NORDRACH SANATORIUM, FLAGSTAFF.
(See Illustrations in Pictorial Pages this Week.) The visitor to the Flagstaff Sanatorium will, if on foot, require the proverbial "stout heart to a steep brae." A good lift on the way is given by the cable car from the Octagon, especially if one is lucky enough to catch the bus which now runs from the tram terminus up the hill as far as the old Halfway Bush Inn on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Thence one proceeds along the North Taieri road for about a mile, and, after passing Ashburn Hall the Whare Flat road, which branches off to the right, is taken. One is now quite in the country, and the road is flanked by manuka, flaxes, and other native shrubs. The view soon becomes very beautiful — on one side the Taieri Plain lies spread out before you, with green and yellow fields as evenly grouped as the squares in a chessboard, and in the distance Lake Waihola gleaming in the sunshine; in the rear lies the harbour, looking like a little lake, with the blue Pacific Ocean apparently close up to the foot of the hills beneath you.
Crossing the saddle of Flagstaff at an elevation of 2000 feet, one is struck by the remarkable change of scenery. Instead of the fertile Taieri Plain, bold and rugged mountains rise up and fill the horizon with ever-varying shades of blue and grey. In the far distance are the Rock and Pillar Mountains, and the Maniototo Plain at their feet. Descending towards the valley, the sanatorium is soon reached, where we receive a kindly welcome from the matron with the customary and cheering cup of tea. The sanatorium is situated at an elevation of 1300 feet above sea level on the northern slope of Flagstaff, about six miles from Dunedin. The locality seems admirably adapted for a sanatorium — on every side are the mountains, which afford shelter from the prevailing winds; there is always freedom from dust, the air is very fresh, bracing, and absolutely pure; an abundant supply of very good water is obtained from neighbouring springs, and there is an atmosphere of restfulness and quiet which should be a valuable help in the treatment, although Dunedin, the base for the abundant food supplies required, us only a few miles away.
The establishment comprises a central block of buildings, formerly the homestead of Mr Ewing's sheep station, which is now used for dining and administrative purposes. Connected with this by an open corridor on the east side is a second block of buildings, with a glass verandah running its full length, containing eight rooms, each of which accommodates one patient. These rooms have been specially constructed for the open-air treatment. The floors and walls are varnished, so that they can be frequently washed and disinfected. Everything appears very fresh and clean, there being no curtains or carpets to furnish harbour for dust. On one side of each room is a door opening on to the verandah, on the other a large window, so that the room is easily kept flooded with air. Both the doors and windows remain open day and night, except in windy weather, when one or the other may be closed, screens of wire gauze being used at night to keep out moths and other insects. On the west side of the central building there are two similar rooms, furnishing in all accommodation for 10 patients. In the grounds there are numerous pines and other trees, and a pretty glass kiosk with red-tiled roof, which furnishes shelter from the sun and wind when reclining out of doors. Every facility is afforded by the character of the surrounding country for hill-climbing, which is so valuable a respiratory exercise.
Below the sanatorium the road descends very steeply into the pleasant and romantic Whare Flat Valley, affording a very pretty drive of seven or eight miles to the North Taieri. The kowhai and other native bush is here seen to advantage. The name Whare Flat, by the way, is quite a misnomer. It is a long and rather precipitous valley, with scarcely enough flat in its whole length to furnish a cricket pitch. Whare Glen would be a more suitable name.
Dr Stephenson has furnished us with the following statistics: — Seventy patients have come for treatment. Omitting some cases which were not under treatment for three or more weeks, and others which varied in character from bronchial catarrh to spinal tuberculosis, there have been 61 unmistakable cases of consumption. Of these there were 18 in an early stage of the disease on admission, there were 28 in the second stage, and 15 were cases of far advanced disease. Of those in the early stages of disease 11 were cured and seven improved; in the second stage two were cured and 26 improved; in the third or advanced stage one was cured, six improved, and eight received no benefit. By cured is meant that on leaving the sanatorium there was no disease to be found on examining the chest: by improved is meant a gain of weight varying from a few pounds to two or three stone, with a corresponding improvement in the physical signs and general health. Of those classed as improved many would have been cured if they had been able to remain in the institution for some time longer. They have continued the treatment at home, with more or less successful results, according to the faithfulness with which they have followed the lessons learnt at the sanatorium and the nature, favourable or otherwise, of their home influences. It will be noted that all the patients in the first and second stages were either improved or cured, in all 87 per cent of the whole number have been benefited to a greater or less extent. These figures emphasise the advisability of treatment in the early stages, when, too, the time required for treatment is very much shorter, although, as shown by the one case cured, there is a chance even for advanced cases.
By these figures, too, it is shown that under propel treatment consumption is an eninently curable disease; although, of course, not every case of this or any other serious ailment is curable. The family history, the temperament, the age, the state of the digestion, all have their influence in promoting or retarding recovery in individual cases. Moreover, if a patient after recovery indulges in alcoholic or any other excess, if he overworks, or returns to an arduous indoor occupation, he will certainly pay the penalty by a return of the disease. -Otago Witness, 5/5/1902.
 |
| The Sanatorium, 1902. Hocken Library photo. |
Some remains of the Nordrach Sanatorium on Flagstaff can still be found - they consist of a pile of bricks in the plantation pines, not far in from the road and near the line of large macrocarpa stumps (remains of an overgrown hedge, removed in the last pine harvest), and a typical, square, rolled-iron water tank on the Flagstaff side of the road, hidden within a thick regrowth of bush. Rowan and holly are thick in the area, raspberries were once to be found in abundance on the flat area beside the creek and are now probably overwhelmed by broom. Also beside the creek a small rhododendron was found by this author many years ago.
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| Craiglowan Falls, on McQuilkans Creek below the Sanatorium. Hocken Library photo. |
THE COURTS TODAY
Affiliation. — Hugh Boyd, of North Taieri, defended the claim of Eliza Clark, of Whare Flat. Mr Sim appeared for complainant; Mr Fraser for defendant. — After evidence, His Worship made an order for the payment of 8s per week, with £11 18s costs. -Evening Star, 2/7/1903.
"Affiliation" is a curious word. It was originally used in Roman law to mean the recognising of a child, not that of the Affiliator, as his legal child and heir. In this context, it means that Hugh and Eliza had produced a child together. Eliza could not claim the child was not hers, Hugh did claim it was not his. It would have been a trying time for the Clark family, which had taken a child, Lucy, to the cemetery the year before.
I have searched the pages for further reference to Mr Hugh Boyd, of North Taieri, and can place him with some reliability as living on or owning "Glenfalloch" and having donated L25 to the Belgian Relief Fund in March of 1915 and another 20 to the Serbian Relief Fund the next February.
Later in 1916 his driver was fined for a traffic infringement, so Mr Boyd would seem to be "well set-up."
With less reliabilty and a little trepidation, I have found Hugh (second son of Mr Allan Boyd, of Rocklands Station), married to Una McLean of Mosgeil in October of 1905. His wife is cited as witness in a case alleging burglary of their North Taieri home, "Glenfalloch." Hugh was 37 years old in 1903 and died in 1930.
The year after the affiliation case, another Whare Flat resident was before the court, this time accused of harbouring two absconders from the Caversham Industrial School. The defence was that Mr Jolly, farmer, was going to inform the authorities next time he went into town. Until then, he had the boys working for their keep. Whether Mr Jolly was taking advantage of cheap labour or not, I will leave for the reader to decide.
THE COURTS-TO-DAY.
CITY POLICE COURT. (Before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M.)
Harboring Absconders. — James Jolly was charged with, between the 14th and 21st of January, knowing that William Doreen and John Woods were inmates of the Caversham Industrial School, and had absconded therefrom, did unlawfully harbor the said boys. Mr Finch appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. — The Subinspector explained that the information was laid under section 69 of the Industrial Schools Act, 1882. The facts were that the two boys were inmates of the Caversham Industrial School, and absconded on the 14th of last month. They made their way to the defendant's farm at Whare Flat, and told him that they had absconded from the school. They stayed at Jolly's place for a week, when they were taken away by some officers of the institution. Jolly found the lads employment, and they slept on the premises. The defendant, on being seen by the police, said that he knew that the boys belonged to the school, but that he intended to inform the manager of the school when he went to town. — His Worship: The information includes two offences. There is the offence of harboring an inmate of the school, and according to the information there are two inmates — It was then agreed to strike out the name of John Woods. — Mr Burlinson, manager of the school, was the first witness. — On the boy Doreen being called, Mr Finch pointed out that the boy was criminally liable for absconding, and that he could object to giving evidence incriminating himself. The boy, on being spoken to by His Worship, said he preferred not to give any evidence, and he was allowed to stand down. — Frederick Marryatt, an officer of the school, said he found Doreen cutting gorse on the defendants farm. — Arthur Lewis, another lad who absconded from the school, also said that he would rather not give evidence. — Constable Gorry said that the defendant told him that he had the boys working apart, so that they could not put their heads together and work out a plan for clearing out. The defendant further said that he intended telling the manager of the school about the boys when he went to town. — Mr Finch said that had the defendant acted in any other way than he did he would have been most inhuman. The Industrial School authorities had misconceived the action of the defendant entirely. What Jolly did was really to assist the authorities. He did not attempt to conceal the boys, who were working about when the authorities arrived. There was no duty cast upon the defendant to inform the manager of the boys' whereabouts, but he intended to do so when he went to town. There was no harboring or concealing; everything was perfectly open. — His Worship said he thought it was a clear case of harboring. The defendant must be assumed to know the law. He allowed the boy to remain at his place, knowing that he was an inmate of the school. What he should have done was to have sent the boy away, and told him to go back to the school The full penalty was £10. The defendant would he fined 40s. — Two similar informations with respect to two other boys were withdrawn. -Evening Star, 11/2/1904.
Five stacks of oats and a three-stalled stable, the property of Mr Donald McQuilkan, farmer, Whare Flat, burned down during the owner's absence. No insurances. Fire presumably caused by the carelessness of a lad who had been smoking cigarettes on top of one of the stacks. -Evening Star, 7/4/1904.
The kowhai trees at Whare Flat, says the Otago Daily Times, attract many town residents to that Highland resort, about nine miles from Dunedin, in September and October each year, the ordinary season for their blooming. This year has, however, been in one respect. One of the trees, instead of waiting till September, has burst out in full bloom in the middle of June, and at the present time presents a perfect picture of bright yellow flowers. Mr McQuilkan, a local resident who takes considerable interest in natural history, has brought to the Times office a branch of the bloom, and states that the tuis, mokis, and other native birds are busily engaged extracting the nectar from the open flowers. For a couple of years past a tui, which has escaped from captiyity, has been noticeable in the district by his varied whistling accomplishments, great care having evidently been bestowed upon him by his quondam owners. -Manawatu Times, 14/6/1904.
WHARE FLAT.
A few friends met at the home of the McQuilkan family at Whare Flat on Friday afternoon in order to mark in a practical way the sincere sympathy of their many friends in the loss they had sustained by the fire which destroyed all their corn stacks, outbuildings, etc., on Good Friday last. Mr McCurdy, on behalf of the subscribers, said he had a very pleasant duty to perform, and that was to hand over the result of their efforts in the form of a purse containing 58 sovereigns. They all knew that this would not by any means recoup their loss, but it was as a mark of good feeling offered in a practical form, which they hoped the receivers would appreciate. Mr Donald McQuilkan returned thanks for the unexpected kindness shown by their friends, and he assured all that their kindness would never be forgotten, and their handsome offering would be much appreciated. After a few songs had been rendered, concluding with "Auld lang syne," the company dispersed. -Otago Witness, 15/6/1904.
A.&. P. SOCIETY'S WINTER SHOW. (abridged)
A large attendance.
The winter show of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society was again thrown open to the general public yesterday, and during the afternoon and evening the Agricultural Hall was densely packed, moving about being a matter of extreme difficulty in the evening. There was no lack of music, Mr Robertshaw's band providing most of this. The Garrison Band and the Dunedin Pipe Band were, however, also present during the evening, and took turns in playing selections. The guessing competitions were taken a keen interest in. There were three of these — two in connection with the weight of the fat bullock, and one as to the weight of the pen of five fat sheep. The prize offered in one of the competitions was a Singer's sewing machine, and this was for ladies only; the other was open to all-comers. These will not, of course, be decided until the animals have been slaughtered and the dressed weights ascertained. The purchasers of pieces of the mighty cheese pretty well fell over each other in their anxiety to become the possessors of a slice which might, mayhap, contain the maximum coin — namely, half a sovereign, — and it was but a very brief space of time before the portion allotted for sale during the evening had entirely disappeared. One purchaser, no doubt more in fun than with any intention to defraud, took advantage of the crush and excitement to get away with his portion on payment of a halfpenny, his mistake being discovered too late to admit of rectification. The total sum placed in the cheese, and, intending purchasers may take note, possibly still remains, was £10.
