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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Ancall, Alfred, Farmer, Ayre Farm, West Oxford. Mr. Ancall was born on the 30th of August 1846, in Hereford, England, and arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Lady Nugent,” in 1851. Owing to his father dying within a few months after the family's arrival in New Zealand, he has had to work since he was nine years of age. He was one of the early settlers in the Oxford district, as he went there in 1858, when the country was a wilderness, with heavy bush extending from the hills almost to the present site of the Bank of New Zealand in Oxford. Mr. Ancall worked in the bush, and afterwards found employment in carting and at mill work. He afterwards leased a sawmill, and successfully worked it for a number of years. Since 1897 he has resided on Ayre Farm, which consists of 133 acres of freehold and 117 of leasehold land. Mr. Ancall was a member of the West Oxford school committee for about fifteen years, and he served two years in the Oxford Rifles. On Christmas day, 1876, he married a daughter of the late Mr. I. Marsh, of Oxford, an old settler, who also came to the colony in the ship “Lady Nugent,” and died in 1895 at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Mr. Ancall's family consists of four sons and one daughter.

Baxter, Andrew, Farmer, Mountain Farm, East Oxford. Mr. Baxter was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1844, and has always been engaged in country pursuits. About the end of 1863 he arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “David G. Fleming.” For the first ten years of his colonial life he was employed in connection with sawmills and bush work on the Peninsula. In 1873 he settled at Oxford, where he was for some time in the bush, and then worked a sawmill in conjunction with his brother. He also had a threshing machine plant, which he and his brother worked from 1877 to 1894. Mr. Baxter's property consists of 200 acres of freehold, and 120 acres of land leased from the Maoris. He served for about three years on the East Oxford school committee. Mr. Baxter was married, in November, 1867, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Brown, of Lesmahagow, Scotland, and has six sons and one daughter.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. A. Baxter.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. A. Baxter.

Beere, William Henry, Farmer, “The Camp,” East Oxford. Mr Beere engages chiefly in sheepfarming. His homestead is erected on part of 109 acres of leasehold land, and he also holds 700 acres of leasehold at Coalgate. Mr. Beere keeps, on an average, 1200 sheep. He was born at Cust, in 1872, brought up to country life, and has farmed on his own account since 1899. He was married, in January, 1901, to a daughter of Mr. A. Wotherspoon, of Oxford, and has one daughter.

Booth, John Merriman, Farmer, “Terrace Farm,” West Oxford. Mr. Booth was born in Sunderland, Durham, England, in 1840, brought up to the trade of a blacksmith, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Regina,” in 1859, with his father, Mr. Thomas Booth, and settled in Woodend. About three years later Mr Booth removed to the Oxford district, and shortly afterwards went to the West Coast diggings for twelve months. On returning to Canterbury he established a sawmill, and was actively engaged in working a fine bush until the disastrous fire of January, 1889, when he lost fences, sawmill, bush, house, furniture and stock to the value of £2000. The machinery remains as a memento of the sawmill. Since that time Mr. Booth has followed farming, and has 500 acres of leasehold. He served for a year as a member of the Oxford Road Board, and was for a time a member of the West Oxford school committee. In
Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs J. M. Booth.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. M. Booth.

page 499 1869 Mr. Booth married a daughter of Mr. T. Young, of Rangiora. This lady died in 1885 leaving three daughters and three sons, of whom one son and one daughter have since died. In 1890 Mr. Booth married the widow of Mr. K. Kippenberger, of Timaru.

Carson, James, Farmer and Chaff-Cutting Machine Proprietor, West Oxford. Mr. Carson was born at Kaiapoi in 1866. He was engaged principally in general farmwork about Oxford until the year 1896, when he bought his present property of 100 acres, on which he conducts mixed farming. In 1902 he bought an Andrews and Beaven chaff-cutting machine and a union oil and gas engine of six horse power. These portable machines are capable of cutting and bagging ten tons daily, and Mr. Carson works with them for many farmers in the district. Mr. Carson is a member of the Kiri Kiri school committee, and has been a member of the Nil Desperandum Lodge of Oddfellows at Oxford since 1898. He was married, in 1892, to a daughter of Mr. H. Hollis, of Taranaki, and has five daughters.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. J. Carson.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. J. Carson.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. G. D. Crowe.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. G. D. Crowe.

