From Cheltenham to Birmingham, eight miles along the Kimbolton Road—the main trunk line of road—and going north-east, the country rises over 100 feet to the mile, in consequence of which the mean temperature lowers considerably, and the air is very bracing. The village of Birmingham—or “Fowlers” as it is known in the Postal Department—is situate along Birmingham Terrace, a bold ridge immediately overhanging the waters of the glistening Oroua River, which winds through the Valley of Oroua some 400 feet below. Having a capital fall, the drainage is excellent, and as a health resort it is unequalled. The chief industries are wool, dairying, and timber. The attractive features, from a tourist's point of view, are the mountain and valley and river scenery, capital bird's-eye views of which are gained from Birmingham Terrace, on which, as already stated, the village stands. The terraces and gulches, valleys and flats, creeks, and the Oroua River, offer special inducement to sportsmen, the lands of the former being dry, and abounding in game, pheasant and quail being plentiful, whilst many good “takes” of heavy trout are daily recorded from the reaches of the river.

The post-office, which is also a telephone bureau, an office for the issue of money orders and postal notes, and a post-office savings bank, is conducted at one of the local stores, mails arriving and closing daily. The township is in the Oroua County, and in the electoral district of Rangitikei. It is also a school district under the Wanganui Education Board. There is a resident minister, the Rev. S. H. D. Perryman, of the Wesleyan denomination.

Birmingham.

The Birmingham Rifle Club, Fowlers, was organised in 1895 by Mr. William Johnston, and is now thirty-five strong. This Club is not under the New Zealand Government, although allowed to shoot at the New Zealand annual meeting. The uniform is Fox's blue serge, No. 2, Norfolk jacket and Glengarry cap. For shooting competition for the first year Captain William Johnston presented a gold medal and the vice-captain (Mr. Wm. Banks), a silver medal. The officers for 1896 are: —President, Mr. C. A. J. Levett; vice-presidents, Major Moore, Messrs. A. H. Tompkins. Alfred Dick, and A. W. Harrison; captain, Mr. William Johnston: vice-captain, Mr. William Banks; secretary Mr. A. Matheson.

Captain William Johnston, of the Birmingham Rifle Club, was born at “Bonny Glen,” Turakina, in 1868, where he received his education. He is the son of Captain page 1248 Johnston, well-known in volunteer movements throughout the Marton district. The subject of this sketch remained on the “Bonny Glen” estate till 1880, when he purchased a sheepfarm of 800 acres at Coal Creek, near Birmingham. He has resided in Birmingham since 1894; he belonged to the Rangitikei Hunt Club for many years.

Wesleyan Church. The Birmingham settlers have but one church at present in their midst. This they owe to the Wesleyan Methodist conuexion, who deserve credit for endeavouring to supply the spiritual needs of the people of this district. A capital site was presented by Mr. Thomas Lowes, of Birmingham, and this gentleman further subscribed liberally towards the building fund. The Birmingham people raised a considerable sum by voluntary offerings and a neat wooden church, with accommodation for about 200 persons, was completed in 1891. The services are well attended, particularly on Sunday evenings. The Rev. T. R. Richards was the first minister appointed to the charge of the Birmingham district. At the time of writing (1897), the Rev. S. H. D. Perryman is in charge.

The Bank of New Zealand, a branch of which was established in Birmingham in 1895, has its offices in a wooden building, and is the only banking institution in the township.

Mr. Alexander Carmichael Matheson, the Manager of the Birmingham branch of the Bank of New Zealand, was born in Invereargill in 1868, and is the son of Mr. Donald Matheson, a well-known merchant. Mr. Matheson joined the Colonial Bank on having school, and when the amalgamation of that bank with the Bank of New Zealand took place, his services were retained. He was appointed to his present position in 1896.

