100 years ago — from our archives
Ploughing capability
THE ability of a youth of 15 to handle a plough cropped up during the hearing of an appeal by a reservist at a sitting of the Otago No. 2 Military Service Board at Gore on Thursday. An appellant was being questioned as to the ability of his younger brother, aged 15 years, to work a ploughing team, the witness being of the opinion that the lad was much too young for the job. This prompted Captain Barrett (the military representative) to remark that perhaps it was not generally known that one of the members of the board had handled a plough before he was 15 years of age and had actually gained first prize at a ploughing match at that age. Mr James Fleming (the member referred to) did not volunteer any information on the subject, but the statement is a fact nevertheless. Mr Fleming was a ‘‘tweeller’’ of no mean order, and has more than one first prize to his credit. The match referred to took place at Longbush (Southland) in the sixties, and the implement used was a swing plough, not a wheeled machine, such as is in use today, and those who have manipulated the former class of implement know that it requires both skill and strength to handle it successfully.
‘‘Bloody Jack’’
The Native Land Court, presided over by Judge Jones, has been dealing (says the Southland Times) with a dispute in reference to Ruapuke Island, where the notable Maori who was known as ‘‘Bloody Jack’’ had his house. ‘‘Bloody Jack’’ is said to have earned his unenviable nickname more from his liberal use of the adjective he had aptly learned from the pakeha and which he was wont to use on every possible occasion, whether appropriate or otherwise, rather than that he was possessed of any particularly bloodthirsty instinct. It was on Ruapuke that the Rev. Mr Wohlers landed in May, 1844, and founded a mission among some 200 inhabitants who were then little better than savages. He described the island as being ‘‘the residence of the distinguished people of the Maori race, and of the most exalted chieftains, and the centre and gathering place of the Maoris who were settled over the South Island.’’ Among these chiefs was one known as ‘‘Toby’’, or more properly Topi, and when in 1877 the title to the island was investigated he and others were named as owners, and one of the main questions before the present court was as to the quantum of land the Topi family was entitled to, other claimants insisting that they had equal claims. The court gave judgement on Friday morning, deciding that the Topi family was entitled to threefourths, or about 750 acres of the island, and the other party to onefourth, or about 250 acres.
Very sad in Paris
A visitor to Wellington who has visited Paris during the present year described the scene as very sad, states the Dominion. ‘‘You people here,’’ he said, ‘‘are complaining because you are without a few hours’ gas daily. How would it be with you were you to suffer as the people of Paris suffer? Do you know that they have been without gas for over a year, and that it is many months since the Parisians have had electric light? Most of the people use candles or oil lamps for lights, and every evening the windows are double blinded so that no ray of light may penetrate the gloom outside. This is because they must give no guide to the enemy’s aircraft of any kind. Right through last winter there was no coal for the people of Paris, no coal for gasworks or electric powerhouses, no coal for railways other than those engaged in military service. All the coal they could get was needed for military purposes — the people simply had to manage as best they could. It was a hard, long, cold winter, too.
Troops commended
In the House of Representatives Sir Jas. Allen read the following letter from the Mayor of Albany: ‘‘I have the honour by direction of the Albany Municipal Council to place on record their appreciation of the excellent conduct of the New Zealand troops passing through our port. Thousands of your brave fellows have passed through, and without exception their behaviour has been everything that could be desired. When you consider the numbers it is a marvellous record for any troops to have. The citizens are always proud and happy to welcome the New Zealanders.’’
Expensive enrolment
What is said to be a New Zealand record for expenses paid to a reservist for attending for medical examination was put up at Hokitika. The man, who attended from Copper Creek, below Okuru, claimed and was paid 18 days’ pay and expenses for attending at Hokitika, and after all his long journey and trouble he was passed as fit for home services only. — ODT, 21.7.1917.