Know your town

The traction engine

The name Chapman has been a part of Wairarapa since the 1890s when W Chapman was the manager of McPhee’s Traction Plant in Carterton. In 1899 he entered into partnership in Martinborough with Thomas Greenaway to do agricultural work with traction engines. They also provided steam power for such things as milling. The partnership operated out of land in Radium street and No 37 Grey Street.
In 1900 Chapman decided to go out on his own operating from 63 – 67 Venice Street. The section soon had a number of storage sheds, Stables and accommodation and was said to be one of the finest plants in the Wairarapa. Plant included two traction engines (six and eight horse power), ploughs , harvesting plants (threshing, chaff cutting) and haulage. Their phone number was 22.
Over the years the company was operated variously as W Chapman, Chapman Bros, Chapman and Taylor, and Chapman and Sons. However it was commonly known simply as Chapmans.
A traction engine with three trailers could haul a load of 120 bales of wool to Featherston railway station. Back loading goods for Martinborough. Chapmans also had a range of horse drawn vehicles for hire.
A traction engine train leaving town to fill a contract or moving from farm to farm was quite a sight. The engine would be pulling the required machinery, followed by an accommodation wagon, water cart and coal wagon.
Some of the well known Traction engine drivers were Jim Lawrie, Tom Price, Scotty Fraser, and Jack Chapman. The drivers tended to stay with Chapmans for long terms, some up to forty years.
With the introduction of electricity to the district it was the traction engines which delivered the power poles around the town and along the country roads.
An unusual use was Doctor Budd’s request for the engine’s steam to kill all the weed seed in the sheep manure compost before he added it to his garden.
The Chapman family a great amount of free work towards setting up early Martinborough’s structure both in public works and for social events . For instance a Chapmans’ traction engine was used to haul trailers loaded with people to the church and public picnics which were popular feature in those times.
One of Chapman’s fine traction engines is now carefully looked after in Feilding. It is still fully operational and regularly steamed up for events.
Next month: The trucks.