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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Tatua

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Tatua.

Tatua, on the Auckland-Thames railway line, is a flag station, 74 feet above the level of the sea. It is forty-one miles from the Thames, and 107 miles south-east from Auckland. Settlement is steadily progressing in the district, and the ground, formerly all ti-tree and swamp, brought into cultivation. The district is within the county of Piako.

Larney, Nicol Ashton, Sheepfarmer, “Lauriston,” Tatua. Mr. Larney's estate adjoins the Tauta flag station, and consists of nearly 3000 acres of freehold land, on which he runs about 5000 sheep, nearly 300 head of cattle, and about forty horses. Mr. Larney was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1842, was educated in that city, and was brought up to agriculture by his father, who had several farms in Scotland. In 1861 Mr. Larney went to America and enlisted in the United States Engineer Army Corps, and served during the war on the Federal side. He was with the army of the Potomac under Generals McLennan, Burnside, Hooker, Mead and Grant altogether for about four years. At the conclusion of the war Mr. Larney returned to Scotland invalided, and about eighteen months later arrived in Auckland, by the ship “British Empire.” For about five years he was engaged by Messrs R. and E. Maclean, the well-known flock owners. Subsequently he went to the East Coast, and was for about three years in the Whakatane Valley, to which he took the first sheep on behalf of Mr. J. S. McFarlane and others. About 1876 Mr. Larney took the management of a station at Tamahere, and about three years later removed to Ohaupo, where he engaged in farming on his own account for two years. He then took charge of the stock on the Agricultural Company's Waitoa estate, and held that position for five years. Having purchased the first 300 acres of his holding at Tatua in 1887, Mr. Larney settled on the property, which has since increased to its present area. He has long been well known as an excellent judge of sheep, and his services have been in demand at various agricultural shows in the country. He was for two years a member of the Piako County Council, on which he represented the Waitoa riding. Mr. Larney was married, in September, 1861, at Brookland, United States of America, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Grant, of Edinburgh, and has had five sons and seven daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are dead.

Hanna, photo.Mr. N. A. Larney.

Hanna, photo.
Mr. N. A. Larney.

Lake Taupo and Boiling Springs, Tokaanu. See page 821.

Lake Taupo and Boiling Springs, Tokaanu. See page 821.