House of David, The, – Lumsden Family

THE HOUSE OF DAVID.

Alexander and Jane begat David

David and Janet begat David.

Alexander Lumsden of Auchline, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was born in 1783, his first wife, Jane Reid, in 1782.

They had seven daughters and four sons, David being the fourth son.

Alexander was a farmer of 100 acres and 19¼ acres of marsh; employing one man, William Troup, and one boy, James Reid.

Still living with Alexander at the time of the 1851 Census of Auchline were Helen and Sarah, the last two unmarried daughters, and David the fourth son.

It was in 1853 that David married Janet Forbes, resulting in a family of one daughter and five sons; David being the fifth son, born in 1865 at Clatt, Aberdeenshire.

David was a farmer at Buchaam, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, the farm being part of the Estate of Newe.

Following the death of David in 1885, Alexander the eldest son, would have assumed responsibility of the farm; David the fifth son, departing for Aberdeen where he trained as a bank clerk.

THE DECISION.

The decision made by David and his brother William to emigrate to New Zealand could have been influenced by the economical depression in Scotland, the agricultural reforms and unemployment.  Perhaps reports reaching Scotland glorifying the availability of land, abundance of food, great wealth for the taking in New Zealand, beckoned the adventurous and courageous to uproot and set sail for that

glorious but. unknown colony. So, at the age of 24 years, David with the advantage of youth, farming knowledge, his fiddle and bible, departed his homeland, never to return. His brother William who accompanied him would be his only family contact for many years.

Plymouth, England, was the port of departure; the ship, Tainui, owned by Shore Savill and Albion Co., operating a direct four weekly service of Royal Mail Steamers, between London and New Zealand, calling at. Plymouth, Teneriffe [Tenerife], Cape Town and Hobart.

April 20 1889 dawned fine, when the Tainui under the command of B. J. Barlow was towed out of dock.

One can imagine the utter sadness and grief of departing a homeland, seeing it perhaps for the last time.

Sustaining all on board would be the expectation of great wealth, a future with a purpose when hope and faith ensured a secure and better life; horrific tales of cannibalism in far off New Zealand would not deter them.

Fine weather prevailed, excellent progress made, the Tainui sailing into Santa Cruz on April 25th. Surely a good omen for all was the continued fine weather, with few exceptions; Cape Town being reached on May 12th. Less than three weeks now to complete the Journey.

Even at this early stage it was obvious David was a ‘man of few words’, his journals short on detail with the exception of daily weather conditions; an ingrained […] from his earlier farming life when the weather could mean success or failure.

At some stage of the journey, David and William made a decision to try their luck gold prospecting in Australia before finally settling in New Zealand.

May 30th, the sea voyage completed, safe once more on land

they made their way to Coolgardie in search of riches. The length of stay In Australia is not known as none of David’s journals recording this era have survived. It is known no great fortune was amassed by the brothers but small nuggets they retained, were later fashioned into jewellery.

Neither is there knowledge of the subsequent arrival date in New Zealand, although 1891 found both David and William in Hawkes Bay seeking farm employment.

David obtained employment as a farm hand and later as a rabbiter at Blackhead Station, Porongahau [Porangahau], Hawkes Bay. He remained there until 1900, when he enlisted for the Boer War.

THE BOER WAR.

March 31 1900, departure date from Wellington for David, off to South Africa as a trooper in the 5th N. Z. contingent where he saw service for one year, 117 days. He received in return, the ‘Cape Colony’, ‘Transvaal’, ‘Rhodesia’ medals, and on the recommendation of his commanding artillery Officer, Lieutenant Cleveland, Melbourne, was awarded the ‘Orange River Colony Clasp’.

Before leaving South Africa, the Mayor of Cape Town, T. J. O’reiIly, presented an ornate certificate to the Officers, non-commissioned Officers and men of Her Majesty’s Volunteer Forces, which reads;

‘CAPE TOWN joins with the Empire in feelings of heart-felt thanks for the signal services which Her Majesty’s citizen soldiers hove rendered in upholding the Imperial Authority in South Africa; the Empire is justly proud of the gallant conduct of the Volunteer forces during the engagements throughout the campaign and CAPE TOWN congratulates the Volunteers upon the consummation of a service

which has resulted in the consolidation of the Empire, and which has cemented the ties of affection between the Colonies and the mother Country. The citizens of Cape Town wish you a prosperous voyage and a happy homecoming where our hearts will join in the rejoicing welcomes which await you. God Save the Queen.

Almost ninety years on, what meaning do such words hold.

A letter surviving the ravages of time is worthy of mention; written from Coal Mine Drift, Vaal River, Transvaal, S.A. on January 8 1901.

