Kokoamo is a flourishing district, a portion of which was originally part of the Maerewhenua estate. The land is held mostly under leases in perpetuity, but there are also a considerable number of freeholders. It is a mixture of hill and flat, and is well suited for cropping and the raising of stock. The main road from Oamaru to Kurow passes along the flat, and also the Oamaru-Duntroon-Hakataramea branch line of railway. Borton's is the name of the flag station, which is twenty-four miles from Oamaru, and 354 feet above the level of the sea. There is a telephone bureau adjoining the railway station, and the business of the post office is conducted at the public school on the hill. Kokoamo is in the Awamoko riding of the Waitaki county, and in the electorate of Mount Ida.

The Kokoamo Public School was established in 1895. It standa on the hilly portion of the settlement about three miles from Borton's flag station. There is a glebe of eight acres, and the buildings comprise a schoolroom, built of wood and iron, and a school residence of four rooms. The school has accmmodation for ninety pupils, and there are twenty-five names on the roll. The average attendance is twenty-two.

Miss Emma Knott Church , who is in charge at Kokoamo school, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. When an infant she came to the colony with her parents, was educated in the Union Street school, Dunedin, served her pupil-teachership at the North East Velley school, and after two years' training at the Normal College she was appointed to the Moa Creek school in 1895. She remained there for four years, and was then for two years at Moa Flat. Miss Church was appointed to Kokoamo in 1902.

Mr. C. Nichols.

Brookstead Estate , Duntroon. This fine property was purchased by Mr. Charles Nichols in 1889, and has an area of 1653 acres. Like the majority of properties in the district it is devoted to grain-growing, and rearing and fattening stock. Mr. Nichols has obtained the best results by putting Shropshire Down rams to crossbred ewes, in order to raise fat lambs for the export trade. In this way he disposes of fifty per cent, of grass-fed lambs, and fattens the balance on rape and turnips. The dwelling-house is beautifully situated on a rise commanding a good view of the mountains, Waitaki river and valley, and is well sheltered from the page 566 prevailing winds by a large plantation. The house and stables are built of stone; the woolshed is a wooden building.

Mr. Charles Nichols , J.P., Proprietor of Brookstead Estate, was born in Tasmania, in 1863, and was educated at Christ's College Grammar School, Christchurch, and Jesus College, Cambridge. He has always followed farming.

Mr. James Halkett , Overseer of Brookstead Estate, Kokoamo, was born at Bonniebridge. Falkirk, Scotland, on the 9th of August. 1873, and was brought as an infant to Port Chalmers in the ship “Jessie Readman.” His family settled at Maheno, and for some years he found employment in the Kakanui district. Latterly Mr. Halkett entered the employment of Mr. Charles Nichols, proprietor of “Brookstead,” and was promoted to the position of overseer in 1901. He was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. William McGregor, of Redcliffe, and has two sons and one daughter; one daughter having died.

Duncan, James , Farmer, Borton's, Kokoama. Mr. Duncan was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1856. He was brought up to country life in his native place, and came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Parsee” in 1876. Mr. Duncan learned the trade of a blacksmith at Outram, where he was subsequently in business on his own account for several years. He worked at his trade at Ngapara for seven years, and was afterwards for a similar period at Otiake. On the opening of the Maerewhenua settlement in 1897, Mr. Duncan acquired 367 acres under a lease in perpetuity, and on this property he has erected his homestead and effected considerable improvements. While in the Outram district Mr. Duncan was a member of the Order of Oddfellows, and since residing at Borton's, he has been a member of the Kokoama school committee. He was married, in 1882, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Reid, of Taieri, and has three daughters and six sons.

Laird, William , Farmer, “Riversleigh,” Borton's, Kokoamo. Mr. Laird was born in July, 1861, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, where he was brought up to country life. For two years after his father's death he farmed on his own account till the expiration of the lease in 1884, and in that year he came to Port Chalmers by the s.s. “Florida.” He worked for three years in the Taieri district, and then removed to Tokarahi, where he took agricultural contracts for about ten yeas; and was subsequently for three years cropping at Otekaike. In 1898, on the opening up of the Maerewhenua estate, Mr. Laird took up 313 acres of land, situated on the flat between the railway station at Borton's and the Waitaki river. Mr. Laird holds his land under a lease in perpetuity, and carries on mixed farming. He has erected his homestead, and effected many improvements. Mr. Laird was married, in 1897, to a daughter of Mr. George Grant, of Middlemarch, and has two daughters and one son

Mahan, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Laird.

Reid, Thomas , Junior, Farmer, “Brae Bank,” Kokoamo. Mr. Reid was born in 1867, at Elderslie, and went to school at Ngapara. He gained experience in farming on the Elderslie estate, and in 1895 became one of the original selectors on the Maerewhenua Settlement. His property consists of 605 acres of land, held under a lease in perpetuity, and is worked as an agricultural farm and sheep station.

Viewfield Estate , near Kokoamo, the property of Mr. James A. Taylor, was purchased by its present owner in 1880, and since then the land has been brought into a high state of cultivation, chiefly for grain page 567 growing, for which the district is famous. Mr. Taylor also breeds and fattens a large number of lambs, his favourite breed being Border Leicesters, owing to their early maturity. The stables and implement sheds are very complete and convenient, and are built of stone with iron roofs. The residence is situated on one of the most elevated spots on the property and commands a good view of the surrounding country, and of the sea. Mr. Taylor may with justice be given credit for being the first in the district to build his house on a hill, the early settlers having been too much given to selecting sites in lowlying hollows and hidden gullies. Now that the extensive plantations of shelter and other trees are well matured, the homestead forms a conspicuous land mark in the district.

Mr. J. A. Taylor was born in 1849 in the Orkney Islands, where he passed his early years in following farming. He came to Port Chalmers in 1868, in the ship “Helenslea,” from Glasgow. After staying about a year in the neighbourhood of Dunedin, he removed to the Duntroon district, and settled on the tablelands six years later. At that time there were very few permanent settlers, who were large growers of grain, and wheat sold at from 4s to 5s per bushel. Mr. Taylor was married in 1889, to Miss Don, and has three sons and two daughters who drove daily to the Duntroon school, seven miles distant, and travelled over 30,000 miles in that manner.

Mr. and Mrs J. A. Taylor and Family.

Taylor, James B. , Farmer, Springbank, Kokoamo. Mr. Taylor was born in 1849, in the Orkney Islands, where he was educated and followed farming during his early years. He came to New Zealand, in 1871, by the ship “William Davie,” and took up his present farm of 558 acres. The country was then in its natural state and one could ride for ten miles without coming in contact with any fence. Mr. Taylor applied himself to the cultivation of wheat, which he sold for a number of years at an average of 4s per bushel, but after his farm was fenced and sub-divided, he bred and fattened crossbred sheep, the Leicester variety being his favourite. The stable is a substantial stone building, and the house is situated on elevated ground sheltered by a well-grown plantation. Mr. Taylor served on the Waitaki Road Board till it was merged in the County Council, and he is a member of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association; he is also on the school committee, and took an active part in establishing the Kokoamo school and post office. Mr. Taylor was married, in 1879, to Miss Robertson, and has one son and six daughters.

Mr. J. B. Taylor.