7. Surveying the Ashley and Oxford Districts
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7
Surveying the Ashley and Oxford Districts
1st January - 16th May 1850
A GREAT DEAL of activity is now in progress in Canterbury. Tradesmen and labourers are being attracted from other settlements in the colony. The trigonometrical survey of the Christchurch and Mandeville districts is completed and contract surveyors are busy filling in detail. Cass is now surveying the Lincoln and Ellesmere districts, Jollie is about to lay out the town of Christchurch, and Scroggs has left. Lyttelton, the present hub of the settlement, is developing into a busy port. A large body of labourers, native and European, is working under contractors on the road line to Sumner.
Meanwhile in England the Association is beset by financial difficulties as a result of the land sales falling far short of expectation. News of the choice of site for the settlement reached London at the end of October, and soon after this the Association obtained its charter enabling it to act independently of the New Zealand Company, which is on its last legs. J. R. Godley, with Jerningham Wakefield as his private secretary, has sailed for New Zealand to take up the position of Chief Agent to the Association.
Torlesse has been joined by Boys and they continue their work together, pushing on as rapidly as possible, for the funds available are reported to be running so low that there is little prospect of Captain Thomas being able to obtain further credit. It is anticipated that the surveys will be suspended on 1st April.
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1st January. Light NW. Very fine. Boys went off to Ric-carton to plot, taking angles from 19 and 17 (Beattie, Wagstaff, Fitch, Weston). Dodds, Bryant--sledge, &c. Hamilton and I shot 8 brace of ducks.
2nd. Light NW. Very fine. Hamilton and I explored for road from Mosquito Camp to R. Ashley. Beattie--tent, Dodds fitting, rest--sledge, &c.
Some of the Kiapoi natives returned from getting the 3rd payment, complaining of Mantell.
3rd. Light NW. Very fine. Beattie tent. Rest making road to R. Ashley. I shot 5 brace of ducks---12 shots. The Poatini 1 (West Coast) natives arrived. Feasted them on Lilipee. Wrote to Outridge and C. G. T.
Mandeville, Victoria.
3rd January, 1850.
My dear Mother,
... The only local news of interest is that the maories have just received the third payment for the country between the Kaikoras and Otago. 2 But the purchase has been effected, I am afraid, in a loose manner, and the amount of money has been so small that when distributed, by those of the maories that have received any, amongst the rest--the subdivisions have been so small that the recipients have named His Excellency 'Governor Hiccapenny' (governor sixpence) in consequence. Besides, some rightful owners have not been paid at all; and further, the natives deny the sale of some of the land which by the commissioner's account is duly purchased.
But Mantell is a notoriously indolent man, and naturally incapable of investigating what is really a tedious question, and conducting a business which requires remarkable forbearance and caution.
Because they are few in number the natives here [are] to be neglected, a circumstance not much to the credit of the Local Government of whom these natives say that it dare not treat the northern natives with similar coolness.
Today there has been a grand arrival of natives from the
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West coast, after a journey of a fortnight over the mountains.
They are pretty wild, but seem to be an intelligent and well tempered set of men. They have come over for their payment which to their great disgust has not been left in the hands of a magistrate or other responsible person, but with Tiroa. 3 a Robuki native of notoriously bad character.
This has been no Xmas to me, either in point of religious associations or relaxation from business, though the men have had a holiday during the time which Boys and I have employed in plotting and calculating our trigonometrical work. Hamilton has been staying with us for the last 3 weeks while waiting for the Acheron, which is daily expected. But he and I are going up Mt Grey to-morrow which is my New Year's holiday.
As you may suppose we are anxious to see what the next 3 months may produce in the shape of intelligence from England as to Canterbury...
You will observe how New Zealand wool is looking up in the markets. By the by, have my sisters forgotten how to make slippers and purses? I lose no opportunity of collecting mineralogical specimens for my father, but shall not be able to gratify him with N. Z. weapons, as there are none in these parts...
Yours ever devotedly,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
4th. Light NW. Fine. Hamilton and I with Trowsers and a pack horse started for Mt Grey and camped at 6 p.m. near the head of the centre branch of the Kowai. Men ditto. Dodds fitting.
5th. NE. Fine. Pushed on to a pond, the source of the above branch of Kowai. Tethered the horse there, and then pushed on to the top of Mt Grey. View from NE. to W. obscured by fires. Sketched Westerly mountains and the head of Hurunui plain. 4 Returned to pond at 7 p.m.
Men ditto. Dodds ill.
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6th. Sunday. NE. Fine. Returned to Mosquito Camp by way of the Ma-kiri-kiri at 6 p.m., and fired Mt Grey. The Poatini natives fired the grass and partially burned our tent.
7th. Strong NE. Cloudy. Great Korero with Poatini natives who asked me to write to Capt. Thomas about their not having received the payment for their land. Gave them 50 lb flour and 15 sugar.
Dodds fitting. Bryant ill. Rest in canoe to fetch beef. Spittle arrived with horse and dray and &c. from Boys, and a case for me from Lyon at Wellington.
8th. Strong NE. Fine. Hamilton and I rode into the Ashley District on an exploring trip, had to swim our horses through the Akaka. Reached the Kowai.
Bryant ill. Dodds and rest to cross a new cart horse and fetch remainder of beef.
9th. NW. SW. Showery. Hands went again to fetch the horse and beef, blowing too hard yesterday. Bryant ill. Hamilton and I shooting 3 brace ducks in afternoon. Wrote up pay lists, &c.
