THE DAYS THAT ARE PAST

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3241, 10 June 1911, Page 11

THE DAYS THAT ARE PAST

A VISITOR’S REMINISCENCES.

PRESENT DAY IMPRESSIONS.

AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS’ ABSENCE.

Mr.'John Heslop, a well-known Taranaki settler, who is- at present visit- ( ing Gisborne, as the guest of Mr. H. J. Day, and who spent some time in this district during the year 1879, when approached 'by a “Times” reporter last evening, spoke enthusiastically of the progress made in this district since last he saw it. In regard to the town, Mr. Heslop says that the transformation is so great as to be inexpressible. At the time of his visit there was only one hotel and one store, besides a few scattered dwellings. This was immediately after the Te Kooti massacre, and a great many people from the country districts were in town, and the fear that the chief would descend on Gisborne was openly expressed. In this connection Mr. Heslop related an .incident which occurred to him at that time. The late Mr. Kempthorne was among the settlers who sought the shelter of the town, and he desired to return and muster his sheep. A party, of which Mr. Heslop was a member, accompanied Mr. Kempthorne on this errand, and ifc was while mustering that the incident mentioned occurred. The party had separated, and each member was moving in a different direction alone. Mr. Heslop was riding along the foot of a hill towards Mr. Kempthorne’s woolshed, when he was startled by two dogs rushing out from behind the shed. As no one belonging to the station had been there for some days, and as it was thought that Te Kooti was still in the district, he naturally concluded that there were, members of the chief’s party in the vicinity. ' He signalled to some of his companions, who had come into view, to come up, and they had surrounded the woolshed. As they drew in on the building traces of a fire were discovered, and also the remains of what had apparently been a feast, and it was on this that the dogs had been feeding when they were disturbed.

“There was no bank in Gisborne at that time,” continued Mr. Heslop, and the main currency consisted of cheques by Captain Reid, who was then “king of Gisborne.” Shipping in those days was very rare, and the only regular trading, vessel was a small schooner named the “'Colonist,” which used to trade between here and Napier, while a small Government steamer called here occasionally. “Throughout my travels in the country,” said Mr. Heslop, “I have seen many imitations of the Maori war dance, but I may safely say that the only time l ever saw the real thing was while in Gisborne. Some 500 Maoris from the Coast were in town, and they danced in front of the hotel. They made the ground fairly shake, and presented a magnificent spectacle.” Regarding the country districts, Mr. Heslop states that he had visited certain parts of the, district during the past few days, and spoke in particular of the Patutahi flats.

“Personally,” he said, “I think that land is .unequalled in the Dominion. The soil is of fine substance, and its cropping qualities are great.” Continuing, Mr. Heslop said: “I attended the stock sale the other day, and was very much impressed with the cheapness of stock generally. On the average the stock was very good, but nevertheless it sold cheaper than was the case at Hawera; Wanganui, or Whangarei. all of which places he had recently visited. Asked if he thought that this district could compete with Taranaki in the dairying industry, Mr. Heslop replied: “There is no reason whatever why it should not. The land surrounding the town, would make admirable dairying pasture, and I "do not see why this district should not become a large butter exporter. You are unfortunate in certain of your roads, and roads are alwavs an important factor in a dairying district, on account of the rush to get to the factories. . The carts used in most cases 'have fairly narrow tyres, and these cut up the roads terribly unless a first-class sample of metal is used. Some people have, argued that you cannot make good butter without gravel or metal, and in some degree they were right, but. in some places dairy farmers are going in for the home separator, and this was proving advantageous in districts where the roads, were bad. A great many people argue that good butter could not be made by this method, but that they are mistaken was demonstrated at the recent winter show in Auckland', when a sample of butter made from home separator cream, had secured the highest award.” '

“Sneaking of roads reminds me,” Mr. Heslop went on to say, “of a proposal once made in Gisborne. In view of the bad state of the main road it was proposed to roof in the road from here to Waei’enga-afliika. This, it was contended, would protect the road, and the rain water would supply the town. This novel proposal was really made. I can vouch for it.” Mr. Heslop leaves for Napier to-mor-row on his return to his heme'.