Mr. William Taylor Masefield , sometime of Manaroa station, in the Pelorus Sound, was born on the 12th of February, 1851, at Ellerton Hall, in Shropshire, England. He was educated at English colleges, and at sixteen years of age came to New Zealand to an elder brother, Mr. V. V. Masefield. The two brothers subsequently entered into partnership, and for many years conducted a large sheep and cattle run at Gough's Bay, on Banks' Peninsula, in Canterbury. In October, 1889, however, they sold out, and Mr. W. T. Masefield then took up Manaroa station, on which he resided until his death in April, 1901. The estate consists of nearly 2000 acres of sheep country, and is now (1905) carried on by Mrs Masefield and her eldest son. The homestead, which is built in an old English style, is picturesquely situated at the head of the bay. Mr. Masefield was a Justice of the Peace, and was respected as an able and useful settler. For many years he was chairman of the Akaroa County Council, and subsequently occupied many public positions in Marlborough. He married Miss Ellen Tosswill, of Akaroa, in February, 1881, and left two sons and two daughters.