The Story of Melsetter


Longden said that the Farmers� Association was doing little good and that its discussions savoured more of politics than agriculture, but, as several enterprising farmers had come into the district, he had little doubt that the FA. would be re-formed and run on proper lines, do good work, and be deserving of financial support. His forecast was correct and the Association became very active alid duly received a Government grant.

Hannes Steyn had brought up one Merino ram and four or five ewes in 1895, which had increased at an extraordinary rate and the mortality had been exceedingly small. Rams were procured from this little flock by farmers who had obtained native ewes, and the first cross was a fine, robust and hardy animal which grew faster and eventually larger than either of its parents. As Melsetter was such good sheep country and so highly suited to Merinos, Longden asked the B.S.A. Company whether it would be possible to import some.

A female Burchell zebra ran alone on Fairfield for some time grazing with the cattle, and one evening accompanied them into the kraal, where George Heyns captured her and tied her up. He applied for permission to keep her and Longden explained that the capture of the animals was practically a contravention of the Game Ordinance, but he referred the request to the Administrator saying that he assumed there would be no objection to her being kept if Heyns domesticated her and if possible bred from her by crossing with a horse or donkey: he had lent some donkeys with which she appeared desirous of associating and asked for sanction for this move. Heyns was allowed to keep
the zebra, but she never bred. Hans helped his father to tame her by tying her to a donkey, and when she was tame he led her to Melsetter to the camp above the old diptank, where she ran for 17 years until she died aged about 24 years.

When the devastating cattle disease of African Coast Fever (usually referred to as A.C.F., or sometimes East Coast Fever, E.C.F.) appeared in Rhodesia in 1901 it was not immediately indentified as a new disease and was called Rhodesian Redwater. Expert advice was sought and in due course Professor Koch ascertained the tick-borne cause of A.C.F. and compulsory dipping laws, the cattle movement permit system, and regular inspection of all cattle were introduced. Regulations were drafted for the control of A.C.F. and cattle movements and the Veterinary Department was given wide powers and was supported whole-heartedly by the cooperation of Melsetter farmers. For years these farmers had been asking for better cattle inspection arrangements and, on being advised to dip their cattle regularly, they set to work to build dipping tanks.

In spite of co-operation and precautions the disease affected herds very gravely, and Melsetter, so dependent on ox transport, was very badly hit, and for over 40 years was adversely affected by A.C.F.

The Secretary for Agriculture wrote that he thought the disease in Melsetter was red-water, but in consequence of doubts locally expressed he asked that the doctor, who would know the process, should take blood from superficial veins of ear or nose of certainly infected animals, after washing the parts quite clean, and send the films for examination. No result was reported, but there was no doubt that A.C.F. had reached Melsetter.

Farming came to a standstill and the settlers were practically ruined through the enormous losses of cattle. Road traffic was suspended in March and necessary supplies became exceedingly expensive and the cost of housekeeping was proportionately increased and trade was practically at a standstill. The absence of milk was felt very seriously. It had also been an unprecedentedly dry season and crops were a partial failure, and lions, leopards and wild dogs � the latter in packs up to SO strong � had taken their toll. The distress was so great that the Government had to send in provisions, and when Martin applied for assistance in getting wire netting from Umtali he was asked what the weight would be as the Transport Department was experiencing great difficulties in getting food to Melsetter.

A farmer applied for permission to destroy certain eland which were mixing with his healthy isolated cattle, and in reply the Agricultural Department said that there was no proof that eland contracted redwater and in that case ticks dropped from them were not infectious, so the desired authority could not be recommended.

Local remedies were tried in the efforts to find a cure, and Longden sent a messenger to Umtali, at the usual price of 10/- for the trip, with roots and leaves alleged to be a native remedy for redwater.
M. J. Martin was selected to represent thedistrict in a Conference on the severe losses and the distress likely to arise. On his return from Salisbury he reported that he had laid matters fully before the Administrator, who informed him that a Farmers� and Transport Aid Board had been appointed to deal with applications from persons in distress through the ravages of the disease. Applications for aid or relief had to be made on printed forms obtained by applying personally at the Melsetter Magistrate�s office and forwarded without delay.

