Immigration of the Scandinavian People to Hawke’s Bay, The

THE IMMIGRATION OF THE
SCANDINAVIAN PEOPLE TO
HAWKE’S BAY

HOVDING 1873

NORMA KEESING

The
Immigration
of
the Scandinavian People
to
Hawke’s Bay

The Immigration
of
the Scandinavian
People
to
Hawke’s Bay

Norma Keesing

Published by Norma Keesing
Hastings, New Zealand
1993

1st published 1993
Copyright © 1993 Norma Keesing

ISBN 0 473 01864 0

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Published by Norma Keesing, 403W Murdoch Road, Hastings,
New Zealand

CONTENTS PAGE

Acknowledgements   vi
Introduction   vii
Why did the people emigrate from Scandinavia?   1
And why emigration in the 1870’s?   1
Where did the Scandinavian people emigrate to?   2
How many people emigrated?   3
Why did New Zealand need the immigrants?   4
More people were needed to settle in New Zealand but where were they to come from?   5
But who was to clear the bush?   5
On board ship   7
Arrival in New Zealand   10
The reality – the disillusionment   10
First requirement – housing   12
Construction of the homes   12
Food   14
Conditions of settlement – and the cost   15
The Seventy Mile Bush   16
Fire   21
Stock   22
Schooling, language and other obstacles   23
New work   24
Since then   25
And what of Norsewood and Dannevirke today?   25
Scandinavian names   26
The names of the Scandinavian settlements   27
Appendix I: Reports from the Appendices of the House of Representatives   28
Appendix 2: The Norsewood Pioneer Museum   35
Bibliography   37

Page vi

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the contributions of the following people:

Lilian Baker, Chairperson of the 1991 Hawke’s Bay Genealogy Society’s Conference, who invited me to present a paper from which this book evolved.

The various unnamed people who have encouraged me to complete the task and have expressed interest in receiving a copy of the book.

My dear friend, Coral Withey (nee Parsons), who, together with my ever-patient father, Raymond Bond, described life in the early days of Norsewood, related anecdotes, confirmed times, dates and where possible the accuracy of the script. Coral was born and raised in Norsewood and my father in Dannevirke, but stayed often with his grandparents in Norsewood. My father gave me a very vivid description of the bush ‘drives’, and both he and Coral remember the original immigrants very clearly. Their help and assistance has been invaluable.

Ross, my husband, who proofread the script several times and organised publication of the book. Thank you, Ross.

Judy Wilford, who undertook the layout of this book. I am grateful to her for the marvellous job she has done.

Norma Keesing

Page vii

INTRODUCTION

For the purposes of this paper ‘Scandinavia and its people’ refers to Denmark, Sweden and Norway. There is much controversy as to what is meant by Scandinavia. Sometimes Finland is included – sometimes not. Sometimes the Faroe Islands and/or Iceland are referred to as being Scandinavian but few of these people emigrated to New Zealand so it does not affect the content of this book. Norway, Denmark and Sweden are the countries from whence came the majority of the new settlers from Scandinavia.

There were also a few Germans who came out on the same sailing ships which brought the Scandinavians to New Zealand. This caused many a fight on board ship and in the new settlements. After all Denmark and Germany had every so often throughout history been at war with each other and many of the Danes were veterans of these wars. Some were refugees from Slesvig (an area of Denmark taken over by Germany). Imagine being on a small sailing ship for three to four months with a person or persons from another country which you claimed to be an enemy. Tempers must have been easily frayed and short at the best of times but to have Germans in your midst! Well …!

It is reported that the Danes went out of their way to infuriate the Germans, whom they detested. One enterprising captain wisely decreed that if the travellers had a dispute to settle, fights must be held in the evenings under proper rules so the combatants could settle their differences – at least for the time being – with their fists, the fisticuffs no doubt provided much needed entertainment as well.

Map of Scandinavia

Page 1

WHY DID THE PEOPLE EMIGRATE FROM SCANDINAVIA?

The Scandinavian countries are beautiful countries. Why would thousands of people leave their homelands to go to far flung and unseen parts of the world?

Scandinavian people have always been adventurous seafaring wanderers who have felt the call of distant shores. Fishing has always been an important way of life but as life became dull and boring the young and not so young men took to the seaways in search of adventure.

The Vikings (early Scandinavians) whose exploits are legendary travelled far and wide from early times in history, settling in many countries including England, Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, the Shetland Islands to as far away as the Mediterranean taking their language, culture and customs with them. The log cabin design used in patchwork is said to have originated from Scandinavia.

Assimilating into everyday life very quickly in their new countries the Vikings were no longer the invading foreigner but one of the locals.

AND WHY EMIGRATION IN THE 1870’s?

Life in the Scandinavian countries had, for many, become less than desirable. History shows a very complex situation between the countries with takeovers – voluntary and involuntary.