My dear Brother,

We are still garrisoned on the Vaal and don’t know how long we will be here. We have now been between six and seven weeks here. We have a shot at the Boers now and again, but they never come very near us, there are a good few of them around here and Klerksdorp. We can hear the guns going at Klerksdorp some mornings. I don’t know when we will leave South Africa, I suppose they will keep us the twelve months out here. It is nine months past the end of December since we left New Zealand. We have been in Africa a little over eight months.

This is the season of the year for fever now, One of our fellows Gunner Liggins is in the Klerksdorp Hospital with fever, he was very bad I believe. Jack Thompson went into Klerksdorp to the Hospital the other day with fever, but I have not heard how he is since. I don’t think the Doctors are much account that are out here from the Old Country. He is a splendid Doctor that came out with us from N.Z. Dr. Thomas from Timaru.

We had a duff at Christmas, I think it came from Johannesburg. We had swimming sports in the Vaal River on Christmas day. We get very little news here, General Douglas has gone

They reckon if he had been in command instead of Roberts the war would have been over long ago. Kitchener expects to finish the war in a short time, I don’t know if he will succeed or not. There have been lots of troops gone home. We get our mails very bad here, they go all over the country before they find us. We have only got one mail since we came to garrison this Drift. There was a convoy came into us this morning but did not bring us any mail. It brought some for the Tomies [Tommies]. We hear that the Colonial troops are going home to the Old Country before they go back to the Colonies.

Where is Donald McDonald now, I suppose he has left Wainui. Did he go to Bert White or where did he go. I suppose you have to pay for every letter you get, not being any stamps on them. It is some time since I had a letter from you. With love to Jessie and Jeannie. Your affect. Brother.

David

So, at the age of 35, August 1901, David was given a Certificate Of Discharge in ‘consequence of completion of term of service’; his general conduct stated as ‘very good’

THE YEARS BETWEEN.

Time now to gather together the threads of a disrupted life, plan and work towards a future. David ‘s brother William had married in 1894, had a daughter, and was what could be termed a land speculator; buying mainly scrub covered land which he cleared; improved and sold; moving on to yet another property, Therefore, why should David not aspire to such heights; acquisition of land – back to a life of farming. The pinnacle for David.

From rabbiting, David now progressed to Rabbit Inspector for Hawkes Bay districts, briefly living and roughing it

[…] Ormondville, Dannevirke, Porangahau and the Ruahine Ranges back of Tikokino.

All he required was a good horse, pack horse, few utensils, food and bedding, plus plenty of resilience; an occupation he kept until 1906.

It was during this time while thus occupied in Ormondville, he met Marion Olsen, whom he was later to marry.

G.P. Donnelly, who was to play a big part In David’s future, he probably met while at Porongahau and Wanstead, Hawkes Bay, where Donnelly frequently stopped over at the Wanstead Hotel, the proprietor J.P. Geenty being a personal friend; David being a true Scot enjoyed his dram of whisky.

Speculation, an unanswered question, like so much in the past.

THE LAND.

Kuripapango, the ‘home of the spotted dog’ 46 miles north-west from Hastings and a similar distance from Taihape. Wild, rugged country. The valley itself had a certain beauty, peaceful and quiet solitude; adjacent to the Ngaruroro River; surrounded by the majestic peaks and towering contours of Mount Cameron in the west, Bonnie Mary in the east, Kaweka Ranges in the north and Ben Nevis in the south.

In the 1800’s Kuripapango boasted two licensed Hotels, one each side of the Ngaruroro River, one owned by Alex McDonald [Macdonald] who also owned and drove the coaches. It was a bustling little settlement, with stables, several residents; a stopover for the stage coaches on their second day’s run from Napier to Taihape. It was also regarded as a health resort, the high altitude considered beneficial for sufferers of lung complaints. Amazingly, as many as seventy or more guests would at times, be in residence there.

By 1901 all this had vanished, fire having destroyed the

last remaining Hotel, leaving Alex McDonaId with only his 500 acres to farm and a house to live in which he had constructed from the various small buildings remaining, once part of the settlement. The former stables became his woolshed.

The erection of a cantilever bridge over the Ngaruroro River at the foot of Gentle Annie in 1880 had opened up the Napier-Taihape road, eliminating the river crossing necessary by horse drawn wool wagons and coaches. A flood in 1897 washed away the bridge, which was replaced by a temporary swing bridge allowing foot traffic between the two hotels. Not until 1905 was a permanent wooden bridge opened, having first been cut out in Napier and transported to Kuripapango for assembly.

It was to this sometimes peaceful but nature made almost inhospitable area David came in 1906 to lease from G.P. Donnelly, Kohurua [Kohurau] Block 2B and Kohurua Block 2C, in partnership with Leo Lopdell, who farmed Ben Nevis. This partnership was dissolved in 1913 and the two Blocks purchased by David the same year from the original owners, Airini Tonore (Mrs Donnelly) Erena Karauria, Iraia Karauria and Pani Karauria.

