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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Gordon

page break

Gordon.

Gordon is the centre of a special settlement in the county of Piako, and there is a population of about 100 persons in the district. It is within fifty miles of the Thames, with which it is connected by a bi-weekly mail.

The Gordon Public School was established in 1893, and has accommodation for fifty scholars. There are fifty-four children on the roll, and the average attendance is forty-five. A large playground surrounds the school building. The headmaster is assisted by a certificated teacher.

Mr. Frank Clement Brooks, Headmaster of the Gordon School, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1869, and was educated as a teacher. He arrived in Auckland in 1884, obtained employment from the Auckland Board of Education, and was appointed to his present position in 1896.

The Gordon Creamery (T. H. Ashford, manager) is owned by the New Zealand Dairy Association, and was erected in 1897. The building, which is of wood and iron, occupies a position close to the main road, and the machinery is worked by a four horse-power stationary steam engine. It includes an Alexandra separator, capable of treating 300 gallons of milk per hour. There are ten suppliers, who milk from two to three hundred cows, and the quantity of milk is steadily increasing. The cream is sent daily under contract to the Waharoa railway station, seven miles distant.

Gordon Creamery.

Gordon Creamery.

Mr. Thomas Henry Ashford, Manager of the Gordon Creamery, was born in London, in 1872. He was brought up to the provision trade, and arrived in New Zealand by the s.s. “Aorangi,” in 1893. He had been engaged in London by Mr. Henry Reynolds to take a position in connection with the dairy factory at Ngaruawahia and after eighteen months at that place, Mr Ashford went to the Pukekura factory, where he was for four months. Mr. Ashford was afterwards manager at Te Kowhai for three seasons, and, later on, was also at Whatawhata. He was appointed manager of the Gordon creamery in May, 1899.

Franklyn, William Moore, Farmer, Waikeikei, Gordon. Mr. Franklyn was born at Wimbledon, Surrey, England, in 1870, and remained in his native place till he was thirteen years of age. He came to Auckland by the ship “Tithonus,” in 1883. After a while he went to Wairoa, and found employment at the Wairoa battery for some time. In July, 1899, he settled at Waikeikei, where, in conjunction with a brother, he holds 660 acres of leasehold land, which is worked as a dairy farm. He was married, in January, 1898, to the daughter of Mr. S. B. Brown, of Whangaroa, and has one daughter.

Foughey, David, Farmer, Gordon. Mr. Foughey was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1855, and was brought up to country pursuits. He came to Sydney by the first trip of the s.s. “Norfolk,” at the end of 1879, and
Crombie, photo.Mr. and Mrs D. Foughey.

Crombie, photo.
Mr. and Mrs D. Foughey.

page 838 arrived in New Zealand fourteen days later. After three years in Auckland Mr. Foughey settled at Shaftesbury, where he found employment with Mr. E. F. Roache for eight years. In July, 1887, he purchased land at Gordon, and now holds 244 acres of freehold. He was one of the earliest settlers in the district, and planted every tree in the beautiful avenue which leads to his homestead. Mr. Foughey was married, in June, 1881, to a daughter of Mr. John Squirrell, of Shaftesbury, and has three daughters and one son.

Montague, Bernard, Dairy Farmer, “Springfield,” Gordon. Mr. Montague was born in 1852 in Belfast, Ireland, and is a flax dresser by trade. He arrived in Auckland by the ship “Queen of Nations” in 1874, and joined the militia engaged in the construction of the railway from Mercer towards Hamilton. Later on he entered the service of the Auckland Agricultural Company, as a contractor for various works, and became foreman for the training operations at Fancourt. Afterwards he went to Oxford, and built the Royal Hotel, which he conducted there for about two years. In 1882 he removed to Waiorongomai, where he engaged in goldmining, and subsequently became one of the promoters of the Gordon settlement, of the association of which he was chairman for the first seven years. He was also for the first three years chairman of the local school committee, in the formation of which he took an active part. Mr. Montague was married, in 1878, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Griffen, of County Kerry, Ireland, and has two daughters and four sons.

Crombie, photo.Mr. B. Montague.

Crombie, photo.Mr. B. Montague.