Cross, Charles Edward, Farmer, Fairlie. Mr. Cross was born in 1876 at Christchurch, and was educated at the Boys' High School there, and at Akaroa, where he became a cadet on Mr. G. J. Black's estate. In 1895 he went to Fairlie, where, with his brother, he worked his father's farm for four years, and was afterwards, until going to South Africa with the Third New Zealand Contingent, buying stock for Mr. Acton-Adams. While in East London, Africa, Mr. Cross received the Royal Society's Medal for rescuing a comrade from drowning. From Africa he went to England for six months, and returned to New Zealand in 1901. Mr. Cross was among the seven selected from the Third Contingent to represent New Zealand at the coronation of King Edward VII. He returned to Fairlie in 1902.

Cross, James Edward U., Farm Manager, Fairlie. Mr. Cross was born in 1878, at Christchurch, where he received his education at the Boys' High School. On leaving school he went to Fairlie, and afterwards became manager of “Rivermead,” which was bought by his father in 1895. This farm, which comprises 440 acres, is situated about two miles from Fairlie. It runs about 600 sheep, and there are several well bred and valuable horses. Mr. Cross takes an interest in volunteering, and is sergeant in the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles.

Harries, Edward Lifford, Sheepfarmer, Fairlie. Mr. Herries was born in Nelson, in 1854, and received his education in Dunedin. He was brought up to shepherding on various stations in the district of Waitaki, and was for seven years on the Ohau Lake station, where he was head shepherd for some time. In 1887 he went to the North Island, but returned to Otago after two years and resumed his former occupation. Mr. Harries came to Canterbury in 1900, and took up his present holding of 2143 acres leasehold, upon which he runs a flock of 1600 half and three-quarter bred ewes. His lease takes in the sheep yards, dip, outbuildings, and substantial stone built woolshed of the old Three Springs station. Mr. Herries was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. William Mason, of Christchurch, and has one son.

Mr. and Mrs E. L. Harries and Child.

“Melville Downs,” Fairlie (A. L. Macpherson, Wycherley Grove, Staffordshire, England, proprietor). This estate comprises 1835 acres of freehold land, and is situated about seven miles from Fairlie, adjoining “Allandale” and “Trentham.” It was formerly part of Ashwick station, and in 1885 was purchased by the present proprietor. The land, which is nearly all cultivated and sown in grass, is well fenced and subdivided into nineteen paddocks, carrying a flock of 2300 breeding ewes. The homestead is prettily situated on a terrace with a fine plantation of shelter trees surrounding it, and with all the necessary station buildings adjoining.

Mr. Robert Scott, Manager of “Melville Downs,” was born in 1848, in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, where he received his education and followed the life of a shepherd. He was employed on several large farms in Sutherlandshire, and in 1873 came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Dunfillan.” He was head shepherd for Mr. William Shand at the Taieri for two years, and afterwards was at Ohoura station, and Whale's back station as under manager for seven years. In 1885 Mr. Scott became manager for Captain Hayter at Rolesbury station, and four years later was appointed to his present position. In 1902 he acquired for himself 813 acres of Melville Downs, and his place is stocked with 800 breeding ewes and 200 hoggets. Mr. Scott was at one time a member of the Ashwick school committee, and has been a member of the Fairlie Farmers' Union, and a shareholder of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association since 1896. He was married, in 1877, to a daughter of the late Mr. Ronald McMillan, of Waitaki.

Melville Downs Homestead.

Milne, William, Farmer, Raincliff, Fairlie. Mr. Milne was born in Otago, and at an early age was brought to Canterbury by his parents, who took up a farm at Ashwick Flat. He received his education at the Fairlie school and was brought up to farming, and remained at home until his father left Ashwick Flat and took up a page 958 farm at Albury. Mr. Milne was shearing for about ten seasons on various stations in the district, and in 1893 leased 640 acres adjoining his father's property, which he used for sheep grazing purposes for four years. In 1899 he started a butcher's shop in Fairlie, in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Mr. Adamson, and carried on the business for eighteen months. Mr. Milne then turned his attention to farming again, and acquired 227 acres leasehold, and 209 acres of the Raincliff estate, and runs a flock of 900 crossbred sheep. Since 1900 he has been a member of the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. W. Milne.

Nixon, John, Farmer, “Springvale,” Fairlie. Mr. Nixon was born in 1843, in County Down, Ireland, where he passed his early years on his father's farm. In 1864 he came to New Zealand in the ship “William Miles,” and during the succeeding year he passed six months on the Westland goldfields. On his return to Canterbury, he bought land and commenced farming, cropping and dairying. Mr. Nixon purchased the first portion of “Springvale,” in 1883, partly from the Crown and partly second hand, and he has gradually extended his area to 1600 acres, on which he carries on mixed farming, and fattens sheep for the export trade. The improvements at “Springvale” include a good dwellinghouse, necessary outbuildings, and a good garden and orchard, sheltered by two acres of plantation. Mr. Nixon has served as a member of the local school committee and of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Currie, and has four sons and six daughters.

Mr. J. Nixon.