10th. NE. Fine. Hamilton and I to Riccarton. I on the way to Port to see Doctor Donald. Received letter from Stafford. Arrived Riccarton 5 p.m. Bryant and Wagstaff sledge; Beattie, Weston tents and flags; Dodds fitting; Fitch axe handles, &c.
11th. NW. Fine. I walked in with J. Deans and Major Hornbrook 5 to the port. Dined at the Major's with Capt. Storey
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of Rebecca 6 Waitt, 7 &c. To Ballard's and Cridland's in the evening.
Men engaged as yesterday. Wrote to Stafford.
12th. NE. Fine. On board Rebecca to lunch and bought a saddle (£3) of Waitt. Champagne lunch at Major's. Got Captain Thomas' authority to expend £30 on a house at Oxford.
Dodds, Weston and Fitch to the Kiapoi bridge. Others as before. I returned with Caverhill to Jollie's, he to Deans'.
13th. Sunday. NE. Fine. Heavy rain at night. NW. I to Deans and then on with Caverhill to Mosquito Camp. Lost our horses on the road. I on mule, he on Capt. Thomas' horse. Heavy rain at night.
14th. NW. NE. rain morning. I rode with Caverhill nearly to the Kowai to show him on his way to Motenau; 8 then showed Dodds the road line. Boys returned from Riccarton
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in the evening. Fitch to port. Hands fetching over dray. Killed a maori dog [with] Jock and Flora, &c.
15th. NE. Very fine. Hands as yesterday. Bryant and Dodds sledge, &c. Preparing for trip to Ashley and Oxford.
16th. Strong NE. Very fine. Boys to Ashley with Beattie, Wagstaff, Weston, Dodds. Bryant carting. Pera to Riccarton.
I bought a kaitaka mat 9 of E'ou's wife. Made agreement with White and Hay about the houses at Oxford. Bought whale boat and paid John Hay for it and various as per account book £20. Boys killed a barrow at R. Ashley.
17th. NW. Very fine. Bryant and Trowsers with cart to Oxford with White and Hay, and camped at the mouth of the Cust Valley. I on St Hill rode round on the Miraki Downs and joined the others at 5 p.m. Waterspout in the Courtenay. Very trying North Wester, the leaves of shrubs withered. I was heavily thrown by St Hill on dismounting. Boys and men cutting roadway.
18th. NE. Foggy. I reached the bush at Oxford at 11 a.m. but could not find water accessible by the dray. Camped near the banks of the Eyre. Exploring the country. Found a wild bitch's lair with 7 pups. Laid up for her but without success.
19th. SW. Rain. Rigged a rough tent over the cart-shafts and remained in the wet camp all day. I went at daylight to shoot the bitch--both barrels snapped.
20th. Sunday. W. Very fine. White, Hay and I exploring for the site of camp; at last fixed on the point of bush. 10 I shot the bitch at dusk of evening and laid up for the dog with no success.
21st. NE. Rain, foggy. I went before daylight to try and secure the dog without success. Then started the dray; dropped White and Hay's things at the bush and stopped at the Cust Valley. Caught a sow and 1 sucker.
I then rode on to Mosquito Camp. Found Boys come in from the Ashley. One of Mr Hughes' men dangerously ill, and Weston wounded with powder flask blown up. Doctor sent for in the morning.
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Diamond shot a maori dog in our tent. Boys put in No. 5 on Oteika.
22nd. NE. Fine. Boys returned to the Ashley and put up No. 4. I remained at Mosquito arranging letters, &c. Dodds fitting as before. Bryant fetching town stakes from Tuahiwi.
At 6 p.m. Doctor Donald 11 pronounced his patient James Ormesby to be dying of inflammation of the bladder. Doctor very tired, having walked all the way from the port and suffering from a severe toothache.
23rd. Light SW. Rain. Boys came in again. Jim Ormesby died at about 5 p.m. I received letters from Alport 12 about business, and mentioning that Captain Thomas had not received the check for £11. 12s. 6d. which I sent in by White on 27th October. I wrote to Capt. Thomas and Alport.
Received English letters and newspapers from 2nd July to 5th August. Wrote to F. D. Bell enclosing check for £10 for Bryant's wife.
24th. SW. Rain. NE. evening. Fine. Buried James Ormesby at 3 p.m. The Doctor read the burial service on him at the native burial ground after having opened the body for inspection of the nature of his disease which was confirmed to be inflammation of the bladder and kidneys.
I shot 2 maori dogs at night.
25th. NE. Fog and slight rain. Doctor Donald returned to Riccarton on his way to the Port. Boys and I to the Ashley with the whole party, except Dodds fitting and Weston ill. Great difficulty in getting the dray through some creeks, &c. flooded by the late rains.
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26th. NE. Foggy. SW. rain evening. Being out of meat we sallied forth to the chase and caught 2 boars and 1 barrow near the 'Waikuku'. Jock very severely ripped in the left foreleg; obliged to carry him home on a hand-barrow.
27th. Sunday. SW. Heavy rain. Pouring with rain all day. Remained in tent. Suffered much pain from a scratch in my finger having come in contact with some matter from a boar's tusks killed some time back.
28th. SW. Rain morning. Cloudy afternoon. After a restless night and with slight influenza remained in bed all day, reading Spectators and Stanley's Life of Dr Arnold. Boys shot a wild bitch.
29th. W. Very fine, and NE. Boys and I to 27 and 28 taking angles, &c. Bryant and Wagstaff to Mosquito for load. Beattie sowing. Fitch instruments. Dodds at Mosquito. Weston ill. Laid an old boar as bait for wild dogs.