Basically poor quality land, except for the flats in the valley; 2,518 acres mostly covered in fern, scrub, tussock and virgin bush; land which after many years of back breaking toil and heartache, reverted back to nature, time and time again, defying the hand of man.

In the years to come David’s family were often to wonder at the wisdom of his choice; perhaps David himself, in times of hardship and despair, questioned his venture.

THE FLOCK.

Having acquired land David now had to stock it. In May 1906 he purchased 2,410 Merino ewes at eight shillings each, 43

Rams at three guineas each, 34 Rams at one and a half guineas each; followed in 1907 by the purchase of a further 2,586 Merino ewes, 2,000 wethers at thirteen shillings, 286 comeback wethers at five shillings, 900 cross bred at thirteen shillings, 227 cull Iambs at six shillings and 100 Rams at one guinea.

So the flock began, 8,587 in number by the end of the second year. Thus also, was unfortunately introduced by David, the ultimate presence of wild sheep on this mountainous land, mostly unfenced, as he utilized the available grazing on Burns Range, Manson Country and Mount Cameron.

More land was leased in 1908, 2,000 acres of Tunanui for a rental of one hundred and forty eight pounds; added to in 1910 by 7,000 acres of Omahaki.

A vast area now to constantly supervise and muster, giving rise to doubt about the practicability of such a rapid increase in land holdings and stock.

Sheep must be shorn. David had no shearing shed, so for the first and second shears in 1907, he had the use of Alex McDonald’s shed, temporarily installing his own shearing plant. Not a satisfactory arrangement as later events proved.

After the conclusion of the 1907 shearing, a dispute arose between McDonald and David, McDonald claiming ownership of wool and skins; which necessitated on February 11, David making a journey by coach to Napier to interview Mr Lusk solicitor, about this trouble.

February 22 1908. Putting gate in fence at creek leading into Bonnie Mary paddocks. Loaded 21 bales, 2 fadges wool (Powdrell Bros). McDonald ordered me to take all wool and skins out of his shed.

The new arrangement for […] after two or three weeks mustering, involved droving the sheep to Mangaohane Station, a three day journey, which mus[t] have tried the patience of the shepherd and been to the detriment of the sheep. Each shepherd earned five shillings per day.

All this meant extra expense for David, now having to pay Mangaohane Station for the keep of His employees, their dogs and horses; grazing for the sheep for the week they were there, as well as the shearing gang. Horses were charged at two shillings and sixpence each per week, sheep at one and a half pence per head, and twelve shillings each man per week.

Shearers at this time were earning from five to eight shillings per day, a wool sorter six shillings, and the engine driver, ‘the expert’ eight shillings per day.

The gang at Mangaohane consisted of musterers, P. Butler, R. Joblin, A. Oliver, T. Mathieson, J. Robertson; shearers Taune, Hori Kuri, T. GoIlan, M. GoIIan, A. Pineaha, H. Tutu, J. and Mrs HiII, C. Mansfield, S. Mitchell, K. Greening, Rangi, A. Harmer, Hape, Tuohy, Jumbo, A. Tuu [Tutu?], H. Waters, T. McNamara. The wool-classer was J. Geenty, pressers, K. McKay, Hawea, the expert, Riahania and the cook L. Kuru. The cook was paid a bonus of one pound!

Interesting to note wool prices varied from seven pence to the top price of one shilling and fivepence per pound weight, while wool scouring cost one penny per pound.

THE HOUSE:

Living conditions for David were primitive for the first six months after his arrival at Kuripapango, a tent and fly, purchased for less than three pounds, sufficing for his first home.

February 24. Digging out hole in bank to make a house to put in pack saddles, lime, oil, paint etc. Fine day. Packed up skins and removed them out of McDonald’s, shed and put them under tarpaulin to be taken down by Powdrell Bros to Loan and Mercantile. Killed mutton.

David’s troubles had started with his only neighbour; the dispute over wool followed later by McDonaId preventing by devious means, the removal of a heavy oregon beam which David had bolted to the shed wall – it’s purpose being to support a wolsley [Wolseley] four stand over-head gear shearing plant.

No shed available now and shearing to be done.

February 26. Went to Timahanga over the top of Otupae to Mangaohane. Ferguson taking our sheep from Timahanga to Mangateramea [Mangataramea]. OIiver at Ngamatia [Ngamatea]. Fine day.

Arranging with Mr H. Donnelly re shearing our stragglers at Mangaohane.

Ferguson, Oliver and Browne were musterers employed at this time by David; Browne later being sacked for ‘disappearing’ and found by David at the stables, drunk. McDonald was reputed to still his own whisky, Red Funnell, a very potent brew, which neighbouring or passing shepherds were enticed to purchase with their meagre pay.

For the first shear in 1907, David engaged A. J. Williamson, who received twenty eight pounds; his gang consisted of J. Kooti, Hoani Raihane, Hingatua, T. Tari, T. Scott, J. Scott, N. Hawkins, W. Walker, L. Shaw and Nora Hawkins.

