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 Arthur Lewis & Ethel Mary
Oakley
Arthur Lewis Oakley (b: 25 Oct 1885 in Rakaia, Canterbury, son of William Oakley and mother Sarah Ellen nee Lewis; he d: 30 Sep 1958 in Waimate, South Canterbury Bur: Waimate)
Sep 1905 elected to the Mayfield Library Committee and 5 sep 1908 Treasurer of Mayfield sports committee. Arthur mar: 22 Mar 1910 in Mayfield, Canterbury to Ethel Mary Brannan (b: 10 Apr 1883 in Greenstreet, Ashburton dau: of Hugh Brannan and mother Ann Jane nee Knox; she d: 02 Sep 1962 in Waimate; Bur: Waimate)
The lower price of land presented Arthur the perfect opportunity to purchase his own farm and he moved with his new wife to Northland. Ashburton Guardian 15 Jun
1910 THE FARTHEST NORTH. Into this little-known
land, in the north of Auckland, Mr W. Oakley, of Mayfield, recently
took a trip, and in conversation with a Guardian reporter, he
gave a few details of the land as he saw it, and its outlook from an
agricultural point. Mr Oakley went primarily upon a visit to his son, who
had taken up land in the district of Whangarei, and left for the
north about two months ago. "It is splendid cattle country," said our
informant - limestone hill country, well watered and cleared of bush. Some
of the flats are composed of very rich soil, but all the hills are grassed
right up to the summit. They have been surface-sown years ago with
cocksfoot and a mixture of grasses then there are the native grasses,
which grow luxuriantly. Paspelum does very well there. They think a great
deal of it in the north. The land in the part where my son has
settled is very much cheaper than land in Canterbury. The average
price for good land is £5 an acre - land that carries one head of cattle
to 21/2 acres. Canterbury will never be able to compete in the
dairying market at the price. Their mode of transit is by coastal steamer
to Auckland. Dairy factories are opening up all through Whnngarei and
Waipu, and they have a great future before them. This part has been settled
for the last fifty years, but has not gone ahead for the want of
factories. Roads are one of the main drawbacks. They cost a great deal to
lay down, because of tho broken nature of the country. There is very
little road metal to be obtained, except crushed limestone, which becomes
very expensive. The roads at present are not metalled they are graded and
levelled, but are narrow on the sidings, where cuttings have had to be
made. The farms vary in size, and not a great deal of original timber
is standing. There is good timber yet, but not a great deal. What stands
has been left for shelter. This part of Auckland province will be a
splendid district in the future. It grows anything. Grapes
ripen in the open, and figs flourish. Oranges and lemons are quite
common, and citrons grow to a great size. They all grow in the open,
and are not counted of much value. So far the settlers have not gone into
tho matter of fruit as a business. Fruitgrowers might find blight
troublesome, because of the humid nature of the climate.
Sheep are not kept to any
great extent, and they are not given the same attention they get in
Canterbury; but in the future the country will favour sheep more as
settlers arrive with knowledge of better farming methods. The winter
months, the climate is ideal; but it is hot in summer. There is
abundance of shade in the paddocks for the stock, and beautiful water
everywhere. The settlers send their produce and stock to Auckjand by
steamer, and they state it is cheaper than the railways. A large steamer
trade is done with Whangarei, a town about the size of Ashburton. Waipu is
about twenty miles from Whangarci. It also has a landing jetty, and the
steamers come up tho rivers on the tide to both places. Whangarei is as
up-to-date as Ashburton, and is a place that will improve greatly.
Mr Oakley visited the Kamo
Hot Springs, two miles from Whangarei, where there is good accommodation
for invalids. The sanatorium is well kept up under Government supervision.