30th. NE. Very fine. Unable to cross the Ashley which was flooded. Boys and I walked down by No. 26; could take no angles. Laid up at night for wild dogs.
31st. NE. Very fine. Boys to put up No. 6 at the mouth of the R. Ashley. I shot from No. 26. Cass arrived to look over Hughes' work and presently the latter arrived also. Great news of goings on at Lyttelton and of Brunner's having been lost for 3 or 4 days within 10 miles of Deans'. 13
1st February. NE. Very fine. Boys with Cass looking over Hughes' work. Beattie and Fitch cutting river bank. I, Tom Bryant. Wagstaff and Ned Comerfele to catch pork--1 young boar.
2nd. NE. Very fine. I, Tom Bryant and Wagstaff with the two maori boys started for the Kowai. Great trouble in getting the horses to start and after various casualties camped on the way by the side of a swamp which we could not cross.
Boys as before; rest fetching beef from Deans. Beattie and Fitch left our party.
3rd. Sunday. Strong NE. Very fine. After making a road
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over the above swamp, moved on to the Kowai. Then, being out of meat, walked to try and catch a pig--no success.
4th. Strong NE. Very fine. Bryant and Wagstaff returned with dray. Dodds and Weston arrived with St Hill and big theodolite. Dodds and I with two maori boys walked up North Kowai and caught 3 young boars, 40 lbs.
5th. Strong NE. Very fine. I rode round into the Waipera valley and returned by South branch of the Kowai. Then put up No. 8. Dodds cutting bank. Caught a sucker and a bushel of very fine mushrooms.
About half finished the Life and Correspondence of Dr Arnold, which I enter into most heartily.
6th. NE. Very fine. I went with Dodds to put up No. 7. Met Boys and dray coming up. He had selected a sheep from a flock travelling from Motenau to Rhodes'. Caught 2 pigs on the way. Then Boys and I rode along the beach to the Double Corner and returned to the Kowai by the Table land. Found a large lump of peat in the Waipera, and some fossil shells.
7th. NE. Very fine. Dodds and Wagstaff returned with the dray to the Ashley to fetch up remainder of load. Weston flags, Tom resting and killing sheep, Boys and I plotting, &c. Spittle arrived. One of Caverhill's men arrived on his way to Motenau.
8th. NW. Very fine. Boys and I put up No. 14 on hill South of North branch of Kowai and returned by the South branch. Weston flags, Wagstaff to Mosquito, Caverhill's man to Motenau. Caught a pig.
9th. NE. Very fine. Boys and I and all hands (except Wagstaff) put up Nos. 15 and 16, and Boys shot from 15. Wagstaff to Mosquito camp to take discharge of cargo of the expected boat yesterday. Tinui arrived with some old Spectator newspapers. Paid him 5 shillings.
10th. Sunday. NE. Very fine. Showery at night. Boys and I with Diamond and 2 maori boys took a round and caught a sow and barrow pig, also a barrow formerly caught by Boys.
11th. SW. Showery. Boys put up No. 11 on Mimiomoko Downs 14 and I No. 10 at Double Corner, and took angles.
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Found a seam of coal in cliff South side of Waipera near the beach, 20 ft above river-bed, 50 ft below top of cliff, 1/4 mile long, from 3 feet to 1 in. thickness, thinning inland.
12th. NE. Very fine. Boys put up No. 9 and shot from 7. I with Bryant and Spittle to the Waipera and put up No. 13 and shot from it. Camped at Waipera. Mr Watts 15 arrived at Kowai.
13th. NE. Very fine. I put up No. 12, and shot from it; then returned with Spittle by the bed of the Waipera and reached Kowai at 7 p.m., having found some good specimens of fossil limestone, fossil shells, coal, &c. Boys shot 11 and 8.
14th. NE. Very fine. Thermometer 72, night. Boys shot 14. Cart to Rakiora with heavy goods. Wagstaff and Weston to fetch beef. I and Watts remaining at tents. Caught sow and boar and sucker. Chased wild dog.
15th. SW. Showery. 70, night. Remained at tents. Cart returned from Rakiora. Writing to Cridland, &c. and making out returns.
16th. SW. Slight showers. Fine. Moved to Rakiora. I shot from 16, or tried to. Boys shot No. 5, and saw four wild dogs. I and Watts straight across the country and caught a fine sow and 150 [lb] boar.
17th. Sunday. SW. Showery. Fine. I went to Mosquito to see Mr Hughes and Te Aika and arrange about leaving house and provisions.
18th. Strong NE. Very fine. I with Dodds, Spittle and Weston put up No. 3, and found No. 1 burnt down (probably by the natives). Boys shot from No. 4 and 29M. Tom Bryant and Diamond to Mosquito with the cart. Watts started to Christchurch. Trowsers and his brother Martin came up.
19th. Strong NE. Very fine. Making sketch map of the Ashley District and calculating sides, &c. Wrote to C. G. T. Bryant and Spittal to Oxford with tools and nails for White and Hay, and some provisions. 2 putting up No. 1, I washing pork and making flags. Trowsers and Martin bolted in the morning from some reason unknown to me.
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FEBRUARY 1850
Port Victoria.
17th February, 1850.
My dear mother,
Here is another letter, not written because I have anything to communicate, but just to keep you aware of my existence and good health. As to public business I do not hear much, but I believe that the natives now working on the roads will be discharged on the 1st of March, and that other stoppages will take place shortly. Indeed we apprehend that unless fresh funds arrive the surveys will be suspended on the 1st of April, and no other work will be carried on than the employment of some Hobart Town carpenters who are hired for one twelve-month.