In 1905 when Norway began a rebirth by dissolving the union with Sweden a Danish prince was invited to ascend the throne as King Haakon the VII. Each country now has its own well respected monarch.
Norway has at various times been rules by Sweden and/or

Page 2

Denmark and in turn, Sweden by Denmark. Famine in parts of Scandinavia, difficult economic times, and an increased population had put much pressure on the available rescources. [resources]. Only small areas of land were available for farming and as families grew, their farms couldn’t support the increased numbers.

The result of a war between Denmark and Germany was good reason indeed to emigrate rather than to live under German rule.

In the lost province of Slesvig thousands of Danes were under the repressive hand of an ancient enemy who now sought to extinguish both native tongue and national aspiration. 1

The ‘new world’ must have seemed an attractive alternative and so the mass exodus of the Scandinavian people began.

WHERE DID THE SCANDINAVIAN PEOPLE EMIGRATE TO?

The North Americas (including Canada) received one third of the population of the Scandinavian countries and today there are more people of Scandinavian origin in the United States of America, most of whom are the descendants of the nineteenth century immigrants, than there are in Scandinavia. There are areas of the United States of America which are as much if not more Scandinavian than the countries from which the people came. Traditions, customs, architecture have all been carefully maintained in the areas in which the Scandinavians settled.

Australia was also to become home to many Scandinavian immigrants.
Before the main emigration in the 1870’s there had been only a few Scandinavian people settle in New Zealand. There had

1   Forest Homes, Scandinavian Settlements in New Zealand, G C Petersen

Page 3

been a few missionaries, whalers, merchants, adventurers and the inevitable sailor who had jumped ship perhaps because of the conditions on board or a more attractive figure on the shore.

During the 1950’s and 1960’s there was another much smaller intake of Scandinavian immigrants to New Zealand. Fletcher Holding, with the New Zealand government’s approval and support, sought unmarried skilled and unskilled labourers from Scandinavia for general construction work and housing construction. Further immigrants were accepted through to the 1960’s.

As this paper was first prepared for genealogy and historic purposes we will look into past history rather than for what to most of us is recent history.

HOW MANY PEOPLE EMIGRATED?

It is not possible to give a precise number of Danes who immigrated from Scandinavia. The Danish Emigration Records do not include all the emigrants to New Zealand because the Allan-Line agent in Copenhagen often sold tickets to London only, and these were, therefore not recorded. From London the emigrants were sent on to the North Island by the general agent for New Zealand. It is possible, however, to obtain a fair estimate of the situation. From 1871 to 1875 the Danish Emigration Records list 1 521 emigrants to New Zealand. The unrecorded emigration which resulted from the Allan-Line’s breaking the law is estimated to be an additional 500 to 1 000 persons. This means that between 2 000 and 2 500 Danes emigrated to New Zealand during this period.
New Zealand immigrants statistics are not available prior to 1900. 1

It is however, estimated that about 5 000 Scandinavians emigrated to New Zealand during the latter part of the 1800’s

1   Danish Emigration to New Zealand, Danes Worldwide Archives

Page 4

under Vogel’s immigration programme. Unfortunately, not all shipping lines kept accurate records of the passengers carried nor of their final destination.

The Scandinavians on their arrival settled in many parts of New Zealand – Taranaki, Wellington, Manawatu, Canterbury, Otago and Auckland but mainly in Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.

WHY DID NEW ZEALAND NEED THE IMMIGRANTS?

During the 1800’s when the more accessible land was being taken up for sheep and cattle farming Julius Vogel, later to become Premier and to be knighted, had visions of more land being cleared for settlement; to increase the population from a quarter of a million to half a million; and for roads, railways and bridges to be built to improve conditions and to open up new areas.

To do this money was needed and although the country already owed eight million pounds Vogel was successful in persuading the government to proceed with his scheme. He needed 10 million pounds to achieve his aims and was sent to London to raise the necessary funds.

For a small country this was a very ambitious programme but within the space of about ten years most of his plans had come to fruition. He had however, borrowed 20 million pounds to make it all happen.

It would seem that no thought had been given to the possibility of the bad times which inevitably follow the good. In the 1880’s as a result of worldwide monetary difficulties; a downturn in the prices received for wool and meat and having to meet the loan repayments, New Zealand experienced a ‘slump’. With no social security scheme life was indeed harsh for most New Zealanders.

Page 5

MORE PEOPLE WERE NEEDED TO SETTLE IN NEW ZEALAND BUT WHERE WERE THEY TO COME FROM?

Bishop D G Monrad had been Prime Minister and Minister of War for Denmark during the unhappy war in 1864 with Prussia and Austria in which they were defeated. After its conclusion he was politically unpopular and left his native land to settle in New Zealand accompanied by his wife and family and a number of young men who proved to be readily adaptable to the pioneering conditions.

He arrived in New Zealand in 1866 and at the suggestion of the Governor, Sir George Grey, took up a block of bush land in the Upper Manawatu district which was then being opened up for settlement.

The development of Palmerston (as it was then known – the North being added later) which had been surveyed on a natural clearing in the forest, was being delayed because it could not attract settlers until a road had been cut through the dense bush separating it from the west coast port of Foxton.

BUT WHO WAS TO CLEAR THE BUSH?

