Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Tales of Banks Peninsula

[No.] 30—Mr. William Coop

page 239

[No.] 30—Mr. William Coop.

One of the men who did most to promote settlement at Little River was the late Mr. Coop, of "Springvale," Little River. Born in Bury, Lancashire, in 1832, and educated at Radcliffe Private School, Mr. Coop came out with his family to Melbourne in 1854, and worked in a lead pipe and corrugated iron works started by his father, and still carried on at Melbourne by a branch of the Coop family. The fumes upset him so much that he left the work, and finally came over to New Zealand in 1862 to go to the Otago gold diggings, Landing in Dunedin he was so disgusted at having a fortnight's rain that he came up to Canterbury, where he went to see Mr. Bealey. Mr. Bealey, knowing Mr. Coop was a millwright by profession, told him of the Little River bush, and introduced him to Mr. William White. The two decided to go into partnership to work a mill at Little River, and Mr. Coop went back to Melbourne in the latter end of 1862 to get the plant together. He bought the 32 h.p, engine, which may still be seen near the Little River railway station, and had it brought over on the deck of a White Star liner, which was coming over for wool. Mr. Coop's troubles only began when the engine was got to Lyttelton. Of course, there was no tunnel and no wharf at Lyttelton, and the only way to manage the situation was to ship the engine round in some craft to Sumner. No craft could be procured to take the engine round, though they were offered up to £200 to take it there, In the end Mr. Coop found a brig ready to take it, and it was brought to Sumner for £40. and landed without any mishap. The brig was found only in time, as the liner had threatened to drop the engine into the harbour unless it was removed in a few days time. Mr. Coop's troubles with the engine did not end here, as can be imagined when one realises the country over which the machine had to be taken. Bullocks were used to draw the engine and plant The Halswell River had to have a trestle bridge put across it to get the engine over, and it was no light job to get it aoross Price's Valley, which was page 240practically swamp ground. Planks had to be put down and crab winches used Mr. Coop was not a man to be daunted by difficulties, and he got the engine and plant fixed up and mill built in September, 1863. On arrival at Little River Mr. Coop found that the timber ended at the point where the Recreation Ground stands, and he made an effort to build his mill there so as to be handy to the timber trees. However, the Maoris made strenuous objections and hindered him and his mates so much that in the end Messrs Coop and White bought the land opposite the present railway station, and built the mill there. They had tram lines built to carry down the trees to the mill. When the mill was fixed up there was no lack of material for it to work on. A tramway was made to Lake Forsyth. This carried the timber, which was punted over the small lake to Birdling's Flat. Here it was put on another tramway and conveyed to Lake Ellesmere, over which it was taken in punts and crafts to Hart's Creek, Leeston. At one time there were several vessels employed on the lake for this purpose. A steamer also was built at Stony Point. There is very little left now to remind one of these doings. A jetty is still standing, which runs into Lake Forsyth where the Christchurch Regatta used to be held. The tramway has disappeared almost entirely, though a few chains here and there can be seen along Birdling's Flat. The timber had to undergo a lot of handling, but the scarcity and the good price then ruling justified the labour. As may be supposed a great many men were at work in connection with this mill, and these, with their families, settled the place. The timber for the first Rakaia bridge was cut at the mill at 12s 6d per hundred feet, and the bridge decked with white pine. After ten years Mr. Coop dissolved partnership with Mr. White, and started a mill at "Springvale" in 1874, where he had bought 1600 acres. He had previously bought the block of land higher up the valley, which is still known as Coopbown. The Springvale mill was carried on up to 1904 with a break of some months in 1890, and the timber of the Oddfellows' Hall, Akaroa, the Akaroa County page 241Council Chambers, as well as for many local residences was out there. In 1897 Mr Coop died, leaving a family of eight sons and four daughters. Three sons settled on land about Little River, and the remainder are farming in other parts of New Zealand. In 1904 the sons moved the saw mill to Kaituna, where more timber was procurable, and the mill was worked there for a few years. At the present time, 1913, Mr J. 0. Coop, the eldest son, is having the plant brought baok to "Springvale," as he intends cutting some more timber there. The late Mr Coop combined farming with sawmilling, and went in extensively for cocksfoot growing for a number of years, starting as early as 1872. As fast as the land was cleared it was sown down in barley-grass and cocksfoot. His was a strenuous successful life, and he left a valuable estate to his children —an estate that was built up by great pluck and untiring industry.