There are four surveyors on the staff, 2 with contracts to traverse the features of the country, and 2 more about to contract. Watts' brother has lately arrived and has been staying for a week with us. He can get no employment now from Capt. Thomas, but purposes rather than remain idle to hire himself out to work under a contractor.
Boys and I are rubbing on together very happily, and have just completed the trigonometrical survey of the Ashley District (that north of the Rakahouri or R. Ashley). We now commence the Oxford which perhaps will be completed this summer: then we are adrift for work in the winter unless the towns of Mandeville and Oxford will be laid out then, in which case if funds arrive it is our intention to survey by contract. But all this is mere surmise, and we live upon expectation.
From my frequent description, you must be aware of our mode of life, which though rough and roving is infinitely more agreeable than living at Lyttelton, which by all accounts is the receptacle of all loose beachcombers and escaped lags or convicts, who have been employed in preference to honest and able men from the settlements. 16 Neither person nor property are safe there, and I believe Thomas sees the evil now, which everybody else foresaw at first starting, of commencing such an understanding as this on such rotten foundations...
We are sometimes kept awake during the night by the howling of wild dogs which I conceive is as dismal as that of wolves. I have 2 dogs especially for hunting them and sally
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forth armed with a huge bowie knife, and either Boys or I with spear and rifle. When we have happened to meet with them on horseback the chase to us was as exciting as an English foxhunt.
We are so far in the country now, and consequently unable to procure fresh meat from the graziers (and no salt meat is now sold) that we have to cater for ourselves in the way of meat, which involves some pig hunting. This must seem to you a mean sport, and so it is in fact, but we work ourselves into a state of excitement in attacking an old boar and vanquishing him. There is some degree of danger in it too, as they are savage animals and almost invariably disable a dog or two.
I suppose you will think I have turned wild indeed: not being able to fill a sheet with anything better than such trash as this. But it serves the purpose of explaining to you better than I can express the state of life we lead...
Fitch has lately left my party and set up a store and butcher's shop at Lyttelton.
Pray give my kindest love to all and believe me Ever your affectionate son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
20th. NW., SW., NW. Fine. Finished sketch map, &c., and letters to Captain Thomas, sending in coal and limestone. 17 Sent letter to Mrs Cridland and Cridland enclosing £6 in notes and £19 by 2 checks (one of £15, other of £4) on Bank at Wellington. Bryant and Spittal returned from Oxford--too thick for sights.
21st. NW. Showery. SW., heavy rain night. All hands to shoot from 16 and 4 and try to catch pork--no success. Weston to Lyttelton. Blowing a gale of wind.
22nd. NW., SW. Cloudy, 62°. Boys and I calculating sides, &c. Bryant and Dodds to old camp at Ashley to fetch up posts and poles, and thence to Mosquito.
23rd. SW. Fine. Very cold, 62. 3°. Boys to Al, and I calculating Ashley sides. Bryant and Dodds returned.
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FEBRUARY 1850
24th. Sunday. Very fine. SW. morning. NE. Weston returned from the port bringing letters from home up to 30th September. Principal news was of Emily's expected marriage with Mr Holland. Also from Mr Alport mentioning that Capt. Thomas had not received the check for £11. 12s. 6d. before mentioned in the journal and saying that the latter had desired him to deduct the same from my next Quarter's salary and pay to his account, which seemed to me a cool business.
Boys and I calculating in the morning, when, finding some mistake which required fresh sights to be taken, left off and took a turn towards the R. Ashley and shot 2 brace of quail and one of ducks.
So excited by English letters that I got no rest.
25th. NE. Very fine, 63°. Boys to No. 5 early in the morning, then too thick for sights from the other flags. Wrote to C. G. T., C. M. T., E. Hd., H. F. and Aunt B. 18
Port Victoria.
25th February, 1850.
My dear mother,
... I am truly fortunate in being associated with my friend Boys. We have occasional struggles for the ascendancy which are becoming gradually more easily ended by our exercising mutual forbearance to a greater degree. Though there is a considerable difference in our notions and tastes in some things, there is sufficient cordiality in them to make us good friends. He is steady, intelligent, and a gentleman--and his is the only hearty friendship I have made since leaving you...
Port Victoria.
25th February, 1850.
My dear Father,
I am obliged by your keeping up an intimacy with Mr Hutt and the other Canterbury people on my account...
I am anxious to leave off surveying; and shall take the first safe opportunity of doing it.
I am much gratified at the good accounts of Henry and am in hopes that he may turn out more to the credit of the family than I have done.
Believe me.
Ever your affectionate son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
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26th. NW. Very fine. Light SW. evening. I to 4 and 16 and Boys to 27M and 1A. I chased a wild dog on North bank of the Ashley. Wrote to Allport, Ballard and to Mrs D. W.
Bryant and Spittle to Oxford with load of flour, &c.
27th. SW. Rain. Thermometer 46°. Very cold, drizzling rain from the SW. Boys and I alternately calculating sides and warming our fingers.
28th. Light SW. Fine. Thermometer 52°. Dodd to Lyttelton with St Hill to be shod and to get print for flags. Boys and I calculating, and finished Ashley District. Bryant and Spittle returned from Oxford. Wagstaff and Weston ironing sledge, making flags, &c.
1st March. Strong NE. Very fine. Boys (with Wagstaff) to Riccarton to plot the Ashley District. I to fork of Ashley with the rest; obliged to leave half the load on the way. I shot from 30M and 31M.