DAIRY UTENSILS, IMPLEMENTS, ETC. The following completes the list of exhibits at the show under this head:— An exhibit which seems to be a centre off attraction for main of the farmers is that of Messrs Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. (Ltd.); and little wonder for here may be seen surprising examples of Nature in the shape of huge turnips of almost uncanny dimensions, which colossal magnitude is due to the fertilising properties of the firm's widely known Burnside and Rockland manures. The growers of this fine display of sound and shapely turnips are Mr James Robertson, of Lawrence, Mr J. C. Hunter, of Waikouaiti, Mr Andrew Thomson, of Stirling, and Messrs McQuilkan of Whare Flat; and certainly these gentlemen have reason to be proud of their products, as undoubtedly have also the manufacturers of Burnside and Rockland manures. Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. have been so long engaged in this industry that they seem to produce manures for every class of land and of almost endless variety. Chief of these are K.P. Burnside manures and the phosphate rock, which latter is exhibited raw in lumps, as mined, and also finely powdered and made into superphosphate. -Otago Daily Times, 16/6/1905.
CASUALTIES
James Clark, a resident of Whare Flat, while attempting to mount his horse at the Octagon on Saturday night, fell off, and the horse also falling rolled over him. He was taken to the hospital, where it was found that the injuries were not serious. -Evening Star, 24/7/1905.
Public Notices
Owing to the fact that sheep in the WHARE FLAT DISTRICT have lately been Worried by Dogs, all TRESPASSERS with Guns or Dogs are now WARNED that SEVERE MEASURES will be TAKEN against them. -Otago Daily Times, 14/9/1906.
Deaths.
McINTYRE. — On the 26th May, at his residence, Whare Flat, after a painful illness, Robert, the beloved husband of Jessie McIntyre, aged 70 years. -Evening Star, 26/5/1906.
FRIDAY, 15th MARCH, At 12 o'clock.
On the Premises. Long Ridge-Whare Flat road (close to Sanatorium).
Instructed by Mrs Jessie McIntyre.
CLEARING SALE, FREEHOLD FARM. Whare Flat (99 acres), STOCK, AND IMPLEMENTS.
GEERIN, HALLY, AND CO. are instructed to sell by auction, Freehold Farm, being Sections 2 to 11, Block IV., East Taieri District, and containing 98 acres 3 roods (more or less), together with 5-roomed Dwelling-house, dairy, stable, cow byre, and barn.
Also, Stock and Implements, consisting of — 1 draught mare, 1 light draught mare, 1 spring-cart horse (4 yrs), 1 three-year-old filly, 1 two-year-old filly, 1 yearling colt, 3 heifers, 1 bull, 2 steers, 5 calves, dray, spring cart, ploughs, harrows, grubber, roller, chaffcutter, threshing mill, harness.
Luncheon provided. -Evening Star, 2/3/1907.
THE COMMITTEE of the DUNEDIN AND SUBURBAN RESERVES CONSERVATION SOCIETY, having learnt with regret that great damage is being done to the KOWHAI TREES in the neighborhood of Whare Flat by the ruthless breaking down of branches for the sake of gathering the flowers, earnestly REQUEST ALL VISITORS to the locality to REFRAIN FROM INJURING THE TREES, and to bear in mind that others are as much entitled to enjoy the display of beauty as they are. They likewise REQUEST ALL PERSONS TO ABSTAIN FROM GATHERING the NATIVE CLEMATIS, which will shortly be in flower and would remind them that the pleasure derived by the many from viewing the growing blossoms far exceeds any they may individually gain from the mere possession for a hour or two of the quickly-fading blooms.
A. BATHGATE, Hon. Secretary. Dunedin, October 4, 1907. -Evening Star, 5/10/1907.
The residents of the Whare Flat district complain of the nuisance caused by Sunday shooting parties, who, it is alleged, roll large stones down the hills, to the destruction of fences and the disturbance of stock. They are also alleged to be guilty of leaving their dogs to roam about the district to the general annoyance and loss. It has been resolved to take united action with the view of bringing the matter under the notice of the Inspector of Police. -Otago Daily Times, 27/3/1908.
We, the Undersigned Settlers of Whare Flat, Hereby Give Notice that any PERSON FOUND TRESPASSING with GUNS or DOGS without permission on any of the UNDER-MENTIONED PLACES will be PROSECUTED AFTER THIS DATE.
R. LEISHMAN, D. LEISHMAN, JOHN BELL, D. & M. McQUILKAN, J. JOLLY, S. ROLLINSON. -Otago Daily Times, 9/4/1908
| LOOKING ACROSS WHARE FLAT FROM SILVER.STREAM — WHARE FLAT SCHOOL IN THE FOREGROUND. -Otago Witness, 17/6/1908. |
THE TAIERI PLAIN A SHEET OF WATER.
TRAIN TRAFFIC INTERRUPTED.
NO COMMUNICATION BEYOND MOSGIEL OR OAMARU.
A MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK.
RAIN CEASING; FLOOD WATERS SUBSIDING.
TWO TRAINS SNOWED UP. (excerpt)
THE SILVERSTREAM RACE. The water was shut off from the Silverstream race before the storm began, but the race has suffered in several places from minor slips. Near Whare Flat a section of the country below the race has slipped, taking 150ft of the race with it. -Evening Star, 9/7/1908.
In the course of a conversation, Mr Donald McQuilkan, of Whare Flat, recently mentioned to a member of the Times staff that a steep hillside on portion of his property was, about 20 years since, the home of what Mr McQuilkan said was then known locally as the laughing jackass. The birds frequented the hillside in question in great numbers, and their nests were like the burrows of rabbits. Like the bat they were hardly ever out until night approached, when the birds came out of their nests and made night hideous with their weird and disconcerting cries — so much so, Mr McQuilkan said, that strangers when visiting the district, had an uncanny feeling that they had got into the region of lost souls. The birds quickly succumbed to the ferrets and weasels that were liberated to encompass the destruction of rabbits, and it is many years since one was seen in the district. It may be mentioned that the so-called laughing jackass was an aquatic night bird, known to ornithology as the prion Banksii. Dr Benham informs us that in the trip made by a number of scientists to the islands south of New Zealand last year the prion was frequently heard at night by the members of the expedition. -Otago Daily Times, 6/10/1908.
Some visitors to Whare Flat last Sunday wilfully damaged a water trough near the top of Flagstaff, and rendered it almost useless. The act was accomplished by the discharge of firearms. This is not an isolated instance of 'the wanton destruction of property in the neighborhood of Whare Flat, and it is a great pity that the offenders have not been called to account for their malicious and senseless actions. -Evening Star, 2/3/1909.
Moving into the 20th Century (and, of course, unknowingly towards the calamity of the Great War) newspaper reports from the Whare Flat area almost give the impression of a place under siege. Many settlers have moved out, the hardy few remain, and they and DCC authorities are inserting advertisements in attempts to stem the invasion of trippers and picnickers from the city and, in particular, those who wish to roll rocks down cliffs, take kowhai branches home with their golden blooms, and hunt with guns and dogs over farmland.
CITY CORPORATION NOTICES.
VISITORS TO WHARE FLAT AND SILVERSTREAM ARE HEREBY WARNED AGAINST THE DESTRUCTION OF NATIVE BUSH.
And Public Notice Is Hereby Given that any Person found Damaging any Trees, Shrubs, etc., on Corporation Property at Whare Flat and Silverstream will be PROSECUTED WITH THE UTMOST RIGOUR OF. THE LAW.
R. W. RICHARDS, Town Clerk. Dunedin, 18th September, 1909. -Otago Daily Times, 22/9/1909.
And, at about this time, if the invasions of walkers from the City were not enough, came another invasion — the noisy, brash motor vehicle.
Cycling and Motor Notes
by Demon
The opening run of the Otago Motor Association on Saturday, 16th, ought to be a very successful outing. Messrs Thomson and Co. have invited the members to spend the afternoon at Wairongoa — a guarantee of a real good outing. There will be a short run through the city before leaving for the Springs. Why not return by Whare Flat? The Silverstream fords would create no end of fun. -Otago Witness, 6/10/1909.
Saturday 18th December
At 12 o'clock sharp.
At our Land Sale Rooms, Rattray street.
DESIRABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY AT WHARE FLAT.
THE NEW ZEALAND LOAN & MERCANTILE AGENCY COMPANY (LIMITED)
have been favoured with instructions from James and Elizabeth Jolly to offer by public auction, as above, Their Freehold Farm, situated at Whare Flat containing 170 acres first-class grazing and cropping land.
Buildings consist of 6-roomed Stone Dwelling and all necessary outhouses. The Property is just eight miles from Dunedin Post Office and half a mile from Whare Flat P.O. and school, is well sheltered and watered, and is suitable for either cropping or dairying.
Mr Jolly will be pleased to show prospective buyers over the property. -Otago Daily Times, 7/12/1909.
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES
An old man named James Jolly, a resident of Whare Flat, met with a serious accident at Kaikorai Valley yesterday afternoon. He was loading some chaff on a dray when the horses bolted, and he was thrown heavily on the road. On examination at the Hospital, where he was taken, it was found that several ribs were broken and his right hand so injured as to necessitate the amputation of a finger. He also sustained a slight scalp wound, but in spite of all the old man refused to remain in the Hospital, and was anxious to return to Whare Flat last night, though he was persuaded to remain in Dunedin. -Otago Daily Times, 6/10/1910.
Reports of the Whare Flat School Committee elections over the decades are, in themselves, a record of the decline of those settler families who peopled the valley but gradually moved out. Even, by 1911, the Committee itself is smaller. And the newspapers were not always able to get their names right.
School Committee Elections
WHARE FLAT. The following were elected as the committee for the Whave Flat School: — Messrs R. McMeeking (chairman), J. Rollandson (Rollinson) (secretary), J. Jelly, (Jolly) J. Brisden, D. McQuilken (McQuilkan). -Otago Witness, 26/4/1911.
A new feature of the valley in the 20th Century was the planting of Council land with trees. These were for the regulation of water flow, to reduce erosion and as a possible future source of City revenue. This is, of course, the look of the area for visitors these days — hill after hill of pinus radiata, with the occasional clear-felled area and consequent wasteland, replaced by new planting in its turn. But, beneath the rows of pines, still lie the remains of farmhouses — foundations, areas of discarded household items, the hardier household plants, old fences.
In view of the prophecy that within 50 years there will be no timber left in New Zealand, one of the most valuable of the Dunedin City's assets consists of the plantations which, under the supervision of Mr D. Tannock, are springing up all round the Corporation's water reserves. Mr Arnold, M.P., in a political speech delivered to his constituents on Friday night, paid high tribute to the expert's work when he said that the City Council were setting an example in afforestation not only to other local bodies, but even to the Government of the country. The progress of these reserves has indeed been remarkable. In 1906 there were planted 15,450 trees, and since then the annual plantings have steadily increased, as the following figures show:— l907, 23,110; 1908, 45,825; 1909, 103,355; 1910, 80,000; while it is hoped to plant this year a quarter of a million. The plantation round Ross Creek is complete, that at Leith Valley (67,890 trees) is nearly so, and the ground at Whare Flat is now prepared for the 32,000 that will be planted there before the end of the year. As for the work undertaken by the General Government, Mr Arnold stated that last year 12,432,410 sapling trees were raised, while the total number planted out since 1896 has been 50,545,775. -Evening Star, 24/7/1911.
The native kowhai is already in bloom this early in the season. A bunch of kowhai in full bloom was brought into the Daily Times Office on Saturday morning by a resident of the Whare Flat district. He took advantage of the occasion of his visit to voice the complaints of Whare Flat settlers of trespassing on their properties and of the presence of youths with pea rifles. -Otago Daily Times, 21/8/1911.
SUPREME COURT
IN DIVORCE
JOLLY V. JOLLY.
This was a case in which Mary Hannah Jolly applied for a dissolution of her marriage with Robert Jolly, of Dunedin, labourer, on the grounds of misconduct. — Mr Hanlon appeared in support of the petition. —The petitioner stated that the marriage took place on September 29, 1899, at Dunedin, and six children had been born, five of whom were now alive. Whilst they were living at Whare Flat there were quarrels because of Jolly paying attentions to petitioner's sister, now dead. In January of 1911 witness happened on proof of her suspicions, and her husband admitted his wrongdoing. — Frances Maud Fitzpatrick, William John Harvard, and James Miller (clerk of the Magistrate's Court, Dunedin), gave corroborative evidence. — His Honor granted a decree nisi, to become absolute in three months, with costs on the lowest scale. -Otago Witness, 21/2/1912.
