Stocking the Run.

A few weeks previously, Mr. W. W. Smith had brought up from Napier some flock ewes to stock the run. They were landed at the Point, and driven along the river-side up to a point between the present freezing works and Makaraka, where it was decided to erect the homestead. In those days the Taruheru was a wide, deep river, with a shingly beach on each side. These beaches were a favorite place with the Maoris, for the layer of sand hid literally millions of large and luscious pipis. Schooners from Sydney came right up to Makaraka, sailing all the way. They lay sometimes at anchor for weeks, waiting a cargo of wool and wheat, for the district grew much wheat on those days.

A little later the Parker family came up from Napier, and it was decided, instead of building a homestead, to lease a big house on the town side of the river belonging to Mr E. Espie's father. The building was on the bank of the river, not far from the Roseland gardens, and close to where the Roseland Hotel now stands. The property, as stated previously, was on the other side of the river, but access to the homestead was gained by means of a rope stretched on which settlers seated in page break page 89 a, canoe pulled themselves across. At that time there were only some twenty or thirty white people in Turanga, the majority of the people living out on the flats at Makaraka, the Resident Magistrate (Capt. R. Biggs) living at Matawhero.

Sir G. Whitmore.

Major Biggs.

Colonel Fraser.

Major Westrupp.