2nd. NE. Very fine. Bryant and Spittle to fetch remainder of load with sledge. Dimond to Lyttelton with Boxer to be shod. Sent in the returns of February and employments of Jan. and Feby. I went for an exploring ride and killed 2 wild cats. Afterwards shot 3 brace of quail. Dodd returned with St Hill.
3rd. Sunday. W. Very fine. Remained at camp. Shot 4 brace of quails.
4th. SE. Very fine. Tom Bryant with Charlie to fetch up remainder of load for Rakiora. I, Dodd and Spittle put up No. 0, 3. Men searching afterwards for pigs. I took an exploring ride up the Ashley and round on to the Miraki Downs. Weston flags.
Jock, Flora and Towser killed a wild dog and chased his wife. First dog killed with California.
5th. W. Foggy morning. Fine. Dense fog till 11 a.m., then too late to put up any poles. Dodd branding, &c.
I, Bryant and Spittle went out to try and catch pigs, no success. Killed a wild bitch near the camp on the Miraki Downs. Dimond returned with Boxer. Caverhill came with Dimond on 'Flying Stationer' and the old Motenau mare.
6th. SE. and E. Foggy. Fine. I put up Nos. 1, O and 18A.
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Caught 3 boars and 3 sows. Men all out till long after dark. Boys arrived late.
7th. NW. Very fine. Caverhill started for Motenau. I put up O,2 (Spittle and Weston), Wagstaff returned, Bryant salting pork, Dodds flags, &c. Boys shot 5 brace of quail about the tents.
8th. NW. Very fine. Boys shot from 31M and 3A and 2A. I put up Nos. 5 and 6,O on Miraki Downs...
9th. NW. and NE. Very fine. Thermometer 84°. Boys to No. 18A and 2A. I to 5,O in the evening. Boys and I shot 4 brace of quail. Plotting, &c.
10th. Sunday. NE., NW. Very fine. Boys and I shot twenty brace of quails on the North main fork of the R. Ashley.
11th. SW. Showery. I put up No. 4 and took the angles. Boys to 18A and 2A. Rain at night.
12th. NE. and NW. Very fine. SW. Heavy rain at night. I started to Oxford to see how White and Hay were getting on, and fix on our next camp on my return. About 2 miles East of Starvation Hill Jock knocked up for want of water, and though I rode to the spring on Starvation Hill twice and supplied him well with water he died. Reached Oxford at 6 p.m. and found White and Hay well and the houses fully advanced.
Boys to 1,O. Bryant and Dodd to Rakiora.
13th. SW. Heavy showers. Hail and rain. I rode down the Eyre and across to SE. corner South Miraki Downs. Found no water. Then to Cust where I found Dodd, Bryant and the cart struggling through the loose shingle of the river, just in time to get shelter from a heavy storm of hail and rain--then to camp on Ashley. Boys to 31M and 5,O.
14th. Light NE. Fine. I put up 7,O and Wagstaff and Spittal to the Cust. Bryant and Dodd returned to Ashley. Boys and I to 5 in the evening. Boys to No. 3,O. Terry caught a young sow.
15th. NE. Very fine. All hands moved to the Cust and camped. Boys shot 32M, 33M and 7,O. I shot from 5,O in the morning. Curious appearance of hills NE. Peninsula early in the morning. Went out eel catching at night.
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16th. Fresh NE. Very fine. All hands to Oxford. Fired South Miraki Downs.
17th. Sunday. NE. Very fine. Boys and I shot 8 brace of quails, and 1 brace of pigeons.
18th. SW. Fog morning. NW. Fine. Bryant and Spittle carting stones for the chimneys. Dodd fitting. Rest pitching tents, &c., &c. Boys and I stools and windows.
19th. Morning fog. NW. W. Fine. SW. Rain night. Bryant and Weston to Rakiora for things left there and in the Cust valley. Spittal and Wagstaff making a ceiling to men's house. Dodd fitting. Boys and I beds and bookshelves.
20th. NW. Fine. SW. rain night. I rode to the Courtenay to explore the country and fixed upon a base line on South side of the Eyre opposite our camp. Tom Bryant and Weston returned from Rakiora. Spittal and Wagstaff ceiling and bunks, Dodd fitting.
21st. NW. Fine. SW. afternoon rain. Dodd and Trowsers with Charlie and Boys' mare started at daylight to Riccarton on the way to have them shod. Spittal laying down standard chain; Wagstaff cutting ranging rods; Weston and Bryant building hearths and carting clay for chimneys.
22nd. Calm. Fine morning. NW. afternoon. SW. evening. 8 a.m. 46°, noon 53°. First Frost. Spittal, Bryant, Wagstaff and Weston cutting base line. I ranged out base line. Boys making table, &c.
23rd. SW. Very fine. Rain night. Hands cutting base line. Boys unwell. I killed a wild dog on the Eyre. White and Hay finished the houses. 19
24th. Sunday. SW. Rain. 43° night. Pouring wet day. Remained in the house. Boys unwell.
25th. SW. Fine. Cloudy afternoon. Rain night. Spittal, Wagstaff and Weston cutting base line; Bryant hearth, &c., of houses and fetching pork. I took an exploring ride to the Cust and caught a fine young boar and a sow. Boys plotting and unwell. Dodd and Trowser returned.
26th. W. Fine. SW. rain night. 53°. Spittal, Wagstaff and
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Weston finished the base line. Bryant making hearth, &c. I plotting, &c.