Scandal and divorce in Whare Flat...what possibly could have happened between the Jollys? Well, unfortunately for them but fortunately for the historian, the New Zealand "Truth," that paragon of journalistic taste and discretion of the brash 20th Century, is here to tell us...
The Joyless Jollys.
A Death-bed Confession
The next case on the judicial programme was where Mary Hannah Jolly asked his Honor to be duly cut adrift from her faithless hubby, Robert, with costs, and disbursements.
Lawyer Hanlon appeared for Mary, and Lawyer B. S. Irwin appeared for Robert on the question of the custody of the children.
Mary Hannah Jolly, who is a natty little woman, said that she and Robert were made one on September 29, 1899. There were six olive branches to grace the union. For some time after marriage they lived in and about Dunedin, and Robert developed symptoms of great violence. They had a number of quarrels about Robert
GOING OUT WITH GIRLS at night time. She couldn't say whether Robert took out girls for drives, but had heard so. Witness had a sister called Maggie Sisera, who lived with her and Robert for over a year at Whare Flat. Robert and witness had several quarrels over Maggie, as witness suspected that they were falling from grace. One time Robert's mother met with an accident and Maggie went to nurse her, and all the time she was away Robert stayed at mother's. The first time witness caught the illicit lovers was in the barn of Robert's farm. Witness's sister, Mrs Fitzpatrick, was with her at the time. Robert indignantly repudiated any aspersions on the virtue of Maggie. In August, 1911, witness suspected something, and told Robert that Maggie was about to become a mother. Robert told her vulgarly to keep her blanky mouth shut about it. Witness was horrified about Robert's dreadful callousness, and left him two days after. The olive branches were sent along to Robert's mother, who was told the entire tale.
Frances Maud Fitzpatrick, an extensive lady and Mary's sister, said she was up at Whare Flat for a few days, but had to leave on account of a row with Robert. Witness was with her shocked when they discovered Robert and Maggie in the barn. Robert, on that occasion, used awful language to Mary, and reckoned that any suggestions of impropriety were "all rot." Witness told Robert that she would have to take Maggie away, and informed him that he had
"MADE ONE VICTIM, and wasn't going to make two" She was referring to Mary when she talked about "victims."
William John Havard, a brother of Mary's, said that Maggie lived at his house till just before her baby was born. About twelve months ago witness asked Robert if there was any truth in the yarns that he was carrying on with Maggie. Maggie only lived a few hours after her confinement. On the day she died, witness interviewed Robert and told him that she had said he was the father of the child. Robert replied, "I didn't think Sadie would have confessed." Witness replied, "Do you think a girl on her death bed would not confess?" To this Robert replied, "Oh, well, there's no good denying it; I'm sorry it happened."
James Millar, clerk of the S.M.s Court, produced an information, charging him with being the father of the child, and stated that Robert had admitted paternity. No order was made pending the allowance of alimony in the present case. His Honor handed out the usual decree nisi, with costs on the lowest scale. -NZ Truth, 24/2/1912.
And here it is, a mere few months before divorce proceedings. Maggie Havard dying in childbirth, though she was not — and would not have been — reported as such.
DEATH.
HAVARD. — On October 5 (suddenly), Maggie Sisera, third youngest daughter of William D. and Elizabeth Havard, 53 St. Andrew street. Deeply regretted. — Private interment. — H. Gourlay, undertaker. -Otago Daily Times, 6/10/1911.
And even earlier — before the 1899 wedding of Mary Havard to Robert Jolly — Mr Havard, father of the two girls, defending a reputation against local gossip. The tantalising question raised by this story is — whose reputation, exactly?
THE COURTS—TO-DAY.
CITY POLICE COURT.
(Before E. H. Carew, Esq„ S.M.)
Assault. Michael Jones was charged with assaulting William Davey Havard at Whare Flat. Mr Hanlon appeared for complainant, and Mr Macdonald for defendant. The case was adjourned from last week for the purpose of hearing the evidence of Dr Macpherson, who examined the prosecutor after the assault. The doctor, stated that among other injuries he found a large abrasion behind the left ear, a cut under the left eye, three abrasions on the right cheek, a cut on the bridge of the nose, and a large discolored bruise on the right hip. — This closed the case for the prosecution. — Mr Macdonald said that the defendant’s version was that he was sitting on a chair, and Havard was sitting on the sofa somewhat the worse of drink. The complainant said to the defendant: “What have you been saying about my daughter and Bob Jolly?” Jones replied: “I know nothing about it.” Havard put his hand up in front of Jones’s face, and said: “There is my daughter. She is no disgrace to me, and you have no business to interfere with her.” The defendant put up his hand to keep the complainant off, whereupon the latter struck him. In the scrimmage which ensued outside the fence gave way and Havard fell on top of it. — Evidence was given by the defendant and his wife. — Defendant was fined £3 and costs (£2 ls). -Evening Star, 11/2/1897.
At about the time of the Jolly v Jolly case, the conversion of the Silverstream Valley area to Council forestry and its current look was going ahead strongly.
Mr D. Tannock, the superintendent of reserves, has during the past season planted over 104,000 trees, consisting of larch, birch, Oregon, yellow pine, and spruce, in the Leith-Waitati and Whare Flat watersheds. Thirty-nine thousand were planted at Whare Flat, and the remainder in the Leith-Waitati watershed. There is still a very large area left to plant. The trees are all making excellent progress. -Evening Star, 16/10/1912.
It is reported that farmers in the Whare Flat district have been caused much annoyance of late by the appearance of mobs of dogs of the mongrel type which have done much damage to the sheep flocks. A number of valuable sheep have been lost through this trouble, and the farmers have had to resort to firearms to abate the nuisance. Youths and others who pay periodical visits to this and surrounding districts in quest of rabbits are warned to keep their dogs in check. -Evening Star, 5/3/1913.
At a public meeting held in the Whare Flat School on Thursday night. Mr D. McQuilkan presiding, it was resolved that a deputation wait on the Mayor of the City and the Mayor of Maori Hill in order to point out to them the desirability of enforcing the Dog Registration Act, so that every dog should have a collar. Of 10 dogs captured and shot last week and this only one had a collar enabling the owner to be traced. Close on £100 worth of sheep has been worried within nine days, and the settlers feel that enforcement of the Act would materially assist them in finding the owners of the dogs. One of the dogs had a collar inscribed “1897, City of Dunedin.” -Evening Star, 15/3/1913.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
ROLL OF HONOUR
NEW ZEALAND DEATHS
DIED OF DISEASE
OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES.
In 21st General Hospital, Alexandria. McQuilkan, Murdoch, 8/636 Trooper (D. McQuilkan, Whare Flat, Dunedin); of dysentery. December 16th. -NZ Times, 27/12/1915.
Murdoch McQuilkan was a peacetime member of the Otago Hussars which became 5 squadron of the Otago Mounted Rifles.
PASSING NOTES
CITY COUNCIL.
The fortnightly meeting of the City Council was held last evening, and attended by the Mayor (Mr J. Wilson), Crs Myers, McMillan, Clark, Burnett, Shacklock, Marlow, Green, Murray, Todd, Hancock, Douglas Sinclair, McDonald, Sullivan, Stewart, Carroll, and Scott.
— Water Committee. — Cr Shacklock, in moving the adoption of the Water Committee's report, referred to the clause announcing that notice had been given to Mr S. Rollinson, Whare Flat, that his tenancy of certain lands in East Taieri district would be terminated upon the expiration of the current term on March 1 next. He said that the land was required to protect the water supply, and the committee now recommended that it be retained for the purpose. The report was adopted. -Evening Star, 17/10/1912.
A party of holiday campers at Whare Flat had a sensational experience early on Saturday morning, which, though unpleasant enough, might have been much more serious, states the "Otago Daily Times." The two ladies of the party were accommodated in a snug, well-roofed, little manuka whare, the two gentlemen having a hut a good ten minutes' walk away. As the evening was somewhat chilly, the ladies were provided with a roaring fire. About half-past one o'clock one of them rose and brushed together the dying embers to make a fresh blaze. She awoke again at half-past five to find the whare in flames. One scream aroused her sister, and in a second they were both in safety outside the hut, with the scantiest of clothing and a handful of blankets. Nothing could be done to save any of the contents of the whare, and the only course left to them was to tramp bare-footed to the men's hut to acquaint them of the disaster. Later the ladies, still barefooted, tramped three miles to the nearest available conveyance, and, having obtained a useful, if not ornamental, assortment of clothing, they were driven to town. The whare contained a small stock of new clothing, and was well equipped with camp furnishings, the most important item in which was a tent. A watch was destroyed in the ruins, but a gold chain was recovered, not much the worse for its experience. The ladies took the matter very philosophically, their uppermost feeling being one of thankfulness that they had been aroused just before it was too late. -Lyttelton Times, 7/1/1913.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS (excerpt)
Mr J. W. Rollinson has been granted an extension of up to six weeks of his lease of property at Whare Flat to allow of crops to ripen and the completion of dwelling-house. -Otago Daily Times, 3/3/1913.
It is reported that farmers in the Whare Flat district have been caused much annoyance of late by the appearance of mobs of dogs of the mongrel type which have done much damage to the sheep flocks. A number of valuable sheep have been lost through this trouble, and the farmers have had to resort to firearms to abate the nuisance. Youths and others who pay periodical visits to this and surrounding districts in quest of rabbits are warned to keep their dogs in check. -Evening Star, 5/3/1913.
At a public meeting held in the Whare Flat School on Thursday night. Mr D. McQuilkan presiding, it was resolved that a deputation wait on the Mayor of the City and the Mayor of Maori Hill in order to point out to them the desirability of enforcing the Dog Registration Act, so that every dog should have a collar. Of 10 dogs captured and shot last week and this only one had a collar enabling the owner to be traced. Close on £100 worth of sheep has been worried within nine days, and the settlers feel that enforcement of the Act would materially assist them in finding the owners of the dogs. One of the dogs had a collar inscribed “1897, City of Dunedin.” -Evening Star, 15/3/1913.
WHARE FLAT SCHOOL
UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL OF "CAPTAIN SCOTT’S LAST MESSAGE.”
At the above school on Wednesday afternoon a number of residents, parents, and children, together with the School Committee, attended the schoolhouse for the above ceremony. Mr D. McQuilkan, chairman of the committee, presided. He thanked the Rev. Mr Lymburn for his presence, and was glad to see so many gathered to do honor to a man who never said die, and who showed the three excellent qualities of pluck, perseverance, and chanty combined. Captain Scott looked after and kept his men faithful and true, and was himself the last to depart into the Great Unknown. Not only did they honor him, but his men who lie far down in the South, buried in perpetual snow.
The memorial was draped with a Union Jack, and at a given signal was pulled away. The boys of the school then stood to attention, and saluted as a mark of respect. The Chairman said; “I hope the lesson contained in the message will be held sacred and unsullied as long as the school lasts.” (Cheers.)
‘Hearts of Oak’ was sung by the scholars, and Miss McMeeking. Masters K. Wise and H. McIntosh recited ‘March of the Men of Harlech.’
The chairman then called on the Rev. Mr Lymburn, who said they had met today to do honor to a great explorer. The speaker then referred to the Rev. Dr Livingstone, whose jubilee they had just celebrated, comparing the two great men. The address was much appreciated. Master E. Chettleburgh recited. Mr McMeeking, clerk of the School Committee, apologised for the absence of the president of the Navy League (the Hon. James Allen), the hon. secretary of the Navy League, Mr S. M. Park (secretary of the Otago Education Board), also Mr Richardson (chief inspector), and moved that a vote of thanks be forwarded from this meeting to the Otago branch of the Navy League for their kindness in sending a copy of Captain Scott's last message, which was carried unanimously. He also referred to the prominent place New Zealand took in connection with the tragedy, this being his last port of call, also among the first to receive the sad news. The children gave an exhibition in dumb-bells, Mr C. Wise spoke on the words contained in the message, and of the kindness and harmony of spirit prevailing amongst the crew of the Terra. Nova. Miss R. McMeeking and Miss L. Brinsdon recited loyal and patriotic pieces. The Chairman thanked the Rev. Mr Lymburn for his address and Mr McMeeking for his kindness. Mr Lymburn thanked Miss Wilson, on behalf of the visitors, for the creditable performance of the children. The Chairman also, on behalf of the committee, complimented Miss Wilson on the performance and the fine tone of the children under her care.
The company then sang ‘God Save the King,’ and tea, sandwiches, cakes, fruit, and lollies were handed round.
The committee were heartily thanked for their energy and zeal, and a pleasant hour was brought to a close with the company singing ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ -Evening Star, 7/8/1913.
