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Annandale Past and Present 1839-1900

Chapter XX. — Sowing and Reaping

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Chapter XX.
Sowing and Reaping.

Mrs. Hay bore her great sorrow with fortitude, nerving herself to face the future with courage and calmness for the sake of her family. There was much to be done, and they must do it—God helping them—to the best of their ability. How much they missed the strong, capable spirit, the guide and head of the home, in the storm that still circled round them, threatening financial ruin, could only be realised by the elder members of the family, who, with their mother, had to take upon their shoulders the burden of the fight. James was 22½, Tom 21, and Willie 18 when they had to take up the business of life and carry out their father's plans as well as they could in their youth and inexperience of the world's ways. They were heavily handicapped, owing to the pecuniary loss they had sustained; but being all endowed with energy and determination, they set themselves to the work that lay before them.

A few weeks after Mr. Hay's death the Marshall case came on, and we know how it ended. That being over they had no more dread of law-suits for that time; the other parties got a check when. Hay Brothers won in page 220Marshall's suit. This was by no means the last of their fire troubles, however: they themselves lost repeatedly through the fires of neighbours in future years—both sheep and fencing but they never sued for damages, though more than once they had cause enough. Again, years afterward, they were defendants in fire cases, some of the parties who, caused the loss of their sheep and fencing and others, being plaintiffs. None of these cases, however, trying as they were, between neighbours who had formerly
First Photograph of Pigeon Bay — from Annandale

First Photograph of Pigeon Bay — from Annandale

got on amicably, were fraught with consequences so disastrous as the first two, which bound in chains of fiery trial the last months of their father's life.

Onwards from 1863 for several years there was little to break the monotony of work, except the variety of it. Yet, though busy years, they were happy ones, for the family were united and contented, proving the truth of the Proverb—"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." As time wore on they began to carry on work on more extended lines than formerly, as the property page 221became yearly capable of carrying more stock, and the changes in the markets necessitated an alteration of system. Mr. Hay had been in the habit of killing most of the young calves, so as not to impoverish the milk supply, cheese (especially "Port Cooper cheese," which included all the Peninsula dairies, and as a rule, topped the market) being such a good price at that time, that he considered it paid better to secure a quantity yearly, and only to rear sufficient calves to keep up the stock for dairy purposes. Now Hay brothers found it would pay them better to rear all the calves, and sell fat cattle or beef. They effected a sale of 50 fat bullocks soon after Mr. Hay's death, which realised £22 per head nett, after paying all expenses. They also killed cattle on the place, and disposed of them in the following manner:—they cut them into quarter's and sewed them up in bags; then sent them up to Lyttelton by a whale-boat in charge of Moses Barton paying him £1 per head for freight. Moses Barton was the man who brought the mails, which they now received once a week; he lived in Pigeon Bay at this time. They had the beef ready for him, and loaded his boat in the night, at whatever time Moses called out he was there, so that he could make a very early start for Lyttelton, unload his cargo of beef, and return with his mails at the usual time. Their most frequent course, however, latterly, was to sell the cattle alive, and drive them in mobs to Christchurch, a distance of 50 miles by road. These journeys usually occupied from three to four days. These satisfactory results soon induced them to deal more largely in fat stock, but they managed also to keep their cheese supply well up to its average.

We explained how Mr. Hay in former times managed his cropping and clearing in small lots at a time; but since the first rush of the diggings was over, potatoes became page 222low in price; they were grown so extensively on the plains, and with so much less labour, that Hay Brothers soon found their growth unprofitable. They also found that to make any progress in the clearing of their land a new departure had to he taken, and they were the first to commence "bush-felling" on an extensive scale on the Peninsula. The first contract they let was fifty acres at £5 per acre. They had great difficulty at first in getting the Maoris—or even white men to do this work; so accustomed were they to the old Maori ways, that even for this high pay they would scarcely begin so formidable a contract. Soon there were plenty of applicants for the work, and it was found remunerative enough to the men at less cost. Gradually the price came down to, £2 per acre, and now the rates range from that to £1—according to the nature of the bush to be cut down.