27th. NW. Very fine. 53°. Boys and I with Bryant, Wagstaff and Weston made a bridge over the Cust. Dodd and Spittal fitting.
28th. SW. Rain. 43°. Remained in the house plotting, returns, &c. Hands fitting bunks and repairing chimneys.
29th. Light NW. Very fine. Boys and I with Dodd, Spittal, Wagstaff and Weston chained base line, 14,000 feet. Bryant taking firewood to the Cust.
30th. Very light NE. Very fine. After a long run for the horses all hands moved to the Cust and camped.
31st. Sunday. Light NW. Very fine. At daylight Boys and I started in chase of a wild dog, and then round by West and base line and to houses at Oxford. In afternoon with the hands to look for pigs, being out of meat--no success.
April. Light NW. Very fine. Evening SW., showery. Boys and I with hands put up No. 21. Dreadful bog-trotting, unable to put pole on Starvation [hill]. Caught 3 young boars. Weston pitching tarpaulin, &c.
2nd. Light NE. Cloudy. Boys and I put up 20, 12, 13 and 11, 0, and rode to the Eyre--all hands.
3rd. NE. Very fine. I put up (with Spittal, Weston, Diamond) 15, Boys setting in in line with 6,O. Chased the white bitch of old memory for 2 or 3 miles--no success. Shot 6 brace of quail in evening.
4th. NW. Very fine. SW. rain night. Boys and I put up 22 and 23---all hands. Romantic view from 23 up the valley of the Ashley. Shot brace quail in evening.
5th. SW. Very fine. Boys put up 19 and shot from it. I put up 16 and shot from it and 4. Caught 2 sows and 2 young boars and I young sow on the Ashley. Spittal and Dodds with me, rest with Boys. Men ill with diarrhea and colds.
6th. NE. Very fine. A maori arrived early from Oxford with note from W. Deans saying that he had arrived last night. I started to fetch him down, and Boys with Spittal and Dimond to catch pork for provisions. I shot 4 brace of quail and one duck in the evening. Boys caught 4 boars and 3 sows. All hands ill with diarrhea. Chased wild white bitch in evening.
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7th. Sunday. Calm. Very fine. Remained in camp. Boys shot 5 brace of quail. I went to No. 22 to take the angles twice.
8th. Light NE. Very fine. I rode with Deans across the Courtenay to put him on the way to his station on the Malvern Hills. We saw 2 wild heifers of Greenwood's that had been up the Courtenay for 6 years.
Chased the wild bitch in the morning on Boys' mare. Boys shot 8 brace quail and one hawk. All hands moved to Oxford.
9th. Calm. Very fine. Boys and I plotting, &c. Dodd and Weston to fetch up things from last camp. Spittal and Dimond salting pork.
I wrote to C. G. T., Capt. Thomas, Alport, Jollie, and returns for last quarter.
Oxford,
Canterbury Settlement.
9th April, 1850.
My dear mother,
I am now daily expecting to receive letters by the Monarch. and also final news as to the issue of this settlement--and particularly anxious, as whenever we do hear any news at all, different, conflicting and disagreeable reports reach us; which, though they may not be all believed, have an unpleasant effect upon one's spirits. But we may congratulate ourselves in being far from the seat of flying reports (Lyttelton), and on the whole are exceedingly happy with our position for the time.
I have received the Spectators up to the end of August... Upon my word, I do not know what to talk about and only write to keep you aware of my doings--but if I must talk you will excuse my saying anything that comes uppermost.
We are now living on the edge of a fine forest (Harewood) which is the headquarters of the Oxford district, and near to the probable site of the town. The part of the bush where our houses are is very pretty, being fringed with black birch which makes it very much resemble the woods on the South Downs. There is excellent timber here both for building purposes and firing; and a very large block of good land perfectly accessible to it without any roads being made. Our house, and the men's (13 ft x 17 ft and 13 ft x 25 ft respectively) are weatherboarded and shingled, with doors and chimneys complete, and their total cost has been £60.
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APRIL 1850
We expect to finish the trigonometrical survey of this district by the 15th of May, but are quite uncertain as to whether we shall retain our appointments after that time or not. But if the settlement goes on we should have (by Captain Thomas' written promise) the Ashley and Oxford districts to survey by contract 20 --which work, judging by the rate of progress and profit of the contractors who have worked this summer, should occupy us about 6 months and yield us a profit of about £400 apiece. We should then stand a good chance of holding permanent appointments for giving out the land to purchasers in the Oxford, Ashley, and Mandeville districts, having been engaged in the survey of the whole and being better acquainted with the country than anyone else...
Believe me ever your affectionate son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
10th. Light NW. Very fine. Dimond and Trowser to Mosquito to fetch potatoes, &c., and to take planks down. Wagstaff left. White and Hay to town. Dodd fitting. Boys with Weston to 6 and 15,O. I sheep speculating.
11th. NE. Very fine. Remeasured base line--within 14 inches of former measurement. All hands.
12th. NE. Very fine. Boys and I rode up the Eyre to fix upon site of the next camp, and then he set me on View Hill as continuation of the base. Put up O,24 east end base.
13th. SW. morning. NE. afternoon. Fine. Dimond returned with the cart at 3 p.m. Te Aika and Te Ou came up with their potatoes and other vegetables. Killed a wild bitch on the Eyre. Plotting, &c. Dug hole for 25 at West end base. Dodd fitting, Weston flags. Made roadway across the Eyre.
14th. Sunday. SW. Cloudy. Boys and I shot 13 1/2 brace of quail down the Eyre. Dodd and Dimond fitting.
