Bachelor days

By Lyn Johnston, Albertland Museum

My great-grandfather Henry Marsh started a diary while on board the immigrant ship Ida Zeigler in 1863. He continued writing about his life – buying, then breaking in his land on the Opou Block (which still belongs to Marsh descendants), and other day-to-day activities of a pioneer. Among the 1866 entries was a brief note – ‘18 January: Batchilor tea party’.

Another foray into the ‘Papers Past’ website produced a detailed account of this social event. Mr Armitage’s original cottage is on Shegadeen’s Road Wharehine, not far from Minniesdale Chapel. Indeed, it is a beautiful spot. These men certainly knew how to enjoy a break from the daily toil of breaking in their land.

Albertland (From A Correspondent)
On Thursday, January 18th, about 100 of the settlers and their families of South Oruawharo and Port Albert assembled near Mr Armitage’s at Takapau (South Oruawharo), by invitation from the bachelors of Te Wheau, Takapau, Wangaroa and Opou, to enjoy an afternoon of outdoor amusements. Tents were pitched on the summit of a hill, commanding a view of the surrounding country, which is of singular beauty.

The sports commenced with a match at cricket, which was played with much spirit, and only terminated when darkness interposed, an effectual barrier to its continuance. Various amusements were engaged in by those not employed in cricket, and were continued without intermission (except when summoned to the tea table) until long after night had set in.

Dancing was kept up with much vivacity till the tide warned those who had to return up the river that it was time to part. The tea-tables were provided in a style of liberality that did credit to their bachelor caterers and were attended to with great assiduity by a party of lady volunteers.

After the stumps were drawn, the cricketers held a meeting under the chairmanship of the newly elected president of the South Oruawharo Club, Mr E S Brookes Sen, and arrangements were made for some future matches. South Oruawharo is steadily increasing in population, and is perhaps the best settled portion (for its age) of Albertland. The stock of cattle is so quickly augmenting that it promises soon to enable the settlers to be sellers instead of buyers.’
‘Daily Southern Cross, 29th January 1866.

Pictured: A group of early Albertland settlers at their 25th anniversary. The members of this group were unmarried when they left England, so include most of the bachelors mentioned the article below. William Armitage is at the back (far left) and Henry Marsh is in the middle row (far left).
Marsh Collection

Published April 13, 2011