Neil Dalgety with his grandfather’s 1949 Fordson Major E27N. Photo / Catherine Fry
Neil Dalgety with his grandfather’s 1949 Fordson Major E27N. Photo / Catherine Fry
The Country looks back at some of the biggest and best stories of the past 12 months, including readers’ favourites, news events and those yarns that gave us a glimpse into rural lives and livelihoods across the country.
This Coast & Country News story by Catherine Fry was originally publishedon July 13.
Neil Dalgety’s family have a long association with the land around Mangatarata in the Hauraki Plains.
They were some of the first settlers on the Plains.
His great-grandfather cleared large blocks of land and had eight sons and a few daughters to whom he gave land.
At one point, there were several family farms in the area, but now only two remain, including Dalgety’s Corner.
Neil Dalgety grew up on a Ngātea dairy farm, and his brother then farmed at Dalgety’s Corner while Dalgety bought 250 acres (101.171ha) of sheep and beef country up in the hills.
This property is the home of Dalgety’s tractor and machinery collection.
“My father, Selwyn, then took off the steel wheels and put on rubber tyres to use it down on the plains.”
Unfortunately, the rear steel wheels were stolen while up at Dalgety’s Mangatarata farm and the front steel wheels were rolled down the hill by the thieves.
Rubber tyres replaced the original steel lugged cast iron ones. Photo / Catherine Fry
“After that, my grandfather sold it, and it sadly went out of the family.”
When adult Neil became involved in the Hauraki Vintage Machinery Club, he realised that one of the members had his grandfather’s Fordson in their collection.
“We all thought that it had been abandoned up in the hills when it was sold, but after all that time, it had been safe and looked after.”
When the owner sold his collection, Dalgety didn’t hesitate to buy the Fordson.
