Arriving in New Zealand
John Edie arrived in New Zealand in November 1862 with a team
of horses to carry the much needed supplies to the Dunstan. John’s
services in carting supplies would have eased a major problem
for the new field - hunger.
It is probably fortuitous that John was not among the first wagons
of supplies to reach the Dunstan diggings. When J. Sinclair was
on his way with a load of flour he was met by Sergeant Ryan who
conducted him to Watson Shennan’s station where flour was
rationed out at 3lb per man at 2/6 per lb. These precautions were
taken to prevent any repetition of a previous occasion when hungry
miners had intercepted the waggoner and doled out the precious
flour under their own terms.
Further insights into the lives of waggoners are provided by
Betty Veitch. She cites their fuel on the journey from Central
to Dunedin as being Buffalo chips (dried dung), Yellow pine (straw)
or Kaladdies (flax flowers and stem). The tracks were in a dreadful
state of ruts and mud, and the danger of overturning was great.
Small groups of waggoners used to travel together (no doubt for
general support and help). They used to camp together and socialize.
A favourite camping site was on the Earnscleugh side of the river
where the Clyde bridge crossed the river.
John decided to try his hand at goldmining again. He first mined
at Switzers in 1863. Colin Robertson described the early town
of Switzers as having a magistrate and warden, police and a lock-up.
The post office was in stores, and then in the schoolmaster’s
residence. It had doctors and a hospital with a matron. A surprisingly
well structured society for one so much a frontier! He goes on
to describe it further:
"When I first went to Switzers there used to be a mail
twice a week carried on horseback from Mataura. In 1869 the
road was put through from Beaumont (in Central Otago) to Switzers
and there used to be a coach running several times a week."
This was a wealthy field: from 1871 to 1875 it averaged 9400
oz, a steady yield. It was, however, not lucrative enough for
John and his ambitions. He went to Waitahuna and bought a share
in the Long Race Sluicing Co. Evidence of his commitment to this
new country is his willingness to return to Bendigo, and have
his wife and three children settle in New Zealand. Their passage
too was to be paid, so some means for this had been earned on
the fields.
They left Melbourne in the ship Aldinga, and arrived early in
June 1863. I wonder what John and Mary thought of this new society.
I should imagine that they stayed in a hotel before proceeding
to Waitahuna the next day.
Whether Mary lived in a tent in Waitahuna when she first arrived
on the fields, I don’t know; however I hope not, as the
Otago winters are cold. It would have been a welcome reunion with
Mary’s sister Margaret, who had been bonded to the Rev.
Will until October 1862 in Taieri. It was through her association
with the Edies that she met her husband, William Duff. They were
married in 1865. "It is said that after the wedding, Margaret
asked William where they were going to live. ‘Oh - by Jove,
I never thought of that’ was the reply; however he took
steps to remedy the situation." They bought the Derby Inn
in Waitahuna from John Oxenbould, and they lived there for the
next 25 years.
In this new land the family of John and Mary continued to grow,
for in addition to the three Australian-born (John, Edward and
Janet), Thomas was born in 1864, Mary-Anne in 1869, George in
1871, and Elizabeth, Robert, and Albert followed, their last child
being born in 1881.
There were further family members to join Mary at Waitahuna.
George and Edward (Ned) Shepherd, with their mother Janet (nee
Barry or Barrie) emigrated to New Zealand. George never moved
from Waitahuna gully. He was employed as a raceman and lived in
a little hut along the Gully Road. He was remembered for his conversion
to the Salvation Army cause. He married a woman called Kate, and
had three children who died young. Kate survived George for 20
years, and was known as Aunt Kate.
Edward became an apprentice carpenter at Tapanui and for many
years carried on his trade in partnership with Ted Strong who
married his second daughter, Edie. Edward provided a home for
Mrs. Shepherd senior in her later years until her death in 1896.
Waitahuna may have been a new frontier but, it must have become
an example of the extended Scots family, providing support, social
events and a sense of belonging that was not the case with many
immigrants then. In one story, however, they show Mrs. Shepherd
snr. living up to the stereotype of the hard-working, unsentimental
Scotswoman. The story relates to her death. Margaret and Mary
took turns sitting with her. "Get on with your work",
she said angrily, "I’m only dying." After that
they had to creep in on their hands and knees to prevent her from
knowing they were there.
She was buried at Tapanui cemetery, far from the Scotland of
her birth, but having seen her children settled in a new land,
far from the mines of Cowdenbeath and free from slavery to the
mine bosses.
They were there. |