Wages varied from four pounds seventeen shillings paid to T. Tari to one pound eight shillings received by Nora Hawkins.

In December 1907, H. Gray, H. Puha, T. Hinchey were shearing, G. Simons wool-classing, R. A. Baker ‘the expert’ who kept the machinery running, combs cleaned and sharpened.

Page 11

Spending a winter under canvas in the cold and snow experienced in that district is difficult to imagine.

Before the first shear at McDonaId’s shed, David had purchased three more tents, obviously for the gang. Primitive indeed when cooking meals must have been an ordeal.

It wasn’t until the end of 1907 a whare and store-room where [were] purchased from Robert Holt, costing sixty pounds eighteen shillings. Erected on runners, adjacent to a small creek on the flats, it served as a home for David, his musterers and labourers, F. Browne, L. Ferguson and A. Oliver. Bunks were installed, an open fireplace built and the storeroom well stocked. Firewood was collected from the river bed, some distance away, split by hand and conveyed by pack horses to the whare.

Some examples of David’s long list of stores are interesting.

50 1b. bag flour 5/6    40 lbs. currants 18/4
30 lbs. raisins 13/9   10 tins bking pwd. 10/-
25 lbs. butter 1/7/1   20 lbs. rice 4/2
20 lbs. sago 5/5   7 lbs. salt 2/-
8 tins jam 1/6/-   1 box cabin bread 12/6
10 lbs. tea 18/4   1 doz. btls. sauce 13/6
1 galv. bucket 1/9   2 washing basins 2/6
1 axe handle 11d.   ½ doz. plates 3/9
½ doz. mugs 2/6   ½ doz. station knives 3/6

The working day was long, hard and tedious, with meals to cook by primitive means each evening, David usually attending to this chore. David’s journal entries, terse and to the point, made little of the exhausting hours spent labouring, seven days a week.

May 28 1908. Putting down a new fireplace in whare. Getting firewood and collecting standards and droppers etc. Dull but fine.

May 29. Cutting briar. Putting on droppers on fence. Cutting and collecting firewood. Dull day wet in evening.

May 30. Rained last night and this morning. Rest of day fine. Got firewood. Baked and killed a sheep.

May 31. Snow on the hills this morning. Sharp shake of earthquake this morning at 10 o’clock. I was washing clothes at the time.

In June a cook, G. Thompson, was employed, enabling David to spend more time preparing for the building of his house.

The first supply of house materials arrived in May, including the coal range, which David cleaned and oiled to prevent rusting.

June 15. Taking up stones with barrow for foundation of chimney and sand out of river bed on to terrace above river. Fine day. Thompson (cook) started work. Borrowed a barrow from Motor Co. in morning, took it back in the afternoon.

June 16. Packing sand from river for chimney in forenoon. Killed a sheep for dogs. Raining a little in afternoon. Hills covered with snow this morning.

June 17. Packing shingle for chimney. Rain and snow (light in the forenoon, raining more or less in the afternoon. Hills lightly covered with snow.

June 20. Putting up fence for garden. Fine day. Cold. Carting and packing stones, shingle, sand; curt journal entries, not fully disclosing the arduous back-breaking work. The river dropped sharply down from the terrace David mentioned, sand having to be wheeled some distance along the river bed before being deposited on the terrace. Pack horses were then used to shift the stones, sand and shingle another half mile to the proposed house site which

was on a rise above the swampy flats.

Preparations well in hand, house not yet built, but the garden area already fenced end subsequently dug a week later. Next, David set to making a road to the house site, across the swampy paddocks, past the whare and hence to the highway. This he. accomplished in three days, with snow falling on the third day.

July 3 1908 was a historical occasion, when the mail bag came up from Napier for the first time. The mail was left at Waiwhare, a distance of fifteen miles from Kuripapango still making a journey necessary.

Two carpenters arrived by coach on Friday July 17; work started on the house irrespective of snow drifts, with David assisting for the next four days.

July 23. Carpenters finished frame work of house.

July 24. Carrying up big stones for chimney foundation. Rain in afternoon. Carpenters putting up lean-to in forenoon and putting on iron in afternoon. Rain in the afternoon.

July 26. Sunday. Carpenters working up to about 3 p.m.

July 27.  Packing up sand and shingle for chimney. Fine.

July 28. Painting.

July 29. Killed two sheep after dinner. Carpenters putting down floor and putting in windows. Painting in forenoon and a short time in afternoon.

July 30. Snowed a little last night. Carpenters putting down floor in lean-to and putting on rough lining. Raining.

Working on Sunday was a far cry from the Sundays of David’s youth, when religion and bible reading occupied that day; no work, no whistling permitted.

The next three days David spent putting down the foundation for the chimney, packing up more shingle and sand.

