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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Old Colonists

Old Colonists.

Mr. William Deans Gebbie, sometime of Burnt Hollow Estate, Teddington, was a son of the late Mr. John Gebbie, the pioneer settler of Teddington. He was born in Teddington, in 1849, and educated partly at the local public school, and partly in Christchurch. After returning to the estate, he applied himself so assiduously to farm work and to local affairs that, during his long residence at Teddington, he never once absented himself from home for more than a week at a time, and rarely for even so brief a period. He occupied a [unclear: seat on] public bodies, including the Akaroa County Council, Port Victoria Road Board, and the Teddington school committee, and was for many years a churchwarden at the local English church. Mr. Gebbie was twice married, and at this death in 1902, he left a wife and a family of seven children. At his second marriage Miss H. McIlwraith, of Waitaki, became his wife, and by her he had two daughters. Mrs Gebbie and all the family still occupy the homestead at “Burnt Hollow.”

Mr. Samuel Manson, sometime of Teddington, was one of Canterbury's earliest settlers. He was born at Caperton, Ayrshire, Scotland, and was a carpenter by trade. Mr. Manson came to the Colony in the ship “Thomas Harrison,” in 1842, with Mr. John Deans, and in 1843 he helped to build the first house on the Canterbury Plains. The house was built without nails, as these had been left in Wellington by mistake. Mr. Manson remained for two years at Riccarton, and then leased from the Maoris a piece of country which extended from Lyttelton harbour to the place now known as Teddington. He named his run “Kainshill,” and stocked it with dairy cows. Butter and cheese were made in large quantities, and sold in Wellington for transhipment to Australia. In 1850, Mr. Manson sold his dairy produce to Mr. Peacock, who kept a store in Port Cooper, now known as Lyttelton. Mr. Manson was married, in 1839, to Miss Smith, and died in 1890, leaving a family of sixteen.