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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
McKerrow, John Craig
McKerrow, John Craig,
Sheep, Uruokakite Station, Greytown North. Telegraphic address, “Uruokakite Station.” Letters are brought to the station daily by coach, a special mail-bag being made up for that purpose at the post-office. The land of which this fine station is composed was taken up in the year 1855 by Messrs. Herschoerg and Mitchell, who, after improving it somewhat, sold it, and since that time it has had a succession of owners. About three-and-a-half years ago, Mr. McKerrow purchased it, and has carried [unclear: it] on with no inconsiderable success ever since. Uruokakite Station comprises some 4000 or 5000 acres of fine land, all of which is well-fenced, subdivided, and improved. Four hundred or five hundred acres are set apart for the cultivation of turnips, oats, and other feed crops, the rest of the run being used for grazing purposes. Mr. McKerrow owns from 7000 to 10,000 cross-bred sheep, and 200 head of cattle of the Shorthorn breed. The proprietor of this station is well-known in New Zealand, having been in the Colony since 1873, and in the various pursuits in which he was engaged, has always been more or less a public man. He was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and there, too, he was educated. In 1861 he left that county for Dumfrieshire, and remained there for some eleven years, profiting by the good opportunities which offered to thoroughly learn and understand the science of agriculture. Being the eldest son of the family, Mr. McKerrow was placed at the head of a very large estate, and during his management of it, it was extensively improved by all the latest methods then in vogue. He left Scotland for New Zealand twenty-two years ago, arriving in Dunedin in January, 1873, per ship “Margaret Galbraith.” He immediately took up land in South Canterbury, and had a farm of some 3000 acres in Timaru, known as “Claremont.” During the five years which Mr. McKerrow spent there, he amassed a considerable amount of money, so much, indeed, that he was enabled to retire. He was, however, so unfortunate afterwards as to lose the greater part of this
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fortune, and in 1886 he came on to Wellington, and went into partnership with Messrs. Joseph and Wright, of the Happy Valley Estate, and in this connection founded the Happy Valley Meat Company. He afterwards started in the Empire City in business on his own account as land and estate agent, and in this he continued until 1892. By this time Mr McKerrow's enterprise and business capacity had been the means of accumulating again a nice sum of money, which he invested in the station where he now lives, in the Wairarapa, removing there about a year-and-a-half ago. While in South Canterbury, he took a great interest in public matters, and has filled many important positions, his clear-sightedness being of assistance to each body with which he was connected. He was a member of the Hospital Committee, the Board of Education, the Levels Road Board, Geraldine County Council, and the School Committee. He was elected president of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, having previously filled in rotation all the offices of that society. The honour of being a J.P. has been Mr. McKerrow's for fifteen years. While in Wellington he had the misfortune to lose his wife, by whom he had two children, a son and a daughter. Since removing to the country, however, he has married again. Mr. McKerrow is a popular man, and deservedly so. His many friends will therefore learn with much pleasure of his return of good fortune, and though not as wealthy as formerly, he is in a fair way of becoming so. On several occasions Mr. McKerrow has been requested to contest a parliamentary election, and on one occasion was offered a seat in the House without opposition; but though taking an interest in politics, he had no desire to enter the political arena. Mr. McKerrow makes a good host, as his many friends who take advantage of his hospitality at Uruokakite can testify. He is a thoroughly genial Scotchman.
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Featherston.