Anyon, George, Baker, Confectioner, and General Storekeeper, Land and Insurance Agent, Kimbolton Road, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Anyon is an Englishman by birth, and came to New Zealand in 1884, per s.s. “Aorangi,” arriving in Wellington. He was brought up to mercantile life, and for five years after settling in New Zealand, resided in Ashurst. He established the present business in 1890. His trade extends throughout the large district of which Birmingham is the natural centre. He employs seven horses and two carts, a great deal of the goods having to be packed to the various settlers. Mr. Anyon is agent for the Feilding Star and Manawatu Times, Phœnix Fire Insurance Company, Mr. H. L. Sherwill, licensed land broker, and Mr. W. A. Sandilands, solicitor, both of Feilding. Mr. Anyon is a member of the order of Druids, and also a Mason. He is a prominent member of the Wesleyan Church, and has been largely instrumental in the establishment of the cause in Birmingham. He holds the office of local preacher in connection with that body.

Tompkins, Arthur Henry, General Storekeeper and Produce Dealer, Birmingham. Postal address, “Fowlers.” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Private residence, page 1249 Edward Street. The premises of Mr. Tompkins are conveniently situated in the Birmingham township, and are well stocked with drapery, boots, groceries, ironmongery, and fancy goods. By close attention to his business, Mr. Tompkins has gained for himself a good connection. He keeps nothing but the best of goods, so that customers may rely upon purchasing a first-class article. He may well be considered to be doing a good steady trade.

Hawthorne, Alfred Francis, Birmingham Saddlery, Tent, Horse-Cover, Oilskin, and Portmanteau Depôt, Birmingham. Postal address, “Fowlers.” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business, which was established by Mr. Hawthorne in 1894 in a small way, has now grown to be a fairly large and prosperous concern. Born in Kent in 1851, he is the son of the late Mr. M. C. Hawthorne, master tailor, who, up to the time of his death, had the contract from the Government for the supply of clothes to the Woolwich Garrison at Woolwich. The subject of this sketch is a self-educated and self-taught man, and joined the Navy at the age of fourteen, but left through an accident after six years service. In New Zealand he proceeded to the Waikato District, and worked for a time at a flaxmill belonging to Captain Hutton, now (1897) the Government Geologist. In 1875 Mr. Hawthorne was married, and took up a farm at Akaroa, also entering into partnership for road contracting. Whilst the former turned out very satisfactorily, the latter was quite the reverse, so that after twenty years Mr. Hawthorne was compelled to sacrifice his property in order to meet the liabilities of the firm. On his arrival at Birmingham, Mr. Hawthorne's means were very limited. He occupied a tent in the main street for many months, where he plodded on in his untiring efforts to obtain for himself a suitable stand. The public recognised in Mr. Hawthorne a good workman, and also found that the prices paid for goods hitherto were exceptionally high. He is gradually securing for himself a good connection, his goods being known throughout the surrounding districts, and he is now doing a steady business in Birmingham.

Lowes and Jarvis (Mr. Jno. Jarvis, managing partner), Sawmillers, Birmingham. Postal address, “Fowlers.” Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The machinery is driven by a ten-horse-power Ruston and Proctor's portable engine, with a sixty-pound steam-pressure gauge. There are vertical and breast bench saws, with a complete planing machine capable of turning out all kinds of dressed timbers. Mr. Jarvis has a large staff of hands regularly employed, the bush-felling being now let by contract. Horses and bullocks are employed in large numbers in drawing the timber to and from the mill. The sawn timber is disposed of in the surrounding district, Mr. Jarvis finding a ready sale for his rimu, and among the many works he has supplied, the totara used in building the Kiwitea Bridge might be mentioned. He has also a freehold property of 110 acre at Pohangina, seventy-five acres of which is cleared and grassed. The whole is now leased, being well fenced and watered, and carrying three sheep to the acre. Mr. Jarvis is a self-taught man. He was born in Somersetshire in 1846, and went to sea at the age of fourteen. After being employed for three years on a small schooner in the coasting trade, he shipped on board a clipper which was engaged in the tea trade between England and China. For eleven years Mr. Jarvis followed a seafaring life, but ran away from the “Cooney Coyle” when in Auckland in 1866. Ever since he has been engaged in the sawmilling business. For five years he was employed by Mr. Henry Russell, Napier, subsequently by Messrs. Bull and Wylan in Hawkes Bay, and latterly by Messrs. Wratt and Anderson, Makino. In February, 1892, he entered into business on his own account. Since then he has cut out the timber on many properties, including a great quantity of totara, being employed for eighteen months in cutting totara close

Mr. J. Jarvis.

page 1250 to the Oroua Bridge. Mr. Jarvis has been in the timber trade for over thirty years, so that he has had a long and valuable experience. He has been singularly fortunate in finding out the best rimu obtainable in the Colony, and consequently he is now in a position to supply the trade with good sound timber. His mill is capable of turning out 5000 feet per day.