Britain had already given up most of the eligible migrants after recruitment drives there. Canadians had also been considered.

The government had been impressed with the great success of the young men, who had accompanied Monrad, with the work of clearing the bush and then actively farming the land. (The scarcity of land in their own countries had forced the Scandinavians to be frugal and the climate had made them hardy making them ideal immigrants for the task in a new land).

Monrad was asked to influence his fellow countrymen to emigrate to New Zealand do to the work. He returned to Denmark in 1869 to do this. The first of the immigrants for the

Page 6

Manawatu area arrived in Wellington early in 1871 where they were then sent via Foxton to their destination. The bush was cleared and access was at last possible for the first settlers to Palmerston.

Vogel and the government were again impressed with the results and renewed their efforts to entice others to migrate as there were still vast areas of bush to be cleared.

A Mr Bror Erik Friberg, a Norwegian who had lived in New Zealand for many years was sent back to Norway to recruit his fellow country men to emigrate.

Friberg toured Norway and as a result of his talks the first ship named the Hovding sailed from Christiania (now Oslo) bound for Napier on the 30 May 1872 with 365 Norwegians and 11 Danes on board.

Leaving London in company with the Ballarat which had 71 Danes on board. The two ships arrived in Napier harbour within hours of each other on 15 September 1872 where little or no preparations had been made for the new settlers’ arrival.

(There were two separate ships with the name Hovding, the first being condemned as unseaworthy on the completion of the return trip to Norway. The second ship which left Christiania on the 24 August 1873 arrived in Napier on the 1 December 1873. Renamed the Kelat it was used as a coal hulk around Western Australia eventually being sunk by the Japanese during the Second World War.)

As with future landings the agents who had been so encouraging at the beginning of the journey were now nowhere to be seen.

The tactics used to persuade the people to emigrate were doubtful in the extreme but the glowing reports of New Zealand – gold was said to be there for the taking – and the promise of owning their own farms which was an unattainable dream in their homelands inspired the emigrants to leave their homes and make the arduous journey.

Page 7

ON BOARD SHIP

The conditions would have been vastly different for people migrating in the 1800’s compared to present times. The emigrants didn’t as a rule know where they were actually headed for. New Zealand? Where was that? Even to be told ‘across the other side of the world’ would have meant very little to the average person. There were few atlases or maps available to the ordinary person – even if they were capable of reading them – and of course with no television or radio the emigrants probably had not the faintest idea of where New Zealand was.

The captains of the ships and their agents needed as many people on board as they could safely (?) get away with. Tales are told of prospective travellers inquiring for a particular ship and being put on another ship altogether in order to make up that ship’s complement. So instead of sailing for America they would find themselves in New Zealand. Families were split up because of this, with brothers/sisters/parents never meeting up again. Language difficulties also added to the confusion, with many a shady and dishonest agent or captain taking advantage of less wordly [worldly] wise and less educated travellers.

Ignorance of the English language was a great handicap and occasionally rendered the foreigners a prey to the unscrupulous. Immigrants whose passages were assisted were entitled to purchase a block of forty acres at 1 pound per acre while those who had paid their passage money in full were to have a similar block free. The latter were issued by the immigration agents with papers evidencing their right to the privilege. It is recounted that a group of Swedish settlers were the victims of a cruel hoax in this respect. When their ship reached London it was boarded by a person who asked for their papers and in return gave them what he said were “land certificates”. The Swedes had no knowledge whatever of English, written or spoken, and unsuspectingly handed over their papers. When

Page 8

they arrived in Wellington and presented their “certificates” they were informed that all they held was the menu of a London hotel, and that if they wanted land they would have to pay for it on the same terms as the assisted settlers. 1

The conditions once on board were not good on the best of ships and absolutely appalling on the others with many of the ships not even being seaworthy: On one occasion a ship lost its mast in a storm only days out of port and had to return for repairs. Some of the passengers were so frightened they disembarked never to make the journey. Others brave or foolhardy enough, completed the journey once repairs had been made, or went by another vessel.

Heavy seas would swamp the ships drenching everything and everyone on board. To be left with wet bedding, clothing, food and living quarters with small children in cramped conditions must have made life very difficult especially as the journey took from three to four months.

(Preference had been given to family groups rather than single men who ‘were apt to seek employment wherever there was most inducement rather than to stay in the special settlements’.)

With such primitive conditions there was much sickness and ill health with scarlet fever, typhoid fever, and measles among other illnesses taking their toll of the passengers. There were many deaths with the bodies being buried at sea.

Not all the ship had a doctor on board and at least one ship had a doctor who was described as being ‘drunken and incompetent’. Another stood trial in Wellington for cruelty and neglect.

One ship destined for Wellington had an outbreak of smallpox and on arrival the passengers were taken to a hastily erected quarantine station on Somes Island in that harbour. Much of their personal possessions and baggage was burned on the beach.

GENEALOGY NOTE: After the death of a baby, child or in some cases adult children, later offspring were often named after

1   Forest Homes: Scandinavian Settlements in New Zealand, G C Petersen

Page 9

the deceased which presents difficulties when researching one’s family tree. The same name may have been used several times until at last one child survived with that name.

