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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 1, Issue 2, November 1982

Dr. David Monro – Landowner 1848

page 54

Dr. David Monro – Landowner 1848

[Dr Monro had bought three sections of land before he left Scotland, he had also bought sheep in Australia and was anxious to get them on to his rural land. As soon as country acres were allotted he set out to take one thousand sheep to his station, Bankhouse, in the Wairau. It was fortunate that the weather was favourable when he set out in March 1848. He described the trip in a letter to a sister in Scotland:]

"I had about 1,000 sheep and five men with me and two horses with baggage…The Pass through the mountain chain from this side into the Wairau is ten miles long and wooded throughout. This is the worst part of the road. We entered the dark, gloomy forest at sunrise and did not get on the other side until just as the sun was going down." [He describes the awful track with its network of roots, steep ascents and descents and rushing streams. The scene made a great impression on him:] "When I went through the wood there was a splendid halloo and echo. The sheep marching along nearly in single file, stretched themselves out for about half a mile. The men shouted, the dogs barked, the sheep baa-ed, the trees multiplied and reverberated every sound, and I sang, as my ability and the small amount of breath in my body allowed me." [The view when they were through the Pass and looked down on a blue glen backed by forested mountains was grand. In the grassy valley of the Wairau they enjoyed their pot of tea and supper and slept "like dormice". The only other trouble was the crossing of two "rapid and considerable rivers". The remainder of the journey contained no difficulties, and the flock arrived with "no loss to speak of".] (Abridged from a letter quoted in Thoroughly a Man of the World by R. E, Wright-St Clair.)

[The search for a better route went on. Surveyors and explorers made journeys in search of the easier and shorter route that they thought must exist. Always it was the same story – the track would be too steep ever to become a dray road. The most favoured was the Maungatapu route to be used by many diggers when gold was discovered in the Wakamarina and to be made famous by the murders. Horses could be taken over it and in November 1863 Monro took his wife Ninna and daughter Georgie (then about 16) on horseback to the Wairau. A packhorse, led by Monro carried the baggage.]

March 19, 1863. Up in good time but the weather somewhat dubious, a shower fell and I thought we would have to give up for the day. However, it looked better and we got off about 10. Everything went very well. The young horse led well and the pack horse rode steadily – on the top of the Mokitap I tied up the leading rein and after that he followed famously. At the fern patch near the foot of the hill we had a snack. Got as far as the Pelorus bridge all right, but after that poor Nina began to knock up very much and when she got to Wilsons she was dreadfully tired. Georgie was quite fresh. Got Nina to bed as soon as possible. Barring fleas the bed was comfortable and clean.

March 20, Friday. A wet day but no great hindrance for Nina is so tired that we should have had to stop at any rate. Mrs Wilson was very civil and made some nice chicken broth for Nina. In the afternoon she got up and was better. About sundown the rain ceased and we had a calm night.

March 21. A grey morning with promise of a fine day. Packed up and got off about nine. Nina now almost restored. Paid Wilson his bill, 2 pound 12 shillings, his charges are high. On through the Kaituna, the day having brightened up beautifully. Met an old Mr Stewart and afterwards Conrad page 55Saxton. Stopped by a nice stream and had something to eat. About 4 we reached Mailers. I went to Davis to enquire about the river and ascertained that it was high. Finding that Davis sold no grog and could make us pretty comfortable decided to stop there all night and accordingly we went there. Had a very good bed and slept soundly. Mrs Davis is a tidy little woman. The horses also had plenty of good oaten hay. Paid Davis bill, 1 pound seven shillings.

March 22. Sunday. After breakfast got the horses in, fed them and packed up. Davis accompanied us and we crossed the river, by this time run down almost to its lowest level. Once on the other side we went on briskly. Went round by Renwick town and got to Alexander's about 1. [Alexander Binning Monro who managed Valleyfield was a nephew of Dr David Monro. While at the Wairau Monro spent time attending to business to do with his estate Bankhouse and made a trip to Picton.]

March 23. I rode across in the morning to Bankhouse and saw Mackay. They are threshing oats there. In the afternoon drove in the trap to Blenheim. [Where they stayed.]

March 24. Tuesday. A most lovely day, one of the finest I ever saw in New Zealand. The air as soft as silk, the light glorious and the temperature everything that could be desired…We ordered the trap and started for Picton. The Picton road is in very good order. Ninna enjoyed the drive very much, the descent from the saddle into Picton looked particularly beautiful with the blue waters of the Sound among the wooded hills.

March 25. An important day for Marlborough - the day of the meeting of their council and election of Superintendent. We all of us including the ladies went down to witness the proceedings. There was an expectation of a bit of discord but it all went off very smoothly and tamely and Mr Carter was elected.

March 29. In the afternoon the Wanga came in and we heard of more troops going to Taranaki.

March 30. Returned to Blenheim and to Valleyfield. Over to Bankhouse.

April 2. Out on Alexander's horse, Punch, looking for horses. [It was usual to turn horses loose and let them find their own grazing.] 1 went up the Omaka and along the low hills. In a gully at the foot of the high hills I found Ferryman and Poppet and shortly afterwards, not far from Fraser's house I found the other three. I caught Primrose and exchanged her for Punch whom I liberated. (Met Ninna in Alexander's trap and went on to Benhopai.) We found Mr and Mrs Watts there and Kate Otterson. It is really a wonderful place considering its out-of-the-way position. The bedroom we were put into was like a bedroom in an English country house with every comfort about it and the house is in keeping with it generally. The garden too is in excellent order.

April 3. After breakfast one of Canning's horses was put in Alexander's trap and Ninna and Mrs Canning drove up to the Waihopai Gorge. There is a much better view of it than the point from which I took it. [Monro was a keen photographer.] After looking at the gorge we got back in time for dinner and immediately afterwards we started home [to Valleyfield] in company with Mr and Mrs Watts. At the shearing shed Alexander and 1 changed places, he getting on to Primrose to look for horses about Frasers, I driving the trap. We got home abou: dusk and not long afterwards Alexander brought the horses down which were put in the paddock.

page 56

April 6. Up early this morning and got horses ready and pack on. Georgie rode Primrose and Prince followed. I rode Ferryman and led Traveller. Alexander very obligingly put his horses into the trap to drive Ninna as far as he could. At Renwicktown old White joined us and we went together. The Wairau River was a little bit up but we got over quite comfortably and we went on as far as Alexander's trap could go, where we stopped and had something to eat. Said goodbye to Alexander who returned. On to Wilson's which we reached about 5 just as heavy rain set in. Fed the horses, but there being no stable the poor creatures had to "bide the pelting of the pitiless storm". Thousands of mosquitos at Wilsons and very little sleep.

April 7. Breakfast and off by 9…Paid bill, one pound eighteen and six, and off. Stopped at the Tinline and had a snack. Got over the Mokitap comfortably. In the Matai Valley stopped ¼ of an hour for another snack and on briskly to Nelson which we reached about ½ past 4 and went to Hamilton Villa. Next day to Bearcroft [Waimea West]. – (From Monro Diary 1863, Nelson Provincial Museum.)

[Of course there remained the original means of transport, by sea. The first surveyors went by boat, as did the ill-fated expedition to defend the Wairau against Te Rauparaha – some of the survivors made their way back by the Tophouse route to be found, ill and starving, some thirty miles from Nelson (see the Three Ordeals of John Kidson, Journal Vol. 3 No. 3). Lack of space forces us to leave our diaries of sea travellers till the next number.1