Five miles further northwards from Waitotara, by a steady ascent, the flag station of the above name, at an altitude of 268 feet above sea-level, is reached. It is in the Waverley Riding of the County of Patea, and in the Electorate of Patea, the district containing a population of 108, independent of thirty persons who live at the Momahaki village settlement. Momahaki, which is thirty-one miles from Wanganui, has a local post-office, where mails are received and despatched twice per week. It is the outlet of an extensive farming district, the educational requirements of which are provided for by a public school controlled by a local committee.

Mr. Francis Gillanders is the Officer in charge of the general work of the Momahaki Experimental Station. He looks after the stock, directs the agricultural operations, and acts generally as overseer of the estate. He has had considerable experience in pastoral and agricultural pursuits, and was appointed to the position he holds about two-and-a-half years ago, some two months after arriving in New Zealand. Born in 1857 in Aberdeen, Scotland, Mr. Gillanders was educated in the Old World, and was brought up to farming by his father, subsequently acting as manager on several estates before leaving for the Colony.

Mr. F. Gillanders.

Mr. Frank Callender, the Curator of the Nursery of the Momahaki Experimental Station, was born in 1864 in Glasgow, and was educated at the Glasgow Academy, afterwards attending the London University to study botanic and organic chemistry. After serving five years at various horticultural establishments in England and Scotland, he spent eighteen months in the United States, where he gained further experience in his profession. Mr. Callender studied viticulture in the South of France, and on his return to England he managed a large establishment for supplying fruit and flowers to the Covent Garden market. After seven years in this position the state of his health caused him to seek a more genial clime. On his arrival in New Zealand in 1895, he was appointed to the office he now fills. He is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society; his father is well known in English commercial circles as the founder and organiser of the Callender Electric Cable Management Company, now in charge of Mr. Callender's elder brother.

Momahaki Public School, about two-and-a-half miles east from Momahaki Railway Station, is conducted in a wooden building of two rooms, and has an attendance of about fifty children, almost all of whom ride on horseback to and from school. When school is dismissed, a mob of horses is rounded up and soon mounted by children of all ages, who exhibit great fearlessness in their equestrianism.

Mr. William Corry, the Headmaster of the Momahaki Public School, has a C4 certificate. He has been teaching for four years, his previous appointment being at Goat Valley.

The Momahaki Creamery is about three miles west from Waitotara, and is tributary to the Waverley Dairy Factory. The building is of wood, with three compartments fitted and furnished in the usual style, and the cream is sent to Waverley. About 800 gallons of milk are received daily.

Mr. Richard Canty, the Manager of the Momahaki Creamery, was born in 1862 in London, and after a few years came to New Zealand, working successively as a fireman on steamers, and also in the Wellington Woollen Company's mill, and the Meat Preserving Works at Patea, till entering the service of the Waverley Dairy Company.

Dickie, James, Settler, Momahaki. One of the best-known settlers in this part of the Colony, Mr. Dickie was born in 1809 in Ayrshire, Scotland. In 1832 he settled in Galt, Upper Canada, where he engaged in sheep and cattle-breeding, gaining many prizes. After selling out he came to Wellington, New Zealand, in the early forties. Spending nine months at Turakina, Mr. Dickie then bought land at Waverley, and his brother, Mr. William Dickie, who had followed him to New Zealand a year later, acquired the farm adjoining. In 1888 Mr. Dickie gave up his Waverley farm to his son Alexander, and settled at Momahaki, where he died in 1895. The late Mr. Dickie was married in 1837 to Miss Jane McDonald, who hails from Port William, Inverness, where she was born in 1809. At the age of eighty-eight this lady survives her husband, being one of the most active and interesting ladies in the district. The family comprises four sons and three daughters.

Mrs. J. Dickie.

Dickie, Alexander, Farmer, Momahaki. Born in Canada, the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to New Zealand at an early age. He was brought up to farming pursuits, and has taken over his father's farm, which consists of 1200 acres, carrying 2000 sheep, 200 head of cattle, and twenty horses. Mr. Dickie is ever ready to take his share of the public burdens, and sits as a member of the Waitotara-Momahaki Road Board.

Rankin, John, Farmer, “The Hummocks,” Momahaki. This estate is about 700 acres in extent, and carries 1700 sheep, forty head of cattle, and a few horses. Originally bush land, when cleared it becomes good sheep country. Mr. Rankin, who is the son of a contractor, was born in 1864 in Wanganui, where he was educated. After five years in a solicitor's office, he worked six years on Mr. J. Duncan's Otairi Estate, and five years on Mr. J. Gear's Te Horo Estate, when he took up his present holding.

Mr. G. V. Lethbridge, Chairman, Lethbridge Town Board (see page 1335).

Photo by A. Martin.
Mr. G. V. Lethbridge.

Dustin, W. S., Baker and Confectioner, Wanganui. (See page 1409).

Photo by A. Martin.
Mr. W. S. Dustin.