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Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940

Chapter XV. — A Port Molyneux Diary

Chapter XV.
A Port Molyneux Diary.

  • 1774, March 4—Cook discovered Molyneux Harbour.

  • 1792-First sealing gang at Dusky Sound.

  • 1829-Shore whaling station established at Preservation.

  • 1830, January—Morrell visits Molyneux Harbour.

  • 1838—Whaling station at Molyneux.

  • 1839—In a whaleboat, William Palmer, whaler, ascends river as far as Tuapeka Mouth.

  • 1840, January—Tuhawaiki sells land to Jones in Sydney.

  • 1840, February 6—Treaty of Waitangi signed at Bay of Islands.

  • 1840, June 17—British sovereignty proclaimed at Stewart Island.

  • 1840, June 28—Willsher and companions, land at Willsher Bay.

  • 1843—Wairau affair in which Captain Wakefield and 21 other pakehas were killed.

  • 1844, May 6—Tuckett visits Molyneux to inspect land and harbour.

  • 1844, May 6—Barnicoat and Davis survey Molyneux Bay.

  • 1844, July—Colonel Wakefield and Clarke visit Karoro to define southern boundary of block.

  • 1844, July 31—Otago Block purchased.

  • 1846, May—Jollie, Wylie, and Mills survey South Molyneux Block.

  • 1847, April 16—Rev. C. Creed baptises five Maoris at Molyneux.

  • 1847, November 16—South Molyneux sections selected in Britain.

  • 1849, February 18—Cutter “Catherine Johnston” (10 tons) leaves Otago Harbour for Molyneux.

  • 1849, March—George Hay, with wife and family, arrive at Molyneux Bay in the “Jumping Jackass.”

  • 1849—Redpath settles on Inchclutha.

  • 1849—Mosleys settle at mouth of Clutha.

  • 1850—H.M.S. Acheron surveys the southern coast.

  • 1850—Archibald Anderson leased North Molyneux run. Edwin Meredith establishes sheep station at Otanomomo, and shears first sheep in district.

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  • 1851, February 8—Otago Witness first published.

  • 1852—James McNeil is first settler on present site of Balclutha.

  • 1852—McNeil brings two boats by sea from Dunedin to Port Molyneux and starts ferry at Balclutha.

  • 1852—Otago Provincial Council opened. Archibald Anderson elected Clutha representative.

  • 1853—Peter Ayson settles at Warepa.

  • 1854, February—Rev. W. Bannerman took over district south of Waihola Lake. First lived at Inchclutha.

  • 1854, March 19—First church service in South Otago at Mr. George Hay's residence, Hilly Park.

  • 1855—First private school opened at Warepa. Teacher, Mr. Waite.

  • 1855—Messrs. Shaw and Anderson elected to Provincial Council.

  • 1857—George Willsher takes up another 50 acres.

  • 1858—Thomas Redpath establishes at Otanomomo first store in Clutha district.

  • 1858—Alex. Grigor, first public school teacher, commences at Inchclutha.

  • 1857, January 17—Wreck of “Endeavour” at Molyneux.

  • 1857—First doctor in South Otago (Dr. Manning) settled at Warepa.

  • 1858, October 23—Molyneux coal successfully tried by Captain John McLean, s.s. “White Swan.”

  • 1859—Willsher sells fifty head of cattle at Balclutha.

  • 1861—Wreck of p.s. “Ada” at Molyneux. Three schooners also wrecked.

  • 1861—C. H. Kettle and T. B. Gillies elected M.H.R.'s for Bruce.

  • 1861—First punt put on ferry at Balclutha.

  • 1861, December 5—Port Molyneux declared a Port of Entry.

  • 1861, June 4—Gabriel Read reports the discovery of goldfield.

  • 1862, July 13—Andrew Wilson murdered at Molyneux.

  • 1863, April 30—Stern–wheel steamer “Tuapeka” launched at Port Chalmers. August 11—“Tuapeka” placed on Molyneux. Steamed up to Tuapeka Mouth.

