Mr. Phillip Tisch, who was born in Bavaria in 1819, was one of the pioneers of Canterbury, and arrived at Lyttelton by the ship “Midlothian” on the 8th of October, 1851. He was accompanied by his two sons, Mr. William Tisch, of Stratford, Taranaki, and Mr. Henry Tisch, of Papanui, Christchurch; and also by two daughters, who died shortly after the family's arrival. Mr. Tisch's first purchase was a section of land in Armagh Street, the site of the residence of the late Dr J. H. Deamer. Shortly after his arrival Mr. Tisch started farming on about fifty acres of Church property between the Styx and Kapitone Creek. He farmed the property for five years, and then purchased the land still known as Tisch's Corner on the North Road near Belfast; and he kept on buying until he had an area of about 700 acres. Seeing the great demand for sawn timber in a new colony, he also started a sawmill in Christchurch in partnership with Mr. Neece, now of Wellington. The demand for sawn timber increased, and to keep up the supply Mr. Tisch purchased a large tract of forest land at Alford Forest, and erected a sawmill. Mr. Tisch had timber rights also at Alford Forest, and to meet the requirements of the increasing population in the district he erected the Alford Forest Hotel, which still remains, and also the Spread Eagle Hotel midway between Ashburton and Alford Forest. Wishing to consolidate his extensive business, he disposed of his property between Duncan's Lane and Chaney's Corner, where the chemical and Kapitone wool works now stand. After a long and active life Mr. Tisch gave up business and returned to Hitchen's Corner, which he had purchased in 1883, and led a life of well-deserved ease until his death in 1892, when, of a family of twelve, eight sons and daughters were still surviving. Mr. Tisch was a Freemason of many years' standing. He took great interest in the Anglican Church, and was for years a vestryman of the North Road church, now known as the Belfast church.