page 96

Dunsandel
(Run 81. Afterwards re-numbered 168, Class II)

This run, originally of between six and seven thousand acres, lay on the Selwyn between Washbourn's country and Camla. It was taken up in May, 1853, by the Rev. O. Mathias and R. J. S. Harman. They stocked it with 50 head of breeding cattle. Mathias and Harman had probably been authorised to invest money in Canterbury for the Hon. Robert Daly, or else they sold it to him within a year or two. Daly never came to New Zealand and as long as the station lasted Harman and Stevens were his agents, but he named it himself and so gave the name to a large district. The first manager was J. Madison who had been a sailor. He married a daughter of Washbourn. After him came E. Johnston. W. D. Lawrence, who died in 1933, aged 94, was a cadet there in 1864 and afterwards managed the station for many years until it was sold.

In 1877 Harman and Stevens cut up and sold the four thousand acres of freehold which they bought on behalf of Daly. J. Sowden bought the homestead and about six hundred acres, to which he added more land from time to time. He held it for many years. It was afterwards the property of David Jones, the chairman of the Meat Producers' Board and Member of Parliament.

Robert Daly (1818-1892) was the son of the first, and father of the last, Lord Daly of Dunsandel. He held important offices under the Lord Lieutenants of Ireland and his son was private secretary to Lord Beaconsfield. J. R. Godley's mother was a Miss Daly which probably accounts for the family investing in Canterbury.