Bowls anyone (Hauraki District) Traditional Cache

HENRY ALLEY and his brother George arrived in New Zealand in 1842 and became pioneer settlers in Hawkes Bay. In 1857 in partnership with a ship-mate, H.S. Tiffin they purchased several thousand acres west of Napier. This they divided, Tiffin naming his part "Greenmeadows" while the Alleys named theirs "Taradale" in memory of their home in Ireland and the English Dales - their original birth place. In 1860 they built the first house in the district near Otatara Pa and it remains there today. However they decided to cut up the property for closer settlement and while George moved to Clive, Henry came north in 1872 as he had purchased part of McCaskill’s Grant at Hikutaia.

Taradale was then known as a starting point for various inland routes and it is assumed that Alley knew something of these, for with some help be undertook the task of driving his cattle and sheep to their distant destination. After many difficulties they encountered another at Komata until Chief Tukukino gave them permission to pass, through his land, at that time there being no legal road between Paeroa and Hikutaia

Mr. Alley built his house very close to where his grandson, Mr. Vic Alley lives now, and on cleared portions of the land grew wheat which was ground for flour and oats to cut for chaff. Water was carried by race from Peel’s Creek, Maratoto, to a Mill situated on the bank of the Hikutaia River, just up-stream from "Alley-Memorial Park". The products from the mill were then transported via the river. Meanwhile stock multiplied and a small dairy herd was established "Alley’s Butter" being known throughout the district, while cattle, beef and mutton were in great demand after the opening of the Goldfields.

Mrs. Alley, one of the first white women to become a permanent resident of Hikutaia shared with her large family a tremendous amount of pioneering work. Thames was the main shopping area and she thought nothing of riding there on horseback. It is remembered that she bought Calico by the bolt to make clothes for both girls and boys. Members of the original family were:- Charlie, Fred, Jean, Jack, Alf, Elizabeth, William, George, Frances and Albert (Bert).