There has passed away at her residence, Trent street, Oamaru, another of the old identities, in the person of Mrs John Macdonald, at the age of 83 years. She was predeceased by her husband by about eight months. The aged couple arrived in Dunedin from Strathpeffer, Scotland, in the early fifties, and took up a farm at Whare Flat, where they remained for over 30 years. They were highly esteemed for their kindly hospitality, and upright and Godfearing life. -Otago Daily Times, 11/8/1913.
SPRING IN THE CITY (excerpt)
Daffodils follow the primroses and crocuses, and the kowhai and wattle are already thick with blossom. The flowering of the kowhai, of course, depends on the variety of tree. Over a fortnight ago I saw some trees on the outskirts of Dunedin in full flower, and most of those at the Gardens are now masses of bloom; but others are not nearly at their best yet. Wiseacres say that the Whare Flat trees — to which so many people make an annual pilgrimage - will be ready to receive visitors in about a week now. On fine Saturdays and Sundays at this time of the year quite a procession wends its way over the hill to see the kowhai, even as the Japanese go to see the cherry-blossom every year. If only people would be content to look, and do no more! Fortunately — alas, that one should have to say it! — the trees flower so high that the blooms cannot easily be picked. Yes, yellow is the colour of spring — yellow with touches of purple and lilac, just as summer decks herself with the reds and pinks of her roses and carnations, merging into the deeper shades of autumn, who also calls on purple again when she mingles her Michaelmas daisies with her dahlias and chrysanthemums. For the gorse is out on the road to Tomahawk and the broom is following suit, and soon the sandhills will be covered with the pale yellow of the lupin. -Otago Witness, 10/9/1913.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
Mr D. McQuilkan, Whare Flat, wrote urging the necessity of a concrete water trough being erected on the top of Flagstaff in place of the existing wooden one. The road close by also needed repair. — Cr Gow undertook to report to the next meeting of the council on this matter, and the letter was received. -Evening Star, 28/2/1914.
STOATS AND WEASELS.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I see it stated in a paragraph that the Acclimatisation Society is paying for the destruction of the native hawk. I think this is a very grave mistake, as they are very harmless birds that do a lot of good. They are the only scavengers we have since the weka was starved out. Kill all the hawks in the country and the people will have some nice water to drink. I have been doing all in my power to preserve them. I have had charge of sheep — sometimes my own and sometimes my employer's, — and I can positively assert that I never know of lambs being destroyed by them, unless they were too weak to live. I daresay they would destroy young ducks or any game they could catch if there were any to destroy; but what is the value of a wild duck or partridge to the working man compared with the water he has to drink? I could take a good cheque from the Acclimatisation Society by a month’s trapping, but I have to drink a lot of water, and I like it to be good. Hoping that the destruction will be stopped at once,
— I am, etc O. E. Wise. Whare Flat, July 1. -Otago Witness, 8/7/1914.
DUNEDIN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION.
Eight extra kits were filled and forwarded to-day to Wellington for men who have joined the Expeditionary Force. “Blanket Day” to-morrow is going to be a success. Signs of encouragement are coming from all quarters. This morning the executive were gladdened by the receipt of three pairs of new blankets subscribed for by the children of the Whare Flat School, and Mrs Wise, of the same district, sent one blanket. Next week the association hope to make another special appeal.
There will be a “Baby Day.” No misunderstanding, please. Not a gathering up of babies, but baby’s clothing.
Later on there will be a “Red Cross Day.” -Evening Star, 8/10/1914.
BUSH FIRES
AT WHARE FLAT.
A HOUSE DESTROYED
Fire at Whare Flat yesterday and last night destroyed about 600 acres of beautiful bush. The conditions were such as to aid with devastating effect any fire that might break out in the open. A strong gale swept the country, and must have given a tremendous fire power to the flames that raged at Whare Flat last night.
Yesterday the air about the City was full of smoke and dust, and it was evident that bush fires were raging on the hills about the City. In the evening the sky, as seen from the town, was bright with a red, ominous glow towards Flagstaff, betokening that the fierce and irrepressible flames still raged. Had it not been for the slight rain shower that fell about 1 o'clock this morning, and the wind having spent its force, it is certain that the fire would have spread to Waitati, and the damage would have been far more serious.
Commencing yesterday morning, the fire, assisted by the wind, spread with startling rapidity, and soon a wide belt of country was a mass of flames. The Whare Flat School was in danger, and the children were got out with difficulty. Many of them had to take very circuitous routes to their homes, as the roads were blocked by the fire. The teacher's house was also attacked, and would soon have been destroyed had it not been for the efforts of the residents of the neighborhood, assisted by the corporation men, who, with buckets, brought water from a creek.
A five-roomed house, owned by Mrs Glendining, of Highgate, Roslyn, was completely destroyed, none of the furniture being saved. The house was insured in the National Office, for £100, and the furniture in the same office for a similar amount. The house was a "week-end" residence, and elaborately furnished. The loss is estimated at about £100.
A resident of Whare Flat, seen this morning, said that the whole of the bush on McKenzie's Hill had been destroyed, and between 300 and 400 posts belonging to the City Corporation had been burnt. Altogether about 600 acres of beautiful bush had been burnt, and he considered it would take six years to replace it. The glare from the fire was so great that at about half-past 10 last night he could easily read a newspaper in the open, although the fire was some three or four miles away from his house. As showing the great heat, he stated that the brass cocks had been melted off the front of the range in Mrs Glendining's house, and the degree of heat necessary for the melting of brass is 850 Fahrenheit. The fire was the worst known to have occurred in the district. -Evening Star, 8/12/1914.
War came, and the population of the Silverstream Valley were not unaffected by it.
PERSONAL.
The flag was flown half-mast at the Whare Flat School yesterday as a mark of respect to Trooper Murdoch Campbell, who died of wounds at the Dardanelles. Murdoch Campbell, who was educated at Whare Flat School, though hardly 18 years of age, joined the reinforcements of the Otago Mounted Rifles. -Evening Star, 4/9/1915.
NEW ZEALAND DEATHS
DIED OF DISEASE
OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES.
In 21st General Hospital, Alexandria. McQuilkan, Murdoch, 8/636 Trooper (D. McQuilkan, Whare Flat, Dunedin); of dysentery. December 16th. -NZ Times, 27/12/1915.
Murdoch McQuilkan was a peacetime member of the Otago Hussars which became 5 squadron of the Otago Mounted Rifles.
PASSING NOTES
At the North Taieri Church on the 26th ult. the Rev. J. Lymburn made feeling reference to the death of Trooper Murdoch McQuilkan, of Whare Flat, a member of the church; also to the death, by accident, at Brighton, of Ian Kinmont, son of the esteemed neighbouring minister, the Rev. A. W. Kinmont. A resolution of sympathy was passed by the congregation standing. The same resolution was passed at the Whare Flat service. -Otago Witness, 5/1/1916.
LATE TROOPER McQUILKAN.
Trooper Murdoch McQuilkan, who died in the Alexandria Hospital, belonged to Whare Flat. He was in the service of the corporation, and also in partnership with his brother, Mr D. McQuilkan. He was for a considerable time a member of the Otago Hussars, and when the war broke out he was amongst the first to volunteer for service abroad. -Otago Daily Times, 7/1/1916.
GOING TO THE FRONT.
At Whare Flat on Friday evening Mr B. A. Rackham, who is leaving for the front, and who has been in the employ of the City Corporation on the Silverstream water race, was presented by his fellow-employees and residents of the district with a complete shaving outfit. Mr R. Sharp (race inspector), who made the presentation, wished him good luck and a safe return. -Otago Daily Times, 15/8/1917.
CLEARING SALE, At Whare Flat. Starting at 1 o'clock
NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND MERCANTILE AGENCY CO. (LTD.)
have received instructions from the Trustee in the Estate of John Bell, Whare Flat, to offer, as above, at the Farm, Whare Flat, his
Stock, Implements, etc., consisting of:
120 crossbred Ewes, with lambs
1 draught Mare, in foal to Young Wildwood
1 draught Mare
1 Hack, 6yrs
1 two-year-old Colt
1 two-year-old shorthorn Heifer
Double-furrow plough, hillside plough, Planet Jr. plough, farm dray, disc harrows, tyne harrows, 2 binders, roller, grubbers, 2 thrashing mills, reaper, turnip pulper, horse power chaffcutter, sledge, saddle and bridle, harness, leading chains, manure, sheep dog, fowls, quantity sundries and Household Effects. -Otago Daily Times, 1/12/1917.
| BLACK BRIDGE, SILVERSTREAM VALLEY, NEAR WHARE FLAT -Otago Witness, 26/12/1917. |
THE WATER CATCHMENT AT SILVERSTREAM.
Sir, — The other day I took a walk out to the pumping station at Whare Flat, and in passing noted one or two things which I was unable to explain even to myself. The first was that the houses which used to be occupied seem to be empty. Instead of nice smiling gardens and the music of children's laughter there was nothing but desolation and weeds. I believe the reason given by the inspector is that this is in the interests of the consumers of water. To my surprise, however, when I was walking up the valley I came to a caretaker's house and then to another house, evidently used as a holiday "crib," right on the bank of the stream which supplies the Mosgiel people. Has the City Council no thought for the Mosgiel people, that it allows such a state of things to exist?
If it is in the interests of the city that there should be no settlement in the catchment area I claim the same precautions for the town of Mosgiel. The second thing that struck me was the great waste of grass. The council is always complaining about the shortness of funds. I have not the least idea how many acres are idle, but I am sure that if all the land was leased for grazing sheep it would bring in some hundreds of pounds per annum, and I maintain that in present circumstances the City Council should do all they can to ease the ratepayers.
— I am, etc., Mosgiel.
[The idea of utilising water-supply catchment areas for grazing purposes is condemned by all medical authorities. — Ed. O.D.T.] -Otago Daily Times, 26/12/1917.
At Mosgiel on Wednesday evening Master Ivor Scott was presented with the Royal Humane Society's medal and certificate. Some time ago he saved the life of Mr Thomas Walsh and his daughter, of Mosgiel, by preventing them drowning in the Silverstream in the Whare Flat district. Some time after the event he was also presented with a watch by Mr Walsh, and duly honored by the Boy Scouts (and their officers), of which he was a member. The Mayor of Mosgiel, who presided, intimated that Mr Walsh's parents, who reside in Scotland, had sent Master Scott a gold medal. Congratulations were sent from Mr Dickson, M.P., Sir Cecil Moon, and Major Fleming. -Evening Star, 18/1/1918.
CITY COUNCIL
WATER COMMITTEE.
The Water Committee recommended that the offer from Mr D. McQuilkan to sell to the council for £187 10s his land at Whare Flat, containing 45 acres, be accepted. The land was in the Silverstream catchment, and should be under the council's control.
Cr Wilson, in moving the adoption of the report, said that the land possessed some very valuable trees, and would be an acquisition, apart from being in the water area.
Cr Begg wanted to know when they were going to reach some finality in regard to the purchase of land in the catchment areas of the Silver-stream and Whare Flat.
Cr Douglas said the water to-day was as bad as it was before the Sullivan dam was completed.
Cr Wilson, in reply to a question by Cr Taverner, said that the question of the supply to the high levels of Anderson Bay and St. Clair would be considered at the committee meeting on the following day. There was no doubt that the residents in those parts were suffering an injustice. As to Cr Douglas's complaint about the state of the water, it was the first complaint he had heard of since the Sullivan dam was completed.
Cr Douglas: I will bring you a sample of it.
The report was adopted. -Evening Star, 21/2/1918.
| WHARE FLAT AND STLVERSTREAM WATERSHED, VIEWED FROM KAY'S CLIFFS. W. A. Taylor, photo. Approximately 6000 acre of this picturesque locality are reserved for the conservation of the water supply to the city of Dunedin. -Otago Witness, 29/5/1918. |
| THE UPPER SILVERSTREAM, WHARE FLAT. -Otago Witness, 30/10/1918. |
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE PIONEERS.
SILVERSTREAM VALLEY TO BLUE SKIN BAY, VIA THE OLD TRACK.
(See Illustrated pages.)
