We Drummonds are Proud of our Tarata Past! Our grandparents, Robert and Ellen Mary Drummond left Rongotea and bought a farm on Junction Road, the "Highland Home" at Tarata, in the 1890's. When they retired, John known as Jack,
took over the farm. On April 5th, 1915, he married
Emma Harriet (Dot) Guilford who
had arrived with her parents William and Ann and their family from
Pleasant Valley in South Canterbury in
1902 and first lived on Autawa Road, "The Oaks."
Our recollections of those first years
were "Life Many years later, a new shed was built
using pit metal But the wood stove still required fuel
and Brian, long before leaving school, would harness the horses and take
to the bush, cut down a straight tree, hook it up and be back before Dad
got back from the sale yards - it was up to us kids to chop the
firewood Gradually the herd increased to about
35, sheep numbers to 1000 and the thirty-five pigs were fattened on apple,
swedes and skim milk. For a while, horse breeding was the order of the
day.
Our four acre orchard was a wonderful
asset not only for our family but for many poorer people in those hard
depression years between 1930 and 39. Folks came and filled boxes and
sacks of fruit and distributed them to those in need. We always had
many callers and Mum continually made cups of tea. Our larder was
always full of bottled fruit, nights of preparation.
Our woolshed, being one of the largest
in the district in those days, had draughting yards
and the concrete sheep dip was shared by many other farmers.
In stormy weather, new born lambs would be rubbed down, wrapped
in sacking and placed around the kitchen floor in front of the stove
restoring their warmth and then came the feeding and finding the right
Mum's the next day.
Our mother was a marvellous cook and
there was always enough for an extra mouth or two. Our place seemed to be
a refuge for swaggers as they passed through the area. Some would stay the
night in the woodshed and their job was usually to cut up a large pile of
firewood, much to Mum's and our delight. They would be sent on their way
with thick home made bread and meat sandwiches and their billy full of
tea.
Because of the hilly terrain. Dad rode
everywhere on those beautiful horses and often would not get back from the
farm till well after dark. A man's best friend in those days were his
horses and his dogs. Dad's interests were looking after the
gas lights for the Tarata Hall committee, rifle club shooting, dog trials
and the local sports club. Mum and Dad always worked with all the
district's committees - mother organising district balls, church teas
and helping to decorate the hall. And of course all that cooking and was
always worried if the cream would whip!
Almost from the time dog trials started
in the district, Mum and Dad were there helping. Mum was a founder member
of the local Women's Institute and that required her to take a three mile
walk at times to attend meetings at the hall. Sale days, she would be
working with the ladies - more cuppa's.
Mother was a very good seamstress and
was kept busy with her old "Victory" treadle sewing machine, often until
midnight, finishing a wedding dress. Her beautiful singing voice was in
great demand. Evening sing-songs around the piano were commonplace with
friends and bachelors, enjoying tennis or playing cards in front of the
good old open fire. There were always bowls of apples in through winter
months. Sundays were days of church, rest and visiting Liz and Will
Ludemann before evening milking. Time has gone on and all the family has
left the Tarata district, but many wonderful memories live on.
Dot in the robe - she made robes for all members of the Methodist Choir.
Written by the children of Dot and Jack Drummond: Avis, Colin, Dawn and
Brian in 1995. Images and data
used in this site Copyright - � |
(Photo: Brian & Colin feeding out with sledge)
