THE RISE AND FALL OF H. G.-S. AND A. M. C. 151 



This hut, where for nearly a year we continued to live, was after- 

 wards cut into sections and rafted down the lake to the site of the 

 present homestead. There for many seasons it served as our kitchen. 

 Later, when a newer and larger kitchen was made, our original domicile 

 was again moved, and became part of the shearers' hut. Opposite the 

 wool-shed to this day it stands, sound as a bell, and likely to last 

 another forty years. 



Meantime, whilst Stuart, who had ridden up with us, was preparing 

 the immediate luxury of flapjacks, mixing flour and yeast for the 

 morrow's bread, and fishing salt pork out of the barrel for the evening 

 collation, we rushed off to inspect our wool-shed and yards, thence 

 proceeding to Otutepiriao the little valley where stands the present 

 homestead. 



In that September of '82 we could barely pass along the edge 

 of the lake, so dense was the growth of flax and fern. On the flat itself 

 grew huge scattered bushes of the former plant ; groves of tall manuka 

 marked the site of Craig's former garden ; otherwise the surface of the 

 ground was entirely rooted by pig. With instantaneous decision we 

 settled this spot should be the homestead of the future. I recollect, too, 

 that we agreed how disgusting, how disgraceful, how abominable must 

 have been the mismanagement that could have wrecked such a splendid 

 property. That day, in fact, we were very, very happy, and very, 

 very foolish. 



The second day on Tutira was still an ecstasy. We rode out to 

 inspect the Back Country. We viewed its illimitable wastes of fern 

 from the top of the Image hill. My present recollections are that we 

 viewed them about as intelligently as an infant looks from its per- 

 ambulator on to the world, and with about as little foreboding of the 

 ills it might inflict. 



Now, in 1920, at a distance, alas ! of forty years, I am amazed at 

 the hardihood of the pioneers of Tutira, Puterino, and Maungaharuru. 

 What, I wonder to myself, could have been the inducement to attempt 

 the handling of such runs. Tutira lands were as I have described them. 

 Putorino contained no limestone or marl land whatsoever. Maunga- 

 haruru was thirty miles from the coast, its wool-clip packed out on 

 bullocks. The tenure of these runs was leasehold, and native leasehold 

 at that ; without exception the titles were flawed ; the land was devoid 

 of grass, the climate was wet, the access bad, the soil ungrateful and 