To the rear of Dunedin stands Flagstaff Hill, and yet further back is Swampy Hill, places well known to many Dunedinites who can enjoy the panoramic views that are there unfolded to the vision. On most of the surrounding hills exist narrow foot tracks, some of which have a history connected with the early pioneering days that gave an interest in them to the more thoughtful of the pedestrians of to-day. There is, for instance, an interesting walk from Whare Flat to Waitati. At the old stone house at Kay's Cliffs bridge, Whare Flat, a blind road leads off to Rawlinson's. From there the journey by the old track commences — a journey made by many of the early pioneers coming or going between the old whaling station of Blueskin and the then small place Dunedin. Not far from Rawlinson's to the right, and on a small streamlet flowing into Cameron's Creek, can be traced the ruins of a flaxmill, and its attendant water-wheel, reminiscent of the time when flaxmilling was a profitable industry not so very far away from Dunedin. Further along the peculiar formation of land abutting on Mackenzie Creek claims attention. Journeying on a mile or so the head of Coal Gully, a tributary of the Silverstream, is reached. This locality, which is rich in high level native vegetation, derives its name from the fact that a coal pit once existed — yes, existed there until the Dunedin City Corporation providently secured the land in the interests of its water supply. Some of the country adjoining and on the track once formed part of the Snowy Mountain Run; but of former efforts of occupation no trace now exists if we except a small patch of English grass which has in some way or other escaped the ravages of "Mister Bunny," probably from the fact that the locality is often coated deep with snow. Not far away stood a shepherd's hut, and from it, in the good old days, the shepherd saw a well-dressed traveller passing by. The inevitable snowstorm came on, and when the stranger was found life was gone. What was his name? Little was found to lead to identification, and he was buried as the man from Canterbury. Many an old identity still living can tell weird stories of the Swampy Hill and other tracks, and of accidents by the score. The traveller of to-day will do well to be warned of mists and storms, as with several deep lagoons around, mostly spring-fed, the Silverstream side of Swampy Hill being wetter than the Leith-Waitati side, it is hardly on occasions an enviable place to be in. In settled weather it is all that could be desired. Passing the lagoons and over tussocky hills the track leads to the cairns at the saddle. Away to the left tower the Silver Peaks and Mount Allan, and in front and below the Waitati Valley. From the cairns the track is interwoven with the old Waikouaiti-Swampy Hill Dunedin trail as far as the Clump of Trees Hill, where the celebrated Johnny Jones had a half-way house. With the ruins of the stockade and the clearing — very fragmentary relics indeed — the journey by track continues to Semple's farm at Double Hill, whence several good roads lead down hill to Blueskin Bay. -Otago Witness, 25/12/1918.
In early 1919, David Thomas McMeeking was gazetted as having won the Military Medal "for acts of gallantry in the field" while serving with the NZ Cyclist Corps in France. After the War he was a member of the 1923 All Blacks. He died in Dunedin in 1976.
 |
| Andersons Bay Cemetery. DCC Photo. |
Deaths
JOLLY. — On April 17, at Dunedin Hospital, James Jolly, late of Outram and Whare Flat; aged 83 years. Interred this day (Saturday), 19th inst., in the Southern Cemetery. — Hope and Kinaston, undertakers. -Evening Star, 19/4/1919.
TAIERI COUNTY COUNCIL (excerpt)
ENGINEER'S REPORT.
The engineer's report was read and adopted. The engineer stated that Kay's bridge (Whare Flat road) was in a very dangerous state, and something should be done as soon as the money on the Estimates became available. —It was decided to advertise that the bridge was dangerous for vehicular traffic, and that repairs be effected as soon as possible. -Evening Star, 25/10/1919.
HAVING had a valuable Animal injured last Sunday with a pea rifle bullet, No Person with pea rifles will be allowed on this property at Whare Elat from this date. D. McQuilkan, Whare Flat. -Evening Star, 12/12/1919.
CITY WATER SUPPLY
POWDER CREEK PUMPING STATION OPENED.
The formal opening of the Powder Creek Pumping Station, at Whare Flat, long awaited, took place on the 19th under most favourable conditions. Cr Green, as chairman of the Water Committee, was in charge oi the proceedings, and among those who motored cut to the scene with him were the Mayor (Mr W. Begg), the Town Clerk, the City Engineer, the Acting Electrical Engineer, and a number of councillors. The purpose of the new plant is to raise water from Powder Creek by electrical pumping and deliver it into the Silverstream race by which it will eventually find its way into the Southern Reservoir. The whole equipment is costing the corporation some £4000, and it is capable of adding a million gallons daily to the city's water supply in wet weather. Unfortunately, however, during a dry spell its daily capacity will be reduced to half a million gallons. Cr Green states that the city requires 3,000,000 gallons extra daily, so that the Powder Creek plant, while it will undoubtedly assist in tiding over the present year, offers no permanent solution of the difficulty. In Cr Green's opinion it must eventually become necessary to go to Lee Stream.
In turning on the power to set the pumps going, Cr Green congratulated those concerned on the fact that the whole of the material used was British. The scheme had been delayed since 1914. The plant was ordered and actually ready when it was commandeered by the British Government for war purposes, and the machinery to replace it did not arrive till a few months ago.
The motor is of 110 horse power, and in a dry season it is capable of keeping the creek dry all summer. The running cost of the plant is estimated at £23 a week. -Otago Witness, 27/1/1920.
Peter McIntyre, in his illustrated autobiography "The Painted Years" wrote briefly of visiting Whare Flat during the 1920s and 30s. His mother had grown up there and the area was Peter's youthful rambling place. By that time there were few farms left and the area was mostly DCC catchment land, reverting to the original bush, though mixed with the imported gorse and broom. There was still much to see of the lives of those who had settled there.
"Here and there in the bush of Whare Flat clumps of blackberries grew in the shapes of ghostly houses, lifesize versions of the models we children made in plasticine, for there under the blackberries were all that remained of the farmhouses of the old Scottish settlers. Whare Flat is so like the Highlands that through sheer nostalgia many of the early Scottish settlers of Otago tried to hack farms out of the bush there, ignoring the more fertile Taieri Plains nearby. One by one their farms failed and the families left. With the years the blackberries crept up to cover the old homes with a thick green shroud. My mother, who had known all these families in her girlhood, would point out the eerie shapes in the bush. 'That's the McLachlans,' she would say. 'That lump near the eave was the gable window of Janet's bedroom.'"
| AN ILLICIT WHISKY STILL, DISCOVERED BY A PARTY OP SPORTSMEN NEAR POWDER CREEK. WHARE FLAT, AND BROUGHT TO DUNEDIN. —Cazna Studio, photo. -Otago Witness, 3/2/1920. |
THE SILVERSTREAM.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Your articles in last night's 'Star' treat the subject of the shortage of the Silverstream supply as if it were a new discovery. This supply has been a disappointment from the very first. Thirty years ago it was well known. Mr Mirams, in dealing with another flow connected with the water system, said: "It exceeds the lowest daily flow of the SilverStream Creek (500,000 gallons a day)." This fixed the Mirams's minimum at 500,000 gallons. It has doubled this all this summer, showing that the system is properly cared for.
In 1895 Messrs Hay and Mirams reported: — "The reason that the Silverstream fails to fulfil the results expected by its exponents is, in the first place, an exaggerated estimate of the water available for collection by the race and the absence of any storage accommodation." Your other points are those of the slimy weed in the race, and grass growing along the sides. To deal with these as often as one would like would involve a loss of water that we cannot spare. The Silverstream water is very dirty already when it reaches the reservoir. To have men plunging up and down in it after handfuls of algae and raking out cut grass that must fall into it would make it much worse. The cleaning out properly means the emptying of the race, a thing we cannot afford to do during dry weather, when harmless algoid growths are at their height. Neither can the water be turned off as often as it should be for the killing of crayfish that come into the race from the creeks. These crayfish or crabs, as the men call them, immediately start boring holes in the lining of the race, and the watch for these vermin and their holes is a never-ending one. A crab will often start a leak in a night that causes much loss of water.
Referring to the Flagstaff Creek water, this creek has been condemned as a source of supply for drinking water from the early days. Dr Champtaloup's last report on it describes it as "grossly polluted," and unfit for human consumption without storage or filtration or dilution. Your representative writes without knowledge of the facts, or he would not ask for more of this water. With grossly polluted water in sufficient quantity, you could poison half the children and many of the adults in the south end of the town in a week. You, Sir, would be the last man in the town to knowingly advocate the supplying of "grossly polluted" water to the children or this fair city.
The other points in your article are, from the point of view of an engineer, very paltry. Some water getting through in the Silverstream intake, or through seams of stratification in the rock on each side of or under the intake and appearing in the creek lower down is a thing that takes place in every similarly situated intake. In other dams the water is lost; in our case the pump catches it and saves it. It is incorrect to say that there is any water going to waste that can be reasonably saved. The race is patrolled by loyal men, who spare no pains to get all the clean water possible into the race, and keep it.
The silting up at the intake consumes no water. The gravel is shovelled over from time to time; at the present moment it is causing no loss whatever. The Powder Creek pump dries the creek, except for what the council allow to run by for the Mosgiel people. They were not satisfied with the quantity allowed, and at considerable expense added to it at their own cost within the last few days. Is this wasting water? On the question of a supply to supplement the Silverstream, Mr R. Brown, C.E., of Naseby (deceased), first suggested the Lee Stream source in a letter in July, 1903. In October, 1903, Mr Brown and Mr R. Stewart, mining engineer, Dunedin, recommended the Lee Stream as "a scheme to provide a purer, larger, and more permanent water supply at a lesser cost than is available from any other source." In your own columns in April, 1911, Mr F. Williams, the well-known hydraulic and water supply engineer, of Dunedin, stated: "Thus an expenditure of ---- (estimated cost) would put the City in a position to have water for the next 100 years. The nearest source of supply to go to is undoubtedly the Lee Stream." Mr Robert Hay. M.I.C.E.. bears witness to the same effect.
—I am, etc., W. D. R. McCurdie, City Engineer. March 27.
I append the following note from Mr McG. Wilkie, A.M.I.C.E.: — "As one who spends many week-ends during the year at Whare Flat, and who is familiar with the race from Whare Flat to the intake, I affirm that the race is well cared for and that every possible precaution is taken to prevent leakage and wastage of every kind." -Evening Star, 27/3/1920.
| CAMPING OUT AT WHARE FLAT, A POPULAR HOLIDAY RESORT FOR DUNEDIN PEOPLE: THE CAMP COOK. -Otago Witness, 6/4/1920. |
| An old landmark at Whare Flat -Otago Witness, 6/4/1920. |
Mr D. McQuilkan, of Whare Flat, informs us that visitors to the district will be rewarded with an exceptionally fine display of Kowhai this season. The trees will be at their best in about two weeks' time, and, unless rough weather intervenes meanwhile, the roads will be in good condition for both pedestrians and motorists. Old residents remind the public to leave dogs at home, as a great deal of damage has been done in the way of destruction of lambs, etc. This district is becoming a popular one for those who do not mind a stiff walk, and there are sure to be a great many who will make the tramp to see one of the few remaining displays of kowhai left in the city's vicinity. -Otago Daily Times, 15/9/1920.
WATER SUPPLY.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I wish to draw attention to unnecessary expenditure that is being incurred in repairing the necessary work of the Silverstream race at what is known as the Flagstaff section. The concrete channel, instead of being as straight a line, as possible, is a number of wavy bends, similar to a hairpin.
The public would be well advised to visit this spot, five and a-half miles from the Kaikorai on the North Taieri road. The trip would be both health giving and instructive. To give an idea of the vast amount of water in this watershed, the trip could be continued on to the Taieri plain, up the beautiful Silverstream Valley, which just teems with ideal picnic spots. There is a good motor road right to Whare Flat. From Whare Flat the walk to the intake of the race is one of the finest — walking on a level grass track twining its way around the bushclad hills, the native bush being exceptionally pretty, and, on a small scale, very similar to parts of the Buller Gorge and the overland trip to Nelson.
The Silverstream twines its way in the valley on the left, while all the creeks and others mentioned in this controversy, with the exception of Powder Creek, enter the race on the right. The misnamed Powder pumping station, situated on the Silverstream, a mile below where the Powder enters, is one of the first objects of interest. Sightseers will notice that, after all the creeks are taken into the race there is an enormous quantity of water still left in the Silverstream. There is no water in the race at the present time from the intake to Whare Flat; therefore the "polluted" Cameron's and McQuilkans Creeks must be and are supplying the race to its full carrying capacity. Any person making the trip will be well repaid, and will not regret an instructive, health-giving outing. It is an opportunity for ratepayers to go and see and form opinions about this abundant water supply, so easy of access.
— I am, etc., H. V. Freemax. September 27. -Evening Star, 28/9/1920.
CITY COUNCIL
WORKS COMMITTEE (excerpt)
That the offer from Mr Donald McQuilkan to accept the sum of £11 per acre for an area of 151 acres of his land at Whare Flat, on the understanding that £1,000 of the purchase money will not be payable by the council until six months after date of purchase, the vendor receiving interest on such sum in the meantime at the rate of 6 1/2 per cent, per annum, be accepted. The purchase of this property would enable the council to prevent much of the pollution of McQuilkan's Creek, the waters of which it had been found necessary to take in during the summer season. Cr Scott took exception to the suggestion to pay 6 1/2 per cent. interest when the council itself was paying only 6 per cent. He moved as an amendment that the rate be altered to 6 per cent. Cr Hayward seconded the amendment. Cr Taverner pointed out that the loan was for a very short period, and as much as 10 per cent. had been paid elsewhere for a loan covering four months. Cr Wilson said that the land had been got for much less than its value because of the owner's love for the native bush and his desire that it be preserved. The rate of interest was the result of negotiations by the town clerk. The amendment was lost, and the report adopted. -Evening Star, 18/8/1921.
