Four miles north from Johnsonville by rail, and rather more by coach road, brings the traveller on to Tawa Flat, a picturesque arcadian settlement, making hay and growing corn and fruit, wool and rich grasses, and raising cattle and sheep for the markets. The many well-tilled farms and beautiful homesteads, and the other natural bits of landscape hereabouts, fail not in producing pleasing effects on the beholder.

Tawa Flat is blest with a flag station on the Wellington-Manawatu railway line, the train stopping only when signalled to pick up or set down passengers. The population of thirty-eight souls, are chiefly engaged in farming and pastoral pursuits. The settlement is part of the riding of Porirua, in the Hutt County, and the nearest towns are Porirua village, three miles to the northward, and Johnsonville about four miles south. It is 123 feet above sea-level, and the climate is naturally dry, but windy.

Tawa Flat has a public school, over which Mr. Herbert Sanson presides, and a church, where services are held periodically.

Mails for Tawa Flat close daily at Wellington at 6 a.m., arriving at Tawa Flat at 7.30 a.m. The return mail closes daily at Tawa Flat at 10.30 a.m., arriving at Wellington at 1 p.m.

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Earp, Edward William, Sheepfarmer, Tawa Flat. Mr. Earp is all but a colonial, having been born shortly before his father, Mr. William Earp, set sail for New Zealand in 1855, per ship “Putsey Dawson.” Educated in the Colony, and brought up to a country life, Mr. Earp succeeded, on his father's death, in 1888, to the splendid property—600 acres in extent—with its well kept live fences and beautiful lawns and flower borders. The estate, which is one of the best in the district, carries 1400 sheep. In 1888 Mr. Earp was married to a daughter of Mr. George Shand, of Taieri, Otago, and has three children–two daughters and a son.

Nott, James Thornton, M.A., Sheepfarmer, Tawa Flat. Mr. Nott is a son of the of the earliest Tawa Flat settlers—the late Mr. William Nott, who arrived in Wellington by the “Birman” in 1842. Born at Johnsonville in 1864, and educated at Wellington College, Three Kings College, Auckland, and at the Auckland University, Mr. J. T. Nott gained his B.A. degree in 1889, and his M.A. with honours in biology in the following year. After four years. at the Kings, Mr. Nott was accepted as a probationer in the Wesleyan ministry, being appointed to Riverton, where he remained two years. He was then transferred to Christchurch, where two years later he resigned, having determined to devote his time to a country life. Mr. Nott's hobby is in biological studies, on the results of which researches he often lectures, being ever willing to lend his services to any worthy object.

Taylor, James, Farmer, Tawa Flat. Born on the 17th of August, 1823, at Tunbridge, Wells, England, and educated in his native land, Mr. Taylor came to Port Nicholson with his father, the late Mr. William Taylor, per “Martha Ridgway,” in 1840. The subject of this notice settled in Johnsonville as early as 1844. Three years later he removed to Pahautanui, where he started a small dairy farm, and in 1849 he became a pioneer settler in Tawa Fiat, then a dense forest. The section Mr. Taylor acquired at that time is still in his possession, his farm consisting of 276 acres of freehold and 112 acres of leasehold. In the early days Mr. Taylor represented Porirua district for eight years in the Wellington Provincial Council, and was for twelve years afterwards a member of the Hutt County Council. Before the County took over the Road Board he was the representative of Porirua Ward on the latter body, and for many years since he has been a member of the Tawa Flat School Committee. During the native troubles of the early days Mr. Taylor took his share of duty, and for fourteen years was associated with the volunteer movement, first as lieutenant of the Porirua, and after wards as captain of the Pahautanui Rifles. As a member of the Primitive Methodist Church, Mr. Taylor estabished a Sunday School on the first Sabbath spent in the district, and is still superintendent of the Tawa Flat School. He was married in 1844 to Miss Hook, of Wellington, and has seven sons and six daughters, who are nearly all married and settled. Mr. Taylor has fifty-four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.