High Country Reading

Apparently, when the census was done back in 1911, it showed more New Zealanders were living in urban areas than rural. Yet the 'high country' continued to figure large in so many of the memoirs I have been reading from around the mid 1900s. 

David McLeod, who wrote several books about his high country life, summed it up well. "In the last thirty years or so a great deal has been written about the New Zealand high country, and it might be thought that the term 'high country' might apply to almost any part of so mountainous a land. In fact what is meant is really a type of life rather than a definable area..." (Down From The Tussock Ranges, publ. 1980).

That way of life often seems to be about surviving in beautiful but often inhospitable country. A life in remote places is, in many ways, the ultimate in self-reliance. 

Author Peter Newton wrote much about musterers in the high country . "It is a life that has much to offer. It is a life of adventure; one lives close to nature and far from civilisation, the bustle and worry of a striving world is forgotten and one finds a peace that is vastly satisfying". (Straggle Muster, publ 1964)

And far from civilisation,  people seem to have found that sense of community - that we often hanker after. The neighbours may be far away and there are few of them, but that makes them even more important. 

"It gave me a sense of security to know that if anyone was really ill or had a bad accident or needed advice, that help was always available and readily given," said ex-townie, Grace Porter talking about her neighbours. (Under The Nor'West Arch, publ 1970). 

It's a thought that also came up in Mona Anderson's famous book about life at Mount Algidus station. Towards the end of A River Rules My Life (publ 1963), she talks of the changes brought about by the radio and the airstrip. 

"If there is sickness or accident we can speak to the doctor on the radio telephone, and we feel safe in the knowledge that, if the river is high, Allan or Peter will fly us out...".

In the days before these inventions reached the station, it was very different she recounts. "...only a few years ago no one dreamt of coming to the station and going out again the same day. It took half a day, sitting in the dray while the old draughts plodded along, even to reach the river crossing...Only a few years ago our telegrams were put into our mailbag and often reached us too late. Once we opened the bag to find a telegram for Ron telling him his father was ill...By the time we reached town his father was dead and we were only just in time for the funeral."

These books have made me think a lot about remote places and isolated life. Much as I loathe crowds and love open spaces. I am not sure I could handle that level of isolation. Could you?

----

Want to read more about high-country life? Here are a few suggestions: 

The Tall Tussock -by David McLeod - Ten stirring tales of high country life - publ 1959

Shadows on the Hill - by D G Jardine - Life running The Remarkables Station, Queenstown in the early to mid 1900s. publ 1978

The Boss's Story - by Peter Newton - An account of the author's time running Mt White Station after WWII - publ 1966. 

Under The Nor'West Arch - by Grace and Ted Porter. From running a car wrecking business in Christchurch to working on a high country station. publ 1970. 

Straggle Muster - by Peter Newton - more tales of high country life from this author who was so thoroughly immersed in the life. publ 1964. 

Station Life in New Zealand - by Lady Barker - A lady's life on a Canterbury sheep farm in the 1850s. publ 1883.

A River Rules My Life - by Mona Anderson - The river was my Rubicon, says Mona Anderson as she begins her account of life at Mount Algidus Station. Beautifully written and a bit of an NZ classic. publ 1963. 

High Country Family - by Betty Dick - An account of the author's time spent raising a family at Lilybank Station near Lake Tekapo. A lovely chapter on the correspondence school and what it meant to high country children. publ 1964.