The journey was particularly stressful for the babies and children with no fresh food or milk available and the water being rationed. The bill of fare was very monotonous with coffee, bread and butter or biscuits for breakfast, soup, beef, fish or pork for dinner and for supper, tea and bread or biscuits.

The following is a report about the conditions on board the – second ship called the Hovding:

The complaints of the passengers on arrival were so serious that the “Hawke’s Bay Herald”, early in December, 1873, reported that the Immigration Commissioners in Napier were holding an inquiry. As a result it was decided to prosecute Captain Nordbye and he was to have appeared before the Resident Magistrate the next day. The case, however, did not come before the court, as it was discovered that, owing to the fact that the captain, ship and passengers were foreigners, the New Zealand Court had no jurisdiction and the matter was dropped. 1 2

In modem terminology this was probably a classic case of ‘passing the buck’. Having survived the rigours of the journey which were extreme the ship eventually made landfall. The poor travellers must have been very pleased to see land and yet …

There was worse to come.

1   75th Jubilee Norsewood School 1874-1949
2   See also reports in the appendix.

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ARRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND

The difficult sea journey over, the passengers came ashore at Napier at a place now called Corunna Bay. From here they walked up the hill (now Hospital Hill) to military barracks (previously erected and used by troops during the Maori Land Wars) where the women and children stayed (perhaps for up to two weeks) before proceeding to join the men and older boys who had gone on ahead to the new settlements to be named Norsewood and Dannevirke.

All the gear – rations, clothing, possessions – were loaded on two five-horse-drawn wagons while the new immigrants made their way on foot which must have been a difficult journey after being confined on board ship for so many weeks.

The first night was spent at Te Aute; the second in stables at the Tavistock Hotel, Waipukurau and the third night at the Railway Hotel five or six miles north of where Norsewood is today. The horse-drawn wagons could go no further and so bullock wagons were used to complete the journey.

(It was originally intended that the railway would go west of Norsewood and continue south near the foot of the Ruahine Ranges passing the Railway Hotel on the way. The railway was however, taken through Takapau, Kopua and on to Dannevirke serving a wider area – generally agreed to be a wise decision but a great disappointment to the people of Norsewood.)

Soon after the men arrived at Te Whiti (a mile north of Norsewood) a ballot was held for the allottment [allotment] of the promised forty acres.

THE REALITY – THE DISILLUSIONMENT

The settlers had been promised a farm of forty acres. What they hadn’t been told was that it was covered in dense virgin bush

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with huge trees towering over it that had to be cleared before the land could be farmed or homes built. They had also been told that they wouldn’t need many clothes as the climate was so warm and that fruit grew everywhere in abundance.

They had also been told that they were coming to a sub­tropical paradise which may have been so if they had settled in the Bay of Islands but Norsewood in winter hardly resembles the northern region of New Zealand.

Ngamoko, which was once a little settlement near the foothills of the Ruahines was known as ‘Little Siberia’ because it was so cold and windy. There are reports of horses being blown off their feet in the high winds which were notorious for their ferocity.

A sub-tropical paradise? Frost killed the peaches on a tree one of the settlers had carefully and lovingly nurtured.

For some the promise of a new life free from the rule of a foreign power made life in a new land seem very attractive. Little did they know when they left the shores of Scandinavia what lay ahead.

A new life in a new land? The conditions here were not at all what had been promised. The government had not provided for them as they should have done.

Many tears were shed. The promises which had been made to them before they left their homelands had been misleading to say the least.

The unrelenting struggle, the heartache, disillusionment, isolation, loneliness, a new language and a scarcity of food was more than they could be expected to cope with. What utter despair. What was to be done? There was no going back. There was only one way to cope and that was to accept that they had been misled in what to expect in this new land and to make the best of it.

And make the best of it they did.

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FIRST REQUIREMENT – HOUSING

Once the land was allotted the men went to their respective sections to build a shelter for their families who, when they arrived from Napier some days later stayed at the Te Whiti clearing until the shelters were built. The barracks there were similar to the ones in Napier, having been built for the same purpose but were much smaller in size.

The building was not large enough for all of them so some (women) with the older children had to sleep out in the open. This continued for almost a week while the men who had gone to Norsewood were doing their best to build at least a shelter for their families to live in. 1

The families who were to settle in Dannevirke (most of whom were Danes) had a further two day trek in front of them. (The distance between Norsewood and Dannevirke on modern roads takes 20 minutes by car.) The conditions were perhaps less harsh in Dannevirke than in Norsewood.

Houses were erected more quickly than in Norsewood, because of the bush being less dense, there was less labour in clearing it, and because of the abundance of totara made it easy to find good timber. 2

Within six weeks nearly all the families had been located on their own respective sections, and in some cases, in very neat homes.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOMES

After the men had a space cleared in the bush on which to erect their huts or whares they felled large trees out of which they split rough slabs of timber to construct the crudest type of dwelling place. These were often rough and unattractive

1 and 2   Norsewood The Centennial Story A L Andersen

Page 13

looking but served the immediate purpose of providing a home. Little wonder many of the women sat down and wept at the first sight of their new homes, momentarily contrasting them with the homes they had left behind in Norway. 1

The huts which were usually of two rooms – one for sleeping, the other for living. As the family grew a lean-to would be added for extra sleeping accommodation.

