Taylor’s draught stallions at Green Hill.
The sale of the Green Hill Clydesdale stud, Te Awamutu, was an event of more than local importance, and was watched with interest by horse breeders throughout the South Island, if not the whole country.
For many years the Clydesdales bred at Green Hill had been famous for their general good qualities, high breeding and soundness of constitution. The principal Clydesdale stallions in Waikato and adjoining districts were either bred at Green Hill or were closely related to members of the stud. William Taylor was an ideal horse breeder, full of energy and enthusiasm, and never lacking in courage to secure the very best blood obtainable in Australasia.
The Green Hill Estate and the fine property Lochiel had been almost wholly devoted to horse breeding, and under the able management of Mr Baxter, had been the home of many famous stallions that, from time to time, ruled supreme. A recent drop in the value of draught horses was considered only temporary and there was confidence that the general progress of the country and rapid spread of settlement meant horse work in one form or other would see good horses of all classes, and especially draughts, back to their old place again and in keen demand.
At Pirongia there were two accidents of a similar kind to old residents – Mr Garmonsway and Mr Turner. The former had his leg broken by a cow falling on it, and the latter was pulling up a ti-tree stump, which came away easier than he expected causing him to fall backwards, snapping his leg above the ankle.
A telegram from Kihikihi stated that an ‘airship’ had been seen there causing great excitement amongst the spectators. It was interesting to note, said the correspondent, that Kihikihi was the place where the government some time ago proposed to establish a mental hospital. A strange ‘airship mania’ was sweeping the country and Te Awamutu residents, feeling neglected in regard to airship apparitions, arranged to give a public exhibition in the Town Hall when a number of local artists staged a farce called ‘The Mysterious Airship.’ The proceeds were given to the funds of St John’s Church.
A large gathering was held at Te Kawa, a railway station situated a few miles from Te Awamutu, where Ngāti Kaputuhi erected a runanga house. The house was built to honour memory of the tribes’ ancestors. Invitations to all parts of the country were sent and hundreds of people attended. Great preparations had been made gathering food which included eels, forest birds preserved, mutton birds, fish of all descriptions, including shell fish, as well as an abundance of pākehā food. The building was elaborately painted with designs which had been handed down through the years. In the centre of the building was the word ‘Tainui’ above which was depicted Māori paddling a waka.
A large oil painting in a splendid, gilded frame portrayed their beloved chief, Rewi Maniapoto, which looked out to the observer in all its majesty.
