Adair is said to have been named by a lover of the old song of “Robin Adair.” It was the first village settlement in New Zealand, and was established in October, 1883, while the late Hon. William Rolleston was Minister of Lands. The settlement is 510 acres in extent, including roads. It was surveyed into sections of from five to twenty-five acres, and sold on deferred payments, extending over ten years. The land was taken up by working men, and, after some hard struggling, the settlement has become prosperous. Adair is about five miles and a half from Timaru, and is bounded on the north by Fairview, on the south by Otipua, on the west by Claremont, and on the east by Kingsdown. It has a public school and a post office. Religious services are held in the school building.