The walls of the huts were of split slabs fastened to a frame of adzed saplings, the floor of either rammed earth or smooth planks and the roof was covered with split shingles. A wide chimney of slabs lined on the inside with stones set in clay was where all the cooking was done. Pots were suspended on a series of wire hooks hanging from a bar set across the chimney or from an iron bracket with a swinging arm. Bread was baked in a round camp oven or in a colonial oven once these items became available and the women became accustomed to using them.

The ovens sat in the fireplace with the hot embers heaped around and over them. Beautiful, tasty meals were produced in this manner but it was hard back breaking work.

While their husbands toiled hard to complete these urgent homes the women had to carry all the supplies from Te Whiti to the new sections. To struggle through the bush carrying a hundred pound bag of flour with little children clinging to their skirts was not an uncommon experience for these brave hearted women of the pioneer settlement.

One can only imagine the burden and heart breaks carrying heavy loads along crude muddy bush tracks, scrambling over logs with undergrowth banging low over the tracks with small children following behind. 2

The windows of these crude huts were covered with oiled calico. It was many years before glass was obtainable. Furniture was simple and all home-made from the same rough timber.

1 and 2   Norsewood The Centennial Story A L Andersen

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FOOD

Under these primitive conditions the family lived and expanded. Food, at least to begin with, was scarce and expensive as much of it had to be imported. The difficulty of bringing stores into the bush, especially before the road was completed, made prices high. The settlers shared what ever they had with each other.

Food and water were constant problems with no fresh milk until eventually the settlement was able to afford a cow with a calf. The milk was given to the children saving many a child’s life. But it was still many years before the settlers were able to afford to buy a cow of their own which would then not only provide butter and cheese for their own use but also could be bartered for other commodities.

Once the land was cleared vegetables could be grown but these had to be securely fenced off to guard them from wandering stock and wild pigs, the latter being a very welcome addition to the diet as were the native pigeons (then not a protected bird), eels and wild honey.

With the cost of living being high as much food as possible was gathered locally. With flour at 30s per 100lbs and sugar at 6d per pound these became luxuries instead of necessities. Vegetables were grown – potatoes, cabbages, carrots – with seeds provided by the government and as the soil was very fertile the people were well rewarded for their efforts. A store was eventually opened in Norsewood with credit given but on low wages and the debt which had to be repaid to the government this was probably a very mixed blessing.

The supply of water was a big problem until wells were dug. Until then the washing was done in streams or springs which were often a long way from home. There were few receptacles in which to carry the water and nothing in which to boil the clothes.

Sheep were kept mainly for their wool which was used in the

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home. The wool, because of the bush and scrub was full of biddibids and usually smoke and charcoal stained from the bush fires making it unsaleable.

There were fowls also once the settlement was established and the eggs must have been a very welcome addition to the diet.

CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT – AND THE COST

The new settlers had a considerable financial committment [commitment] to meet. In the first place those who had not been able to pay in advance the cost of their passages to New Zealand, as was the case with nearly all, had signed promissory notes for the passage. This amounted to 7 pounds for each adult and 5 pounds for each child up to three in number. Where there were more than three children in a family the remainder were carried free. If a death occurred during the voyage a half fare was charged.

There was also 1 pound to be paid for the ‘cost of relocation’ which was the cost of bringing the immigrants from Napier to the areas to be settled; the supply of rations and meals on the road and also the value of the tools supplied to the settlers for the use in their work. The amounts, payable within two years from the date of arrival in New Zealand, were met by monthly deductions from earnings on public works.

Free rations were provided for up to a fortnight while the sections were allocated and the huts built. The men then worked for the government for three or four days a week at a wage of 5/- a day for good workers, or less for poor workers. The remaining days would be left free to enable them to develop their own land.

No payment on account of land was required during the first two years as during this time the other debts had to be met.

One wonders how much of this had been explained to the

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new settler before leaving the shores of his homeland with many of the immigrants believing that their passage at least was free.

The terms under which the sections of land (the average area being forty acres) were granted to the immigrants were that the purchase price was to be 1 pound per acre, payable by instalments spread over a period of three years. No payment on account of the land was required during the first two years, as during this time the settler was expected to pay the passage money for himself and his family, the amount he owed for rations and meals supplied from the time of landing until he commenced work, the cost of transport and the value of the tools supplied. He was also expected in that time to build a house on his section and to have improved at least five acres by felling and clearing it and either cropping that area or sowing it down in grass. The settlers were informed that ‘any failure to make these payments or fulfil the conditions would result in the forfeiture of the land’.

