Those Were The Days

From Mr Bill McCliskie, 5 Buchanan Street, comes this series of pictures of life in the Ruakituri Valley in the bush-felling and early farming days. With a gang of six men Bill McCliskie cleared a 400 acre area in 1912. He then farmed the property until 1924 when he returned to Gisborne.

Bill McCliskie breaking down heart kauri with a pit saw.

Some of the gang with a felled rimu.

A heart rimu log on the pit ready for sawing.

This cottage would represent the height of luxury in that area in those days. It consisted of two rooms made of pit sawm timber and with a brick chimney.

Some of the neighbours' cottages were of split timber, with shingle roofs, three of which are shown here.

Pani, as she was known to the McCliskie family, was something of a character at Ruakituri. Here she is pictured with the McCliskie's son, Neil. He is now manager of Dominion Motors in Wellington.

All set with horse and buggy for the trip from Mangapapa to Ruakituri.

The packsaddle room at Ruakituri.

A team of horses ready to go out to meet the wagon and pack in the stores. The distance was 15 miles out to the road end.

Sometimes a foot of snow would cover the ground in winter making conditions very bleak.

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The Gisborne Photo News

No 176 : February 26, 1969

Those Were The Days