Robinson, John, Farmer, Fairlie, Mr. Robinson was born in 1851, in Westmorland, England, where he was educated, and brought up on his father's farm. He came to Dunedin in 1879, and was working for some time on the Taieri. Then he came to Canterbury, and engaged in farm work at Peel Forest till 1880, when he went to Raincliff station, where he worked as a farm hand. He started cropping and contract farm work in 1896, and took a lease of 200 acres on Raincliff. In 1897 he took up 498 acres of leasehold land close to Fairlie, where he carried on sheepfarming and mixed farming. He is a member of the committee of the Mackenzie Agricultural Society. Mr. Robinson was married, in 1897, to a daughter of Mr. James Gallen, of County Tyrone, Ireland, and has one son and one daughter.

Burford, photo.
Mr. And Mrs J. Robinson.

Ross, John, Farmer, Shinness Farm, Fairlie. Mr. Ross was born in Shinness, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and was brought up to shepherding. He worked for five years on the Shinness Farm and for eleven years on the Forest Farm, Ross-shire. Mr. Ross came to Lyttelton by the ship “Merope” in 1870, and went as shepherd on the Tekapo station for two years. He worked on several other runs, and was managing Richmond station for some time. He went to the North Island for two years; and on his return resumed the management of “Richmond” for sixteen years. page 959 Mr. Ross then, in conjunction with a partner, leased the Lilly-Bank run of 70,000 acres for several years. In 1891 he bought his present farm of 265 acres, which he has named after his birthplace. He also leases four other properties in the district, amounting in all to nearly 2000 acres, and his stock comprises 2200 sheep and 100 head of cattle. Mr. Ross was for some time a member of the Mackenzie County Council and is now a member of the Timaru Agricultural Association, the Mackenzie Masonic Lodge, the Mackenzie Agricultural Show Committee and the Fairlie Oddfellows' Lodge, and has a large interest in the local saleyards. Mr. Ross was married, in 1878, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Clarke, of Rose Hall, Scotland.

Strathallan Estate, Fairlie, is the property of Messrs LeCren Brothers, and comprises 2600 acres. It was originally part of the Ashwick run and was purchased from the Crown in 1878 by Mr. F. LeCren, father of the present owners. The property is devoted to grazing purposes, is divided into fourteen paddocks with sixteen miles of substantial fencing, and carries 3500 sheep. The improvements consist of a good dwellinghouse, an orchard and garden, blacksmith's shop, sheep dip and yards, and two stables—one for heavy horses and one for light horses; and the homestead is sheltered by a wellgrown plantation. The proprietors have with great judgment planted a number of trees in every paddock to provide winter shelter and summer shade for the stock. With a view to keeping the pastures in a state of well ordered renewal, Messrs LeCren annually bring a considerable area of land under the plough, and put it down chiefly in rape and turnips. The grain grown on the estate is also consumed upon it.

Strathallan House.

Mr. F. J. LeCren, the Senior Partner, was born in 1863 in Christchurch, and educated at Christchurch and Timaru, where he was in commercial life for five years, when he turned his attention to pastoral pursuits, which he followed for twelve years. In 1897 he went to reside at Strathallan. Mr. LeCren has always taken an active part in athletic sports. While he was at school he won three silver cups, besides many minor prizes, and since then he has won two silver cups.

Mr. C. J. LeCren, the younger brother, was born in Timaru, and educated there and in Christchurch. He was for two years at the Agricultural College, Lincoln, and subsequently followed farming.

Mr. C. J. Le Cren.

Trotter, John, Farmer. “Punaroa,” Fairlie. Mr. Trotter was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1860, and came to Port Chalmers in 1867 with his father, who was engaged by the New Zealand Land Company to manage the Totara estate in the Oamaru district. He received his education at Palmerston South and was brought up to farming. At the time of the Kimberley gold rush he went to Australia, but returned to New Zealand, which he thinks is far superior to Australia. In 1897 Mr. Trotter bought 126 acres of the Eversley Farm, and two years later leased from the Government 496 acres, which he works as a sheep and agicultural farm. His property is well fenced and cultivated, and he has built a neat four roomed cottage with sun-dried bricks, of his own manufacture. He crops about 180 acres, and runs a flock of 600 half bred and cross bred ewes. Mr. Trotter is Immediate Past Master of Lodge Mackenzie, 93. New Zealand Constitution, with which he has been connected since 1894. He takes an active part in all local affairs, and is steward of the Mackenzie Agricultural Society, and president of the Mackenzie Jockey Club. Mr. Trotter was married, in 1889, to a daughter of Mr. W. Brown, of Middlemarch, Otago, and has one son and three daughters.

Farquhar, John, Head Shepherd, Clayton, Fairlie. Mr. Farquhar was born in the Braes of Angus, in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1854. He came out to New Zealand in 1874 by the ship “Tweed,” and landed in Otago. After his arrival Mr. Farquhar followed station life at Benmore and the head of the Waitaki, and also in the Mackenzie Country. In 1880 he visited Cape Colony, where be joined the volunteers. He was in Baker's Horse during the trouble with the Basutos, and took part in a few skirmishes. In 1881 he returned to New Zealand, and resumed his usual employment. He was appointed to his present position in 1884. Mr. Farquhar has generally taken an active part in athletic sports, and has frequently competed at the Caledonian Society's sports, and carried away first prize for throwing the hammer. He was married, in 1893, to Miss Allan, of Pleasant Point, and has two sons and one daughter.

Mr. J. Farquhar.