The Immigration Department considered that:

Thus by the end of five years after the arrival of the immigrant in the Colony be should be free of all debts to the Government and have made himself the owner of an improved freehold forty acres- a result which with hard work and strict economy should not be difficult to the industrious labourer supplied for some time with work by the Government. 1

THE SEVENTY MILE BUSH

The Wellington and Hawkes Bay provinces were separated by a primeval forest which extended from north of Masterton in the south, to Makaretu and Takapau in the north; extending from the Ruahine Ranges in the west to the coast in the east. Sea transport between the two areas was the only link apart from a narrow bush track through the forest.

The Seventy Mile Bush as it was known, this being the

1   Forest Homes: Scandinavian Settlements in New Zealand, G C Petersen

Page 17

The Seventy Mile Bush
Scandinavian Settlements
thus : Halcombe

NAPIER
Ruahine Range
Makaretu
Norsewood
Matamau
Dannevirke
WOODVILLE
Halcombe
Palmerston North
Eketahuna (Mellemskov)
Mauriceville

Scandinavian Camp
MASTERTON
Tararua Range
WELLINGTON

From Petersen, G C., Forest Homes, Scandinavian Settlements in New Zealand, Reed, Wellington, 1956.

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approximate length of the forest, was the barrier to communications, travel, settlement and development. The portion of the forest tying south of the Manawatu River was known as the Forty Mile Bush this being the approximate length.

The forest was so dense that looking upwards no sky could be seen between the trees. The track through part of the bush was described thus:

… the track through the Seventy Mile Bush became narrow and tortuous because of the many giant trees standing in the way. In wet weather it was slippery and boggy, with floodwaters of numerous creeks and rivers causing many hazards. It was like a long tunnel which seemed to have no end and, because of the trees meeting overhead, it was quite dark and the sky could rarely be seen. At last, after more than twenty miles, the tunnel ended and they came out of the bush at the Makaretu River somewhere near Takapau. The young ones, delighted to be out of the bush and to see the sky again, dug in their spurs and set off at a gallop. 1

This forest, (recorded William Colenso) appeared to be the most primeval of any I have seen in New Zealand. The soil for many feet in depth was only composed of decayed vegetable matter, mostly leaves; and many of the trees were of immense size. The birds were very few – and a death-like silence reigned – not even broken by the solitary owl. 2

Nowadays this forest would surely be classed as a priceless asset and one which any government would want to save rather than destroy.

The untouched forest consisted of matai, rata, maire, rimu, kahikatea and totara with ferns, shrubs and creepers as the undergrowth. This was very different from the beech forests of Denmark and the dark fir and pine forests of Norway and Sweden.

To clear the forest was rough, hard and dangerous work. The

1   Petticoat Pioneers, Miriam McGregor
2   Forest Homes: Scandinavian Settlement in New Zealand, G C Petersen

Page 19

Photo: Hawke’s Bay Museum

Page 20

Norwegians and Swedes may have had experience in forestry but the Danes, most of whom were farm labourers found the task very severe and some could be seen working doggedly on with their hands wrapped in blood stained bandages.

As the progress of the work took the men further from the camp it became impracticable for them to return home each night and they lived in bush camps during the week, returning to their families only at the weekend; although sometimes they were away for weeks without returning.

FELLING THE BUSH

Although clearing the bush was essentially the work of the men and the older boys the women and girls did much of the clearing of the undergrowth. Usually this – the ferns and the vines – was cut away with slashers so that the men could get at the larger trees with their axes. A boy of ten was considered fit to wield a light axe or slasher while at 12 he was expected to use a heavy axe on the larger trees.

To speed up the felling of the ‘bush a method known as ‘driving’ was used where suitable. It was often possible to clear from half to one acre of land at a time, in a good ‘drive’, especially on a hillside.

The bigger trees were not cut all the way through but were cut until they were weak enough to fall when struck by another tree. A large tree would be selected to start the drive and after deciding which way this tree would fall, an area in that direction would be decided upon as suitable for the drive. An appropriate scarf would then be put in all the trees in that group. By felling the large tree and letting it fall on the tree nearest to it, it would have a domino effect until all the trees in the pattern were down.

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At intervals throughout the day during the winter and spring the sound of the ‘drives’ could be heard. Initially there would be a low rumble that grew in crescendo to a mighty roar which ended abruptly as the last great trunk hit the ground.

Fires were lit to burn the tangled mass of trunks and branches after being left to dry during the summer months. For all the care taken when lighting fires many a bush fire got out of hand and took everything in its path – houses, fences, stock – in which case the families had to begin all over again, their precious possessions – lost forever.

Even with all the hard work and long hours it was many years before the land was cleared completely. The larger stumps could not be removed until the roots had decayed and so the crop or grass had to be planted around the tree stump making the harvesting a slow and difficult process. The hidden tree roots made ploughing a very hazardous procedure causing the plough to “fly up into the air after hitting one of them” reports a man of the older generation whose parents and uncles farmed at the end of Ngamoko Road at the foot of the Ruahine Ranges.

FIRE

Fire was a constant threat to the settlers. The worst fire was in 1888 when a terrifying bush fire driven by a heavy gale swept through the Norsewood settlement and township leaving it a smoking ruin and most of the settlers homeless and destitute.

