Back Country Musterers - behind Geraldine. NZ.
Gil Smith's dogs from left to right are: Bob, Tip, Fly, Don
& Day at Mt. Peel.
Trying Ordeal
Musterer's Terrible Experience Broken leg on Mt. Potts.
Unable to move or assist himself owning to
his left leg being broken above the knee Leslie Timpson, aged 32 years, a
shepherd, was forced to lie on the slopes of Mt. Potts. near the source of the Rangitata river shortly after 9 o'clock on Tuesday morning throughout the severe
cold of Tuesday night, until 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday, a total of 27½
hours, before assistance arrived, his only comfort being a pack of faithful
dogs, who lay close to him all night, keeping him warm.
Timpson was mustering on some of the back slopes of the Mt.
Potts Station, and as he was crossing a large sliding shingle face about the
snow-line, the mass of shingle gave way under his weight, and he was carried
down a distance of over 50ft. striking a large boulder half-way, and travelling
the remainder of the distance head foremost. During his descent his leg was
broken and he was unable to move. It was some time before the unfortunate man
was missed, and it was not until 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday that he was discovered
by the search party. Then commenced the difficulty task of conveying him over
extremely rough country on an improvised stretcher, make from coats and
musterer's staffs. It took ten hours to cover thirteen miles.
Timpson was conveyed from the homestead over the Potts River
to the south side in a dray, where Dr. G. J. S. Fisher, of Ashburton, attended
to his injuries and the journey was commenced to Ashburton by car, the County
Hospital being reached at 6.30 p.m. yesterday morning. From the time the
accident occurred it was only three hours short of two days before Timpson
reached the hospital.
Enquiries made at the hospital last evening elicited the
information that his condition was fairly good after his _____ experience.
Only problem is we don’t know which Paper it is from. Les was born 17 March 1895 and aged 32 at the time so the article must have been written in c.1926 -1927. Three years before he married.
The photo was taken by Stuart Mac a photographer who was holidaying with the
Smith family. Don't remember Stuart's full last name.
"The back country musterers" Mt. Peel Station. South Canterbury. 1952.
From left to right. John Acland, Frank Joines, Mark Acland, John Gibson and Gil
Smith.
The old
Mt. Peel sheep yards. There are two sheeptrucks in the photo. Almost certain
they were from a trucking company.
Above the clouds. Mustered sheep coming out from The Lynn. Mt. Peel Station,
South Canterbury. 4 Jan 1952.
Gil Smith would muster right over to Lochaber Station,
stay the night there and come back, looking for Mt Peel sheep that had strayed.
They would have some there that he would take back. Worked both ways.
Information, newspaper clipping and the old b/w photos courtesy of Stan Smith. Posted 23 March 2011.