Sandeman, E., Solicitor, Kimbolton Road, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1893.

Syms, William, Chemist and Druggist, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1894.

Jones, William, Coachbuilder and Wheelwright, Kimbolton Road, Birmingham. Established 1893.

Stokes, Stephen, Tailor, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1893.

Alpe, A., Hairdresser, Tobacconist and Fancy Goods Dealer, Birmingham. Established 1896.

Argyle (Donald McNair, proprietor), Birmingham. Established 1890.

Family and Commercial Hotel (A. H. Harrison, proprietor), Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1887, and conducted by present proprietor since 1895.

Barlow Bros. (Frank H. Barlow and Walter Barlow), Plumbers and Tinsmiths, Kimbolton Road, Birmingham. Established 1893.

Conder, W., Farrier and General Blacksmith, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1893.

Barlow and Gordon, Boot and Shoemakers, Birmingham. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. Established 1890, and conducted by present proprietors since 1895.

Harris, William, Boot and Shoemaker, Birmingham. Established 1896.

Richardson, J. H., Saddler and Harness Maker, Kimbolton Road, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Established 1892.

Jackson, Thos. Mackwood, Butcher, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1889.

Bailey, James A., Swamiller and Contractor, Birmingham. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand.

Dick, Alfred, Farne; “Glen Warlock,” Birmingham. Mr. Dick, who was born in 1819, is a son of Mr. Charles Dick, a large brewer, of Edinburgh. In 1866 he went to the Argentine Republic, where he was for two years engaged in farming. After visiting Australia he settled in New Zealand in 1869. Mr. Dick has had a varied experience. In the South Island he was manager for two years of the Clarence Run, between Nelson and Marlborough, and subsequently for Messrs. Sutton Bros. at Waitaki; in the North Island he was for thirteen years a member of the firm of Messrs. Beckett, Hammond, and Dick (afterwards Beckett and Dick), merchants, in Marton. Mr. Dick settled in 1890 on his present property of 1242 acres, half freehold, half leasehold. It has all been cleared and grassed, and 2200 Lincoln sheep and 100 head of cattle have been wintered on it. For eight years Mr. Dick was captain of the Marton Fire Brigade, and was master of the Rangitikei Hounds for about seven years, and starter to the Marton Jockey Club. He is married to a daughter of the late Mr. Alex. Milne, of “Rosebank,” Marton. Mr. Dick was awarded the Royal Humane Society's bronze medal in 1877, for an act of bravery in saving the lives of a woman and child from drowning in the Marewhenua River, Otago.

Fowler, Hilton, Farmer, Birmingham. Mr. Fowler (after whom the postal district of Fowlers is named, in order to distinguish it from Birmingham in England) was one of the earliest residents in Birmingham, and opened the first store in 1887, where he remained for two years. He then leased the fine property, consisting of 400 acres, situated within a mile of Birmingham township, from Mr. Lowes. This property is capable of carrying two-and-a-half sheep to the acre all the year round, besides grazing a number of horses and some eighty head of shorthorn cattle, thirty of which are dairy cows. Mr. Fowler is a large supplier to the local creamery, and owing to the well-bred stock he obtains a high percentage for his milk. The fine residence, which was erected in 1892, consists of a handsome building, replete with every convenience, situated near the roadside, and surrounded by ornamental trees, with a good orchard and neatly laid-out flower garden. A large woolshed and sheep dip, with all the necessary out-buildings are found on this well-appointed farm. Born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, in 1865, Mr. Fowler was privately educated, and came to the Colony on the death of his father in 1885, per s.s. “Ruapehu,” landing in Wellington. For two years Mr. Fowler was engaged in various occupations, principally acquiring his colonial experience in connection with farming. He was the first secretary of the Birmingham School Committee, and was instrumental in having the schoolhouse erected. Mr. Fowler has refrained from taking any part in public affairs. He was married in 1891 to the eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas Lowes, and has one child.