The school, store, shops, dwellings, stables, sheds, barns full of oats and hay, cowsheds, pig styes, fences, stock, clothing, personal possessions had all been destroyed.

People from other districts subscribed money to help the victims restore their farms and other amenities.

There were other fires but none as disastrous as the 1888 fire.

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Dannevirke also suffered from fire the most serious being in October 1917 when a large portion of the business section of the town was wiped out of existence in the space of a few hours.

Although fires caused a tremendous amount of damage, they certainly cleared a big area of land. The ash from the fire fertilized the soil, and when the newly sown grass took root it provided some beautiful pastures. 1

As the farmers gradually stumped and cleared the land the danger of bush fires became less and less much to the relief of all concerned.

STOCK

The women and children looked after the stock which was often lost in the thick dense bush. Not only did the mothers have to look for lost children but also cows if they went missing. Sad stories are told of mothers (and others) being lost in the bush.

In 1885 such a sad event occurred. Anna Jacobsen whose husband was away working was left with their three small children which was the usual situation. One winters evening after locking the children in the house so they wouldn’t wander away and become lost in her absence she went to look for and milk the cow. Anna couldn’t find the cow and became lost herself. When another settler called at the house several days later he found the children distressed and hungry. Eventually Anna’s body was found just a few chains from the house. She had wandered round and round in circles until she collapsed through sheer exhaustion.

As well as looking after the stock, helping with most of the work on the farms, and clearing the bush the women also had the household chores to attend to and made bread, candles, soap and furniture under what must have been very trying circumstances.

1   Norsewood Centennial Story, A L Andersen

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SCHOOLING, LANGUAGE AND OTHER OBSTACLES

For the new immigrant language was a problem and until the schcols [schools] were built and the children made to speak English, only their native tongues were spoken making it difficult to converse with other nationalities. The Scandinavian languages – although different – were similar enough for the new immigrants to speak with one another until eventually English was the language spoken.

An extract from the book 75th Jubilee of Norsewood School reports:

… but the first attempts to convert the Scandinavian tongues to the English language appear to have had the development of commerce as their motive. Mrs Thomson, wife of a local storekeeper, in the belief that the quickest way to teach the settlers the English language sufficiently well to enable her husband better to understand their requests was to teach the children first, set about this task three days per week at South Norsewood and at Garfield alternatively. It is very likely that this action went a long way towards simplifying conditions for all concerned, the children probably appreciating the opportunity of – for once – tutoring their parents.

This however, didn’t teach English in a very satisfactory manner and tales have been told of children teaching their parents very odd things indeed. The children were actively discouraged from speaking their native tongues at school and as the new generation grew up the languages were lost.

The early history and records of the Norsewood School were lost in the 1888 fire but it is known that a school was opened in Dannevirke in June 1873 and one in Norsewood a month later (although there may have been one earlier). The Dannevirke school was then closed for the whole of 1874 through the lack of a suitable teacher but reopened in 1875 when one was found.

Education was not free and compulsory until the Act of 1878

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was passed. Previous to that year, parents had to pay so much per week for each child, sometimes a shilling.

This must have been a financial burden on the parents when they had so many other debts to clear.

Over the years other schools opened or closed in the Norsewood/Dannevirke areas. In 1927 approval was given by the Education Department for the establishment of a special class for Standard 7 with a permanent teacher at Norsewood School. This was the first move towards the establishment of the High School attached to the school which opened on 1 July 1933. However, the life of the Norsewood District High School was brief and was closed at the end of 1937 when the school was amalgamated with the Dannevirke High School.

The doctor in the event of accidents or illness came from Waipawa and charged 5 pound a visit – he had had to ride on horseback a distance of 60 miles over rough country. The settlers couldn’t afford to pay this amount of money so arranged with the doctor’s assistant to visit them once a week for half a crown a month from each settler. This scheme continued for a while until the assistant wanted more money but the settlers couldn’t pay it. Women helped other women at the time of childbirth and did the best they were able to do for each other.

NEW WORK

Following the completion of the government paid work of road and railway construction there was very little paid work in the area until sawmills and dairy co-operatives were established once dairy herds were increased. Many of the sons/daughters of the original immigrants left the area to find work and make a new start elsewhere. Many of the younger women worked as servants on some of the larger, established sheep stations in the area of Hawkes Bay.

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SINCE THEN

During the Boer War and the First and the Second World Wars many of the sons and grandsons of those early pioneers were members of the Armed Forces of New Zealand – their parent’s or grandparent’s adopted country.

AND WHAT OF NORSEWOOD AND DANNEVIRKE TODAY?

Norsewood in keeping with most country settlements has over the years lost its police station; telephone exchange; and various other businesses have closed with now only the school, a general store, hotel, tearooms/craft shop, museum, and a woollen knitwear factory still operating. However, the spirit of the Norsewood people is still as indomitable as ever. Celebrations when they are held are always well organised and well attended. In February 1990, Norsewood for their contribution to the 1990 Commemorations held a street parade honouring not only the early settlers but modem times as well. This was followed by a dinner and dance at night and a church service on Sunday morning.