We are informed by Mr D. McQuilkan that the native bush which makes Whare Flat one of the chief beauty spots on the outskirts of the city, is from time to time threatened with destruction by the action of thoughtless persons in leaving behind them a trail of fire. Last Sunday week Mr McQuilkan himself extinguished a fire which scarred a nice piece of bush, and also threatened with danger some buildings standing near by. Again last Sunday some bush on the slopes of Flagstaff was set on fire, and if this had extended to the reserves, which at present, are knee-deep in dry cocksfoot, a great deal of damage would have been done. Thoughtless vandalism of this kind cannot be too strongly condemned. -Otago Daily Times, 7/9/1921.
It was in 1921, two years before the official beginning of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, that someone calling themselves "O B" described the following walk from the city out to the Flat. The initials and the supply of tinned pineapple strongly suggest that this was Oscar Balk, an early stalwart of the club, importer and supplier of that (then) rare delicacy whose tins adorned fenceposts around the lookout now known as Pineapple Point, on the track up onto Flagstaff.
It was in 1921, two years before the official beginning of the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club, that someone calling themselves "O B" described the following walk from the city out to the Flat. The initials and the supply of tinned pineapple strongly suggest that this was Oscar Balk, an early stalwart of the club, importer and supplier of that (then) rare delicacy whose tins adorned fenceposts around the lookout now known as Pineapple Point, on the track up onto Flagstaff.
A DUNEDIN WALK
OVER THE HILL TO WHARE FLAT.
By O.B.
It was a merry party with swags on their backs on one of the fine spring mornings, of recent experience, to enjoy a day on the hills — the hills which give Dunedin such romantic beauty! To those who make a habit of roaming over them it is over a source of wonder and regret that so few of the dwellers in this city avail themselves of the opportunity of drawing upon this inexhaustible store of health and pleasure, which Nature has placed within such easy reach. With many it is just a want of initiative; they don’t go because they don’t know, and nobody has suggested it to them. If they were invited to join a party they would probably do so, and enjoy the outing to the full. Most of our party had tramped the hills many a time and oft, and were keen to go again as the hills always look a bit different and invariably present fresh aspects of beauty.
We started from Maori Hill. I promised a visitor from the City of the Plains that I would take him a walk, which for variety of scenery and an entire absence of dull and uninteresting stretches would be hard to match anywhere in New Zealand, or beyond. What could give us a better start than the picturesque golf links, with their velvety tread? Even short-legged “Scotty,” the pet of the party, showed his delight by racing round and barking like a liberated imp. It was here that we left the hard roads, and said good-bye to dust churned up by motors — those servants of modern restlessness and masters of physical deterioration. Down we dipped into a bush-clad gully, till recently and for many years the home of a nature-loving hermit, and crossed School Creek at, its junction with Ross’s Creek. A few minutes’ climb brought ns to the reservoir, nestling like a miniature lake among the hills. It is gratifying to notice the improvements which have been made here, and which render it an ideal picnic resort, so close to the city, and yet so far removed from it.
Following the road for a short distance we strike a by road, which is still covered with green sward, bringing us to the bottom of the bush, right alongside of Ross's Creek, which tempts us to a long, cool drink. Now we have a fairly strenuous climb of 20 minutes up the bush track, rising about 600 feet, but no matter how hot the sun’s rays may be, we are well sheltered from them here. For the botanically inclined there is an endless variety of bush plants and ferns on this track, and further up the hardier species of mountain plants are in evidence. As soon as we emerge from the bush a fine view opens out, but we hold back our admiration till we have circled round to the right, and reached our beloved Pineapple Point. Here is spread before us what is undoubtedly one of the loveliest views in the vicinity of Dunedin. Looking over a foreground of bush we see nearly the whole of the City of Dunedin lying at our feet, with the wide, blue ocean framing the only part of the picture which the green hills leave bare. Now the glasses are brought out, as there is much of interest to see, whether it be the traffic along the winding Leith road up to Sullivan Dam, the reflections in the deep blue water of the reservoir, the shipping at the wharves, prominent buildings round the city (such as the new hospital at Wakari), or the coastline stretching far away to the south past Taieri Island to the Nuggets, nearly 60 miles away. Meanwhile one of the rucksacks has been broached, and a tin of pineapples has been opened. Never did pineapple have a better flavour is the unanimous verdict! Thoroughly refreshed we follow the track along the fence leading up to the saddle, having on our right the wild gully known as Nichol’s, and harbouring in its deep recesses some five or more picturesque waterfalls. While we all feel grateful for the forethought of the early settlers which reserved for all time the Town Belt, and other reserves, we feel that here is a locality which should never have been allowed to pass into private hands to be so ruthlessly despoiled of its native bush.
A steady pull brings, us ere long to the saddle from which we obtain the first view of the dark and rugged Silver Peaks, and of the snow-clad Rock-and-Pillar range beyond, and the “new-chums” of the party feel that now they see something quite apart from everyday scenes! At this point we also strike the historic old trail running over the hills to Waikouaiti — the first “road” which connected the Otago settlement with the older settlement of whalers at Waikouaiti. It was never used for vehicular traffic, only as a pack and bridletrack, and for bringing cattle over to the New Settlement. “Johnny” Jones would come that way on horseback, when he spied a ship bound for Dunedin with a likely cargo of flour He had a store in Jetty street, and would address his storeman with. “Martin, how is flour selling to-day?” “At 20s just now, sir,” “Make it 14.” “Very good, sir.” Then there was cheap flour in Dunedin for a few days. When the skipper to his disgust found a poor market in Dunedin and had departed, Jones would tell his storeman to make the price 20s again! There was the commercial instinct, even in those primitive and unsophisticated days!
Following the old trail towards Flagstaff “trig.” We are presently attracted by a curious pile of broken rocks running in a dead straight line alongside the track for three or four chains, looking for all the world as if they had been built up at one time by masons working with a line, and yet having no apparent object whatever. Many a time we puzzled whether these rocks had been piled up by nature, or the hand of man and we had discussed many theories regarding their origin. At last some two years ago we had in our party one who had made a study of geology as a practical miner, and who was greatly interested when we took him to these rocks. Without any hesitation he assured us that the hand of man had nothing to do with these rocks, that they were a geological ‘lode’ or 'dyke,' and that this particular one was well-known among geologists all the world over, and that he had more than once looked for it, but had so far been unable to locate it. We were naturally much interested in this explanation, and accepted it implicitly.
Once more we inspected this ancient dyke, and again marvelled at its astonishing straightness. Then we took a new track which crossed it and ran over the hill in the direction of Whare Flat. This track has recently been roughly formed by our old friend, “Ben” Rudd, and leads to his new abode. Some 18 months ago “Ben” sold out of the property he held for so long, and was given an easy billet with comfortable quarters and good food by a resident of Maori Hill, but after a while the Call of the Wild was too strong for him, so he bought a fresh ranch, of rather more than 100 acres, and is now busy putting up a new “home” among rocks and scrub, on one of the sunniest and most picturesque spots on the mountain side. With much toil he has formed the long track, and carried all the material for his hut on his back over the mountain. Now, his great concern is again to keep trespassers off his ground, and he lets you know, without a trace of a shadow of a doubt, that nobody has his permission to come on his property, and that he prefers to be entirely left alone. Having been on good terms with him for many years I took my party to his hiding place, and, after expressing our admiration of his garden plot, I asked him, “Ben, you know that dyke running at the top of the hill here? How did it get there?” “Oh, that was built there about 40 year ago by a man named Ross. An old Irishman who lives in the Kaikorai Valley worked on it.” Here was interesting information. I made it my business later on to look up this old Irishman, and heard from him that Ross had the wall built for the boundary of his property, but got tired of it soon after starting. So here evaporated the scientific explanation of the wonderful lode!
Just on this part of the mountain are some very, rough and striking moraines, four of which, at fairly even distances, pointing nearly straight down the mountain side, give Flagstaff such a distinctive appearance among surrounding hills, as a zebra would have among a mob of horses. These “stripes” are quite a feature as you look towards Flagstaff on the walk from Mount Allan to Silver Peak.
We now make a rapid descent towards the old sanatorium, now part of the water reserves. From this point several tracks may be taken towards Whare Flat, all of them very picturesque. The old coal-pit track past the Craig Lowan waterfall has a wild beauty of its own, and affords some wonderfully pretty peeps of the “Flat” when it comes in view. We decided, however, to sweep round to the right along the road and descend to Kaye’s Creek some chains below the bridge. To see this creek at its best you should go through the gate above the bridge, and keep on the high bank of the creek. Here is an ideal spot for boiling the billy, right under the branches of century-old kowhai trees in full bloom. The conditions are so idyllic that it is difficult to tear ourself away from such an enchanting spot. Whare Flat abounds, however, with beauty spots, and we have a good way to go yet. A little further along towards the house where the owner of this little bit of Heaven resides, we are attracted by a strong manuka growing out of a rock, which it has split and pushed asunder with surprising force. At this stage we are almost sure to fall in with the genial Mr Donald McQuilkan who, so far from chasing visitors off his property, bids them welcome as long as they do no harm to the trees he loves so well. It would be hard to find a greater lover of Nature, or one who appreciates more the extraordinary beauty of the hills and glens among which he has spent his whole life, though frugal be the fare which they provide. From Whare Flat an endless number of trips can be made into the gullies of Silver Stream, Powder Creek, etc., or up the spurs to the top of the Chalkies. Wild pigs are not far to seek, and afford exciting sport in the dense bush. But the kowhai trees are the glory of Whare Flat in the spring, and we linger some time under the rich bloom, and watch the bees busy gathering in the honey. Then we start on the return over Bell’s Hill, from which as we rapidly rise we obtain fresh and striking views as the declining sun throws long, shadows over the dark bush-clad gullies on the other side of the great valley.
A fairly strenuous climb brings us to a height of 1800ft (a good 1000ft over the flat we have just left), and we now approach the “Trough,” where the Expansion League’s comfortable seats invite us to a well-earned spell, and incidentally often afford the best possible view of a glorious sunset.
From here the road is practically all down hill, and taking a short cut across the paddocks and the golf links, we are not long before we reach home. -Otago Daily Times, 8/10/1921.
Personal
A pleasant social evening was held in the Whare Flat Schoolhouse on Wednesday, when the opportunity was taken to express the residents' appreciation of Mr Samuel Rollinson, who has carried the mail to the district for the past 36 years, and is now relinquishing the duties on account of advancing years. Mr and Mrs Rollinson were presented with an easy chair and a rose bowl respectively. The recipients suitably responded. -Otago Daily Times, 10/2/1923.
Samuel Rollinson was 83 when he retired from the mail service. He died the next year and is buried in Dunedin's Northern Cemetery.
Several new departures characterise the twenty-first annual camp of the Presbyterian Young Men’s Bible' Class Union, now being held at Whare Flat, Dunedin. For the first time the camp, which had a resident population yesterday of 350, housed and provided for by fifty tents, is lighted by electricity. The plant for the purpose has been lent free of charge, by Messrs Turnbull and Jones, and the accumulators by Mr Maskell, of the Willard Battery Company, while Messrs Mackay and Finlayson are working the plant, also “for love.” Thirty lights, for tents and “streets,” have been provided, and two miles of wire have been required. Another innovation is the holding every morning of a physical drill course, Mr J. V. Hanna, of the Dunedin Y.M.C.A., and Mr A. P. Roydhouse, of the Education Department, being the instructors. The “coming of age” of the movement has brought new consideration for its younger members, and this year, for the first time, a “junior parliament” forms part of the programme, for the special discussion of their work while the seniors are busy with their annual meeting. The camp, which commenced on Thursday, is pitched in an ideal position at the entrance to the flat, with ample space for the sports, fixed for to-day and Monday, beside it. Further arrivals were still expected when a representative of the ‘Star’ dropped in on the encampment yesterday, but some of those under canvas had come a long way to attend it — two of them from as far as Whangarei. A Y.M.C.A. tent, under Mr Hanna’s direction, is equipped with games, writing material, and a post office. The camp breaks up on Monday night. -Evening Star, 31/3/1923.
Personal Items
A Press Association message from Dunedin reports the death of Dr. R. S. Stephenson, the well known medical practitioner. Dr. Stephenson was the founder and proprietor of the Nordrach Cottage Sanatorium at Whare Flat, near Dunedin. He was born in Victoria in 1866, and graduated M.B. and C.M. at Edinburgh in 1890. He subsequently made a special study of homeopathy, and afterwards practised it, as being, in his opinion, the most effective system. After serving in London and Melbourne Hospitals, he commenced practice in Dunedin in 1895, and subsequently opened his sanatorium at Whare Flat. During the war he served as Principal Medical Officer on board a New Zealand transport for two years. -Wairarapa Daily Times, 18/1/1924.
