Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Farmer, “Ridgeland,” Lakeside, Leeston. Mr. Alexander was born at Saintfield, County Down, Ireland, in 1842, and came to Melbourne, in 1860. He remained only one year in Australia, and then removed to New Zealand, attracted by the reports from the Gabriel's Gully goldfield. Not being successful as a gold seeker, he came to Canterbury, where he worked at ploughing and contracting. After a very prosperous year he purchased his present property at Lakeside; it is not large in page 706 area, but it contains some of the most fertile land in the district. It is well subdivided, thoroughly fenced and drained, with a fine modern house. Mr. Alexander has been for a number of years a member of the Lakeside school committee and of the Southbridge Presbyterian church. He married Miss Skilling, and has a family of four daughters and two sons.

Cant, Daniel, Farmer, “Brookdale,” Lakeside. Mr. Cant is a nephew of the late Mr. Danzie Cant, so well known at Riccarton and throughout Canterbury, and was born in Essex, England, in 1846. He came to New Zealand in 1865 by the ship “Tudor,” and began carting wool from the Hinds to Rakaia. Later on he tried his hand at building and contracting in Christchurch, and carried on the business for five years. He then settled in the Ellesmere district, where he has been thoroughly successful as a farmer. Mr. Cant has long been a member of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He is well known as a breeder of pure Berkshires, is recognised as a leading authority on pigs, and has acted as a judge at various shows throughout New Zealand. Mr. Cant has for many years been a member of the Lakeside school committee, of which he was chairman for seven years. He owns an unequalled herd of Jersey-Ayrshire cattle, descended from stock which he bought in 1878, and has taken many prizes with his Ayrshire bulls. Mr. Cant is also a successful breeder of light horses and hacks, with which he has taken numerous prizes. He is an Oddfellow of old standing. He married Miss Fincham, daughter of the late Mr. Fincham, of Taumutu. Mrs Cant died in 1894, leaving a family of three sons and two daughters.

Overton, Frederick, Walsingham Farm, Lakeside. Mr. Overton is the son of a very prominent and early colonist of Canterbury. He was born in South Australia, in 1851, and at an early age accompanied his parents to Auckland where his father carried on large farming operations at Otahuhu. Owing to the breaking out of the Maori wars in Auckland, the family returned to Australia, but settled in 1862 in Canterbury, where Mr. Overton, senior, purchased a large property of 2000 acres, now known as the Meadowbank and Coe's estates. Mr. F. Overton was educated by a private tutor in Canterbury, and at the High School, Melbourne. On the sale of the Meadowbank estate, through the death of his father, Mr. Overton took up his present fine property, which comprises about 570 acres, where he carries on mixed farming. Mr. Overton has always taken a prominent part in the affairs of the district, and was for ten years member of the Ellesmere Road Board. He has for more than twelve years been a member of the Licensing Committee, of which he was chairman for three years. Mr. Overton has also been a member of the Lakeside school committee for over seventeen years, and chairman during the greater part of that time. He has always taken a great interest in the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of which he was president for one year. Mr. Overton was for six years a member of the old Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry previous to its disbandment, and refused both a lieutenancy and captaincy. He is one of the trustees of the Wesleyan Church at Leeston. Although respeatedly requested to contest the Ellesmere constituency for Parliament, he has always refused. Mr. Overton is well known as a runner and jumper in the district, and has won awards of the first order. His records are: 100 yards, 9 3/4 seconds; high jump, 5 feet 2 inches; pole jump, 9 feet 9 1/2 inches—all without training.

Mr. F. Overton.

Mr. F. Overton.

Lambie, James Farmer, Lakeside. Mr. Lambie is the third son of Mr. John Lambie, and was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1851. He accompanied his parents to New Zealand, and helped his father for some years, before taking up his present farm, which formed part of his father's estate. Mr. Lambie successfully carries on mixed farming. He has been a member of the Lakeside school committee for some years, and is also a member of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr. Lambie is married, and, of a family of eight children, three sons and four daughters are alive.