This cache is hidden near
the surprisingly plain grave of the most significant figure of
early Wyndham history. For historical notes read
on...
Dr James Alexander Menzies
sailed into Otago Harbour in 1854, aged 33 by which time Dunedin
was a thriving town and settlers had pushed south as far as the
Clutha River in search of land. South of of this was unknown to
white explorers (Gore, Invercargill, Mataura etc did not exist).
However, a few months earlier a settler, one Mr Mieville had landed
at the Mataurua River mouth (attempting to reach Tuturau) and when
confronted with head-high flax, fern and grass he put a match to it
and the resulting smoke from the blaze was seen as far north as the
Clutha Mouth! Dr Menzies' party of explorers took 8 days to walk
from Dunedin to Tuturau Pa where they recuperated from the arduous
journey under the hospitality of the Maori chief,
Reko.
Dr JAR
Menzies
A foray to Croydon bush almost ended in tradgedy for
Menzies and his factotum when they were nearly burnt in a large
Tussock fire set alight by other members of his own party! Later
Menzies camped near the Mimihau River and after taking a liking to
the locality he applied for and was granted a licence for a 38,000
acre (!) run. He named this Dunalister and it stretched from the
Mataura River to Mokoreta and had the Wyndham and Mimihau Rivers as
borders (huge).
Settlement and development of the early runs must have
been very difficult. The first dwelling on Dunalister was a six
foot by eight foot tent made of "duck material." After its erection
it rained solidly for three days at which point the weather changed
and it snowed for three days. Despite this it only took Menzies and
his 3 helpers 10 weeks to construct a house complete with thatched
roof from fairly basic materials - a sure testament to the
versatility and dedication of the pioneers when one considers that
this took place in mid-winter.
From his considerable run Menzies donated land that
became the first five blocks of the Wyndham township and 153 acres
that became the town recreation reserve. He was also instrumental
in setting aside other land for public use and featured prominently
in town, regional and national
affairs.
More on this in another (planned)
cache.
More can be read in "The Wyndham Story" compiled by
Agnes Thwaites which was used a source for the
above.