THE RHODES BEIT BAILEY (RBB) FARMING SYNDICATE IN THE NUWE HANTAM, COLEBERG.

A FARM MANAGER’S SUNDRY PACK OF SIX MEMORIES

The final toverview archive instalment of estate farm manager Morton Banes-Webb’s memoir in retirement, on the Rhodes Beit Bailey (RBB) syndicate of some 45 farms in the nuwe hantam district of Colesberg, in the very early 1900’s, is a fascinating grouping of a number of topics, jointly headed SUNDRY, and concealing a range of information and surprises to do with the land and things upon and around it. Here Maeder Osler sets out the memoir’s six pack of sundry selected items, for much consideration.

AASVOGELS Aasvogels were very prevalent and unless a farmer spotted a sick animal in time he seldom found anything but a heap of bones.
SPRINGBOK Springbok were plentiful and found on almost every farm and “biltong” was a standard item in every home. They disappeared largely when fencing and intensive sheep farming began.
ROCK PAINTINGS Bushman rock paintings are prevalent all over the area and some fine specimens occur on the farms Oorlogspoort, De Poort, Vlakfontein, Platberg, Holle Rivier, etc.
EARLY DAYS TRANSPORT Early days” transport were very limited and confined to “cart and horses” and the farmers were very isolated in consequence. This resulted in very self-contained households and a grand buildup of character.
THE SMOUSE A very useful asset to farm communication was the “Smouse”, who conveyed town goods round the countryside in a cart and horses and bought or exchanged the farmer’s skins or ostrich feathers for his own wares, and was able to put him up to date with the latest general news.
THE MOTOR CAR The motor car made its appearance in 1906. No windscreen and a canvas hood that was pulled up from the back, and fastened by two straps to the dash board. Speed was manipulated hy two long levers outside the car, and reached an average of about 25 miles an hour, due to the roads at that time having earth humps acriss them known as “Dwars walle”, for drainage purposes. – every 100 yards more or less. Petrol was only procurable in 4 gallon tins, packed two in a case, like paraffin, and general repairs had to be carried out by the owners. The care was started by adjusting a crank lever Infront and was always a severe physical strain to manipulate -especially in winter, If one ran out of oil and the engine heated , a lb of butter , if you were carrying any , slipped into the engine “ did the trick”, and one could at least reach home!

The syndicate manager’s memoir, on his later retirement, concludes :

Written in good faith and without prejudice to anyone. “ at 82 this is the best I can do”. Best regards. MW Barnes Webb, ‘” Leehurst”, Kirkwood, 9.7.’52.’

A FOOTNOTE ADDS: ‘As far as a can remember the fencing act came into force in 1912.’

Maeder’s sundry note: This time I pass on the temptations to respond to readers on items in the sundry six pack above; but note that the memoir does not set out to cover the changes to the syndicate’s land holdings enterprise, within a few years of its formation; starting in offers of sale by auction of 33 of its farms on Friday 7th April 1916.

That, and more form the archives, is for a next episode from the Waenhuis.