15th. NE., NW. Fine. Boys and I put up 25, 37, and 38...
16th. NW. Very fine. Rain night. Heavy Northwest rain amongst the mountains. Boys with Dimond and Weston put up 28 and 29. Spittal and Dodd to camp at West end Oxford Bush--posts and poles, &c. I calculating, &c.
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17th. NW. Very fine. Night SW. showery. I put up 46 and 47. Boys shot from 24 and 2 brace of quail.
18th. SW. Very fine. Showery night. All hands moved to new camp West end Oxford bush. Boys and I explored the bush for place for 31. Tents blown down at night.
19th. Strong W. Very fine. Put up O,32 and carried post and pole for 33 and 34. Saw the Courtenay which was too much flooded for us to cross, as we wanted to do, to get to Deans' sheep station. Weston flags.
20th. NE. Very fine. W. Cloudy night. Put up 31 in the bush near the camp, felling trees to open it to view from the plain. Out of meat. Dimond shooting pigeons, lost.
21st. Sunday. NE. Very fine. Turned out at daylight to seek Dimond who we thought must have met with some accident, but he arrived at camp at 7 a.m. having lost his way last night. Shot three pigeons.
22nd. NE. Very fine. Put up 26 and 27. Boys set 26 from View Hill in continuation of the Base. I rode to the Courtenay which appeared low enough to allow of our crossing tomorrow; made arrangements accordingly. Dimond shooting.
23rd. SW. Rain morning. Fine at 11 a.m. Up at daylight and packed the loads and when the weather cleared loaded Charley and Boxer with White and Hay's tools, &c. and Boys and I with Bryant and Trowsers went across to Deans' new formed sheep station in the Malvern Hills. 21 The Courtenay was not flooded and was about thigh deep.
Arrived at Deans' at 5 p.m., Tom and horses about 8 p.m. Found Baxter come up to join our party, and letters from home up to the 6th Decr., and news that Mr Godley and E. J. W. had arrived in the Lady Nugent and immediately pro-
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APRIL - MAY 1850
ceeded to Wellington; 22 also notice to Boys and me to quit on the 1st of May and break up our party, 23 but private note from Captain Thomas telling us to work a little longer if necessary to finish the district. Men felling trees at 31.
24th. Calm. Very fine. W. Deans and I fetched up the sheep and killed 4 wethers averaging 75 lbs. Read over all my letters a second time, Spectators and N. Z. Journals. The men put up 35 and 36 and killed a wild dog at camp.
25th. NW. Very fine. Returned to our camp on the Eyre by 5 p.m. and salted down the 4 sheep. Jerry and Dido lost. Men put up 33 and 34.
26th. SW. rain. Heavy showers of rain all day. I put up 30. Boys went out to shoot from stations, but could not see. The puppies returned.
27th. W. Very fine. I shot from 34, 32 and 31. Boys from 27, 35 and 36. Felled fresh trees at 31.
28th. Sunday. SW. rain. Heavy rain all day which soaked through tents and tarpaulins. Remained in the blankets all day--slight diarrhoea.
29th. NW. Showery and fine. Moved to the houses at Oxford. Boys shot from 37 and 26, I from 30 and 29.
30th. NW. Showery and fine. Boys shot from 25. Dimond and Baxter, Spittal and Dodd firewood and poles, Weston flags, I making up returns and writing letters.
Oxford,
Canterbury Settlement.
1st May, 1850.
My dear mother,
Three days ago I received your packet of letters by theMonarch and Lady Nugent which had been on the way from Lyttelton a fortnight. By the same messenger I heard of Mr Godley's and Jerningham's arrival here by the latter ship, and of their having almost immediately proceeded to Wellington. Boys and I further received notice that our services
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would not be required after the 1st of May--accompanied by the following--
'Should it meet your views I shall be most happy to replace you upon the staff of the Association when the work is resumed.
'In the meantime please to accept my best thanks for the manner in which you have performed the work, and carried out to my fullest satisfaction the trigonometrical surveys of the settlement. Signed J. Thomas.'...
I should hardly have known that Jerningham had arrived here but from your mention that he was to accompany Mr Godley--and you do not even say in what capacity or with what object he comes.
I gather that Mr Godley did not expect to find the £20,000 expended; but that he is very well satisfied with the mode in which it has been expended; and that Jerningham is Mr Godley's Secretary, both of them being expected to return here in two months' time.
I have been very much annoyed at finding that you were several months without letters from me--and you mention Mr Hamilton's letter to Mr Aglionby as an opportunity which I lost. The fact is this: on my return from the South I wrote you shortly to assure you of my safe return, and forwarded it, together with a Report on the Country, to Captain Thomas by Mr Hamilton (who gave it safely) to my uncle Dan.
Captain Thomas was much surprised at not hearing from me as you were, and after (as I have since understood) abusing me a good deal, for about a fortnight, received the packet from Dan who had mislaid it. This was injurious to me in another respect, as otherwise my report 24 would have reached home before Mr Godley left.
I hope that my tracing of the whole settlement which I forwarded to Mr Kelham to be placed in the Company's bag will not prove to have been lost altogether, as I much fear is the case...
We are just now pushing very much to complete the trigonometrical survey of the Oxford District, and are now working (as we purpose doing till the 11th) without official authority in the hope of effecting the above object.
