Rain, rain, go away – but it didn’t, we caught part of Cyclone Dovi as it was passing by. It poured all the way down to our next stop, at the Coach House, Feilding. Scotty did a great job of sorting the parking out in the rain, and we all fitted in the car park nicely. Luckily we had use of the small hall for Happy Hour on both days while we stayed there, so we could all gather together for a catch up.
Parked up at Feilding Coach House Museum
Our overnight fees gave us free entry into the museum. Even though we had been there recently, it certainly was worth another visit. As we entered the museum, we experienced New Zealand as it used to be, when the settlers arrived. Dense forests full of birdlife, which had to be cleared for the settlers to make a living. It was a had hard physical life indeed back in those days.
Living in the bush
The museum has a wonderful collection of carts, huge things no doubt pulled by teams of oxen.
I loved the look of the smaller dainty gigs, and could imagine the well-to-do going out to church on a Sunday. Once all the weekday chores were done, of course. Or maybe it was the early version of the gentry who had these small carriages, perhaps the workers had to make do with their lumbering carts.
Gigs for the well to do
This museum has a huge collection of John Deere machinery down at the far end of the building. Large green workhorses as far as the eye could see, this was just part of them.
John Deere’s everywhere
And what's this huge thing. I wondered? It was a 1922 Fitch Four Drive Tractor, renown for it’s traction and pulling power. Purchased from America by the Pohongina Council for 750 pounds, it served the council well, then was sold to private owners. Following his death in 2011 it was the wish of Jim Spall for this rare example of 1920s engineering to be donated to the Coach House Museum.
Fitch Four Drive Tractor
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