Crossing on Horseback

It was not long before the trails became horse tracks, the bush was cut back and travellers could ride and loads be carried by pack horses. Many horses developed an uncanny skill in crossing rivers, but it was still dangerous. Harry Louis Moffat, in his reminiscences speaks of "the melancholy task of looking for the body of a close relative (his brother) in the Matakitaki River." The horse had crossed safely, but slipped when climbing out on a steep and muddy track.

Christopher Holloway, visiting New Zealand in 1874 to assess its farming potential, describes his experience. He had a tiring day in the saddle riding from Murchison to Kerr's Lake Station via the Mangles, Lake Rotoroa and the Porika Track. At last they reached the Howard River, where his guide admitted that he really did not know where the ford was. However he blithly said, "Give the Doctor (the horse) his head and I will follow you over." Holloway was not too happy about it but they crossed safely. It had rained all day and he was glad indeed when they saw the lights of Lake Station where they were hospitably received. (Typescript Alexander Turnbull Library.)

About the same time, a little later in the year 1874, a lady, who had lately arrived from England rode from Foxhill to the Maruia with George Moonlight and his packhorse team. They came down the Buller, to the Owen and on to the Long Ford. The Buller was in flood and it was too high to cross, so they had to return to the Accommodation House at the Owen. After three days they returned to the ford and Moonlight decided to drive his pack team over, if they crossed safely he could also. The team managed to cross though the current took them half a mile down the river. "It was a most peculiar sensation when the horse's feet left the ground and it commenced to swim," wrote the lady. (Quoted by Ella Matthews in "Yesterdays in Golden Buller" 1957).

One of the saddest stories was of the drowning of the Hon. Constantine Dillon. The Nelson Examiner, 23 April, 1853, records that he was drowned on the previous Saturday. N. G. Morse, a man named Pasley and Dillon's young son were in the party who attempted to cross the Wairau opposite Manuka Island. As his son was riding a small pony, Dillon put him on his horse and said he would lead the pony across. Although Morse objected and offered to bring his horse back, Dillon was determined to cross on foot, he would hold on to Pasley's stirrup. As they crossed the horse became fidgetty and both men rolled over the edge of the nearby falls into deep water. Pasley managed to reach the horse and, holding on to him, to gain the bank. It was thought that Dillon was kicked by the horse and stunned. His body was found two days later and there was general mourning throughout the colony.