The first flock of sheep they had was bought from Mr. Buchanan, of Little River, 500 in number; these had been purchased and brought home in April, 1863, seven months before Mr. Hay's death. Their stocks of cattle and sheep were increased as their land was cleared and sown down in grass; but for many years they were very much retarded by the constant heavy outlay for bush-felling, fencing, etc. All the money they made was spent in clearing off by degrees the debt incurred by the law suit, and on improving the place, thereby increasing the value for the family when it came to be divided. At the time of Mr. Hay's death the area of Annandale was a little over 900 acres of freehold, besides which they held "pre-emptive right" over 2000 more, for which they paid a yearly rent of £1 per 100 acres. From time to time—as they could afford to do so—they bought in blocks of land, and when challenged, had the first chance of acquiring the Crown lands over which they held pre-emption. The price of page 223government land being now £2 per acre, it cost at least £3 more for bush-felling, burning, etc., before it was ready to fence.

Mr. Hay had always been favourable to the arrival of good settlers, and had given every encouragement and help to them. A very good history—in brief—of the progress of Pigeon Bay is given in "Tales of Banks Peninsula (Chap. 7, Pigeon Bay; pp. 231-237). The names of a few of the settlers are there given; but many more are not given, who have proved excellent colonists and neighbours. Some little time before Mr. Hay's death he bought two pounds of a new kind of grass-seed called "orchard grass," imported from Home by Mr. Wm. Wilson, seed merchant, of Christchurch, and recommended by him as likely to suit the soil and climate of New Zealand. It was sold at 2s. 6d. per pound. Mr. Hay had tried it and found it suitable, and, shortly before he died, had sown a paddock with it, and saved some of the seed for future use. The volcanic soil of the Peninsula was found to be peculiarly adapted for the maturing of this seed. It was easy almost anywhere to grow the grass, but to procure good, clear seed was not so easy. Hay Brothers began to sow more of this grass each year as they cleared their land, till the best of their pasture land was laid down with it. They found it sweet and wholesome for stock, and were pleased to discover that its "holding" qualities were equally satisfactory. It exterminated other grasses in a very short time, as they proved by many experiments. They naturally expatiated to their friends and neighbours on its excellent qualities for pasturage, quoting their own experiences, and soon found they could profitably grow a crop for sale. Their first sale of it brought 10d. per pound, and one year after its general introduction they sold 70 tons at 8d. per pound.

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Thus was begun the "cocksfoot" cultivation in New Zealand—so called because of its shape; it now knows no other name. It is now, and has been ever since its introduction, the staple industry, in conjunction with dairying of the Peninsula farmers; and it seems fitting that the fair fields on which it first flourished should still yield abundant harvests. Its cultivation is now universal on runs and pastoral country throughout New Zealand; but the farmers of arable land do not care to cultivate it for the simple reason that it takes possession of the soil, and refuses to be killed, even with the plough.

At first they were at a loss to know how to harvest this grass-seed, and have some amusing recollections of their early in-gatherings, when they bound it in sheaves and "stooked" (Anglicé stacked) it Ayrshire fashion of fifty years ago. Sown, as it was, broadcast among stumps and stones on the rough hillsides, there could be only one way of cutting it: viz., with the reap-hook, and experience soon taught them the present simple plan of laying it down in bundles to dry, then threshing it with a Hail on a cloth. For some years after the introduction of this grass-seed industry Hay Brothers had to work harder than ever—if possible. They sowed it so extensively on the run and all over their place, that the labour of harvesting it became a Herculean one, especially when—as frequently happened—they had difficulty in getting men for the harvest season. One year, being unable to get men for love or money, they had to cut and thresh all their grass-seed themselves, in addition to their other work, which in itself was enough for them. Their day's work then extended longer than from "sun to sun," for they got up at 3 a.m., and after breakfast set off to their reaping, not to return till 8 or 9 p.m., when, after a well-earned supper, they retired to rest for five hours! They took their day's supply of food with them, or it was sent to them where they worked.

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Such a state of things, however, could not last. As they extended their operations in so many other ways, it became impossible to overtake in one summer the actual labour involved. It is now many years since Hay Brothers gave up saving their grass-seed for sale, partly for the above reasons, but chiefly because they thought it better to cease competing with those around them who depended mainly upon the grass harvest for their nearly income.

