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

Pembroke

Pembroke.

Pembroke is picturesquely situated on Lake Wanaka, 184 miles from Dunedin, and about forty miles to the north of Cromwell. It is increasing in general estimation as one of the pleasure resorts of the Lake country. Cobb and Co.'s coaches leave twice weekly for Queenstown, via Cardrona, and the Crown range of hills, and twice a week via Cromwell. A little paddle steamer runs to the head of the lake, Weka Island, and Glendhu Bay, and arrangements can be made beforehand for chartering her for special occasions. Lake Wanaka is a beautiful sheet of water, surrounded with fascinating natural scenery. Weka Island is very charming, and has on its summit a small but beautiful lake about three acres in extent named Rototui; and from the highest point of the island the visitor obtains a magnificent view. Glendhu Bay is a broad and picturesque lagoon, which gives enchanting reflections of the neighbouring scenery. A view of Lake Hawea can be obtained from the high ground above Driftwood Bay. The Makaroa and Otetenui valleys are also places of great beauty. Excursions can be made by alpine climbers to Mount St. Bernard, Symon's Crags, with Mount Aspiring, 10,000 feet high, in full view before them; and Mount Alba, another beautiful peak, entails only a little exertion to ascend it. The township of Pembroke is in the Cardrona riding of Lake county, and is part of the electoral district of Wakatipu. Its population at the census of 1901 was 130. Pembroke has a post and telegraph office, and mails are received, and despatched, twice a week.

Pembroke Public School , Lake Wanaka, was opened under the charge of Rev. Mr O'Connor, whose salary was partly guaranteed by leading settlers. Mr Thomson is the present master of the school. The building contains one class-room, and has an average attendance of forty-five pupils.

Mr. A. G. Thomson , Headmaster of the Pembroke public school, was born at Gabriel's Gully, and is the son of page 1037
Pembroke, Lake Wanaka.

Pembroke, Lake Wanaka.

the late Mr A. G. Thomson, a very old resident of Lawrence. The subject of this notice was educated at the Blue Spur school, entered the service of the Otago Board of Education, in which he remained until 1877, when he was appointed to his present post under the Southland Board. He is very musical, and his fine tenor voice is ofter heard at local concerts.

Rev. W. K. Grant , M.A., Edin., at one time Presbyterian minister in the Pembroke and Lake Wanaka district, was born at Invercargill in 1869, and is the youngest son of Mr. W. Grant, of Dunedin. He received his primary education in Invercargill, and afterwards proceeded to Scotland with his parents to study arts and theology at Edinburgh University, where he took his M.A. degree. Mr. Grant received his license from the Presbytery of Edinburgh, and on his return to Otago, in 1893, was appointed to the pastorate of Pembroke and Lake Wanaka.

St. Columba Church , Pembroke. Pembroke and the adjoining townships were separated from the Anglican parish of Queenstown, and formed into a separate parochial district, by the Bishop of Dunediu, in 1900. The Rev. A. Douglas Mitchell was appointed to take charge of it. Since then a site has been bought, and the first church to the west of Cromwell built in Pembroke. It was opened on Sunday, the 5th of October, 1902, and is built of wood, lined within with linoleum, which makes it very comfortable. The church is free from debt, and all the seats are free. It is hoped that after a little time it will be possible to add a chancel, vestry and porch, and so complete the church according to
St. Columba Church.

St. Columba Church.

the plan drawn by Mr Burnside, architect, of Dunedin.

Lake Wanaka Hotel (Mrs Russell, proprietress), Pembroke. The popular and obliging hostess of the Wanaka Hotel is ably assisted by her two daughters, and possesses one of the most charmingly situated hostelries in New Zealand. It stands an a terrace overlooking Lake Wanaka, and the magnificent view obtained from the grounds cannot be, perhaps, surpassed in the southern hemisphere. Four acres of land are attached to the hotel, and are tastefully laid out as pleasure grounds with shrubberies, orchard, kitchen garden, and paddocks. Lake Wanaka Hotel is an Ideal resting place for tourists and ordinary travellers. The building contains twenty-six rooms, including sitting and bedrooms. Special conveyances can be hired to convey tourists to the Hermitage at Mount Cook. Then, the p. s. “Theodore” makes special trips to various parts of the lake to suit excursionists, and calls regularly every week at the head of the lake, by which route travellers can reach the West Coast, via the Haast river. Lord Onslow and party went over this route, and were delighted with the magnificent scenery. Mail coaches run twice weekly between Cromwell. Queenstown, and Cardrona. There are also excellent tracks connecting the Pembroke district with the goldfields at Arrow and Macetown.

Mr. Theodore Russell , sometime proprietor of the Wanaka Hotel, was the first, postmaster, and one of the pioneer settlers of Pembroke. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1845, and died at the early age of thirty-two years at Lake Wanaka. His father, Mr. Henry Russell, arrived in Auckland in the early days of that district, and was engaged in managing sawmills at the Bay of Islands for some years, but afterwards went to Dunolly, Victoria, where his son was educated. About 1862, Mr. T. Russell
The Late Mr. T. Russell.

The Late Mr. T. Russell.

came over to the West Coast diggings, and subsequently joined the “rush” to Cardrona, Otago. He settled at Lake Wanaka in 1867, and built the hotel, which was the first building erected in Pembroke. Mr. Russell was married, in 1865, to Celia Isabella, eldest daughter of Mr. Elijah Hedditch, page 1038 an old settler, of Hobart. Mrs. Russell claims that her eldest son was the first child born in Pembroke, where the rest of her family have also been born and reared.

Mcdougall And Son (Robert McDougall), General Merchants, Colliery and Steamboat Proprietors, Pembroke, Lake Wanaka. This firm was established in 1871, and carries on a considerable business. It acts as agent for the National and New Zealand Insurance Companies and the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company. Mr. McDougall is referred to in another article as a member of the Lake County Council.

Monteith, William , General Merchant, Pembroke. Mr. Monteith, who is an old and respected colonist of long standing, was born in Glasgow in 1840, and is the second son of the late Mr. James Monteith, merchant, of that city. He was educated at Edinburgh University, and entered the service of his cousins, Messrs. John Monteith and Co., calico printers, Glasgow, with whom he remained until 1857, when he emigrated to Melbourne by the s.s. “Royal Charter” (afterwards wrecked with greatloss of life in St. George's Channel). He worked in the country for a short time, then joined the Oriental Bank Corporation, Melbourne, and remained in that institution until 1862. After revisiting Scotland, he came to Dunedin, in 1864, in the barque “Cecilia,” and followed the gold “rushes” at Hamilton. Otago, and on the West Coast. He next became a railway contractor and constructed the Chain Hills section of the Dunedin-Balclutha line. Mr. Monteith settled in Pembroke in 1877, and established the business he now carries on. He takes an active interest in local affairs, and is chairman of the Albertown and Pembroke school committees and Pembroke Public Library, and secretary of the Wanaka Jockey Club.