BY ROBYN PARKES
The settlement of Nelson began with the arrival of the first expedition ships, Will Watch, Whitby and the supply ship Arrow in late 1841. The first of the emigrant ships arrived in February the following year.
On arrival at Nelson, the outer areas of the district were quickly explored, looking at prospects for settlements and for good land. The early exploration of the Waimea Valley reported it as being interesting and valuable with the land being largely flat except for a ‘grand’ range about a mile or two into the plain, these being the Richmond Ranges.
Immense beds of flax occupied the land next to the sea, running about a mile or so the length of the valley which was of a marshy nature. There was also land like natural meadows with fine grass and sow thistles which formed a thick carpet and was considered possibly good pasture for cattle.
Thick bush with flax and ferns extended from the river on both the south and west and the land adjoining the hills was covered in fern, with some said to be of enormous size. Sow thistle and wild parsnips were common, but a study of the soil showed promising signs for growing food and due to large rivers and numerous streams the supply of water was guaranteed. Overall, the land was pronounced as being fertile and ready for cultivation, but the marshes needed to be drained.
One major drawback on the plains was the scarcity of timber, as what was available was not of any great size, however it was identified that there were good supplies on the other side of the Waimea’s. With the Waimea River found to be quite navigable, wide and deep, communication by means of water was promising with no roads anywhere.
However, the rivers presented a challenge with many settlers being unfamiliar with the force of the rivers and in August the drowning of William Curling Young occurred when he fell into deep water in Waimea River.
Before 1842 came to a close a number of families had moved to the Waimea’s to forge out a new life on the land. Tytler brothers left their town section in July and moved to their Waimea section, and by August they and John Kerr were working the plough on their land.
With no roads passable for carts, goods were taken by boat to Cotterell’s landing and from there transported by bullocks. From the small farms in Waimea West the land was flat, and this area was identified as being a good place to build a road.
By October 1842 the building of a cart road up the Waimea Road to the river was underway and was envisaged to open up the whole of the Waimea plains.
At the end of December, the first public service was held by Reverend Reay at the home of the Kerrs with 42 attending in the morning and 48 in the afternoon.
In one year, the dreams of those who left their families in the old country for a better life in an untamed land slowly became a reality as farms were formed, crops put down, homes erected, roads built and new settlements established.
