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

Riversdale

Riversdale.

Riversdale is the headquarters of a district on the Waimea Plains, where, years ago, the New Zealand Agricultural Company bought large tracts of land, with the object of sub-dividing and selling to small settlers. The company is still represented at Riversdale. A considerable proportion of the land has been disposed of for closer settlement, and the township has had a career of much prosperity. It consists of two hotels, two stores, two saddlers' shops, three blacksmiths' shops, a butcher's shop, a livery stable, a dairy factory, and a large grain store owned by an Invercargill firm. The district has a rifle club, and is the headquarters of the Mataura Mounted Rifles, who have a drill shed. The Riversdale public school, under the care of a master and mistress, has an average attendance of ninety. The local railway station is eighteen miles from Gore, and nineteen from Lumsden, and stands 413 feet above the level of the sea. The work of the post office ana telegraph office is conducted at the railway station. Riversdale is in the Hokonui riding of the county of Southland, and in the Wakatipu electorate, and its population, at the census of 1901, was 312. It lies to the north-west of Gore, and four miles to the south of the Mataura river. The Waimea stream, a tributary of the Mataura, flows through the settlement and joins the Mataura five-miles to the southward. The severe winter of 1903 left its mark on Riversdale, by the destruction of nearly the whole of the gum trees, and of the pines which beautified the settlement. Riversdale is connected with the Waikaia district, fourteen miles off., by daily coach communication. A branch railway to connect Waikaia with Riversdale, was commenced some years ago, but up to the present (1904–5) the formation extends only four or five miles.

The Riversdale Railway Station And Post Office combined occupies a central position in the settlement. The old building at the back of the stationmaster's house was the first building erected on the Waimea Plains railway, and is now used as a stable and out buildings; and the first services in connection with the Presbyterian church in the district were held in the house now occupied by the stationmaster. The present railway station is built of wood and iron, and contains a ladies' waiting-room, a public lobby, booking offices, and a store-room, and has a separate entrance for the postal department. There is a very large goods shed, and large quantities of grain are sent from the station. As Riversdale is the railway station for the Waikaia district, considerable traffic in connection with that settlement, particularly on account of dredges, is carried on. Four trains daily pass through Riversdale, and the stationmaster is assisted by a cadet, messenger, and porter.

Mr. Thomas Appleby , who became Stationmaster and Postmaster at Riversdale in September, 1901, was born at Newark-on-Trent, England, in 1859. He attended school at Burton-on-Trent, and was brought up to railway work, his father, Mr Charles Appleby, having been one of the first two clerks appointed at the Burton-on-Trent station, on the opening of the Derby and Birmingham railway. Mr J. T. Appleby had considerable experience on the Midland railway, in England, as he served ten years, and rose from the position of a boy in the goods shed to a clerk in the office. Mr Appleby came to Canterbury, New Zealand, in 1884, after having a year's experience in Queensland. He joined the railway service at Addington, in July of the same year, and soon afterwards became a stationmaster. As such he was for two years at Winslow, four years and a-half at Albury, six years and a-half at Hornby Junction, and for one year and a-half at Little River, prior to his appointment at Riversdale, whence he was promoted to Rotorua, in the North Island at the end of 1904 or the beginning of 1905. Mr Appleby was married, in May,
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photoMr. T. Appleby.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo
Mr. T. Appleby.

1890, to a daughter of the late Mr Skinner, of Belfast, Ireland, and has one son.
Mr. Archie Taylor Heydon , Ganger of No. 1 Section (Gore to Mandeville) Waimea Plains Railway,
Mr. And Mrs A. T. Heydon.

Mr. And Mrs A. T. Heydon.

was born at Ashton, Northampton, in 1874, and came, with his parents, to New Zealand in 1875. After he left page 1041 school he went to farm labour, but joined the New Zealand railway service in August, 1891, as a surfaceman. In 1903, he was promoted to the position of ganger. Prior to his being made ganger he was for some time in charge of the outside work at the Government creosoting works at Kew. As an Oddfellow, Mr Heydon is a member of the United Gore Lodge, Manchester Unity, and was Warden of the Lodge in 1904. He was married, in 1898, to a daughter of Mr A. Phillips, ganger, Glenham, and has a family of three sons and one daughter.

