MANUKA MEMORIES.

The family and horses in front of the Manuka homestead.

When Aunt Judith Treweeke, (nee McClymont and formerly Banks) who is Robert's only daughter, was shown this picture she said

"I remember my Dad(Bert) saying they 'selected' a farm area away from the station water, and put down a well for the house and perhaps the stock too. It must have been 1870 or 1860 I think.

Dad's father (Alexander) was known as a 'gentleman farmer' and liked to read all night, it was said. Seem to think this trait was certainly passed down!

I remember visiting Manuka when Uncle Jim lived there with Aunt Isa and Agnes and there were two huge almond trees in the garden. Cam McClymont and I spent hours cracking nuts between two half bricks."

The picture in the top left hand corner has come to us entitled "Under the Almond Tree" I think we can see the swing too!

Judith is coming to the reunion with all three of her sons Cam, Rod and Duncan Banks and has been a wealth family knowledge for Lesley and I to call on for this special event.

Robyn Litchfield ( Daughter of Norman, the fourteenth born) told me yesterday that when one a member of the family last visited the house it was not in use and was derelict.

The old Manuka wind up gramaphone will be here for you to look at when you come to the reunion.

WAY WAY BACK IN SCOTLAND.

It is important to acknowledge Jessie McClymont, (deceased) the daughter of Alexander( the ninth born) who recorded a lot of the information that has been relied upon for these blogs. She was an army nursing sister who did not marry.

Aunt Jessie hand wrote the family tree of the Manuka family and now we need to up date that with information from you all at the reunion.

She documented the names of the other siblings of our Manuka forefather - Alexander Cummingham McClymont.

Alexander's parents were Thomas McClymont and Anne Cunningham who were married in 3 November 1834 at Rerrick Scotland. The children were born in this order-

James was born 3 November 1835 at Kirkcudbrightshire Buittle parish.

Alexander Cunningham Born 9 July 1838 at Buittle. Lived in NZ from 22years old Died 27-11-1900.

Thomas born 24-1-1843. Died aged 3 2-2-1846 aged 3.

Agnes Jane born 9-6-1846 at Buittle. died 21-12-1921 Edinbuurgh.

George McTaggart born 1848 at Bruttle .Died aged 27 11-3-1876 in London.

The burning question is "Which brother was it that travelled to New Zealand and Australia with Alexander?"

A SHORT HISTORY LESSON!

Information from the Clans of Scotland says that the Lamont family first appeared in the Cowall region of Argyll in the early thirteenth century.

A lord of Cowall called Ladman or Lauman, is regarded as the founder of the clan.

A John Lamont of Inveryne, owner of Toward Castle was knighted in 1539.

The McClymonts were also recorded as farmers in Ayrshire in 1613

There is extensive information about the family name history . In short Lamont means "law man,that is one who laid down the law or lawyer."

MOTTO: Ne parcas, nec spernas. Translates to"Neither spare nor despise."

Much could also be said about the repeated clashes of the Lamont Clan with their formidable and much more powerful neighbours, Clan Campbell.

Needless to say they did also intermarry.