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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Russell's Flat

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Russell's Flat.

Embosomed in one of the valleys formed by the winding of the Malvern hills, which surround it on three sides, and opening into the Springfield district, which forms its north-eastern boundary, lies the beautiful and prosperous valley of Russell's Flat. It is in the county of Selwyn, and is within three miles of Annat on the Christchurch-Springfield railway, and about the same distance from Springfield railway station. In the early days of Canterbury, when the country was held in large runs, it was part of the Dalethorpe run, then owned by Mr. Watts Russell, after whom the district was named. A large portion of the flat is rich swamp land, through which the river Hawkins flows, and the evident capabilities of the soil early attracted the attenton of settlers. The first arrivals, in the early sixties, were Messrs Pitt and Morgan, who bought farms. These gentlemen were followed by Messrs Proctor and Sears, and, later on, by Messrs Robinson, Rutledge, Wallace, and the Craigheads. Under the well directed energy of these pioneers, handsome residences, surrounded by well kept, prosperous farms, gradually replaced the old dreary waste of flax, raupo and tussock. The land produces large crops of oats, which often yield as much as seventy bushels per acre, and the river flats are well known for their fattening qualities. The higher portions of the land carry sheep. Good roads intersect the district, and well grown plantations add beauty to the place, and at the same time afford shelter from the nor'-west winds. There is a public school, with an attendance of about thirty, and there is also a church at which services are held once a week. Coal in the surrounding hills only awaits capital to become an important and flourishing industry.

Farmers.

Craighead, David, Farmer, Russell's Flat. Mr. Craighead came with his parents to New Zealand, in 1859, by the ship “Cashmere.” He first settled at Russell's Flat in 1874, when he took up a farm. In 1881 he bought his present property, which consists of about 152 acres of flat land and low lying downs. The lower land gives good yields of grain, and the higher ground fattens sheep and lambs. Mr. Craighead is a shareholder in the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, the Farmers' Insurance Association, and of the Malvern Saleyards Company, of which he has been a director and chairman for years. He has for many years been a member of the Russell's Flat school committee, and was chairman for one year. He has for two years been a member of the Malvern Road Board; and has for some years been vice-president of the Malvern Food and Produce show, which is held annually at Russell's Flat. Mr. Craighead married a daughter of the late Mr. David Lamb, of Christchurch, and there is a family of two sons and one daughter.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. D. Craighead.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. D. Craighead.

Craighead, Charles, Farmer, Russell's Flat. Mr. Craighead is the only son of Mr. James Craighead, and was born at Russell's Flat in 1873. He has had a thorough practical experience of farming, and, practically, had the management of the estate for a considerable time before the retirement of his father. The property consists of about 250 acres of the rich swamp land, which lead to the early settlement of the district. The oat crops give exceptionally large yields, and the fattening qualities of the land are proverbial in the neighbourhood. Mr. Craighead is a breeder of a good class of sheep and cattle. He is one of the directors of the Central Dairy Company.

Dalethorpe Station, Russell's Flat (Mr. George Rutherford, proprietor). This estate was originally taken up in 1851 by the first Mr. John Deans, who sold it to Mr. Watts Russell, by whom it was called “Dalethorpe” after his family seat in England. He in turn sold the property to Messrs. Douglass and Parker from whom the present proprietor purchased it in 1873, at which date it was all leasehold, with the exception of sixty acres at the homestead. The estate now comprises 26,000 acres of freehold and 5000 acres of leasehold, and carries 21,000 sheep, principally Merinos, including a small stud of the famous Murray type descended from sheep imported from South Australia, and which are regular prize-takers.

Mr. George Rutherford, J.P., Proprietor of Dalethorpe Station, was born in Victoria in 1850, and came to Canterbury with his parents in 1860. He was educated at Christ's College, was on his father's run at Leslie Hills for some years, and moved to Dalethorpe in 1873. Mr. Rutherford is a member of the Selwyn County Council, of the local School Committee and Domain Board, was for ten years chairman of the Road Board, and is a life-member of the page 770 Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He is a keen sportsman, and has ridden hunters and steeplechasers with success, besides playing at football, cricket and other sports. He was married in 1877 to Miss Barr, who died a few years after, leaving one son and one daughter.

Field, James, “Riversleigh,” Russell's Flat. Mr. Field arrived in New Zealand with his parents by the ship “Canterbury,” in 1858, when he was fifteen years of age. In the first years of his residence in New Zealand he lived on his father's farm at St. Albans. In partnership with his brother he afterwards took up a run in the Mackenzie Country. After five years sheepfarming, the brothers gave up the run, and Mr. Field started farming, first, at Templeton, and, later on, at Monk's farm, Kaiapoi, and at Broadfields. He removed to Russell's Flat in 1878, and bought his present farm, which consists of fertile cropping land and rich river flats, with fine fattening qualities. From 1888 until 1891 Mr. Field lived in retirement at Opawa, having in the meantime leased his farm. During his residence at Russell's Flat he has taken an interest in church matters, and has been a lay reader at the Springfield Anglican church for over eight years. Mr. Field married the second daughter of the late Dr. Parkerson, who arrived in Canterbury in 1853, and died at Christchurch in 1876; and there is a family of twelve children.

