Mason's Flat is a rich farming district, three miles distant by road from Hawarden, its postal town. Settlers have resided in the district since the fifties. Mount Mason, a lofty hill, is seen from the Flat, which is in the Waipara riding of the county of Cheviot. At the census of 1901 Mason's Flat had thirty-three inhabitants.

The Mason's Flat Public School was established in April, 1881. The land attached to the school premises is five acres in extent, and is well planted with ornamental and shelter trees. The school building is of wood and iron, and contains a class room and a porch, and has accommodation for fifty pupils. There are forty-one names on the roll, and the average attendance is thirty-six. For a number of years this school has supplied the requirements of Hawarden, Horsley Down, and Mason's Flat districts. A good playground surrounds the school, and there is a convenient five-roomed residence with garden.

Miss Jessie Mary Davidson Picken, Head Mistress in charge of Mason's Flat School, was born in Christchurch. She was educated at Sydenham, and at the Girls High School, Christchurch. After serving four years as a pupil-teacher at Sydenham, and undergoing a year's training at the Normal School, Miss Picken was at the Rolleston school, and was afterwards relieving teacher at Hornby, before being appointed to Mason's Flat, in June, 1901.

Cowie, James, Farmer, “Valley Field,” Mason's Flat, Hawarden. Mr. Cowie was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1833. He came to Lyttelton in 1860 by the ship “William Miles,” and was employed at Glenmark estate, for about five years. In 1865 Mr. Cowie acquired Valley Field property, which is 456 acres in extent. The land has been brought from a rough and swampy condition into a high state of cultivation. Mr Cowie served for fourteen years as a member of the Waipara Road Board, and is chairman of the local school committee, of which he has been a member for about twenty years.

Mr. George Edward Mason was one of the Canterbury settlers who arrived in Lyttelton in 1851, by the ship “Castle Eden.” He came out with the intention of settling in Otago, and brought with him twelve rams and four ewes. As the captain was unable to proceed to Port Chalmers, Mr. Mason was compensated, and was received, as a Canterbury settler, on the same terms as the original pilgrims. Mr. Mason was born at Painswick, Gloucestershire, England, in 1810. He was brought up as a farmer, and worked a property for seven years before coming to the colony. He claims to be the first white man to pass north of the Waipara Flat. Mr. Mason first leased the Horsley Down run, 34,000 acres in extent, and afterwards a run of 30,000 acres, known as Black Hill. He fixed his first homestead at Horsley Down, the flat country of which became known as Mason's Flat. Subsequently Mr. Mason leased a large run, of 30,000 acres, on part of which Mount Mason, named after him, is situated; and at a later date, 10,000 acres, known as Virginia run. Mr. Mason held some of these runs for at least ten years. He did a great deal of exploring in the early days, and discovered five lakes the principal of which is Lake Sumner, and he did much to promote the opening up of the country. Mr. Mason was married, in 1846, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. Thorn, of Bristol. Mrs. Mason, who for three years was the only white woman in the Waipara district, died in 1895, leaving five daughters and four sons.