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

Murchison, Finlay Stanislaus

Murchison, Finlay Stanislaus , Sheepfarmer, “Ardnarf,” Waikaia Valley, Glenary. “Ardnarf” consists of 800 acres of Education Reserve, and is used for the grazing of Romney Marsh crossbred sheep. Mr Murchison was born in 1834, in Rossshire, Scotland, at Ardnarf, Lochalsh, after which his place is named, and was educated for the Catholic priesthood, for which he studied for eight years at Blair's College, Aberdeen. However, owing to a breakdown in his health, he embarked on the ship “Sevilla,” on her first voyage, and arrived at Port Chalmers on the 10th of November, 1859. He stayed in the Riverton district for the first few years, and was interested in farming with a brother-in-law. For some time subsequently Mr Murchison was employed in mustering and shearing in the Waiau page 1046 district and was the first white man to swim the Waiau river, at Manapouri station, about three miles below Lake Te Anau, to show shearers the way. In 1879, he settled in the Waikaia Valley, and has since been engaged in sheepfarming. Mr Murchison was married, on the 26th of April, 1876, to a daughter of the late Mr Angus McDonell, of Glengarvy, Inverness-shire, Scotland, and has five sons and three daughters.