Whangarei is renowned for its beautiful scenery; tree ferns and palms
abound. The land where kauri gum is dug is poor, and grows only scrub and
ti-tree at present, but with cultivation and manure may yet become of
value, from an agricultural standpoint. Whangarei and its sub-districts
constitute a vast country, capable of large improvements; but, so far, the
early settlers have made a living without exertion, and have not troubled
about improvements. They are a very contented, easy-going class of people
and to a Canterbury visitor the prospects tor a young man who wishes to
start for himself seem to be of the best. If dairying were carried
on in a systematic manner Mr Oakley thinks it would be possible for a
farmer to make his land freehold in a few years. Northern Advocate, 25
March 1912 Waipu Caves: The famous Waipu Caves form an
attraction unsurpassed by any natural formation in the North. From a
winding path over hilly country, can be viewed field's of fertile and
cultivated land, characteristic of the.Waipu district, which impels the
impression that if adequate means of transit and outlet were provided,
Waipu would become known as one of the greatest dairying and cereal
producing districts in the country. Continuing through country which
affords the traveller splendid glimpses of fine New Zealand bush, and
pretty limestone rock formations as one approaches the proximity to the
caves. A rugged path was descended, and a pretty miniature gorge,
difficult of negotiation, was safely passed. At last the seemingly long
eight miles is left behind, and the owner of the caves, Mr A. L.
Oakley received the visitors. Taking candles we entered the vestibule
of the cavern by descending a slight declivity. Making our way across a
small stream which trickled through the cave, our guide preceded us over a
rough path. Clambering the rocks, which were so shaped that we were
afforded ample footing, we proceeded along a corridor-shaped opening until
we entered the "Cathedral," so-called from the formations which came into
our view. With lights held aloft the unaccustomed sights of beauty
revealed to us awakened feelings of wonderment, and excited,a keen
anticipation of other sights to be seen.: Crystal-like stalactites of
various sizes descended from the ceiling and bore a remarkable likeness to
the candles used in churches. The ceiling stretched over a big area, and
the stalactites of all sizes scintillated and sparkled as our lights shone
on them. The grandeur of the sight was wonderfully impressive. Progress
was then made to another part of this vast natural wonder, and we were
guided into a chamber designated the "Concert' Hall." The high dome-shaped
roof, and the appearance of the cavern lent color to the name, but when,
at the instigation of the guide, the company raised their voices in
concert, the acoustic properties of this wonderful subterrean theatre
fully revealed the reason of the sobriquet. At the conclusion of the
song the lights were extinguished, and to our amazement, we found that the
high dome-shaped roof was littered with hundreds of glow worms; and the
whole surroundings paralleled a peerless starry night. And what was more
remarkable, an exact resemblance of the Southern Cross in shape, size and
position, stood out boldly among the groups of living constellations.
We lingered in this wonderous vault for some time, marvelling at the
workings of Nature. We explored the recesses of this strange cavern. No
description can justly give any true idea of the cave. There were
galleries and ledges; some of which the the water had worn as smooth as
polished marble, and under which the streamlet now trickled in musical
accents. Formations of all shapes and sizes are to be seen, some as light
and delicate as an icicle, and others as large and massive as the columns
of a building. An immense stalagmite, appropriately named, from its unique
shape, "Cleopatra's Needle" excited curiosity. Another stalagmite even
larger than the first, had, in some remote ages, snapped off. The piece,
forming the hypotenuse, had become attached by the action of water to the
stump, the top of which had been coated with a mushroom-shaped top. A
grotesque formation bore the resemblance in every detail to a man's head
upside down. A most striking feature of this portion of the cave, near the
entrance, was a tongue-shapecl protuberance, about twelve feet by three,
which when struck with the fist gave out a heavy, metallic sound, which
reverberated throughout the long dark inlet. A special point of' the cave
is undoubtedly the blanket and curtain formations which hang in
graceful folds from the roof. A striking resemblance to a chandlier was
pointed out. We again looked back and feasted our eyes upon,the wonderful
clusters of crystalline stalacites, and with a sigh reluctantly left these
wonderful creations. The visit left us with a deep sense of awe at the
grandeur and grotesqueness of the formations we had seen, while we were
filled with admiration at the wonders of the caves. The Waipu caves are
easily accessible, the road being pretty good .in summer, and the wonder
is that visitors to Waipu do not take a greater advantage of the
opportunities given to pay the caves a visit. The sights to be seen more
than recompense the visitor for the distance and the trouble experienced
in travelling into the resort. Mrs Oakley very considerately served
us with tea, and the two hours drive back to Waipu was pleasantly
accomplished. Northern Advocate: 17 July
1914: Hikurangi Riding: Arthur L. Oakley, 264 acres (sections 50,
51, 52 and 58), £670 valuation sustained, improvements to be
adjusted. Northern Advocate: 7 April
1916; This year the woolgrowers of New Zealand are reaping a rich harvest.
