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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Papanui

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Papanui.

Papanui is associated with much that was characteristic of the early days of colonisation. In January, 1852, the country north of the Avon was in its native state. There were no bridges, and the river had to be forded. The banks, afterwards partially levelled, were covered with a thick growth of flax, toitoi, and tutu, intermingled with high ferns. Vegetation was luxuriant, and the varied colours of the grass and foliage had a pleasant effect on the eye. After crossing the Avon there was only a Maori track in a northerly direction to Papanui, where there was a bush of about seventy acres, consisting chiefly of white and red pine and totara. The track passed through high ferns and tussock, and the land, which was fairly level, literally swarmed with native quail, which were then so plentiful that a traveller or settler could shoot as many as he wished to, and very often his dog provided him with a dinner. If a settler wished in those days to take a bullock dray to Papanui, he had to make a wide detour to the west, to head the springs and creek now flowing through Mr. G. G. Stead's property at Strowan. Many a team got bogged in the locality. When that part of his journey had been accomplished, the teamster steered eastward until he hit the track again in the neighbourhood now known as Norman's Road. At Bligh's Road treacherous ground was again reached; and, indeed, the surrounding country then consisted chiefly of an almost impassable swamp, practically bottomless, for the purposes of the teamster. Only an expert bullock driver, with a team well under command, could hope to take even a small load of timber from the bush, and even he would think himself fortunate if he succeeded in landing his load in Christchurch the same evening. The first house of any importance erected at Papanui was one brought out from England in 1851 by the Rev. G. Dunnage. It formed an excellent landmark, and stood on the site now occupied by Mr. H. Tisch's residence. Another house, brought out in 1851 in the ship “Fatima” by Mr. Green, is still standing opposite to the Papanui hotel. The cartage of goods from the Ferry Road wharf to Papanui cost £2 10s per ton in those days. The driver of the team most in use was a character—a coloured man named Black Jim. He was an expert teamster, and equally proficient in the use of the blasphemies which were supposed to be better understood by oxen than the phraseology of the drawing room. Jim afterwards came to an evil end in Victoria through his inability to distinguish between meum and tuum, but that was not to be wondered at, as those who knew him as a teamster between Papanui and Christchurch were, though well-minded men, unable to think of him as far removed from the level of his team. In 1852 almost the only residents at Papanui were sawyers, a hard-working, but free-living, lot of men. Even in those days a public-house was deemed a necessity, and an American named Carr opened and kept what he called the Sawyers' Arms, where doubtless he reaped a rich harvest from the patronage of his customers. The late Mr. W. G. Brittan owned part of the Papanui bush, and it was he who presented the Church of England with timber for its local building. In 1853 the Rev. R. R. Bradley became the first resident clergyman, and he afterwards assured a friend that his remuneration at first averaged barely six shillings a day. Even up to the year 1860 portions of the track beyond Papanui, towards the Styx, were almost impassable for heavy loads, owing to the swampy nature of the ground. The bush swarmed at times with kakas and native pigeons, and it was no unusual thing for settlers to shoot paradise ducks, grey ducks, and teal from the verandahs of their houses. It indeed seems a long way back to those times from these days of railways, tram services, bicycles, and other luxurious modern conveniences.

Papanui Hotel (William A. Lawrence, proprietor), Papanui. This hotel is situated at the junction of the Papanui, the Main North, and the Harewood Roads, the terminus of the Papanui-Christchurch tram line, the terminus of the Belfast-Papanui coach service, and close to the railway station. Persons intending to be passengers by the early morning train for the north find excellent accommodation at the hotel, which is well appointed in every particular. The bar has an excellent stock of all the best brands of liquors; the billiard room is fitted with one of Alcock's latest tables, and for those who prefer outdoor recreation there is an ideal quoit ground near the orchard, which covers one acre, in well laid out grounds. One feature of the hotel is the skittle alley, which, although not so well patronised now as in former years, when many a keenly contested battle was fought there, still affords pleasure to those patrons of the hotel who take an interest in this once fashionable pastime. There is also a large stable with excellent accommodation for horses. Mr. William Lawrence, father of the present proprietor, bought the hotel from the late Mr. Meddings, who had bought the building from the Rev. Mr. Bradley, for whom it had been erected as a parsonage. Mr. Lawrence, senior, arrived in New Zealand in 1862.

William A. Lawrence, Proprietor of the Papanui Hotel, corner of Harewood and North Roads, was born in 1862 at Ferrymeade, and was educated partly at Papanui and afterwards at Melville House. He was first engaged in business as clerk to Mr. P. Cunningham, at Timaru, and later on with Mr. Evans of that town. In 1882 he returned to Christchurch and joined the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, with which he remained for eleven years, after which he was connected with the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company. On leaving that company in 1897 he took over the license of the Papanui Hotel.

Derrett, Henry John, Produce and General Merchant, Papanui. Mr. Derrett is a native of Newport, Monmouthshire, England, and, as a child, arrived with his parents in New Zealand in 1858, by the ship “Roehampton,” which landed at Lyttelton. He was brought up and educated in Christchurch and followed pastoral pursuits for some years. Mr. Derrett established his present successful buiness at Papanui about twenty years ago. He has taken an active interest in the Papanui Public Library, and was for a number of years a member of the managing committee. Mr. Derrett was elected to the Riccarton Road Board in 1895, when he served for two years. After an interval he was again elected, and is one of the present members of the Board.

Taylor, Joseph, Wairarapa Farm, Papanui. Mr. Taylor was born near Worksworth, Derbyshire, England, and was the page 413 eldest son of the late Mr. Joseph Taylor, of Ashley Hay. He passed his early years on his father's farm, which had been in the family's possession for over two hundred years. In 1862 he came to New Zealand in the ship “Captain Cook,” and turned his attention to contracting. He imported carts and harness from England, and did a lot of work in and around Christchurch in forming streets and roads for the Leeston, Riccarton, Avon, Heathcote, Cust, Kowai, and Waipara Road Boards. He also constructed the embankments on the banks of the Waimakariri to keep that river from overflowing the adjoining country. Mr. Taylor entered into large contracts with the Provincial Government, for which he did the forming and claying at the Kaiapoi station yard in 1872, and then the ballasting and platelaying from Selwyn to Rakaia. He also constructed the Whitecliffs line, and built the bridge over the Hawkins, between Rangiora and Oxford. In 1866 Mr. Taylor bought his present homestead of 116 acres at Papanui, and in 1875 the first portion of what is now known as the Dovedale estate at Waipara. “Dovedale” consists of 3700 acres of limestone formation, admirably adapted for fattening stock. Heavy and light horses are bred on the estate, and in light horses, Mr. Taylor favours the Arab strain. He has a small flock of English Leicesters, which was established in 1888 with sheep purchased from the late Mr. Robert Wilkin, and descended from Mr. Every Maclean's flock. Whenever he has exhibited, Mr. Taylor has carried away a goodly share of of the honours. He has served on the road board and school committee, and is also a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and is often in request as a judge. Mr. Taylor was married, in 1869, to Miss Ashworth, and has five sons and three daughters.

E. E. Wright, photo. Scene on the Heathcote.

E. E. Wright, photo.
Scene on the Heathcote.