Henry, Arthur, “The Swamp,” Russell's Flat. Mr. Henry was born at Carmeen, County Monaghan, Ireland, and came to New Zealand, in 1873, by the ship “Carisbrook Castle,” with his father, the late Mr. John Henry, of Russell's Flat, who died in 1892. Mr. Henry was engaged during his earlier years in Canterbury at brickmaking, contracting, and other occupations, and was for four years in the employment of Mr. Anderson, of Ashburton. He was afterwards with Mr. Cardale, of Waireki, and with Mr. Cordy, near Whitecliffs. Then he took up the leasehold of his present fine farm, and ultimately bought the freehold. The property consists of 150 acres of rich swamp land. It is thoroughly drained and improved, and is recognised as one of the best farms in the district. A good dwellinghouse, with a fine granary, and other necessary outbuildings, further enhance the value of the farm. Mr. Henry is a member of the Russell's Flat school committee, and of the Malvern Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at the shows of which he has taken prizes for sheep and horses. He is married, and has a family of one son.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. A. Henry.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. A. Henry.

Robertson, Samuel, Farmer, “Springbank,” Russell's Flat. Mr. Robertson was born in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, in 1857. He accompanied his parents to the Colony in 1862 in the ship “Chariot of Fame,” and received his education at a private school. His parents, after residing for thirteen months at Home Bush, removed to Culverden, to the property then belonging to Mr. Hugh McIlraith, where the subject of this notice gained practical experience in farming. He was manager of “Pine Grove,” Waddington, the property of Mr. G. Rutherford. In 1894, Mr. Robertson settled at Springbank on a fifty-acre section of unimproved Crown land, taken up by his father twenty years previously. This property he gradually increased to 700 acres, by additional land procured from the Midland Railway Company. The course of operations includes cropping and sheep grazing for wool and mutton. Mr. Robertson has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He is chairman of the road board, a member of the Russell's Flat School Committee, a director of the Sheffield Saleyards Company, and an active promoter of the racing club and athletic sports. He was married in 1882 to Miss Robinson, and has four sons and one daughter.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. S. Robertson.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. S. Robertson.

Rutledge, John, Greenvale Farm, Russell's Flat. Mr. Rutledge was born in Bullyboy, County Monaghan, Ireland, where he followed farming. In 1862 he came to Lyttelton by the ship “Mersey,” and for five years previous to the opening of the tunnel for traffic, he was occupied in conveying merchandise or other commodities across the Port Hills from Lyttelton to Christchurch. In
Mr. and Mrs J. Rutledge.

Mr. and Mrs J. Rutledge.

page 771 1872 he bought a farm of fifty acres at Russell's Flat. The land was in its native state, and covered with flax and snowgrass. While he was engaged in clearing his land, Mr. Rutledge also took contracts, which proved so remunerative that he increased his area to 500 acres. Mr. Rutledge has for a number of years been local preacher, treasurer and trustee of the Russell's Flat Wesleyan church, and also trustee of the surrounding Wesleyan churches. He has always taken a great interest in educational matters, and was instrumental in getting a grant from the Provincial Government for the erection of the Russell's Flat school, of the committee of which he was a member, and also chairman, for a number of years. Mr. Rutledge was for fifteen years superintendent of the Sunday school. He married a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Wallace, of Erne Farm, Lincoln, who arrived in 1863 by the ship “Tiptree,” and there is a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter are married.

Wallace, Thomas, J.P., “Cloverhill,” Russell's Flat. Mr. Wallace was born in 1836 at Enniskillen, Ireland, where he was educated and followed farming pursuits as a youth. He came out to Victoria in 1856 in the ship “Dragoon,” and joined the mounted police in which he served for a few years until he caught the gold-fever and resigned to try his luck at the diggings. On the discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully, Otago, he crossed the Tasman Sea in the ship “Ocean Chief,” but meeting with poor luck, he left the diggings to engage in farming in Canterbury. He purchased his first section of sixty-nine acres of unimproved Crown land in 1868, brought it into a high state of cultivation, and gradually increased the extent of his holding to between seven and eight hundred acres. Mr. Wallace first stocked his farm with dairy cows, milking as many as twenty-five. When under crop the land yielded as much as sixty bushels of oats to the acre. Later, he put sheep on his farm, and its chief products now are mutton and wool for which “Cloverhill” is found to be admirably adapted. Mr. Wallace, who is a Justice of the Peace, has always taken an active part in local politics, having been a member of the road board for twenty years, and sometime chairman, and member and chairman of the school committee, and was instrumental in obtaining the ground for the cemetery. He is also a supporter of the local racing club, and athletic sports. Mr. Wallace was married in 1865 to Miss Atkinson, and has four sons and seven daughters living.

Mr. T. Wallace.

Mr. T. Wallace.

Old Colonists.

Mr. James Craighead was one of the pioneer settlers of Russell's Flat, to which he went in 1866. In partnership with his brother, Mr. John Craighead, now of West Melbon, he took up 150 acres of swamp land, overgrown with flax; but with thorough cultivation and draining, it became one of the most fertile farms on the Flat. When the partnership was dissolved, Mr. James Craighead retained seventy acres around the present homestead. He afterwards added to his are, and on his retirement, in 1901, in favour of his son, Mr. Charles Craighead, the farm was known as one of the choicest in the district. During his long residence in Russell's Flat Mr. Craighead identified himself with the progress of the place. He was for a number of years a member of the Russell's Flat school committee, and for several years its chairman. Since his retirement, in 1901, he has resided in Sydenham, Christchurch.

Mr. John Craighead, sometime of Prebbleton and Russell's Flat, came to New Zealand in 1859, by the ship “Cashmere,” accompanied by his wife and five children. Soon after his arrival he settled at Prebbleton, but moved in 1865, to Russell's Flat, where he bought a farm, but never resided permanently on it. He died at Prebbleton, in 1884, leaving a family of seven sons and one daughter.