Ōtautau Settlers pre-1900

 

The Seatter family contributed to post railway life in Ōtautau Murihiku, in many ways.

Robert Seatter (1852-1935), was born on Papa Westray, and emigrated to NZ in 1874, sailing on the maiden voyage of the clipper "Invercargill", landing at Port Chalmers on 15 October after a voyage of 91 days. Joining him on this voyage, was fellow Orkney resident William Rendall, who was to become Robert Seatter's brother in law.

An assisted immigrant, Robert worked in the trade of carpentry and joinery, which he had learned back home in Kirkwall, along with a few years of fishing for the herring there, set out to undertake work along the way between Dunedin and Waikouaitai, where he finally settled for some years. On 10th Dec 1878, his wife to be Christena finally immigrated also, on the ship "Canterbury", sailing from Greenock on 12 September and their marriage took place on 26 December of that same year. 

                               
  LEFT: Christena & Robert Seatter, 1911                      RIGHT: Robert & Christena Seatter, 1921.     

Robert & Christena's first 4 children were born here in Waikouaitai, where Robert was also a gun shot and member of the Volunteer Rifles. In 1884, during July, the family set off south for Ōtautau. Robert once more set up shop as a local builder, which led to him eventually taking on the role of the local undertaker and coffin builder.

Below news taken from Western Star, 17 March  1905: (from  https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/)



The couple had 6 more children in Ōtautau, but sadly two died during infancy – one, young Robert at just 2 months of age, the other Andrew, from severe burns at 4 years 10 months.

Robert & Christena's Golden Wedding celebrated on 28 December was reported on by the OSWCC (Ōtautau Standard & Wallace County Chronicle), where it was mentioned they had at that point, lived in the town of Ōtautau for 45 years. It was remarked also, that many of the buildings in town were the result of Mr. Seatter's handiwork.

Above article from Ōtautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 13 October 1914
(accessed via https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/)

 

Robert became hugely involved in community and charity affairs after settling with his family in Ōtautau, and in 1894 was elected a member of the Ōtautau Town Board, going on to also stand as the Chairman for four terms including during the WW1 and also during the terrible influenza epidemic that came after this; in total, Robert gave 36 years of continuous service to this council. He was also made a Justice of the Peace, in 1919. Robert always considered it the best of luck that he was in the position of Chairman of the Town Board when Governor General Lord Jellicoe came to visit the town. One of the family's most prized possessions was a photo of Robert & Christena Seatter with Lord & Lady Jellicoe on this visit. This photo has since been kindly donated to Ōtautau Museum & Heritage Trust, see below:

NOTES: [Otautau was honoured with its first visit from a Governor of the Dominion, in the persons of Lord & Lady Jellicoe, when they came to town on Wednesday 28th July, 1921. During this visit to NZ, the famous war Admiral captured the heart of many New Zealanders, due to his record as the Admiral of the Fleet in the Great war. The Governor General was also highly gratified to find that the local Otautau Town Board Chairman, Robert Seatter, was an Orcadian, and proceeded to have the most interesting and intimate talk to Mr. Seatter on the topic of the historical naval base at Scapa Flow. All in all, the state visit was a great success, especially at Otautau, where the winter weather turned on a great show.]

     ABOVE: Visit of Governor-General Lord Jellicoe to Otautau.
     Photo L-R: Constable Sievier, (unknown child), Mr Robert Seatter (mayor) with his wife 
     Christena Seatter, Lord Jellicoe & Lady Jellicoe, unnamed woman and man,                               
     outside the Otautau Town Hall. 1921. #2010.15 Photo - CC BY

 

On the 18th January, the family celebrated the wedding of Elizabeth (Lizzie) Seatter, who married Hugh Mathieson in 1911 at what became known as the "old" Presbyterian Church. The young couple honeymooned in Dunedin. After their marriage, they managed a Ringway Ridges farm near Ōtautau, where Hugh was already a farmer, until he passed away in 1935. Even Lizzie herself was involved with their dairying venture, she worked with the cows and also milked them. After her husband died, Lizzie moved up to Timaru to live with her relatives there, until she passed away on 13 Sept 1960, aged 80.


ABOVE: Seatter Wedding group. Marriage of Miss L. Seatter & Mr Hugh Mathieson, Jan 12, 1911.
Seated 2nd row back on left:  Christena and Robert Seatter (parents of the bride).
#2010.134 - Photo CC BY

Two of the Seatter “girls”, nicknamed Teenie & Belle (Christina & Isabelle), were known as being quite the local characters in and around Otautau. They were keen tennis players and well known members of the Ōtautau Club.  The girls were apparently also very talented.

ABOVE: Back row: Teenie Seatter, Seddon Harrington, Emily Lock, C B Burns. Front row: Belle Seatter,
[Herb ?] Booth, Miss Mary Donnan, Eric McIvor. #2010.82 - Photo CC BY

Interestingly, while all the locals called the girls (and spelled their names) Teenie and Belle, the family history has them as Teeny and Bell. These records recall how Bell worked at Mathesons store and was a very outgoing and friendly girl. Teeny was the one who stayed at home to look after their parents and the rest of the family. After the girls parents died, Teeny cared for her brother Bill and then sister Peggy on the tragic death of her son, as sadly Peggy’s husband had already passed.

Robert Seatter passed away on 21 January 1935, while his wife Christena had predeceased him by a mere 5 months, dying on 15 August 1934. They are buried in the Old Cemetery.

Finally, it would be Robert being put to rest at the Cemetery in Ōtautau, instead of him doing the undertaking services he was so well known for, for so many years, as below:

                                                           
                                                                 [From the Western Star, 1916]

Compiled by Suzie Best - Researcher/Historian, ph: 027-211-4675 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The content within this blog is Copyright: Photos - to Ōtautau Museum and Heritage Trust (contact on: otautau.museum@gmail.com) unless stipulated otherwise; Research/text - to the author, unless stipulated otherwise (contact on: riverstream@xtra.co.nz)

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