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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[Hornby]

Hornby is a rising township, situated six miles south-west from Christchurch, on the main south line. The railway station, which has a post and telegraph office, is the junction of the Little River and Southbridge lines, and is consequently a busy one. Immediately opposite are the large freezing works of Messrs Nelson Bros. The rapid growth of Hornby during recent years is chiefly due to the development and extension of the frozen meat industry, and the extra demand for labour at the Islington freezing works, situated about a mile distant. Two places of worship have already been erected, one by the Roman Catholics, and the other by the Baptists. Services of the Church of England are held in the Druids' Hall, while the Presbyterians worship at the public school. Hornby has a well appointed store, a blacksmith's shop, and other places of business, and there are several handsome private residences in the neighbourhood.

The Hornby Public School is a substantial wooden building, divided into two large and lofty rooms. It stands on a globe of three acres, on which there is situated the schoolmaster's residence, and also a large swimming bath. This is fed by a water race, and the bath is therefore considerably warmer than artesian water. During certain hours the bath is open to the public at a nominal charge. The school was opened in March, 1895, with fifty-three scholars, and at the present time (1903) there are 145 on the roll. An infant mistress and a pupil-teacher assist the headmaster.

Mr. Andrew Dunnett, Headmaster of the Hornby school, was born at Halkirk, Caithness, Scotland, in 1845. He served as a pupil-teacher at Walten, Caithness, and afterwards taught for two years at Mr. Grosvenor's grammar school, St. John's Wood, page 653 London. On arriving in New Zealand, in 1870, by the ship “Ramsay,” Mr. Dunnett accepted an appointment at St. John's school, Christchurch, and, two years later, on gaining a teacher's certificate, he was appointed to the Government school at Akaroa. Subsequently he became master, successively of the schools at Summer, Winchester, and Broadfields, and on the opening of the Hornby school, he was appointed its first master. As a Freemason Mr. Dunnett was initiated in Lodge Winchester, No. 1737, E.C., of which he is a Past Master. Mr. Dunnett married a daughter of Major Young, of Winchester.

Standish and Preece, photoMr. A. Dunnett.

Standish and Preece, photoMr. A. Dunnett.

Manhire, William Henry, General Storekeeper and Coal and Timber Merchant, Hornby. Mr. Manhire was born at Redruth, Cornwall, England, in 1859, and began to work in the South Carnbred mine at the age of eleven. In 1876 he arrived in Wellington. by the ship “Northampton,” and came to Christchurch, where he accepted a position with the firm of Messrs Montgomery and Co. (row Williams, Stephens and Co.), with whom he remaiend for twenty-two years. Mr. Manhire purchased his present large business at Hornby in 1898. He acts as agent for the Liverpool, London, and Globe Insurance Company, besides having other agencies. Mr. Manhire has twice passed through the chairs of the Sydenham Druids' Lodge, and once through the Lodge at Hornby, and he has been Past District Grand President of the Order. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance, at Addington, and is also one of the trustees of the Addington Wesleyan church. Mr. Manhire has been vice-president of the Progressive Liberal Association, and was nominated for the presidency. with Mr. H. G. Ell, M.H.R., who defeated him by three votes. He was elected a member of the Templeton Road Board in 1900, and before that time he was a member of the Spreydon Road Board for five years, during part of which he was chairman. Mr. Manhire married a daughter of Mr. Joseph Gray, an old resident of Addington, and has a family of three sons and five daughters.

Nelson Brothers' Freezing Works (Mr. James Nairn, engineer-in-charge) Hornby. These works were built in 1896 and opened in 1897. They can put through 2000 sheep per day under Linde's cold air process. The dry air machines formerly in use have been adjusted by Messrs Niven and Co., Napier, to this process, which consists in the circulation of air from a cooler above, and in the application of a shower of brine There are three freezing rooms, each of which has hanging space for 2000 carcases. This admits of each room being emptied every third day, and the meat being passed below into the storeroom, which will hold 60,000 sheep or 80,000 lambs. The works are fitted up with every modern appliance. There are three water-tube boilers by Babcock and Willcox, each of 134 horse-power. Yet the establishment consumes only three tons of coal per day to do all the freezing and pumping, and generate the electric light used on the premises.