Mr. Charles Ffrench Pemberton, C.E., youngest and only surviving son of the late Robert Pemberton, F.R.S.L., of Chelsea, England, is a very old Canterbury settler. He was born at Chelsea, London, and was educated as a civil engineer. In 1857 Mr. Pemberton landed in Wellington from the ship “Gleaner.” He joined the Government service, and was appointed assistant-surveyor, and subsequently district surveyor for the Ashley district, Canterbury. After ten years' service he entered into private practice as a surveyor. Mr. Pemberton surveyed the borough of Rangiora, and prepared a scheme of drainage for the borough council, and also the townships of Oxford, Leithfield, Amberley, Aylesbury, and Sefton besides many other places. He retired from active work in 1896. Mr. Pemberton settled at Sefton in 1864. For nine years he served as a member of the Kowai Road Board, and occupied the chair for five years of that period. He also served for a number of years as lieutenant and captain of No. 3 and 4 Companies of the Canterbury Rifle Volunteers. Mr. Pemberton was married, in 1856, to the youngest daughter of the late Mr. J. Buss, of Harrindge Court, Scllendge, Kent, sister of Mr. W. Buss, of Rangiora, and has had seven sons and six daughters.

Mr. John Vallance was born in 1815, in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was brought up to an outdoor life. In 1867 ne came to Lyttelton in the ship “Caroline,” and settled at Mount Grey Downs, in the Sefton district. He was married, in 1851, to a daughter of the late Mr Robet, of Scotland. Mrs Vallance died in 1854, leaving one son and two daughters. In 1856 Mr. Vallance was married to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Kirk, of Scotland, and when he died, in 1902, left six sons and three daughters, besides numerous grandchildren.

Tolputt, photo.
Mr. and Mrs John Vallance.

Mr. John Wyllie, sometime of “Newfields,” Sefton, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1828, and came out to the Colony in 1863 in the ship “Captain Cook,” under engagement to Mr. Dunlop, with whom he remained for a number of years. His first farm, near Saltwater Creek, is now occupied by his eldest son. Mr. Thomas Wyllie. In 1878 he purchased the first portion of “Newfields,” and subsequently increased his area to 400 acres. This property is one of the best farms in the district. Mr. Wyllie was a successful breeder of Clydesdale horses, with which first prizes have been regularly taken since 1878, and high prices have been refused for more than one well-known mare. He was a staunch adherent of the Presbyterian Church and held office as an elder for many years. Mr. Wyllie was married in 1865 to Miss Bryden, who survives him with three sons and a daughter.

Mr. J. Wyllie.