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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Ardgowan

Ardgowan.

Ardgowan , A Government settlement situated on the landward side of Oamaru and extending to and beyond Weston, is about four miles from Oamaru. The estate was acquired and settled in 1896 under the Land for Settlements Act, and had been worked as a pastoral property by the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. It is partly in the Papakaio riding, and partly in the Waiareka riding of the county of Waitaki. At the census of 1901 the total population was 487. The dairy industry has become extensive at Ardgowan, and the local creamery is kept very busy in the height of the season. A post office has been established at the house of the manager of the creamery.

The Ardgowan Public School was opened in the first week of August, 1903. It is built of wood and iron, and has accommodation for sixty pupils. Mrs Annie Maule, the teacher in charge, was born at Ohaupo, Waikato, trained as a teacher in the Auckland district, and was appointed to Ardgowan when the school was opened.

The Ardgowan Presbyterian Church was erected in 1904 on part of a section of one acre in extent. It is centrally situated, and has seating room for 120 adults. Services are regularly held by the minister, who resides at Weston.

Aitchison, John , Farmer, “Silverstream,” Ardgowan. Mr. Aitchison was born in Roxburgh, Scotland, in 1858, and was educated in County Mayo, Ireland, and in Wigtonshire, Scotland. He was brought up to a country life, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Waikato,” in 1879. He settled at Weston, and found employment in the Oamaru district. In November, 1902, Mr. Aitchison bought his present property, “Silverstream,” which comprises sixty-seven acres, held under leasehold in perpetuity. He is a member of the committee of the local Presbyterian church, and has served on the school and hall committees. Mr. Aitchison was married, in 1885, to a daughter of Mr. William Russell, of Waiareka.

Garrow, James . Farmer, Upper Ardgowan. Mr. Garrow was born in December, 1822, on the boundary of Perthshire and Argyleshire, Scotland, but both his parents belonged to Morayshire. His father was for many years an Inspector of Roads and Bridges under a Parliamentary Commission. He was trained to fill the same position and ultimately succeeded his father, and his father's brother occupied the position until the Parliamentary grant was withdrawn. Meanwhile Mr. Garrow was transferred to the Isle of Man, where he became Surveyor-General, and he held that position for about twelve years. After serving his fellows in these public capacities. Mr. Garrow says that ‘he came to New Zealand to serve the beasts of the field,’ and arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Auckland” in 1877. He settled for a few months in Dunedin, and then bought land at Richmond, wnere he remained for five years. After selling out his interest in that place, he bought 282 acres of freehold at Upper Ardgowan, where he settled in May, 1883. Mr. Garrow also leases forty acres of an adjoining reserve, and goes in chiefly for sheep farming. He
Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. and Mrs J. Garrow.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. Garrow.

page 477 was married, on the 19th of January, 1846, in Inverness, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Gordon, of that town, and has three sons and one daughter. His sons own about 400 acres of freehold land adjoining that of their father.

Grant, Alexander , Farmer, “Fern Hill,” Ardgowan. Mr. Grant was born in Abernethy-on-Spey, Scotland, in 1842, and was brought up to a country life, by his father, who was a farmer in that district. Mr. Grant commenced work at the age of ten yeas, and came by the ship “Schleswig Bride,” to Port Chalmers, in 1868. He found employment at Tokarahi for six months, and returned to the Oamaru district in 1869 for the harvest of that year. Since then Mr. Grant has been continuously connected with the district, and owns a freehold section of 195 acres at Hampden in addition to “Fern Hill,” which consists of sixty-five acres of freehold. As a Freemason Mr. Grant is attached to Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning. He was married, in 1875, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Donald, of Banff, Scotland, and has eight sons and two daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. A. Grant.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. A. Grant.

Gilchrist, John , Farmer, Ardgowan. Mr. Gilchrist is a native of Cumbernauld, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, and was born on the 13th of June, 1838. For over thirty years he was a coalminer in Scotland. He arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Marlborough,” in 1879, and settled at Purakanui, where he farmed for two years. He was for a year afterwards mining at Shag Point, and afterwards had six months' experience on the West Coast, whence he returned to Purakanui for a year. He subsequently removed to Dunedin, where he engaged in road-contracting for three years. Mr. Gilchrist was afterwards placed in charge of the Co-operative Labourers engaged in the construction of the Otago Central railway, and held that position for two years. His farm at Ardgowan is eighty acres in extent, and is held in the name of his son William, with whom he resides. Mr. Gilchrist was married, in 1861, to a daughter of Mr. John Brough, of Dumbarton. This lady died in 1871, leaving three sons, and in 1873 Mr. Gilchrist married a daughter of Mr. William Marshall, of Dumbarton. His second wife died on the 10th of February, 1903, leaving five sons and two daughters.

Isbister, David , Farmer, Ardgowan. Mr. Isbister was born in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, on the 1st of March, 1851, and was brought up to farming from his earliest years. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “William Davie” in 1871, and settled in the Oamaru district, with which he has since been connected, except for two years passed in Southland, and nine months in the year 1887, when he took a trip to the Old Country. On his return to the colony Mr. Isbister commenced farming near Enfield, where he continued till becoming an original selector on the Ardgowan settlement, in June, 1896, when he drew a section of 155 1/2 acres, under a lease in perpetuity. Mr. Isbister goes in extensively for dairy work. As a volunteer he served for a short time in the Orkney Islands. He was married, in 1887, to a daughter of Mr. William Dunnet, of Orkney, and has two sons and one daughter.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. and Mrs D. Isbister.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs D. Isbister.

Russell, William , Farmer. “Riversdale,” Ardgowan. Mr. Russell was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in January, 1846, and was brought up on his father's farm. He went to America in 1870, six years later visited his native island, and shortly afterwards sailed for Lyttelton in the ship “City of Dunedin.” On his arrival Mr. Russell found employment in the Cust district, and remained there for nine years. He then removed to North Otago, and farmed at Goodwood, Palmerston, and Waikouaiti, successively, till 1896, when he acquired his present property. “Riversdale” is part of the original Ardgowan estate, and consists of seventy-three acres, held under the perpetual lease system. Mr. Russell has served on the Flag Swamp and Weston school committees. He was married, in 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Taggart, of County Tyrone, Ireland, and has five daughters and three sons.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. and Mrs W. Russell.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Russell.