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Tales of Banks Peninsula

No. 15.—Thomas Richard Moore, M.D

page 173

No. 15.—Thomas Richard Moore, M.D.

Here is the name of another celebrated old identity. Dr. Moore arrived in this Colony by the Sir George Pollock, about the year 1851, and bought land in Charteris Bay, where he settled; but, not being up to the rough and-tumble life of a colonist, he was finally obliged to sell out to the present owner, Mr. R, R, Bradley, the whole of his interest in that Bay. He afterwards settled in Christchurcb, and devoted himself to his profession, where he would undoubtedly have reached the height of his ambiiion, but death stepped in, and he died suddenly about fifty-two years since. He was a man of bright intellect, with which he adorned his profession to such a degree that if any case seemed hopeless, the cry was always, "Send for Dr, Moore; if he can't do you good, no one can."

On bis arrival in this country, and with the intention, as above noted, of turning farmer, he brought with him four celebrated cows, that have since left the stamp on many of the herds of cattle on the Peninsula. The late Mr. R. Rhodes, in particular, owed not a little to the bull Brother Phil for the improvement of his stock at Ahuriri and Kaituna. The names of the imported cows were Flash, Duchess, Creamy and Old Dunny (an Alderney). Mr. Rhodes purchased Flash at the doctor's sale, and also Brother Phil, and remnants of their stock could for years afterwards almost be traced in the late Mr. T, H. Parkinson's herd. About forty two years ago, when a person had a beast to sell, and could only say that it had been bred from Dr. Moore's stock, it was thought quite enough to establish its quality. One person really did obtain possession of a female-calf, the doctor being obliged to part with it instead of wages; but on the whole, like most wise breeders, he was very careful about parting with his female stock. The doctor's cattle eventually became a mixed lot, but such was the celebrity of the above named imported cattle, that any page 174cow that came from Charferis Bay must be good. We have heard that the doctor, previous to leaving England, had practised successfully in Salisbury, of which city he had been mayor. He left a wife and family in the Colony.