Haythorne, Edward Curtis, Farmer Fowlers (Birmingham). Mr. Haythorne, who is a son of the late Hon. R. P. Haythorne—for many years a Canadian Senator—was born in 1863 on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and was educated at Middleton College, Cork. After three years' farming in Canada, Mr. Haythorne returned to England, where he spent twelve months, after which he came to New Zealand in 1883, per P. and O. liner “Ballarat” on her first voyage, and entered into partnership with Mr. Revington-Jones, taking up 600 acres of good sheep-grazing country at Taonui, close to Feilding. The partnership was dissolved after three years, and Mr. Haythorne took up 600 acres, within a mile-and-a-half of Fowlers, where he pastures sheep and cattle. Partly improved when he took it over, he has since had the remainder felled, fenced, and subdivided into paddocks, and a large part is now under cultivation. A comfortable homestead has been erected on the farm, to which a lawn has been added, the whole being well sheltered by ornamental trees. Mr. Haythorne has resigned from the Kiwitea County Council, and devotes his spare time to making improvements page 1251 on the homestead. In 1889 he married a daughter of the late Mr. John Worthington, of Hawkes Bay.

Scott, Munro Mackenzie, Farmer, “Shieldaig,” Birmingham. Postal address, Fowlers. The farm is 539 acres in extent, and will soon be all felled, grassed, and subdivided into paddocks. Although Mr. Scott had been only eighteen months on the property at the time of writing, the farm had undergone great changes, having been nearly all standing bush on his taking it up. At present 300 acres is grazing about two-and-a-half sheep to the acre, besides thirty-five head of cattle. The whole is well watered by a number of never-failing streams. Mr. Scott was born in 1872 in North Scotland, and spent nearly five years at Fette's College, Edinburgh, after which he entered the Clydesdale Distillery Company, Limited, Wishaw, of which his father is still the managing director. Although offered. he declined to accept his father's position and left to come to New Zealand, landing in March, 1890, per “Kaikoura.” Three years were spent in Turakina, where Mr. Scott gained his experience with sheep. He is married to a daughter of Mr. J. H. Day, saddler, Turakina.

Mr. M. M. Scott.

Stanley, William Frederick, Farmer, “Meadow Bank,” Birmingham. Postal address, Fowlers. Mr. Stanley farms two properties—“Meadow Bank,” consisting of 300 acres situated within four miles of the Birmingham township, and “Fairfield,” situated three miles distant, consisting of 200 acres. These farms are well adapted for farming purposes. The whole is grassed, subdivided into many paddocks, well watered, and carries three Lincoln sheep to the acre. The sheep are nearly pure-bred, having originated from stock owned by Messrs. Moore and Currie, of Kai Iwi. There is also a number of shorthorn cattle grazing on the farm. Owing to the lightness of the soil it is very easily got under cultivation, the results—more especially for root crops—being very encouraging. The house and grounds are well protected by ornamental trees, a magnificent view being had from the rear of the homestead. In the distance lies the Oroua River, wending its way among the grassy meadows, the surrounding hills adding greatly to the picturesque appearance of the scene. A young orchard, well planted with choice trees, thrives well. Mr. Stanley was born at Nelson in 1861, and educated at Nelson College. He is a son of the late Mr. John Stanley, formerly of Calcutta. Two years were spent in the Wanganui district surveying with Mr. H. C. Field, when the subject of this notice took charge for five years of the “Tad more Lodge” estate, a fine property of 4000 acres in Upper Motueka, which belonged to his late father. On the death of his mother the property was sold, and Mr. Stanley removed to Birmingham, taking up “Fairfield” and annexing his present homestead, “Meadow Bank,” a few months later. He is an unattached member of the Masons, and is married to a daughter of Mr. Hitch, of Timaru.

Mr. W. F. Stanley.