  • 1863—Somervilles established flour mill at Waitepeka.

  • 1864, April 16—Bruce Herald issued.

  • 1864, May 19—Port of Molyneux declared a Warehousing Port, and one for the importation of tobacco.

  • 1864—Rev. James Kirkland commences preaching at Inchclutha.

  • 1864, July—Black sand on beach being worked for gold.

  • 1866—James Macandrew elected M.H. R. for Clutha.

  • 1866, January 10—Big flood in Clutha River.

  • 1866, May—Port Molyneux ceases to be a Port of Entry.

  • 1866—Somervilles, Waitepeka, operate first portable threshing mill.

  • 1866, September 10—Death of Thomas Russell at Dunedin.

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  • 1867, March 11—Loyal address read by Mr. George Hay to Sir George Grey on his visit to Port Molyneux.

  • 1867, April 11—Wreck of s.s. “South Australia” near Coal Point.

  • 1868, January 9—Clutha A. and P. Society first show.

  • 1868, October 8—Opening of traffic bridge at Balclutha.

  • 1869, March 9—Tender for Nuggets lighthouse accepted.

  • 1870, June 22—Gazette notice that Nuggets light will be exhibited from July 4, 1870.

  • 1871, February 1—J. W. Thomson succeeds Macandrew as M.H.R. for Clutha.

  • 1871, March 18—First sod Dunedin–Clutha Railway turned by Sir George Bowen at Kensington.

  • 1871, April 3—Steamer “Clutha” launched at Pomahaka.

  • 1872, April 29—Opening of Kaitangata coalmine.

  • 1874, January 1—Wreck of “Surat” at Catlins River.

  • 1874, July 9—Clutha Leader issued.

  • 1874, Otago District Engineer advises on Railway branch line to Port Molyneux.

  • 1875—Clutha River Conservators Board Act passed.

  • 1875, April 5—Launch of stern–wheel steamer “Balclutha” at Port Molyneux.

  • 1875, June 18—First sod Kaitangata Railway turned by Sir John Richardson.

  • 1875, September 1—Railway from Dunedin to Clutha River opened. S.S. “Balclutha” took passengers across river.

  • 1875, December 28—Wreck of “Lady of the Lake” at Campbell's Creek.

  • 1876, January 12—First meeting of Clutha River Board.

  • 1876, June 16—Kaitangata Branch Railway opened.

  • 1876, December 14—Matau bridge over Clutha opened.

  • 1878, July—Severest winter yet known in South Otago.

  • 1878, September 24—Balclutha flooded.

  • 1878, October 14—Clutha River Traffic Bridge destroyed in flood.

  • 1878—Railway Traffic Bridge completed

  • 1879, January 28—Official opening of Railway to Balclutha.

  • 1879, February 21—Disastrous explosion in Kaitangata mine. 34 killed.

  • 1881, November 14—New traffic bridge over Clutha River at Balclutha opened.

Erratum.

  • Page 34, line 32. For “mother” read “second wife.”

page 72

The Clutha County Council.

The Clutha County Council came into being on the passing of the Counties Act, 1876.

The first election of members took place on December 22, 1876.

Members Of First Council, 1876.

Waipahi Riding: F. W. Mackenzie. Richardson Riding: John McNeil. Clinton Riding: Jas. Scott. Pomahaka Riding: Wm. Dallas. South Molyneux Riding: Donald Henderson. Brugh Riding: Fitzclarence Roberts.

County Clerk: Wm. Henderson. County Engineer: Matthew Paterson.

Members Of Council, Centennial Year, 1940.

Catlins Riding: T. Maginness. Maclennan Riding: J. K. Ross. Clinton Riding: Adam T. Harris. Clydevale Riding: A. V. King. Clutha Riding: J. W. Dunn. Glenkenich: Robt. Brown. Pomahaka Riding: W. J. McKenzie. Richardson Riding: W. S. Thomson. South Molyneux Riding: A. McIntosh. Waipahi Riding: Jas. Cumming.

County Clerk: A. K. Baxter. County Engineer: A. C. McLay.