Clarke, James, Farmer, Melrose Farm, West Oxford. Mr. Clarke was born at Kaiapoi, in 1865, and brought up to farming by his father at New Brighton, where he worked until 1883. He was then engaged in contracting at Shirley for three years. Later on he was farming with his father in the Styx district. In 1892 he began farming on his own account on his present farm of sixty acres of freehold. Mr. Clarke acquired an additional area of ninety-six acres at East Oxford in 1900, and carries on mixed farming. He was married in 1892, to a daughter of Mr. Charles Inglefield, of Styx, and has one son and one daughter.

Mr. and Mrs J. Clarke.

Mr. and Mrs J. Clarke.

Crowe, George Daniel, Farmer, “Highview,” Ashley Gorge, East Oxford. Mr. Crowe was born in Essex, England, in 1858, and was brought to New Zealand in the following year by his parents. The family settled in the Oxford district, where Mr. Crowe was brought up to country life. He was a farm manager in the district for a number of years, and commenced on his own account in 1894. “Highview” consists of 316 acres of freehold, and is used chiefly as a sheep farm. As an Oddfellow Mr. Crowe is a member of the Loyal West Oxford Lodge, and has been through the chairs. He has been a member of the Cust Mounted Rifles since the formation of the corps, and takes an interest in sporting matters as a member of the Brackenfield Hunt Club and of the Oxford Jockey Club.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs A. England.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs A. England.

Davis, Robert, Farmer, West Oxford. Mr. Davis was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1863, and was brought up to a country life. In 1883 he arrived in New South Wales, where for a good many years he found employment as a shearer, and travelled as such through that colony and Queensland. Mr. Davis settled in the Oxford district, Canterbury, in November, 1894, and purchased his holding of thirty-five acres, then only partially improved. He has brought his land into a good state of cultivation, and milks on an average thirteen cows, the milk of which he supplies to the Cooper's Creek creamery. Mr. Davis was married, in 1893, to the relict of Mr. Frederick Brown, of Christchurch, and daughter of Mr. William Owen Jones, of Oxford. Mrs. Davis has one son and one daughter.

England, Abraham, Farmer, “Carrickblacker,” German Road, Ashley Gorge, East Oxford. Mr. England was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1845. He was brought up on a small farm, and had about twenty years' experience as a farmer on his own account, on a portion of the Carrickblacker estate. On the 14th of January, 1884, he arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Waitangi,” and was employed on Mrs Torlesse's property, near Rangiora, for over thirteen years. In 1898 he removed to Oxford, and took up forty acres of leasehold land on German Road. Mr. England was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars for about eight years in the Old Country, and for about four years in New Zealand. He was married, in December, 1873, to a daughter of Mr. Jonathan Whaley, of Carrickblacker, and has four daughters, two sons, and two grandchildren.

Fenwick, William, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Fenwick was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1839, and followed farming until he came to Lyttelton in the ship “Lady Jocelyn,” in 1875. On his arrival in Canterbury page 500 he went to Oxford, and bought land. Mr. Fenwick was married, in 1869, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Keirman, of Lincolnshire, England, and has six sons.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. and Mrs W. Fenwick.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Fenwick.

Forster, Andrew, Farmer, “Last Chance,” German Road, Ashley Gorge, East Oxford. Mr Forster was born at sea in 1862 on the ship “Canterbury,” bound for Lyttelton. He was brought up to country life in the Ellesmere district, where he worked till 1896. In that year he took up eighty acres of land under lease in perpetuity, on German Road. Mr. Forster works his land as a dairy farm, and milks fifteen cows, on an average, delivering the milk at the East Oxford creamery. He was attached to the Ellesmere Lodge of Druids. Mr. Forster was married, in 1884, to a daughter of Mr. J. Campbell, of Inverness, Scotland, and has had five daughters, of whom only two survive.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs A. Forster.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs A. Forster.

Gardiner, George, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Gardiner was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire. England, in 1826, and for twenty-one years did carrying work for the firm of W. Holmes and Co., of the same town. He came to Lyttelton in 1874 by the ship “Stone House,” and was for some time platelaying while the Rangiora-Oxford railway was under construction. In 1875 Mr. Gardiner bought thirty acres of land at Oxford, and after working it for some time he leased an additional forty-eight acres, and a little later twenty acres more. He carried on mixed farming, and had a carrying business as well, and ended by buying his leasehold. In 1900 he sold thirty acres to his son, Samuel Gardiner, and settled in a five-roomed house on part of seven acres of well cultivated land, which he had bought near the centre of East Oxford. Mr. Gardiner was married, in 1856, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Cole, of Rodborough, near Stroud, Gloucestershire, and sister to the late Mr. Enoch Cole, of Woodlands, East Oxford; and has one son and one daughter.