Annandale—First Barn, 1865.

Annandale—First Barn, 1865.

As soon as their land was cleared they sowed it dlown, piece by piece, with "cocksfoot." Every year, as the contracts for bush-felling and burning were finished, the land was laid down with seed. The sowing was always done by Hay Brothers themselves, and when long continued was arduous work, most of the country being steep and rough, especially on the runs and higher hills. The great advantage of this grass-seed is its suitability to rough as well as smooth country, and the fact that once sown it needs no further care, but grows luxuriantly year after year.

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We have endeavoured in this chapter to give some idea of the work Hay Brothers had to do on Annandale Estate from the time of their father's death, when they had to take the entire responsibility themselves. The dairy which was carried on under Hannah's superintendence after she left school was in itself heavy enough, 40 to 60 cows being milked twice daily, each member of the family and servants taking fair shares. It can be understood, without saying, that the domestic department was no more of a sinecure than the out-door one, during the years of cheese-making especially, and with servants at a premium. The four daughters had all to take their share of domestic duty, even during school years, when at home; and they had the great advantage of gaining in this way a thorough practical training from the best of mother's.

Hannah and Agnes were sent for a year to a boarding-school, as a wind-up to their school life. According to the prospectus, the establishment excelled in every department of education, with all the "home comforts" added thereto. Though its vaunted excellence was a fairy-tale, and its "comforts" equally unsubstantial, yet the girls, who had been thoroughly grounded by Mr. Fitzgerald, benefited by the year spent in town, their naturally quick perceptions being sharpened and their shyness worn off. That sums up the advantages derived from the "Select Ladies Seminary" of those days.

About the year 1860 the first steamer was put on for the weekly mail-trip. She was a tug-boat called the "Planet," slow but sure, and thought much of, if only as an advance on the whaleboat. After a time she came twice a week, carrying mails and passengers. In course of time the "Planet" gave place to the "Betsy Douglas," which in her turn was followed by the "Halcyon." This smart little steamer held the running for several years. She was built page 227out of the remains of H.M.S. "Orpheus," which was wrecked some years ago on the bar of Manukau Harbour, with a loss of 400 lives. In 1875 the "Halcyon" was superseded by a larger boat, built specially for the trade—the "Akaroa"—which ran thrice weekly. We have not since then advanced any further towards a daily mail service, although the steamer has been changed more than once. The "Banks Peninsula," a fine large steamer, was sent from Glasgow—where it was built—but was found to be too expensive for the Company, and was succeeded by the "Jane Douglas," which, in conjunction with the "John Anderson" for the other Bays, has held the Peninsula trade for many years.*

The timber and firewood trades continued to flourish for many years, and numerous sailing crafts shared the trading with the steamers. Of late years the timber trade on the Peninsula has almost ceased, and even the firewood, once so abundant, is fast becoming a thing of the past.

Alas for the primeval forests of New Zealand! their loveliness has had to be sacrificed to utility in the forward march of civilization. In the midst of the approaching Canterbury Jubilee rejoicings over the progress made in our wonderful little country during the last 50 years, how few will give a thought to all that has been lost to us in that time! The decadence of the "noble savage," whose chiefs once ruled the land, with their romantic legends of the dim past, their all but lost arts—as beautiful as they are rare—how soon will they become effaced as completely as the giant chiefs of the forest that once crowned our hills and covered our valleys with verdant beauty. If the "Beautifying Association of Canterbury," that has lately taken the matter in hand, can only conserve for the coming page 228generations some remnants of the grand natural bush of New Zealand, it will deserve the honour and fame that will be lavished upon it by our grateful posterity, who will have learned the value of the things that are passing away.

"Sir transit gloria mundi!"

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Old Hotel—School, Old Jetty—Annandale, 1869

Old Hotel—School, Old Jetty—Annandale, 1869

* In 1900 Messrs. Pitcaithly, Wallace and Co. put on a larger and a better steamer, the "Cygnet" for our mail and passenger service.