Of course, the farmers of the Bright North are sharing in the general
prosperity, and the prices obtained are easily the highest on record. The
official returns for the January sales in London give illuminating
evidence of the splendid results from last season's shearing. An extract
from the shipment that went away towards the end of November makes
interesting reading. The records show the following handsome figures:. A.
L. Oakley (Kauri), 13 bales, Is 7d per lb., total £346. The 120 bales
represented in this parcel realised in round figures £3376! When it is
remembered that these prices were paid for ordinary crossbred greasy wool
the figures can only be regarded as remarkable. They suggest the wonderful
future that lies before the Bright North, which has so many large tracts
of country eminently suited for sheep. raising. Of course the abnormal
conditions created by the war are responsible for the abnormal prices, but
at the same time the figures open up a new vista for the North in the
production of the Golden Fleece.
Northern
Advocate , 29 Dec 1919: DISTRICT NEWS. KAURIHOHORE PROPERTY SALES.
Messrs O'Neil and Sommerville have acquired about 2450 acres of land in
this district, the vendors being Mr A. L. Oakley (750 acres) and Mr Jas.
Main (I7OOacres). The purchasers intend taking possession on the Ist
February, 1920. Timaru Herald, 28 Oct
1920: WANTED Teamster; must be competent with all implements;
permanent job : good wages. Apply A. L. Oakley, "The Brothers,"
Hazelburn. Akaroa Mail and Banks
Peninsula Advertiser: 28 June 1921 WANTED to Buy 100 Bushels of
farmer's dressed Cocksfoot, send samples and prices to— A. L. OAKLEY,
Hazelburn, Via Pleasant Point Press, 3 May 1923: COUNTY
COUNCILS. LEVELS. Mr A. L. Oakley, Hazelburn, wrote that repairs
were necessary to the three-mile bush road leading from Hazelburn to The
Brothers. A few loads of shingle were required as the old metal had worn
off. A shower of rain made the hills impossible to climb. The Council
decided to attend to the matter as soon as possible.
The Oakley
Children: a Edna Oakley (b: 20
Oct 1911 in Waipu, Northland d: 1992) Mar: 1936
to John
Diedrick Trott b: 28 Aug 1909 d: 1995 b Ellen Beryl*
Oakley b: 12 Apr 1913 in Whangarei, Northland d: 1987 Mar: 1940 to
Davis
Heyward Ross c Jeffery Hamilton
Oakley (b: 28 Sep 1915 in Whangarei, Northland d: 26 Feb 1988 in
Waimate) Mar: 1946 to Elisabeth Norma Anstey (b: 05 May 1920 d:
1978) d Trevor Lewis
Oakley (b: 17 Jun 1920 in Oak Grove, Allenton, Mid Canterbury; d: 01 Aug
1995 in Timaru Bur: 05 Aug 1995 Timaru Cemetery) Mar: 14 Apr 1945 in
Timaru Their children:
Timothy Arthur Oakley; Juliet Rose Oakley;
Myffanwy
(Annie) Edna Oakley and Jeffrey Trevor Oakley
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