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| Andersons Bay Cemetery. DCC photo. |
CORPORATION NOTICES.
Mosgiel borough council.
In the Matter of "The Municipal Corporations Act, 1920,” and “The Local Bodies’ Loan Act, 1913.”
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a POLL of the Ratepayers of the Borough of Mosgiel will be taken on WEDNESDAY, March 26th, 1924, at the Coronation Hall, Mosgiel, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on a PROPOSAL TO RAISE A SPECIAL LOAN OF £2,500 (Two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds) to Purchase from Messrs Leishman Bros, the Freehold of the Land at Whare Flat; comprising the Watershed from which portion of the Borough Water Supply is obtained.
The proposed security for the Loan is:
(1) A SPECIAL RATE of HALFPENNY IN THE POUND (1/2d) on the RATEABLE UNIMPROVED VALUE OF THE BOROUGH.
(2) THE FREEHOLD TITLE OF THE LAND and a Sinking Fund of One Per Centum per annum (1 per cent.).
It is proposed to pay out of the Loan the cost of raising same and the Interest and Sinking Fund for the first year.
Dated at Mosgiel this 22nd day of February, 1924.
JOHN P. WALLS, Mayor.
HENRY BUTCHER, Returning Officer. -Evening Star, 1/3/1924.
The brutish boy is generally fainthearted and a runaway. Such is a fair description of the youngsters who were recently up to mischief at Whare Flat. The owner of a property there recently visited the place, and found three boys in occupation. Asked what they were doing, the reply was that they were camping, but one of them fled, carrying a pea rifle, and, the proprietor’s suspicion being awakened, he looked round, and found two other pea rifles, which the two boys claimed. He also found, after the party had left, that a valuable heifer had been shot. Experiences of that nature would quite justify a man in closing his property against all trampers. It would be a pity if Whare Flat were so hedged off, but if it really does come about the parties to blame will be the parents who allow lawless boys to roam at large. -Evening Star, 5/8/1924.
WAKARI LARRIKINISM
GANG LEADER IN COURT.
SEVERE STRICTURES ON WITNESS.
A young man named Courtney Clark Pledger was charged at the Police Court this morning with (1) having at Dunedin on August 12 last, wilfully damaged an electric telephone apparatus, the property of the Postmaster-General, with intent to obstruct the transmission or delivery of any message; (2) the theft on the same date of twenty eggs and a tin of disinfectant, the property of William Johnston Will; (3) committing mischief at Whare Flat on July 11, by killing a heifer valued at £6, the property of Robert Smeeton.
The accused, who was represented by Mr Hanlon, pleaded not guilty to each charge. The first two charges were taken together. John Joseph McCarthy said that he was with the accused on August 12. There were two others with them. They were at Wakari, but they did not remain together all the evening. He remembered being at the corner of Main Wakari road and Taieri road. He saw the accused climb up a post and take the “tin” off and damage the apparatus. The four of them then went to Ashburn Hall, the accused going to the fowlhouse and taking the eggs, which he handed to the others. He thought that accused used an axe to break into the fowlhouse.
To Mr Hanlon: He did not feel that he had been mixed up in the affair. He did not tell the constable that he had had a share of the stolen eggs. He made no attempt to shield himself. Pressed by counsel, witness admitted that he told the constable that he had received a share of the eggs and that he had returned them to the accused.
Alex. Hugh Campbell, telegraph engineer, Dunedin, gave evidence of the damage done. It was such that six telephone subscribers could not get in touch with the exchange. The protectors must have been hit with considerable force.
Frank Barton, laborer, employed at Ashburn Hall, said that the fowl houses were locked every night at 5 o’clock. On the morning of August 13 he found that the door of the fowlhouse had been burst open. A tin of disinfectant and from eighteen to twenty eggs were missing.
Philip Laing, gardener, employed at Ashburn Hall, said that on the evening of August 12, at 11.20, there was a disturbance at his door, whilst a stone was thrown on the roof. He also heard people talking. Next morning he discovered that several eggs had been thrown at the door.
Alexander Fraser said that he knew the accused, and he saw him with another young man on August 12. He asked them whether or not they had called him a filthy name. The accused said that it wasn’t him.
Lawrence Bentley Heenan, residing at Roslyn, said he usually acted as M.C. at a dance at Kaikorai. On the night of Tuesday, August 12, the accused, whom he knew by sight, was not at the dance.
Constable Hamilton said that at that time he and Constable Wootton were patrolling the Wakari district, as a result of complaints made. He looked into the dance on August 12. Accused was not present. He later saw accused, who said that on that night he went to the dance referred to, and was not at the Ashburn Hall premises.
Acting-detective Farquharson said that he arrested the accused for wilful damage of a telephone apparatus. He made no reply when the warrant was read.
Mr Hanlon said the accused was blameworthy to some extent, but not to the extent indicated by the evidence. Counsel spoke strongly on the evidence of the witness McCarthy. He said it was all humbug for McCarthy to say he had nothing to do with the offences. The two boys were together, and accused’s story, which seemed likely to be true, was that he climbed the post and removed the cylindrical cover from the apparatus. They then threw stones at the apparatus, and that was how it was damaged. Accused admitted taking the eggs, and said that he shared them with the others. They then continued their acts of larrikinism by throwing the eggs at a house to cause annoyance to the occupants. Counsel then proceeded to castigate the witness McCarthy. He submitted that his claim that he was not concerned in the offences was utterly ridiculous. He deserved to be well spanked. It was perfectly obvious that it was a deliberate perjury, and that he had tried to save his own skin at the expense of shelving all the trouble on to the other lad, who had been made the scapegoat of them all.
The Magistrate: Is this the case of a gang of young larrikins?
Chief-detective Lewis said that there had been considerable trouble in the district, and two constables had been sent there to patrol the very isolated place. From inquiries made it appeared that the accused was the strong man of the team when the mob got out together.
Mr Hanlon: He looks a hefty young criminal. I think the other fellow knows his way about.
Chief-detective Lewis said that the people in the district were in absolute fear of their doings.
The Magistrate said that he thoroughly agreed with Mr Hanlon’s remarks respecting the evidence given by the witness McCarthy. Addressing the witness, Mr Bundle said: “You came into the court, McCarthy, to give evidence, and you have deliberately lied. That one of your age should go out with the accused and then state that you did nothing is despicable. A boy can’t have much manliness who could take part in any mischief and then try to sheet the matter on to others. You must consider that you are lucky in not being charged yourself.” The magistrate warned the witness that if he or any of the party appeared in the court they would be severely dealt with. The Magistrate said that he would give his decision when the other case was disposed of.
The third charge was then taken, the Magistrate stating that, in order to obviate the technical difficulty of sending the accused to the Supreme Court, he would treat Pledger as a juvenile. Robert Smeaton, Whare Flat, said that on July 12 he went to look over some of his cattle, and he discovered that one of his heifers had been shot. He heard several shots on his property, and later found that a house was being occupied by three young men. One was in bed, and two of them were warming themselves before the fire. They denied having shot the heifer, and the accused said that he noticed a man riding about the day before carrying a gun. Witness attempted to obtain the numbers of the rifles that the young men were carrying, and all but the accused’s brother granted the request.
Benjamin Sinclair, employed at the Roslyn Mills, said that the accused borrowed his rifle one evening about August 9, and returned it three or four days later. He said he wanted it to take over to Whare Flat.
The witness McCarthy said he was with James Pledger and accused at Whare Flat, where they proposed to camp in Smeaton’s old house. They were the three who were accosted by Mr Smeaton, and they all gave wrong names. Previous to Smeaton's appearance James Pledger and witness had left accused, who went away on his own. Accused later admitted to James Pledger and witness that he had shot the heifer, and said he would see Smeaton on the Sunday and fix up about it. He went down to Paterson’s to telephone Mr Smeaton.
To Mr Hanlon: Witness did not say he shot the heifer, or that he would make up the damage.
John Edward Cannon, a shepherd, said he examined the heifer, and found a small bullet wound in its head. He extracted a piece of lead from the wound.
Ethel Reeves said she knew the accused by sight. He came down to Paterson’s house, where she was, and left a message for Mr Paterson to ring Mr Smeaton at Mosgiel, and say that the two boys who were on his property wanted to see him.
Detective Sneddon said he arrested the accused, who denied all knowledge of the heifer.
Mr Hanlon submitted that the Crown had failed to prove the boys’ guilt. There was no evidence except that given by McCarthy, and he did not think that any credence could be placed on his testimony.
The Chief Detective said that there was every reason to believe that McCarthy’s statement was true.
Mr Hanlon said that the chief detective had missed the point that it had to be proved that there was wilful mischief. He might have admitted that he shot the beast, but that did not prove that it was wilful mischief.
The Magistrate said that the case for the prosecution rested on the evidence of McCarthy, which was supported in certain respects. There was not the slightest doubt but that one of the boys shot the heifer, but, although there was more than a suspicion that he was the guilty person, there was more than a doubt that one of the others had been responsible. In the circumstances he could not convict.
Dealing with the first two charges, the Magistrate said the accused had been before the Juvenile Court. It certainly seemed that restraint was necessary. Accused was admitted to probation for three years, the probation officer to go into the matter of the terms and report later on. -Evening Star, 5/9/1924.
Courtney Pledger did not learn his lesson that day in court. A brief search finds him in court over following years for a number of offences, including car theft, burglary and "casting offensive matter."
WHARE FLAT.
Whare Flat is fast increasing in popularity as a holiday resort, and a visit to the Y.M.C.A. camp, pitched on the banks of the Silverstream during all the Christmas holidays, is sufficient to impress upon one the fact that, as an ideal camping ground, it has very few equals near to Dunedin. The boys in the Y.M.C.A. camp are certainly making the best of their opportunities. -Evening Star, 16/1/1925.
WHARE FLAT.
Whare Flat is fast increasing in popularity as a holiday resort, and a visit to the Y.M.C.A. camp, pitched on the banks of the Silverstream during all the Christmas holidays, is sufficient to impress upon one the fact that, as an ideal camping ground, it has very few equals near to Dunedin. The boys in the Y.M.C.A. camp are certainly making the best of their opportunities. -Evening Star, 16/1/1925.
BOYS UNDER CANVAS.
y.m.c.a. camp.
Vacation time pulses with unrest for the outdoor boy. He has wearied of the city, noisy, dusty, and artificial. His imagination busies itself with pictures of “over the hill and far away,” and he relives the coloured experiences of his ancestors whose only music was wind in the trees and water lapping the shore, and whose only dome is the sky. Men and women desire the life of the open spaces; the boy craves and demands it.
It is expected, therefore, that several hundred boys live under canvas every January in chosen spots throughout New Zealand. Selecting an inviting site on the Silver stream in Whare Flat, the Boys’ Division of the local Y.M.C.A. conducted a month’s camp for some 70 boys. Possessing in a unique combination all the requirements for a large boys’ camp, the environment offers safe swimming, delightful bush and mountain tramps, adequate room for football and cricket, and an ideal square for tents and marquee.
During the period some 60 parents and friends visited the camp in cars, and all shared in the statement that "the camp was surprisingly well organised, the provision for cooking all that could be desired, and the tent lines sweet and clean.” Judging from numerous letters written by campers upon their return, the camp was a big happy holiday and a lofty spirit prevailed. To quote from the camp report, “There was a total absence of ill discipline and disloyalty. Regulations were carefully observed, and camp duties most cheerfully done. Except for a few rainy days there was not an hour of the day when the tents and lines could not have passed the closest scrutiny. The spirit of camp was rich with meaning. One boy, representative of many who have written to the director (Mr Adair) writes, “What I like about camp is the spirit of friendship that runs through it.” Stevenson, in one of his books, said: 'The best that we find in our travels is an honest friend; he is fortunate who finds many.’ The camp proved that he was right.”
The aspect of the outing that appealed to a visitor was the splendidly organised programme of all round tests that were in daily operation. An attractive emblem was awarded to those boys who were able to secure a set standard in athletics, swimming, and a variety of educational, social, and spiritual tests. The following will illustrate the scope of these honour emblem tests.
Fifteen miles endurance tramp (32 boys), five miles walk in one day (68), 880yds in time limit (22), running broad, hop, step, and jump (30), 50yds breast stroke (18), 40yds back stroke (17), 44yds free style (14), neat dive (24), life-saving (12), observation walk with written report on soil, animal, and plant life, etc. (20), building fireplace and lighting fire with one match (36), tying seven knots (34), naming compass points and finding north by a watch (27), writing home once weekly (55), narrating camp fire yarn (25), reciting incident from Bible (38), recognising 80 per cent, of the campers by the end of first week (44), cheerful response and loyalty to camp spirit (61), 226 letters were written in camp. Thirty-four boys collected 340 wild flowers and 465 leaves of trees. Of the former 250 were identified and 284 of the latter.