Gilchrist, Frederick, Farmer, Oakley Farm, West Oxford. Mr. Gilchrist was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1854. He was apprenticed on the ship “Wild Deer,” but ran away on her arrival at Port Chalmers. For some time he found employment as a gardener and groom for Dr. Fleming, then of Oamaru. He afterwards went harvesting in the Timaru district, and was subsequently storekeeping for twelve months. In 1875 he went to Rangiora, and for four years he drove a van, engaged in delivering goods and picking up produce. He subsequently worked on his father's farm at Woodstock, and in 1884 took up his present property of 336 acres, which he works as a sheep and agricultural farm. Since 1882 Mr. Gilchrist has been a member of the East Oxford Lodge of Oddfellows. He is also a member of the Kiri Kiri school committee and of the Canterbury Farmers' Union. Mr. Gilchrist was married, in 1888, to a daughter of Mr. A. Wotherspoon, of Oxford. His wife died in 1889, leaving one son. In 1892 Mr. Gilchrist contracted a second marriage with a daughter of the late Mr. William Knowles, and four sons and two daughters have been born of this union.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs F. Gilchrist.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs F. Gilchrist.

Gillespie, Richard, Farmer, German Road, Ashley, East Oxford. Mr. Gillespie was born at Saltwater Creek in 1865. He has been employed on the land since his early years, and settled in the Oxford district at the age of twenty. For about seven years he worked at Glentui, and took up forty acres of leasehold land on German Road in 1896. Mr. Gillespie milks about twelve cows, and delivers milk at the East Oxford creamery. He served for one year in the Cust Mounted Rifles. He is attached to the Loyal Cust Lodge of Oddfellows, having been a member since 1893, and has passed the chairs. Mr. Gillespie married in April, 1892, a daughter of Mr. W. Higginson, of Ashley, and has four sons and one daughter.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs F. Gillespie.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs F. Gillespie.

Gundry, Thomas. Farmer, German Road, Ashley, East Oxford. Mr. Gundry's farm consists of sixty acres, held on lease in perpetuity. He works his land as a dairy farm, and milks, on an average, about ten cows. Mr. Gundry was born at Oxford in 1866, and has always been engaged in farming, which he began about 1889. He was married, in 1890, to a daughter of Mr. W. Foster, of Taranaki, and has two daughters and one son.

page 501
Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. T. Gundry's Homestead.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. T. Gundry's Homestead.

Hawke, David, Farmer, South Eyre Road, West Oxford. Mr. Hawke was born in 1858 in Cornwall, England, where he followed farming with his father, Mr. Josiah Hawke. In 1878 he came to Lyttelton by the ship “Waitangi.” He found employment in Christchurch for some time, and went to Oxford in March, 1879. Since settling at Oxford Mr. Hawke has spent two years at road contracting, two years at general farmwork, and two years and a half with a Government land surveyor. In 1886 he took up 200 acres of land on the deferred payment system, and has built a nine-roomed dwellinghouse, around which he has planted a border of trees that now afford first-rate shelter. Mr. Hawke has since acquired 212 acres, and now holds 312 acres of freehold and 100 acres of leasehold, and generally runs 300 ewes and lambs, and 350 sheep for fattening. He has taken a very active part in the work of the Wesleyan church, with which he has been connected since 1879, and has filled all the principal offices. Mr. Hawke has been a member of the Kiri Kiri school committee since its commencement, and a member of the Loyal Nil Desperandum Lodge of Oddfellows since 1879. He was married, in 1888, to the eldest daughter of Mr. John Carson, of Woodend, and has three sons and one daughter.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs D. Hawke.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs D. Hawke.

Henderson, Alexander, Farmer, “The Grange,” East Oxford. “The Grange” consists of about 800 acres of leasehold land, on which about 1000 sheep are depastured. In conjunction with his brother. Mr. R. F. Henderson, Mr. Henderson is also interested in 600 acres of bush land in the district. Mr. Henderson was born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1866, and came to Lyttelton, by the ship “Tiptree,” in 1868, with his father, the late Mr William Henderson, of Spreydon. The family settled at Sydenham, Christchurch, and Mr. A. Henderson was brought up to country life. He continued with his father till his appointment as manager of the Ashley Gorge station, in 1882, and he held that position for fourteen years. In December, 1892, Mr. Henderson leased “The Grange,” and has since farmed it. He has been continuously a member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry since 1888, and he is also a member of the Oxford Jockey Club, and of the Brackenfield Hunt Club. Mr. Henderson married the daughter of Mr. H. Blackett, of Rangiora, in 1893, and has two sons and one daughter.