St. Mark's Anglican Church, Riversdale , was erected in 1892. The building is of wood and iron, and has accommodation for 120 persons. Monthly services are held by the Vicar of Winton. There is a Sunday school in charge of two teachers.

The Riversdale Presbyterian Church is a wood and iron building situated on half an-acre of ground. It has accommodation for 120 persons; a new pulpit has recently been erected, and there is a railed-in choir platform, and a handsome bell organ. The manse, which is a wood and iron building containing eight rooms, stands on a glebe of from three to four acres. The resident minister conducts two services at Riversdale on Sundays; fortnightly services at Wendon; and monthly services at Pyramid and Kingston Crossing.

The Rev. Andrew Dougall Kirkland , Minister-in-charge of the Riversdale Presbyterian Church, is a son of the late Rev. James Kirkland, of West Taieri. He was born in 1872, at Inchclutha, received his education at the Outram public school, and the Otago Boys' High School, and afterwards studied at the Otago University and the Theological Hall. He was inducted on the first of March, 1899, as minister of the Riversdale charge. In the same year, Mr Kirkland was married to a daughter of George Talbot Birch, Esquire, of Oteramika, and has two sons.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Rev. A. D. Kirkland.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Rev. A. D. Kirkland.

The Waimea Plains Dairy Factory is owned by the Waimea Plains Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, which was formed in 1904. Mr James Kelly is chairman of directors, and Mr James Robertson is secretary. The factory stands on an acre of ground about two miles from Riversdale, and the main building measures 60 feet by 30 feet, with a boiler-room of 20 feet by 30 feet. The boiler and engine are each of eight horsepower, and altogether the plant is complete and up-to-date. The cheese-maker has one assistant, and the annual output of cheese is from thirty to thirty-five tons.

Mr. James Robertson , Cheese-maker at the Factory and Secretary of the Company, was born at Mackars-town, Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1869, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1873. He was educated at Woodlands, and in 1892 started work at the dairy factory there. He afterwards worked, successively, at Waimea Plains and Otamita, and returned to the Waimea Plains Factory in 1900. Mr Robertson is a member of the Presbyterian church choir at Riversdale.

Reid, James , General Merchant, Riversdale. Mr Reid was born in 1876, in Dunedin, where he was educated and brought up to office work in the Riversdale district with Messrs Pease and Valentine, respectively. In 1894 he started his present business in partnership with Mr Frew, but has been sole proprietor since 1902. Mr Reid has a complete general stock of groceries, drapery, boots, etc., and he acts as agent for the Commercial Union Assurance Company, and for the Otago Daily Times and Witness, the Gore Standard, the Weekly Press and the Canterbury Times. He was for some time a member of the Riversdale Rifles, and is now a member of the Rifle Club. Mr Reid is Past Grand of the Loyal Riversdale Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. He was married, in 1904, to a daughter of Mr James Pollock, of Waipounamu.

Jopp, J. And R. , Livery Stable Keepers, Riversdale. Head office, Invercargill. The Riversdale branch of this business was established in 1893, and is conducted in buildings adjacent to Mr John Gee's Hotel. There is a good selection of horses and vehicles, and everything in connection with the establishment is up-to-date. Coaches carrying the mails, are run to and from Waikaia daily.

Mr. Robert Jopp , Manager of the branch, is one of the partners in the firm of J. and R. Jopp. He was born at Arrow, in 1873, and brought up to this class of business, in which his father had been employed for about twenty-five years. In the early nineties he and his brother started the Gore branch; in 1892 they opened in Invercargill, and in 1893 Mr Robert Jopp opened the Riversdale branch.

Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. R. Jopp.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. R. Jopp.

Hall, Wilson , Farmer, “The Homestead,” Riversdale. Mr Hall was born in 1856, in County Derry, Ireland, and was farming on his own account before coming to New Zealand in 1883. On arriving in the Waimea Plains district he took up land at Wendonside, but shortly afterwards sold it and engaged in contract cropping for five or six years. Mr Hall has at various times bought and sold a large amount of land in the district, notably the Camp Homestead, which he bought before acquiring his present farm in 1897. “The Homestead,” which is situated close to Riversdale, consists of about 3,000 acres, and is devoted chiefly to sheep-farming, though horses and cattle belonging to the property are also exhibited at Gore. The farm is well equipped page 1042 with implements, and there are two threshing plants. Mr Hall, who is a Justice of the Peace, was for some time captain of the Riversdale Rifles, and is a member of the Farmers' Union, of the Gore and Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Societies, and of the Gore and Invercargill Farmers' Clubs. He was married, in 1889, to a daughter of the late Mr Manson, merchant. Riversdale, and has two sons and four daughters.