Flag rising and lowering proved one of the pleasing sidelights of camp. The fact of boys standing respectfully and proudly to attention as the flag was unfurled was a silent and potent factor in developing the spirit of love for King and Country.
Keeping in view that the greatest test of camp life is the boy’s advancement in character, the spiritual side of the camp was given its rightful place. The camp fire vespers and services on the bank were experiences that will long live in the memories of the boys. The following extract from a boy’s letter speaks for itself: “Out there in the wilds of Nature one cannot help but think of the great God who made everything. It comes to one naturally that it is the only right and proper thing to try and live a straightforward Christian life. Mr Adair was ably supported in the leadership of the encampment by Messrs C. Bates, J. Pope, A. Tyroll, A. Orr, D. Stewart, D. Lennox, J. Don. The Dunedin Rotary Club was instrumental, through its handsome gift of £32, in giving 16 boys this best of all holidays. The boys themselves and the camp management speak with deepest appreciation of the practical interest of the Rotary Club. This is the second year in which the Rotarians have so ably assisted. The following firms, who gave generously to the camp, deserve the thanks of the community, inasmuch that such a camp is only possible when assistance is given: Waitaki Dairy Co. (Ltd.), Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Go., Wright, Stevenson, and Co. (Ltd.), Irvine, Stevenson, and Co. (Ltd.), Bray Bros., William Taylor and Son, W. Scoular and Co., Harraway and Co., Crown Milling Co., J. Jackson Purdie, McLeod Bros. (Ltd.). Farra Bros., Briscoe and Co. (Ltd.), Howison and Son (Ltd.), Southland Sawmilling Co. (Ltd.), A. and T. Burt (Ltd.), A. H. Lennox (Mosgiel). -Otago Daily Times, 5/2/1925.
ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES
FOUND SHOT. The police received word last night of the death of Jas. Wylie Smellie, of Mogiel, who had been employed as a clerk in the Woollen Mills, and resided in Dey street with his parents. Yesterday morning he left home in his motor car, and as he had not returned by evening his parents became anxious. They communicated with Constable Findlay, who made a search, finally discovering the motor car on the roadside at Whare Flat. In the scrub, a few yards from the road, the body of the missing man was found, with a revolver beside it. -Press, 16/2/1926.
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| East Taieri Cemetery. DCC photo. |
Mosgeil Borough Council
The chairman’s report on his recent visits to Whare Flat, and the progress which was being made with the fencing, was received, and his action in ordering the necessary material for the completion of the work was approved of. The committee recommended that, before the fence was finally completed, Mr D. Leishman be requested to make a muster on the property for the purpose of removing all his stock, and that the fence on the frontage be repaired by the contractors at the completion of their contract. Report adopted. -Otago Daily Times, 7/9/1926.
The chairman’s report on his recent visits to Whare Flat, and the progress which was being made with the fencing, was received, and his action in ordering the necessary material for the completion of the work was approved of. The committee recommended that, before the fence was finally completed, Mr D. Leishman be requested to make a muster on the property for the purpose of removing all his stock, and that the fence on the frontage be repaired by the contractors at the completion of their contract. Report adopted. -Otago Daily Times, 7/9/1926.
OTAGO TRAMPING CLUB.
By Tramper.
Last week-end 33 members of the Otago Tramping Club tramped to Whare Flat. The day was warm, but a trifle misty, and the visibility was not good during the morning. They travelled via the reservoir, which is looking beautiful just now with its wealth of spring flowers in full bloom, over Pineapple Point and along the track which was cut by Mr Ben Rudd — the hermit of the hills. Mr McLay, a piper, accompanied the party, and the strains of the pipes were heard as the trampers wended their way over the hills. The track through the bush to Pineapple Point was very muddy, but the bush was so fresh and beautiful that the trampers enjoyed its fragrance and beauty so much that the mud was forgotten. Once through the track the valley below was seen to be obscured by great white clouds of billowy mist, and the watchers felt they were on the roof of the world, with naught by space below.
Some of the trampers visited Mr Ben Rudd, while the others made their way down the track leading to Mr McQuilkan's homestead, where they had lunch. A few hours were pleasantly spent at Whare Flat, where the golden kowhai, which is now blooming profusely, was much admired. Some of the party walked to the Coal Pit track and others up Bell Hill, and all met at the trough at Flagstaff, where they had tea. From the top of Flagstaff they witnessed a most wonderful sunset over Maungatua. As they tramped home there were many expressions of thankfulness to the pioneers who had started the club, which was the means of giving so much enjoyment, and such opportunities of enjoying the wonders of Nature. -Otago Daily Times, 7/10/1926.
WITH BOYS UNDER CANVAS.
Y.M.C.A. ENCAMPMENT.
Hid among the hills on the banks of the Silverstrearn at Whare Flat is Camp Tahora, the Y.M.C.A. encampment for boys. A more ideal spot for camping it would be difficult to find. The sheltering hills, alluring bush tracks, the picturesque stream affording every opportunity for swimming, cricket and football fields, and the seclusion from the outside world all combine to make the locality ideal for camping. The camp itself presents a scene of delight. The first thing that impresses the visitor is the cleanliness and orderliness that is everywhere evident. Every boy has a daily responsibility in maintaining this condition of affairs. To see campers whitening the boulders that mark the paths to and from the tent lines, mowing the grass, sweeping their tents and in a score of ways preparing for morning inspection is to appreciate the maxim that cleanliness is next to godliness. In assigning duties to the boys, the director seeks to inculcate the spirit of service and help those concerned to be useful in the common tasks of everyday life. The house tents, each fitted with a weather-fly and floored with stout motor casing, are pitched in a circular formation with a flagpole in the centre and the spacious marquee and kitchen in close proximity. Adjoining the office is the wireless room in which is installed a five-valve set, with leads to the campfire, flagpole, and marquee, all of this being the work of one of the campers. To see a hundred suntanned boys grouped round a blazing fire listening to a concert broadcasted from the city is to catch a glimpse both of the modern world and of that in which the savage roamed. A spot to which the visitor is taken with a measure of pride is the chapel, a clearing on the river bank, carpeted with fresh grass and encircled with flowering manuka and tossing foxgloves. The entrance is a manuka gate over which is a rustic cross, and this leads to a rough-hewn platform built up from the water’s edge with boulders and faced with a manuka rail and reading desk. Although boys are undemonstrative and loathe to give expression to their deeper feelings, such an environment as this seems to make a peculiar appeal to the heart of a boy. The day’s programme comprises field and athletic sports, swimming, mountain and bush tramps, entertainments and campfires at night. Every morning and evening the campers encircle the flagpole and in true British fashion honour the flag of their King and country. Out in the big open spaces there is given a new meaning to flag raising and lowering, and this silent but impressive ceremony quickens anew the spirit of patriotism. Under a camp director, assisted by carefully selected leaders, there are 120 boys under canvas for periods varying from one to five weeks. A striking ceremony of more than usual interest was staged on New Year’s Eve, when the ancient Greek torch-race was reproduced. Twelve picked boys were stationed between Mosgiel and the camp, the first of whom started the race at 11 p.m.. The blazing torch was passed from runner to runner together with a message wrapped in manuka bark. The last boy raced into camp and with the torch blazing plunged it into the set fire round which the campers were gathered. Unfolding the message, he read a challenge from the passing generation to this oncoming generation of boys — a message written by the Rev. Dr Rutherford Waddell:
"I who stand in the sunset salute you, O Young Pioneers, whose faces front the sunrise! And what a glorious dawn it is! The world has never seen its like before, and you are the heirs of the ages. Think! God has been working through all the Past to produce YOU! Are you worth it? — worth all the toil and tears, the bravery and the bloodshed, the sufferings and the sacrifices that have conspired through the centuries to make you what you are, give you what you have. Do your remember Aytoun’s great poem, ‘Edinburgh after Flodden’? You remember he tells how Edinburgh waited breathlessly for the issue of the battle and how at last Randolf Murray arrived with the news that all was lost, that all he brought back from the field of battle was ‘Dunedin s banner, riven and blood-stained, but not dishonoured,' and he goes on to tell how they saved it, how no Scottish feet went backward when the Royal Lion fell, one by one they died grimly about it with their faces to the foe, and then he gives the sacred treasure into the trembling hands of the aged Provost, saying:
‘Sirs, I charge ye, keep it holy,
Keep It as a sacred thing.
For the stains you see upon it
Was the life blood of your King.’
Well O Young Pioneers, into your hands is committed a greater and more sacred treasure; it is the banner of all the Mighty Past, encrimsoned with the blood of patriots and martyrs and saints. Sirs, I charge ye keep it holy and you can only pay your debt to the dead by service for the living.'
Ths camp, which terminates on the 29th inst. is under the control of Mr Robin Adair, the boys' work director of the Y.M.C.A. boys' division. -Otago Daily Times 27/1/1927.
Still A Place Of Many Interests
History Of Flagstaff
ii. In contrast to Ben Rudd was another well-known figure who lived below Flagstaff, in the upper Whare Flat district, Donald McQuilkan, a delightful personality, who for 25 years occupied the old grey stone house built many years before by Robert Kay. His friendly welcome and open door were a constant joy to trampers and visitors. Stranger and friend were made equally welcome at his hearth and table, and his walls, decorated with cards and calendars from all over the world, bore witness to the friendships he had made by his hospitality and generosity.
We remember the first time we met him. Our visit was expected, and he was waiting for us at the gate. As we approached he doffed his tam-o-shanter, broke a pink rosebud from his hedge and presented it with a courtly bow. Until he was 85 years of age, his sprightly figure could be seen making his weekly trip to town on foot over the hill. As recently at 1947 he died, and as the community is the poorer for his passing, so we believe is the countryside for the loss of his picturesque home which it was apparently thought necessary to have demolished.
Trampers’ Resort
Flagstaff today still has a significance for the city dweller, though he no longer does his northward travel over its ridges, except high above in a modern plane. The hill is a playground for the tramper in summer, and the winter sports enthusiast in season. In the “Big Snow” of 1939, which is still an annual topic of conversation in Dunedin, it surely rivalled St. Moritz. Quite convinced of the returning Ice Ace, Otago ski-ers spent many a heavy week-end clearing the hillside of stumps and boulders to form a mighty ski run. “Tell it not in mournful numbers’’ — the snow never came back!
The Otago Tramping Club have put up a fine little hut on the site of Ben Rudd’s old home. Its windows command a lovely view of the Chalkies and Silver Peaks. High above the Whare Flat road the Alpine Club have a rendezvous at the “Bivvy Rock.” Here the novice can be initiated into the technique of rock climbing and the thrills of double roping.
One morning, a few years back, residents of the hill suburbs were puzzled by the appearance of a large silver object on the shoulder of Flagstaff. The mail plane, turning back in thick mist, had come down, fortunately without injury to its passengers.
Native Orchids
Orchid is a word that rouses interest in most of us. How many, we wonder, know that around Dunedin as many as 13 different varieties of native orchids are to be found, and most of these are flowering somewhere on Flagstaff between November and March. W. Martin, who wrote “Plants of the Dunedin District,” says he doubts whether any other area in New Zealand has such a wealth of ground orchids as Flagstaff and Maungatua. Though they are minute compared with the exotic blooms of the Amazon jungle, or even your local hothouse, yet their varying colours, green, yellow, blue, red and white, and interesting flowers are a delight to the finder, and due reward for the effort of the climb.
And speaking of the climb, we know no other hill which offers such a variety of approaches. From the city side there are three main routes — the Pineapple or Fern track from the Leith Valley road; the Davies track, a much neglected but very delightful approach by pine plantation and native bush; and the road up from the Wakari substation. From the other side there is the half-mile track, some distance past the Wakari sanatorium, (Ashburn Hall) and the direct route to the trig station from the cross roads above Whare Flat; to say nothing of all the other unorthodox routes which the tramper generally finds less simple than he expected.
The view, or rather the views, from the top are really fine, embracing the whole of the Taieri Plain as far as Waihola, down the coast to Taieri Mouth; to the west the Rock and Pillar Range, and inland to the snowy tops of Mounts Ida and St. Bathans. Of the city and harbour one has indeed the equivalent of an aerial view without the plane fare, which should gladden the heart of every Scotsman in Dunedin. For real enjoyment, plus economy, may we recommend a night out in the tussocks on the top of Flagstaff, to watch the dawn come up. There’s nothing finer! (Concluded) -Otago Daily Times, 5/12/1950.
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