Beside a side road off the highway through Lindis Pass is an old stone musterer's hut. It was the scene, in 1869, of a family tragedy.
John Polson married Christine Ross in Christchurch in 1867. He took up a shepherd's post at Morvern Hills station. During the winter of 1869 Christine went into premature labour and gave birth to twins. One died shortly after birth and the other three days later. John, with great difficulty, dug his children's grave in the frozen ground beside the hut. A schist slab marks the place. I have never been there - yet.
Having search for usable images of Polsons Hut, I have not found any without copyright issues, and I have found none at all of a schist slab with "1869" inscribed on it. I will have to find it myself.
I am indebted to the "Scottish Diaspora Tapestry" for the details of the Polson twins.
Cromwell Old Cemetery.
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