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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Whangarata

Whangarata.

Whangarata is a flag station thirty-eight miles south of Auckland, and is 202 feet above sea level. The settlement is a part of the East Pukekohe road district. It has a creamery, a public school, and a post office, and dairy farming is general in the district, which is of the usual undulating type. The land is good, and in the near future there must be a further considerable increase in the population.

The Whangarata Post Office is situated at the public school. It was established in 1886, and was conducted for years by the local school master. There are two mails in and out each day. Miss Jane Reston, post mistress in charge, was appointed to the position in October, 1900.

A Large Oak.

A Large Oak.

The Whangarata Public School, established in 1886, has two class rooms and a porch, with accommodation for 100 children. There are seventy-two on the roll, and there is an average attendance of sixty. The school premises stand on a section of four acres; there is a playground, a covered she[unclear: d] for the use of the children, and the teacher' house is a five-roomed cottage.

Ewing, George Proudfoot, Farmer, Whangarata. Mr. Ewing, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, was brought up to mercantile life, and came to New Zealand in search of health in 1881. After a short stay in Auckland, he settled in Whangarata. Mr. Ewing was for many years a member of East Pukekohe Road Board, served on the Whangarata school committee, and was also a member of the Licensing Committee for the district. His farm is known as “Glencairn,” and consists of 200 acres of good grazing land, on which a fair number of cattle are depastured, and about sixty acres are in crop. Mr. Ewing is a Justice of the Peace.

Hanna, photo.Mr. G. P. Ewing.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. G. P. Ewing.

Hartley, John, Farmer, Whangarata. Mr. Hartley was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1852, but when he was six years of age he arrived in New Zealand with his parents by the ship “Red Jacket.” Mr. Hartley gained an insight into farming on the estate of Mr. John Grigg, of Longbeach, Canterbury. In 1874 he went to Queensland, and was for some years engaged there in goldmining, as well as in New South Wales, and other parts of Australia. After returning to New Zealand he spent two years and a half at Waihi, and five years at Waitekauri. In February, 1879, Mr. Hartley settled at Whangarata, where he had purchased a property page 694 of 187 acres. Mr. Hartley has been a member of the East Pukekohe Road Board since 1899.

Hanna, photo.Mr. J. Hartley.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. J. Hartley.

Pirrit, James Russell, Farmer, Whangarata. Mr. Pirrit was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1855, and is a son of Mr George Pirrit, ironmonger, of Victoria Street, Auckland. The family arrived with the Pokeno settlers by the ship “Helenslea” in 1864, and were among the earliest settlers in the district. After a short experience on the Thames, Mr. Pirrit returned to Pokeno, where he had leased a farm, which he worked for six years. In 1887 he purchased his holding at Whangarata. It covered 656 acres; about 300 acres have been cultivated, and about 100 head of cattle are depastured, in addition to a few sheep. Mr. Pirrit has taken an interest in the local school committee, of which he was chairman for six years. He was married, in 1880, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Blair, of Pokeno, and has four sons and seven daughters.

Hanna, photo.Mr. and Mrs J. R. Pirritt.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. R. Pirritt.

Mr. Helier Bree is an Old Colonist, who landed in Auckland in 1863 by the ship “Telegraph.” He was born in 1837 in Jersey, where he was farming until he left for New Zealand. Soon after his arrival he entered the militia, in which he served until disbandment, and received a fifty acre grant at Alexandra in consideration of his military services. Mr. Bree purchased the first portion of his property at Whangarata in October, 1874, and after working it for three years removed to Raglan. In 1889 he returned to Whangarata, where he has since farmed his estate of over 600 acres. Mr. Bree was married, in 1870, to a daughter of Mr. D. Young, who arrived in Auckland by the “Duchess of Argyle,” and has four sons and six daughters.

Mr. William John Young, who is one of the oldest settlers in the Whangarata district, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1833. He was accustomed to farming and outdoor work from his early days, and arrived in Auckland by the ship “Ganges,” in 1864. In the same year he settled at Whangarata, and has increased his original holding to 110 acres. Mr. Young has served on the Whangarata school committee. He was married, in 1857, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. Running, of County Armagh, and has one daughter.

A Bush Road.

A Bush Road.