The brickie arrived on the Friday, started work on Saturday building the double chimney, completing it on Monday and departing on Tuesday. The tradesmen certainly worked harder and longer hours then, without the advantage of labour saving equipment in use to-day.

August 12. Motor Co. brought up some timber house and wash-house, Also two mantels and window for wash-house.

August 13. Carried up some logs for blocks to wash-house and tank stand. Carpenters putting up verandah.

August 14. Two painters arrived by coach.

August 22. Finished the house.

In one month and four days, David’s four roomed dwelling with lean-to, long verandah across front of house and separate wash-house was completed. To add extra warmth and keep out the intense chill of winter, the double walls had a lining of half inch tar covered felt; also installed under the iron roof.

It was now less than three months to David’s forthcoming marriage; still much to do.

September 3. Wilson’s Ironmongers Napier.

1 set irons 6/6   4 doz. Clothes pegs 6d.
2 axe handles 2/-   1 hat rack 3/6
3 lamp chimneys 2/3   1 gemlet 4d.
2 black leads 1/-   1 lightning saw 8/6
1 rolling pin 1/-
Simons Seedman.
Potatoes 3/3   garden seeds   7/6
plants 2/-

September 5. Sowing seeds in the garden.

Lettuce, pumpkin, beans, peas, parsley, parsnips, radish, carrots, beet, leeks, onions and planted 50 onions.

September 7. Getting firewood off river bed. Digging in garden. Sowing cabbage, kale, broccoli.

September 8. Furniture came up by PowdreII’s wagon.

Leo Lopdell who had arrived at David’s was to help him for the next six weeks, shifting goods and chattels from the whare to the house; erecting a fence around the house; planting trees. Leo built dog kennels and David put cut scrub around his vegetable garden to provide shelter.

The firewood now had to be packed more than half a mile to the house, a slow endless task. For three pounds ten shillings David purchased a new sledge from Alex Craig, the blacksmith at Willowford. Still hard work for the horses, easier for David.

More must be said here of Alex Craig, the blacksmith who resided at Willowford for many years. This was a half way stop for the coaches. At the time of the depression Alex took to swagging the Taihape Road, going from farm to farm, shoeing horses and doing general work for a small wage and his meals. He was known as the ‘gentleman swagger’, he never cadged. He continued this way of life until his mysterious disappearance, when his swag was found on the Razor Back, Taihape Road, but no sign of Alex.

THE MARRIAGE.

Two years of planning and establishing himself, a prelude to David’s marriage. On November 6 1908, David left by coach for Napier, then by express to Ormondville.

At the Church of Epiphany, Ormondville, David 44 years of age, married Marion Olsen aged 26 years, the daughter of Albert and Ellen Olsen, Waikopiro.

So began another stage of David’s life; a wife, his house built, his land improving, flock increasing, his financial situation and prospects for the future, most promising.

Marion happily settled at Kuripapango, enjoying the peaceful tranquility. The house was comfortable and adequate; having no electricity not a problem.

Oil painting and needlework, which Marion excelled at, took up much of her time. Creating terraced flower gardens was a challenge met, with pleasing results. Always there was horse riding to enjoy.

Marion’s brother Albert, spent many months fencing and labouring for David; her sisters regular guests, making the isolation of no consequence. Life was indeed enjoyable with visitors and guests; no doubt being entertained by Marion on her piano and David with his fiddle.

THE FAMILY.

The first born, November 1909, was David (Davie) at a Napier Nursing Horne, followed two years later by Nell, the only daughter for David and Marion, Kuripapango was the birth place of the third child, Nicol, a premature birth in 1913. The third son Ian, was born in 1916, with Ewan (Buster) the fourth son and last child in 1918.

David’s family was now complete, four sons to follow in his footsteps, four pairs of hands to help on the farm.

TRAGEDIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS.

The future for David and Marion by 1914 looked bright, as well it might, with three children, farm profits increasing and life proceeding according to plan.

As early as 1907 David had been supplying mutton to the HB.  Motor Co and the H. B. Rabbit Board, which he continued to do for several years. This lucrative side-line was added to in later years by the sale of butter. The first cow was purchased in 1911 from G. P. Donnelly for five guineas; two more from Donnelly in 1915, for sixteen pounds.

With the family increasing in number, Marion’s sisters and families constantly at the farm, living expenses by 1915 were mounting. Having a plentiful supply of milk, cream and butter – a churn was purchased for five pounds – mutton, wild pork and fish, did help to minimise expenses.

To assist more, David planned and planted an orchard of 52 fruit trees, which was registered with the Horticulture Division, Dept. of Agriculture, in 1916; required by law under the Orchard and Garden Diseases Act.

Two tragedies occurred 1911; the death of Marion’s mother Ellen Olsen at Ormondville; the death of David’s mother Janet (Jessie) Lumsden at Inverness, Scotland. Marion’s father Albert Olsen, passed away two years later, March 13, the year Nicol was born.