The main north-south highway cuts through the middle of Norsewood – it previously wound up and around Lower and Upper Norsewood – isolating the little town from the main flow of traffic.

Dannevirke, always the larger settlement of the two, has fared better and is a busy little provincial town. Two recent earthquakes removed or caused to be removed some of the older buildings, one of the best known being Andrew’s Hotel. The locals are now very keen to get the Danish flavour back into the town and are planning new facades and names for the buildings.

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Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark visited the town for a few hours on 12 February 1987 amid much happiness and celebrations. A proud moment in history for all of Scandinavian descent and particularly those of Danish descent.

SCANDINAVIAN NAMES

As in many countries sons took their father’s name with an addition to it in this instance ‘son’ or ‘sson’ or ‘sen’ the former usually Swedish and the ‘sen’ usually Danish or Norwegian. Datter or dotter means daughter ie Hansdatter.

Many of the names have been anglicised – Andersen becoming Anderson, Hansen – Hanson; Johansen – Johnston or Johnson being the more obvious ones.

It was sometimes the Scandinavian custom for sons to adopt as their surname their father’s christian name with the suffix of sen or son added. This meant the sons had a different surname from their father eg Halvor Nielsen’s son Thor would be known as Thor Halvorsen which could cause much confusion when researching your family tree.

There were five Andreas Olsens either on the same ship or living in Norsewood at the same time. To overcome the name problem each man was known by his trade. There was Carpenter Olsen, Painter Olsen, Tinsmith Olsen, Blacksmith Olsen and probably Baker Olsen.

Some of the immigrants took as their surnames the name of the farm, village or area from whence they came.

In Mauriceville many inhabitants were bestowed with nicknames usually descriptive but not always complimentary thus Big Peter, Little Peter, Black Peter, Fighting Peter, and Peter Everyday so named because[d] he turned up for work everyday whatever the weather.

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THE NAMES OF THE SCANDINAVIAN SETTLEMENTS

The areas settled by the Scandinavians in the Wairarapa were: Mellemskov meaning the Heart of the Forest and now called Eketahuna.

Mauriceville, not as well-known as Norsewood or Dannevirke, was more compact in size and perhaps the largest population wise of all the settlements being named after the then Minister of Immigration The Honourable George Maurice O’Rouke [O’Rorke]

A German, Sven Dryer, who had lived in Scandinavia before coming to New Zealand at the start of the 1860’s was naturalised in 1865. He had an excellent command of his own, the Scandinavian and the English languages and acted as interpreter for the Mauriceville camp. The area in which he lived became known as Dreyerto(w)n but is now known as Kopuranga.

Norsewood is so called because, being covered in bush it was reminiscent of the Norwegian forests.

The Work of the Danes or Danevirk is appropriate to the achievements of the early settlers to Dannevirke as well as being an historical and sentimental link with their homeland. Sometimes spelt Danevirke or Danevirk in the early years of settlement it commemorates a great wall erected in the ninth century across the neck of Slesvig as a defence against an attack from Germany. The corporation seal of the former borough of Dannevirke is a representation of the ancient Danevirk surmounted by the Danish flag.

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APPENDIX 1:   REPORTS FROM THE APPENDICES TO THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (AJHR)

In early days much of the Government correspondence of the day was recorded in these volumes. Volume D refers to Public Works and Immigration and contains accounts of many voyages of immigrant ships.
The letter reprinted below refers to the use of the Hovding (referred to incorrectly as Hodvig) for bringing the Norwegians to New Zealand.

THE AGENT-GENERAL to the Hon. the COLONIAL SECRETARY.
No. 244.
SIR, – 1st May, 1872.

I have the honour to inform you that I have arranged with the firm of Messrs. Galbraith, Stringer, and Co., for the despatch of a vessel from Christiania direct to Napier on or about the 1st of June, with Norwegian emigrants.

The ship, the Hodvig, capable of carrying 350 adults will, I understand, take out 325.

The Provincial Government of Hawke’s Bay has requested me to send out, during the current emigration season, 300 Scandinavian families, equivalent in round numbers to at least 1,200 souls, with a view of forming a special settlement at the Rua Taniwha, or in the Seventy-Mile Bush.

Should I succeed in inducing Messrs. Galbraith, Stringer, and Co. to lay on two other vessels direct, I feel confident of being able to send out the number applied for; but if I am obliged to bring them up to and finally embark them at London, the number may fall short of that desired, for the expense of the voyage to London is an important consideration with the Norwegian emigrants, and the Emigration Agents, if connected with the shipping, are naturally anxious to send them direct in vessels either owned by themselves or for loading which they obtain a commission, and therefore have not the same interest in procuring emigrants to be embarked at London.

The employment of foreign shipping for the conveyance of emigrants must be regarded as an experiment as far as New Zealand is concerned, which may or may not be successful. But it is worth trying for the following amongst other reasons:-

The emigrants themselves prefer embarking at a port in their own country, and in a ship belonging to their country and