In January 1902 the School opened with Miss Gilson as Headmistress and Miss Clarke the assistant teacher in the large schoolroom which had been built earlier. By then everybody was in a very difficult financial position, and as the Managers realised that parents could not afford very much they waived the entrance fee, the charges for washing and books, and medical fees in most cases of illness, and ran the school at a heavy loss to themselves.

In spite of the concessions few parents found it possible to pay the tuition and boarding fees, and in June the Managers said they were unable to do more than they were doing and that Government assistance was essential in order to increase the attendance. In August it was announced that, for one term only, no tuition fees would be charged and the boarding fee would be reduced to �2.10, and the Government undertook to make good to the Managers any loss incurred by the remission of tuition fees and the diminution of boarding fees, and gave them permission to buy provisions for the boarders at cost price from the supplies sent to Melsetter to relieve distress. In October Miss Gilson asked for the grant to be continued for at least another term as, notwithstanding all that was being done, the educational problems were not solved. �2.10 covered all expense except clothing for the term of thirteen weeks, yet many people claimed that they could not pay this amount, and more than two-thirds of the children were growing up in ignorance.

Soon after she started Miss Gilson put forward the case for three terms instead of four: as there were no children of school age in the township there were no day scholars, and most lived from 20 to 65 miles away and required from three to seven days for the journey each way; some had no wagons and depended on neighbours for conveyance; rain from November to April often made it impossible to reach Melsetter on a given date; and with four terms the short holidays were impracticable as some pupils could not get home and back and had nowhere to stay in Melsetter, and teachers could not be expected to stay to look after them as they needed a break themselves. The Department replied that it would be very inconvenient to have three terms instead of four, as Melsetter School would not be on the same footing as all other Schools in Rhodesia, but somehow three terms were accepted, with the long holidays from July to September.

The school hours were from 9 till 11 and from 2 to 5, and the following year was in session four and half hours each day, besides one hour of sewing and one hour of domestic economy for the girls, one hour of industrial training for the boys and one half-hour of instruction in the evening. Out of school hours Miss Gilson kept the children occupied in planting mealies and vegetables with a view to making the school self-supporting.

In 1902 Longden said he had been tied to the office since his arrival as nobody else was qualified to do the work, and had been unable to get around the district as he should. He recommended that L. F. H. Roberts, who had passed the Examination, be appointed Assistant Magistrate, and that Edgar Hoal be authorised to sign as C.C. Hoal also carried out postal and telegraphic duties, and by 1902 his salary had been raised to �30 per month, and when his wife visited England he was able to arrange for half his salary to be paid to her there through the Company�s London office.

Postal arrangements continued to be unsatisfactory. Mails took 3� da9s from Umtali, less than 80 miles by the rdute the postboys took. Runners made the whole journey without a break and consequently travelled very slowly and after a few journeys became footsore which necessitated the frequent engagement of fresh boys.

Tom Brent, for Meikle Brothers, completed a road to Uitkyk, for which the Government paid for the labour and lent two portable forges and a small anvil, which Brent promised to return to Melsetter as soon as transport was obtainable.

Public events included the establishment of the Cricket Club, the building of a second tennis court, and the celebration of the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Mary with two public holidays and an official church service on Coronation Day.

Longden made enquiries on behalf of George Willows, an enterprising farmer who was desirous of obtaining special facilities for the importation of sheep. Beira-Mashonaland Railways quoted their rates for sheep as: from Gwelo to Salisbury 15/ 8d per head and from Salisbury to Umtali 14/ 2d per head, with a rebate of 25% allowed on complete wagonloads of approximately 60 head. It is not1certain whether Willows imported any, but gradually farmers were slowly acquiring sheep.

In view of the depredations amongst stock by wild animals farmers applied for permission to arm their native herds with a rifle and ten rounds each, and the C.C. issued provisional permits pending confirmation by the Administrator, but was told that His Honour was averse to issues of rifles to natives under any circumstances.

The Rev. Douglas Wood signed the lease for the Rusitu Mission land before Longden. He compiled a brief chiNdau grammar and dictionary and wrote the first hymn in chiNdau: Jesu wakandida (Jesus loves me). Raney brought his bride to Rusitu, and the first local man, Timothy Chianguangu, was converted to Christianity.

 
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