Disaster struck in 1912, when the woolshed built by Robert Holt in May 1909, for the cost of two hundred and forty one pounds, was almost completely blown down by the ever present and damaging westerly wind. Rebuilding was required urgently and although the engine room had survived, it still needed costly repairs with a new shearing plant being purchased.

Because of David’s lease of adjoining land, the outgoing costs were mounting; interest on the two Kohura Blocks depleting his profits. To finally purchase this land in 1913 must have been a great relief, although the final payment wasn’t made until 1916. This was the year when prices suddenly slumped, his sheep selling for ten to eighteen shillings, Iambs for a mere five shillings. Shearing charges, wool scouring and cartage costs had all increased, adding alarmingly to the financial burden.

David now had a Maxwell car, a second hand model bought in December 1914 for fifty pounds. He had built a car shed

of corrugated iron for less than eleven pounds. The dirt floor remained as such until 1926 when David finally spread concrete. Benzine was then a mere eight shillings per tin.

Until then, trips to Napier or Hastings had been by H. B. Motor Co. coaches, not easy for Marion with three small children; having their own motor vehicle made a big difference. It was also at this time the H. B. Motor Co. changed from horse and coach to their first motor vehicle.

Shepherds, musterers and labourers employed by David over the years were constantly changing; the climatic conditions not inducing a long stay; perhaps David being a tireless worker was also a hard task master.

In 1912 a musterer was earning ten shillings a day, rising to fifteen shillings in 1914. Hard monotonous work in all weathers for what now seems, a small wage.

Usually these men lived in the whare, cooking their own meals, but occasionally Marion was called upon to provide meals for workers and shearers. When possible she also helped with farm work, often riding vast areas at mustering time. There was usually one of her sisters staying at the farm during the busy season, who helped with the children. However, it wasn’t unusual for Marion to take the small children with her.

THE MOVE.

By 1916 the two eldest children were in need of schooling and this Marion attempted to do with little success, having no guidelines to follow. Because of this, David made a decision which seemed right then, to move nearer town and put a manager on the property.

The move was made in April 1917, to a small property

at Mangateretere, three miles east of Hastings. It was leased from Haldane for the next three years. Ideally situated directly opposite the Mangateretere School, Davie, Nell and Nicol were now able to commence their schooling. David farmed the acres he leased with the house, running sheep and pigs. The house was a large roomy family home, allowing growing children much space and for the whole family, the amenities of civilization, including a telephone.

This move from the high altitude of Kuripapango to the flats, eventually took its toll, the children constantly suffering colds and chest complaints, thereby resulting in the family once more uprooting in May 1920 and moving back to their farm. Added to this was the knowledge of neglect by M. Lake the manager, with subsequent deterioration of the land. Worse was to emerge for David, making him doubt the wisdom of the three year absence from his farm in order to educate the children.

Neglect was very evident, stock numbers depleted, fences needing repairs, scrub gaining control. With finances low, David at 56 years of age, must have searched hard for the incentive to begin again, the relentless never ending grind.

The isolation of Kuripapango was more apparent after three years of civilization; the home too small and lacking in amenities; land urgently in need of back-breaking toil – despair now for David. A mortgage obtained on one Block in 1918 could not now be paid off but extended, a second mortgage made necessary on the second Block in 1924.

The first year after David’s return to the farm, meant changes for the family, the children, young as they were, now expected to help with farm work when possible and continue with whatever schooling Marion could provide.

Always there was scrub cutting, using slashers, burning

when wind conditions were right; repairing and replacing fences; poisoning rabbits; shooting the wild sheep and pigs. When the boys were as young as seven, they were introduced to these endless activities; by nine the second son was milking the cows. On many occasions the two youngest boys both under eight, would be despatched with smoko for David and the two older boys who would often be at least two miles away, fencing. The little boys would have to walk the distance, usually uphill, barefooted, then return home to resume school lessons.

Before the boys were in their teens, all had been taught to shoot. It was an outdoor life for the children, running wild almost, one they enjoyed except for the hardship of compulsory labouring. It must have been a shortened childhood, made necessary by the financial situation; not realized by the children.

The great draught [drought] of 1921 was another calamity with stock prices slumping; grass on the ridges badly burnt and destroyed, making fresh sowing necessary. A simple mechanized procedure to-day, then, hand sown with considerable walking required over rugged terrain.

Self sufficiency was necessary for survival; fowls and ducks providing eggs; pigs reared for future consumption. Nicol the second son, was responsible for collecting the duck eggs, a difficult task, as they chose to nest in the swamp. Turkeys were reared, but because of the cold, proved impracticable.

The continuation and quality of the children’s education was deemed necessary, with the eldest, son nearing the age for secondary schooling. This prompted Marion to write to the Director of Education, near the end of 1921.

EDUCATION.

