After a pleasant journey of seventeen miles to Fowlers, better known as Birmingham, the traveller has a further distance of thirteen miles to traverse before reaching this settlement. Situated in the County of Kiwitea and in the Electoral District of Palmerston, Apiti is 129 miles from Wellington. The local post-office, which is also a telephone bureau and an office for the issue of postal notes, receives and despatches mails on three days in each week, when the coach arrives from and departs for Feilding, the market town of the district.

The Apiti Post-Office and Telephone Station was opened in 1892. There is a daily mail service to Feilding.

The Apiti Public School, which was erected in 1891, has eighty-five scholars on the roll, with accommodation for ninety. The grounds are two acres in extent, and include a paddock where the scholars—many of whom ride from a distance—can keep their horses during school hours.

Miss Prendergast, who has charge of the Apiti Public School, has occupied the position since 1892. At the annual examination held in 1896, every scholar presented was successful in passing.

Apiti Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, Apiti. Rankers, Bank of New Zealand. Directors:—Messrs. E. Nix (chairman), E. Miller, C. Miller, B. Oshorn, J. Johnston. T. J. Clapham, and W. Vicary. Secretary, Mr. B. A. Miller. These large and complete premises have a total floorage space of over 3000 squace feet. During six months in 1895 over thirty tons of cheese was produced, and the output is expected to be increased to at least forty tons. A four-and-a-half horse-power engine by Messrs. Robertsion and Co., of Wellington, drives the plant, the hoiler being eight and half horse-power. There are two large vats, with a total holding capacity of about 1300 gallons, receiving cans, and cheeso presses.

Mr. James Brownlee, Manager of the Apiti Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, hails from Kilmarnock, Scotland, where he was born in 1870. Coming to New Zealand in his early days, he was brought up in Oamaru, where his father, Mr. Geo. Brownlee, is a well-known seedsman. After ten years' experience of farming, he was apprenticed to the Sterling Cheese Factory, near Balclutha, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of the business in all its branches. He has had charge of the Apiti Factory since its inception.

Mr. Jas. Brownlee.

McMeekan, Alexander Nelson, Baker and General Storekeeper, Main Street, Apiti. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The shop is a one-story wooden building, with residence attached, and Mr. McMcekan has succeeded in establishing a business which is steadily increasing throughout the surrounding district, goods being delivered by pack-horses in the back-blocks. Born in Springston, Canterbury, in 1870, he was employed by Messrs. Howard and Dartnall, merchants, at Springston, with whom he served seven years. In the North Island he established himself in Levin, but sold out after twelve months, starting his present buisness in March, 1896. He is a member of the local school committee and the Apiti Sports Club, and is captain of the local cricket club. Mr. McMcekan holds the position of agent for the South British Insurance Company. Mrs. McMeekan is a daughter of Mr. J. Kime, Springston. Canterbury.

Cartwright, Adam, Boardinghousekeeper, Apiti. The boardinghouse—a two story wooden building—was built in 1893, Extensive additions having been made, it now contains twenty one rooms, sixteen being bedrooms, in addition to ladies' private sitting-room, dining-room, and bath-room. Mr. Cartwright was born in Glasgow in 1864, was educated at the Highland Society's Schools, and came to New Zealand, per “Margaret Galbraith,” in 1885. Before taking over his present business in 1893, he had the “Royal George” Hotel at Christchurch, which he conducted for over three years.

Buchanan. John, Draper. Clothier and General Outfitter, Main Street, Apiti. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Established November, 1896.

Apiti Hotel (E. F. Eagar, proprietor), Apiti. Established 1892.

Rankin, George, Farrier and General Blacksmith. Apiti. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Established 1896.

Vicary, William, J.P., Farmer, “Ferndale,” Apiti. Mr. Vicary is said to own one of the model farms of the district. There are seventy head of well-bred Ayrshire and shorthorn cattle grazing on the farm. Forty cows are milked during the summer months, and a great quantity of cocksfoot is grown on the estate. Mr. Vicary was born in 1850 in Devonshire, where he was educated and brought up to a country life. For three years he travelled in Canada, and on his return, after three months in the Old Country, came out to Lyttelton in 1875, per ship “Cicero.” For over fourteen years Mr. Vicary was in the South Island before settling in Apiti. He became a member of the Pohangina Road Board, and when that local body was altered to a County Council he was elected unopposed. Mr. Vicary exerted himself to forward the interests of the district in the matter of the construction of the Apiti Bridge over the Oroua River, and also in obtaining a telephone for Apiti. He also acts as a director of the Apiti Co-operative Dairy Company. Mrs. Vicary is a daughter of the late Mr. T, Ware, of Okain's Bay, Banks Peninsula, who came out with the Canterbury pilgrims in 1850. There are three sons and two daughters.

Mr. Wm. Vicary, Apiti.