Our future prospects depend greatly upon the issue of Canterbury land sales; and in the uncertainty on that point, I cannot say what is likely to happen with me: but our
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MAY 1850
scheme for the winter (that is, until Mr Godley's return and the arrival of news and money from England) is to live at Lyttelton or Christchurch in the cheapest way we can. I myself am burning for a little civilization, and as I understand that two or three families came out in the Monarch to Akaroa, shall certainly endeavour to go there and make their acquaintance. 25
I have another scheme on hand--viz.--Mr John Deans has gone to Sydney to purchase and bring down here a cargo of cattle and sheep, and intends returning for another: he has been kind enough to invite me to accompany him, which I am strongly inclined to do, as the trip will be a pleasant change to me and I shall probably learn something about shipping and purchasing stock as I shall make it my business to attend to the matter in all its stages, from purchasing at the inland run to landing at this place--a knowledge which may be of some benefit to me if I am to carry out my scheme of sheep farming...
The great mistake about New Zealand, and one which I tried to undeceive people in England about, is that people have only to come out here and cultivate the land, and that there is a sure market for their agricultural produce.
Now certainly there is at present a demand for barley at Sydney; and the Californian vagrants may require some of our good food to support them; but there is no decided market on a grand scale opening up even in prospect. Nelson and New Plymouth supply Wellington with food in exchange for clothing, and there is no decided farmer in either of these three settlements. The bulk of the produce is raised by quasi labouring men. The only gentleman shop-keeper farmers are those who having a 50 acre section dabble in agriculture for pastime and to feed their horses, pigs, and poultry. And certainly, unless in the case of barley continuing to be in demand at Sydney, there is no field for the pursuit in this settlement for any capitalist except during the first years of its existence whilst few people can grow their own grain.
This is a pastoral country more than agricultural, 26 (particularly this place, Otago, and the Bluff) and we must look forward to New Zealand wool maintaining its superiority over
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other Australian samples in the English market. Also to the salt beef and tallow that can be grown here.
Most of the settlers... would do wisely in the opinion of all old settlers here to immediately purchase stock, and merely make the 50 acre section a garden for family and domestic animals. The truth of this is pretty well proved by Stafford's case--he wasted no money in buying lots of land and paying high wages for labour in the first days of the settlement but bought sheep and quietly let them feed and increase till he had the means of cultivating his land, whereas most others squandered away their money in useless labour, and after all had nothing to carry on with.
Pray do not suppose that this learned dissertation upon farming is off my own bat--I merely state the asserted experience of the settlers generally...
Believe me ever your most affectionate son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
1st May. NE. Fine. Fog from the Eastward. Boys shot from 20. I went down the Eyre 13 miles to look for a site for next camp. Dodd and Dimond followed with the cart and firewood, &c. Found no water and sent the cart on to the South side of S. Miraki Downs, then returned to Oxford. Caught 4 pigs and saw about 70 in 2 or 3 herds on the Eyre.
2nd. NW. Very fine. Spittal and Baxter making stage for the flour; Weston flags; Dimond and Dodd returned not having found water near the Downs above mentioned, and fetched the posts up from the Cust as I directed.
I partly made an oar. Boys and I kept up my birthday this evening. 27 Boys shot from 28, I calculating.
3rd. NW. Very fine. I finished an oar and Boys commenced another. Weston and Baxter fetching sawn timber out of the bush. Spittal, Dodd and Dimond making a watta 28 for preserving the flour on.
4th. NW. Very fine. Showery night. I put up 45 and 48-- Dimond, Dodd and Trowser.
Boys (Weston and Baxter having lost 3 hours by wandering over the country looking for the horses which were close at
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MAY 1850
home) started at about 11 and shot from 13 and 45, and rode down an old boar. Spittal finishing the watta.
5th. Sunday. SW. Rain. Pouring wet day. Water 6 inches deep in our houses.
6th. E. Showery. Foggy. Miserable drizzling day. The horses strayed to Burnt Hill. All hands all day looking for them.
7th. Light SW. Fine. All hands fetching timber for town stakes out of the bush. I packing, &c.
8th. NE. Very fine. Left Oxford and camped down the Eyre. Water only in puddles. Caught an old boar and 2 small pigs, 1 sow and 1 boar. Boys shot 38 and 46; I, 47 and 45. Reached camp after dark.
9th. NE. Very fine. Struck tents and moved over to the foot of the South Miraki Downs. Caught 2 sows and 1 boar and 1 sucker. Boys and I shot 8 brace of quail at new camp.
10th. Strong NE. Cloudy. I put up 10, 14 and 18 and shot from 14. Men got a wild dog on the Eyre--Flora and Trowser. Boys shot from 12 and 11 and 4 1/2 brace of quail.
11th. Strong NE. Cloudy. SE. Rain night. I put up 8, 9 and 17 and shot from 9. Boys shot from 8, M33 and M38. Started Trowsers off to Kiapoi with letters yesterday. Killed a fine young boar and brought to the tents.
12th. Sunday. Light NE. Cloudy. Light SW. rain night. Boys shot from 12 and 10 and I shot 6 brace of quail and calculated angles, &c. Preparing for move tomorrow.
13th. NE. or SW. Foggy. Started from Camp at South Miraki Downs, and reached Rakiora bush, camping there for the night. I shot from No. 7 and Boys from M3 3. I caught 1 sow...
14th. NE. or S. Foggy. Reached mosquito and found Cass there inspecting Hughes' work. I shot 2 brace of ducks.
15th. NE. or S. and foggy. Boys and I went out duck shooting--2 brace of ducks. Men stacking the timber for District Surveyor's house.
16th. SW. Cloudy. I with Dodd and Dimond swum all the horses across the Courtenay and reach Deans'.