Marion received a pleasing reply to her letter. Help at last.

Madam,
In reply to your letter of the 20th instant, I have to state that the department will be only too pleased to assist you in your efforts to provide education for your children, since it appreciates the difficulties of those who are situated far away from ordinary school facilities.

The matter will have to be dealt with through the Hawkes Bay Education Board and I suggest you write to the Secretary of the Board asking it to establish a household School at your house and give the ages of the children to be taught.

You should also state that if this school is established and the ordinary payment of 15 pounds per head is paid, you will be able to arrange so that you can give ample time to the instruction of the children.

When the application is received from the Education Board the department will certainly approve of the establishment of the school, and would hake no objection to your teaching since you are better qualified than many of the teachers of household schools.

I have the honour to be madam, your obedient servant.
J. Caughley; Director of Education.

To run the householder’s school adequately, as requested by the Education Board, a suitable room was to be provided. The lean-to, an original part of the house when built in 1908, now used as a store-room, was cleaned out. David had built another store-room adjacent to the washhouse, so this amenity wasn’t lost.

A table and chairs were provided for the children; from the Board, an adequate supply of chalk, slates, books and a large variety of coloured paper shapes for handicraft.

A syllabus had to be adhered to; Inspectors arrived at regular intervals to check Marion’s teaching methods and supervise the examinations. For many years Mr Strachan travelled to Kuripapango, adding to his duties an enjoyable and relaxing three or four day stay.

This system was maintained until Davie the eldest son was enrolled at the Napier Boys High School in 1924, spending two years there. The school fees then were seventy pounds, eleven shillings.

Marion still had four children to teach, making her work load with household chores included, extremely heavy. There was no labour saving equipment, no electricity and no hot water in the house; not even a bathroom. The copper in the outside wash-house was boiled for baths then bucketed into a large tin bath, with handles either end for carrying. David attended to this chore and also helped Marion with the weekly wash, which was nothing short of hard labour. Boil the clothes in the copper, lift them into the tubs for rinsing, then hand wring. How fortunate we are to-day.

David took on much of the household work, washing floors, windows; cleaning the wash-house, outside toilet; churning butter, peeling fruit for preserving and excelling at scone making. He repaired the shoes, cut the hairs, salted, boiled and cured pig meat, hanging it in the storeroom until ready for eating. Bottles were recycled, David removing the neck with a heated wire, resulting in a handy Jar for jam.

At age sixty, David was now working harder than ever, all farm work had to be attended to as well as domestic chores, and gardening. Strenuous farm work, hand reaping paddocks for hay, cutting firewood with an axe, and scrub with a slasher; no mechanical help here.

No article of clothing was discarded or wasted by Marion who unpicked, recut and machined, producing clothes for the children.

An attempt was made by Marion to provide religious education for the children, by reading stories from a large book of ‘The Beautiful Stories’ abandoned when the children asked questions she could not answer.

THE LAST YEARS.

To finance secondary schooling and mounting farm costs, David mortgaged his second Block of land in 1924, heralding in two difficult years for him. More stock were sold than purchased, a dramatic decrease in number of sheep; interest. payments on mortgages were a formidable burden. What flourished were the rabbits. Poisoning was a constant, never ending task; the rabbits always won.

Young as they were, the children mixed and laid the rabbit baits, walking many miles in a day. With Davie at boarding school, Nicol the second son eleven years old, was expected to help David more and more; scrub cutting, fencing and sheep work. The other two sons, now nine and seven, forgot childhood and laboured long hours.

Schooling still had to be fitted in each day if possible, although it became apparent that David had been more concerned with the education of his eldest son, than possibly his other three sons. Schooling did play a small part here, farm work being the priority.

A necessity in 1925 a replacement for David’s Maxwell car, which having given good service for ten years had now become a liability. A trip to town meant more car repairs, costly; two or three punctures a normal routine. The road, such as it was, demanded a good reliable car, so David purchased a new Oakland, costing three hundred

pounds, the final payment being made in 1927. Even with a good car it was necessary to carry a shovel when travelling, as parts of the road invariably collapsed, requiring the vehicle to be dug out.

A welcome transition in 1925 was the purchase of an old model T. Ford truck for fifty pounds; an acquisition rather temperamental at times. Having the truck, eliminated to as great extent the use of sledges and pack horses for transporting firewood, fencing materials and other farm gear. It was also used to collect goods and stores from town; take skins and odd bales of wool to Hastings and Napier, helping decrease the high cartage costs David was now faced with.

It was now 1926, secondary schooling for Davie had ceased, his involvement in daily farm work increased, enabling the second son to concentrate more on his school lessons. His turn to attend the Napier Boys High School would come in 1928.

To further daughter Nell’s education and allow her to mix with other girls, she was sent to an Aunt in Matamau to enable her to attend the local school. Only one term of the school year was spent here, ill health terminating this idea.

