Laughter met the introduction of a four wheeled wagon from Canada when Kihikihi farmer James Henderson brought it into the country. The contraption was considered a novelty but James predicted that the old clumsy two-wheeled dray would not long be used and the wagon would supersede it.
The Hendersons, originally from Scotland, had moved to Canada around 1847. James had married Ada Somerville and a son, Allan, was born in 1848 but within a few years Ada died. James remarried and he and second wife Agnes had two sons William and John, and a daughter, Margaret. In August 1864, when Allan was 14, the family set out for New Zealand on board the British Trident, arriving at Auckland three months later.
James was one of the first settlers outside the military to take up land and settle down to farming in the Te Awamutu district. He approached this with energy, perseverance, and hard work. He was one of the pioneers of milking, then the chief means of livelihood. James also became successful as a stock raiser. His favourite breed was the Hereford, which fetched the highest prices at Auckland and Ōhaupō markets.
James farmed with his son Allan, who in 1878 had married Jenny Martin. The couple had seven children. Allan, who took a great interest in school matters, served on the Kihikihi School committee, as well as the Rangiaowhia Road’s Board.
The Henderson homestead in the 1880s was described by a rural reporter as being among the trees and a pleasing feature in the local landscape. More up-to-date methods began to lessen the farm work and in 1882 the Te Awamutu cheese and butter factory was built.
In 1887 the family’s matriarch Agnes died, followed five years later, in 1892, by James who at 68 succumbed to apoplexy while he was in Auckland. His body was returned to Kihikihi by train where he was buried. Despite the day being unusually wet the funeral for the district’s early innovator was well attended.
Later that year, a creamery was erected on a site donated by Allan – centrally situated at the junction of the Kihikihi, Ōrākau and Rangiaowhia roads. Dairying methods were now a far cry from his father’s day.
In 1897 Allan became unwell with a chest complaint and it took many months for him to regain his health. In June 1898 a similar attack seized him and he took to his bed for several days but this time he did not recover, gradually sinking and dying aged 47. His death came as an unpleasant surprise to local residents. He was much liked by those who knew him. It was Allan’s special wish that he be buried at Paterangi. This was carried out although the bad state of the roads caused delays. Allan’s widow, Jenny, was completely prostrated by her great loss.
Six years later in another tragic turn of events, Jenny’s third son, Allan, died aged 22. Three years previously he had hurt his foot when his horse fell and he never entirely recovered the use of his leg, the injury eventually causing his death. He was buried at Kihikihi.
James Henderson’s prediction regarding four wheeled wagons soon came to pass and the creamery Allan Henderson supported flourished for about 21 years before being eventually wound up when home-separating became the custom.
Jenny died in 1939, aged 89, and was buried with Allan at Paterangi.
Creamery carts