Jones, Henry Sydney , Farmer, “Springfield,” Riversdale. “Springfield” consists of 312 acres, and Mr Jones also owns another farm of 150 acres in the district, in addition to sixty acres of leasehold. He carries on mixed farming, and his draught and thoroughbred horses have taken many first and champion prizes. His racehorses have also been very successful, notably the mares “Vixen” and “Waimea.” Mr Jones was born in Liverpool, England, in 1855, and came to New Zealand with his parents. A few years later, he began to work as a general farm labourer, and continued as such until 1882, when he leased a small farm from his brother. In 1885 he took up 150 acres of land then in its natural state, and has since added to his property. Mr Jones was a member of the Wendon school committee for about seven years, and was for one year of that time chairman. He is a member of the Gore Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr Jones was married, in 1880, to a daughter of Mr Isaac Maslin, of Waimate, and has a family of five sons and four daughters.

Mackay, William , Lairg Farm, Riversdale. Mr Mackay was born in 1858, at Lairg, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand in 1883, and, after a short period spent in farming, joined the railway service. Five years later he took up 188 acres in the Riversdale district, where he has since increased his area to 512 acres, of which about 200 acres are leasehold, and the remainder freehold. Mr Mackay is a director of the Waimea Plains Dairy Factory Company, Limited; a Master Mason of Lodge Taringatura. Lumsden; a member of the Farmers' Union; and a member of the Riversdale Presbyterian church committee. He was married, in 1884, to a daughter of Mr John McKenzie, farmer, Backies, Golspie, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and has two sons and five daughters.

Mr. And Mrs W. Mackay And Family.

Mr. And Mrs W. Mackay And Family.

Murdoch, Alexander , Altrive Farm, Riversdale. Mr Murdoch was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he followed farming in his early years. He came to New Zealand in 1871 by the ship “William Davie,” resided at Green Island for a short time, and then settled in the Oamaru district. In 1879 he bought 871 acres of land in the Ngapara district from Mr John Borton. Mr Murdoch named his place “Riverside,” which became noted for the splendid stud flocks of English and Border Leicesters kept by him. The Borderers originated from one ram and six ewes bought in 1881 from the famous flock of Messrs Little Brothers, and were direct descendants from imported stock. Besides these, Mr Murdoch from time to time added other sheep from the best bred British and colonial flocks. Mr Murdoch exhibited in 1886 at Waimate, Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru and Timaru, and gained most of the first and champion prizes, besides many minor prizes. The English Leicesters were established in 1890, as immediate descendants of imported stock, and have attained a well-assured celebrity. Mr Murdoch always took an active part in local affairs while he was in North Otago, and was chairman of the Island Cliff school committee. He was a member of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association for over twenty-five years. While he was in North Otago, Mr Murdoch possessed, in addition to “Riverside,” a leasehold run of 9,000 acres in the Kyeburn district. In 1898, he sold “Riverside,” and also parted with his Kyeburn property, and went to settle in the Riversdale district, to which he also took his pure bred sheep, which he still continues to breed and exhibit with distinguished success. He has three properties at Riversdale; namely, Altrive Farm, of 350 acres, on which he has his homestead; Stanley Downs, 1,500 acres; and Highfield, 569 acres. As a farmer, Mr Murdoch's principal purpose is the production of grass and turnips to feed and fatten sheep, and with that end in view he generally ploughs from 400 to 500 acres of land every year. Like most of his countrymen, Mr Murdoch cherishes the memory of the poets of his native land, and so he has named his home-farm after that of Mr James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. Mr Murdoch was married, in 1889, and has a family of four sons.

page 1043
A Group Of Mr. A. Murdoch's Border Leicester Flock.

A Group Of Mr. A. Murdoch's Border Leicester Flock.