This was the year, trips and holidays away from home commenced for Nell and Davie, the other three children never having that pleasure. A yearly excursion by the whole family was made to the Hawkes Bay Show but for Nicol now 12 years old, pleasure trips were a rarity.

Alterations to the house, considered inadequate in 1921, hadn’t been possible. Early 1927, David, with the assistance of Marion and the children, commenced building a new kitchen, bathroom and long open sleeping porch which would take six beds. Months of work ahead,

resulting in a job well done.

December 23. 1926. Davie and Nicol left with truck about 4.15 a.m. for wool store, returned by Hastings and loaded up with water pipes and drain-pipes etc. Got as far as Willowford and had to camp for the night. Ford truck going badly. Misty.

December 24. Davie and Nicol left Willowford for home got about half way up the hill from bottle creek to the lookout. Had to leave the truck at side of road and come home by the Duco car. Fine rain. Misty.

January 2 1927. Mr and Mrs Withers, Nellie, Davie, Nicol and I went in the car to where the Lizzie was stuck, got her home all her load of water pipes and drain-pipes. Fine day.

A fully loaded truck parked on the roadside for over a week; safe then, not so to-day.

January 19. Davie over helping Snelling with the hay and brought home a load from Snelling after tea. Mum and the rest of us putting iron on the kitchen. Started match lining. Mum made hop beer. Hot day. 84 at p.m.

A. Snelling was occupying the house and farm owned by McDonaId, who had moved further north, but who returned after Snelling left in December 1927. These were Marion’s only neighbours.

January 22. Building cupboards in Kitchen. Davie cutting hay in sheepyards.

E. English and car fell over the Gentle Annie slip in the morning. Tom Snelling and Davie took them down to Hastings in our car. They arrived home about 5 o’clock in the morning ( Sunday) Fine day.

C. Golding, F. Pickett came in the morning to fish.

Fishermen were frequent guests and visitors. Early deer hunters were Rod McRae and Ewen McLennan, both originally from Aberdeenshire.

The narrow notorious road over Gentle Annie, with the hazardous sharp bend half way up, has only recently been widened. A familiar land mark is Kelly’s mistake, the site Where a wagon disappeared over the side. The horse and coach era [handwritten – see History of Farming at Kuri [Kuripapango] (Mathew Wright) page 8], the arrival of the motor vehicle changed this.

By April 1927, David had finished the house alterations, the only outside help required being the plumber to instal the coal range, bath and water pipes. Hot water was in the house at last, what a joy for Marion.

The wash-house built in 1908 was now dismantled by David and a new larger one built, making it more convenient for housing the butter churn.

What must have felt a life long struggle for David, continued into 1928, his 64th. year. Due to building expenses, finances were once more stretched and no thought could be given to the second son being enrolled at the Napier Boys High School.

May 5 1928. The whare was blown over into the scrub this forenoon. Taking it to pieces in the afternoon. High wind. Rain.

No whare and mustering and crutching in progress, more toil for David, more expense, with a whare to rebuild. The familiar procedure started again, stones, sand and shingle to be carted from the river bed. The old model T. Ford truck now proved it’s worth, shifting larger loads than the pack horses were capable of.

First it had to be demolished, accomplished with the

assistance of the four boys, who then helped David over the next five weeks with the rebuilding, irrespective of inclement weather. Farm activity during these five weeks was hectic, David pushing himself more and more to cope.

Determined to defeat the destructive wind, David set about digging holes 2,000 pine trees he planned to plant below the wool-shed and in a plantation above the house.

June 13 1928. Finished digging the tree holes in plantation above the house. Mum and I marking where the holes will be for trees in plantation below woolshed. Davie and Nicol went away in afternoon to get a pig about Kakakino. Misty rain.

June 15. (Entry made by Davie) Dad and myself digging tree holes, Dad went around hill to look for heifer. Mr Svenson and Mr Best stayed with us all night.

It was an evening to remember always, David playing his fiddle for many hours; entertainment and happiness for the family.

The following day, June 16, David bid farewell to his family, and with Davie beside him, set off in the car for Hastings.

As you drive from your home away from Marion and the children, through the paddocks, past the almost completed whare, the now trouble free wool-shed, onto the highway, lift up your eyes David and see the rewards of many years toil; the culmination of your dream – that long ago dream. Drive through the peaceful and tranquil valley, wonder at the majestic beauty of the mountainous surrounds; feel contentment and satisfaction. Do not inwardly weep the tears of despair. See it all David, for you will never return.

Sherenden, half way point of the journey to Hastings, there they had the inevitable puncture. David stopped, went to the rear of the car to investigate.

There Davie found him. David Lumsden of the third House of David was dead.

A soul lives on, hovering, remembering, then moves off towards The Light.

A grieving family weeps, crying “why, why?”

David and Marion begat David, who was the first son.

DE Lumsden