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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Old Colonists

Old Colonists.

Mr. William Collins, sometime of Springston, was one of the early pioneers of New Zealand, and in conjunction with the late Mr. Woon, he started the first newspaper in New Plymouth. Mr. Collins left Taranaki in the early sixties, and was for years manager of the mechanical department of the Christchurch “Press.” He afterwards retired to his farm at Springston, where he remained till his death in 1895, when he left a family of two sons and three daughters.

Mr. James Gammack was born in 1831 in Bannffshire, Scotland, and was brought up to agriculture. When the Canterbury Association was formed in England he decided to throw in his lot with those bound for New Zealand under its auspices, and came out to Lyttelton by the “Cressy,” one of the first four ships. On landing he tried to find employment on a farm, but failing in that, he joined those who were at work on the formation of the Ferry Road. When the Fendadlton estate was cut up by its original owner, Mr. Fendal, Mr. Gammack bought two acres of the property—his first investment in New Zealand. In 1851 he went to Australia, attracted thither by the goldfields. About two years were passed on Bendigo and other fields, where Mr. Gammack was fairly successful in his search for gold. In 1854 he returned to Canterbury and took up land at Halswell, where he afterwards added to his property the land which, later on, became Mr. Charles Lewis's farm. Mr. Gammack farmed his property till 1863, when he sold it to Messrs Milne and Lewis, and bought the late Mr Guild's farm at Springston. He added to the area of his land from time to time until “Gowan Lea”—the name he gave his place—became one of the finest estates in the district. Mr. Gammack became a wealthy man, but he was never a selfish one, for his kind-heartedness endeared him to all his neighbours, and his benevolence went far beyond the limits of his own district. He took an active interest in local affairs and in all that appertained to the progress of Springston, and was for many years chairman of the road board and the school committee. Sir George Grey thought so highly of him as a man and a colonist that he asked him to stand for the representation of his district in Parliament, but neither then nor at any other time could he be induced to enter politics. He was a Justice of the Peace, and a director of several industrial institutions. Mr. Gammack, who was a self-taught man, kept a diary for forty-eigtht years, during many of which he worked hard all day and studied well on into the night. When he died on the 29th of May, 1896, his library contained over 2000 books and a large number of magazines. Amongst his books there were 170 volumes of history and biography, 140 of divinity, 130 of poetry, 120 of travels, 110 on economics and socialism, and 80 on agriculture. It was his custom to make written summaries of what he read, and the practice no doubt led to one of his salient characteristics—that of a genuinely well-informed man. Though Mr. Gammack did not call himself a Wesleyan, he was an active member and generous supporter of the Wesleyan church at Springston, and made the congregation a present of the three acres on which the church and parsonage stand. About five years before he died, Mr. Gammack married Annie Reid Aitken, the widow of the late Mr. Aitken, who survived him. He will long be remembered
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.The Late Mr. J. Gammack.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
The Late Mr. J. Gammack.

page 682 on his own account, as well as on account of the wise benevolence with which he endowed public institutions. At his death he left £100 to the Wesleyan Methodist church at Springston, £100 to the Episcopalain church at the same place, £100 to the Presbyterian church at Lincoln, and £100 to Mount Magdala asylum, Lincoln road. He also left £200 per annum to the Board of Education of North Canterbury, for the purpose of establishing at Canterbury College four scholarships to be named “The Gammack Scholarships.” Certain rents and profits, to accrue from the balance of his estate of over £20,000 in value, were left to the Board of Governors of Canterbury College, for the benefit of the circulating department of the Christchurch Public Library. At present (1903) the Board receives about £400 a year from this source.
Mrs Gammack.

Mrs Gammack.

Mr. James Rowell, of “Spring Bank,” Springston, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1833, and was in London for five years prior to coming to New Zealand in the year 1859, by the ship “Clontarf.” His first work was a contract to cut a drain from the river Avon through Mr Fuche's land, to the English cemetery in Christchurch. He afterwards helped to make the Bridle Path from the Ferry to the Ginger Beer Shop—a name well known in the early days. After that he helped to make the Avon cutting towards New Brighton. He also helped to form Kilmore Street, Windmil. Road, and Lincoln Road. Mr. Rowell then took up his first land on the Springs track in 1861, and settled on it during the following year; but he afterwards sold out, and bought his present well kept farm of ninety acres, on Day's Road, where he farmed for a number of years until he let it to his sons. Mr. Rowell afterwards bought the Springston Hotel and kept it for nine years. He then retired and went to live on the Riccarton Road, and he and Mrs Rowell and their daughter subsequently took a trip to England. Mr. Rowell owns property in the Riccarton, Templeton, and Springs districts. He married a daughter of Mr. Philip Martin, who kept the Black Horse Hotel on Lincoln Road for many years. Mrs Rowell was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1836. She came out in the same ship as Mr. Rowell, and they were married during the year of their arrival. Mr. and Mrs Rowell have four sons and seven daughters.

Mr. and Mrs J. Rowell.

Mr. and Mrs J. Rowell.