NEARLY 50 years ago, Pearl Davidson and Ruth Schumacher lived on neighbouring farms in the Huinga district. They had a lot in common including working on the farm, bringing up a family and generally making do with what they had. Or as Ruth puts it, "What you didn't have, you didn't miss."
Pearl and her husband Alex had moved onto a 'rehab' farm a few years before, and lived in a tiny, one-room government cottage with two children and no electricity, while a new house was built, (after which four more children arrived.)
There were four rehab farms settled at the time, and theirs was the last house built. Pearl had to boil the copper for all the hot water, and cooked on a small, wood-burning camp oven. A curtain divided the living and sleeping areas, and newspaper was stuffed in the holes and cracks to combat the draughts.
After Ruth married Joe they farmed in the Midhirst area for three years, and she remembers blocking the sides of the coal range to stop the mice coming in! With three children they moved to Huinga (and a fourth child came later.)
Initially they had a walk through cowshed and Alex took the milk to the factory on a wagon pulled by "Dandy" and "Joan", horses bought from Jack Jones. In time the shed was replaced with a herringbone model and the horses were replaced by a tractor. When the children were older, a Lincoln student was employed for a year and he ended up marrying the boss's eldest daughter! Pearl made butter after separating the cream from the milk, and Ruth had helped her mother do the same.
Pearl learned to drive after she'd had a few children and Ruth says Pearl had it easy because the tester, Mr Wall, came out to the farm, instructed Pearl to drive around the paddock, and gave her a license! He did advise her to take someone with her if she drove to town. Ruth learned to drive at age 15, after her mother died. Ruth had to come into town to sit her test (also with Mr Wall) who after accompanying her on a short drive near the hospital gates, said if she could drive on the Te Popo roads (where she was living), she could drive anywhere, and issued her a license.
Life revolved around the farm and family, and there was a strong community spirit. Often on Sunday afternoons a game of cricket was organised out in a paddock, where a bowling strip has been mown beforehand. The children often went eeling and crawlie-catching, and even prepared the occasional hangi. School events were strongly supported with Calf Day possibly the main one each year. Indoor bowls and table tennis were also well patronised.
Weekends, especially in the winter, were hectic as the whole day revolved around sport. The girls were taken to basketball (as it was called then) in the mornings and after returning home for lunch, which was more often than not a bowl of hearty soup, the boys were then taken to rugby. There was much celebration one year when both teams won the championship.
For many years rural folk had their groceries delivered to their door once or twice a month, and the mail contractor brought fresh bread with the mail, first thing in the morning. Toko, just down the road, had a general store, butcher, garage, engineer and Post Office, and a pub of course.
After Pearl and Alex retired to town, Pearl took up golf and still enjoys the occasional '9 holes'. Ruth took up walking more than 20 years ago and has completed a few half-marathons with her daughters.
Pearl and Ruth both had extensive vegetable gardens and several apple trees, so Apple Crumble was a handy 'filler' for growing children and hard working farmers. Cooking and helping during harvesting was time-consuming as not only was lunch and dinner provided, but also morning and afternoon teas.
Although Pearl and Ruth live in different towns they appreciate the opportunity to catch up from time to time, to reminisce over a cuppa and talk about old times. Ruth's chosen recipe can be a mains or a light meal, while Pearl's fruit cake is a family favourite and originally came from the 1965 WDFF Cook Book. The end of another year is a good time to reflect on the value of good friends and the saying, "Make new friends but keep the old, for one is silver, the other gold."
Missionary Cake
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 c flour
? lb sultanas
? lb butter
? c golden syrup
? c milk
1 tsp baking powder
? lb currants
Cream butter, sugar and golden syrup.
Add eggs, then milk, flour, baking powder and salt.
Pour boiling water over fruit, drain and add warm fruit.
Put into a 23x23cm tin and bake in a moderate oven for 45-60 minutes. A good keeper.
Quick & Easy Lasagne
Brown 500g mince and 1 large onion.
Mix 1 can tomatoes, 1 can tomato soup and 1 can water, pour over mince.
Cook ? packet macaroni elbows (250g) until soft. Put mince mixture into large dish, spread macaroni on top and press down.
Heat in moderate oven, and five minutes before serving cover top with cheese (and breadcrumbs), and grill.
To save even more time, just tip in a jar of pasta sauce instead of the tomatoes and soup.
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