Henderson, Robert Flett, farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Henderson was born in Christchurch in 1872. He received his education in his native city, and was brought up to country life by his father, the late Mr W. Henderson, of Spreydon. About 1898 he commenced farming on his own account. His property consists of 200 acres at West Oxford, and he has also an interest with his brother, Mr. A. Henderson, in 600 acres of bush at East Oxford. Mr. Henderson is fond of sport, and is a member of the Oxford Jockey Club and of the Brackenfield Hant Club.

Luers and Brown (Herbert Francis Luers and James Brown), Farmers, West Oxford. Messrs Lucrs and Brown work 4000 acres of leasehold land in the Oxford district, on which they run about 3000 sheep and 150 head of cattle. The partnership has subsisted since 1893.

Mr. Herbert Francis Luers, of the firm of Luers and Brown, was born in 1870, at East Oxford, where he was educated and brought up to country life. At the age of sixteen he commenced farming on his own account, and joined his present partner in 1893. Mr. Luers resides at the Terrace, West Oxford, where he rents a homestead of fifty acres of land from his mother. He was married, in April, 1899, to a daughter of Mr. P. Wright, of Oxford.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. H. F. Luers.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. H. F. Luers.

Mr. James Brown, Partner in the firm of Luers and Brown, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1863. He was brought up to the trade of a bootmaker, and worked as such till 1885, when he came out to Melbourne. Three months later Mr. Brown removed to Canterbury, and settled in the Oxford district, where he commenced business at once as a bootmaker. He conducted this trade for about eight years, during which he began to take an interest in land and stock, and acquired forty acres of freehold at West Oxford, where he has a commodious residence, which he has named “Craigielea.” In 1893 he joined Mr. Luers in partnership. Mr. Brown was married, in 1890, to the daughter of the late Mr. Frederick Luers, of Oxford, and has two sons and one daughter.

page 502
Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs J. Brown.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. Brown.

McBriar, Samuel and John, Farmers, “Mealough,” West Oxford. The senior partner in this firm was born at Mealough, County Down. Ireland, on the 15th of August, 1831, and was brought up to country life in his native place. The junior partner was born in the same place on the 8th of November. 1840. Both brothers came to New Zealand by the ship “Canterbury,” which arrived in Lyttelton on the 9th of January, 1864. In March of the following year they settled at West Oxford, and purchased fifty acres of open land, where they resided for eleven years. In 1878 they built a comfortable homestead, at which they have since resided, and where they have twenty-one acres of land. A niece of the members of the firm, Miss Agnes Rainey, came out with her uncles, and has kept house for them ever since.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Messrs S. and J. McBriar.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Messrs S. and J. McBriar.

McGillivray, John, Farmer. “Cloncaird.” West Oxford. Mr. John McGillivray was born in Ayrshire, Scotland. He arrived in New Zealand by the barque “Lady Nugent,” in 1851, Captain Parsons, commander. Mr. McGillivray took up his residence at Riccarton for a number of years. He afterwards settled in West Oxford, and was one of the first settlers in that district. Mr. McGillivray still resides there on his farm with his family.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. J. McGillivray.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. J. McGillivray.

McKee, Samuel H., Farmer, West Oxford. Mr. McKee was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1861. He was brought up to farming, and came to Lyttelton in the ship “Waikato.” in 1878. In the same year he went to Oxford, where he engaged in farm work for some time, and he acted as a surveyor's assistant for five years. In 1886 Mr. McKee bought 230 acres of land, and after farming for himself for some time he went to the North Island, whence he returned three years later. He carries on mixed farming, and usually has 250 ewes and 250 sheep for fattening. Mr. McKee was married, in 1898, to a daughter of Mr. A. Bunn, of Oxford, and has one son and two daughters.

Mehrtens, George, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Mehrtens was born in East London in 1854, and came with his parents to Lyttelton in 1858. He received his schooling at Oxford, and was engaged in general farmwork until he started for himself in 1898, when he leased, with a purchasing clause, 119 acres in East Oxford, where he carries on mixed farming. As an Oddfellow Mr. Mehrtens has been a member of the Loyal Nil Desperandum Lodge, of East Oxford, since 1875, and is a Past Grand Master. He was married, in 1880, to a daughter of the late Mr. L. Hahn, of East Oxford, and has four sons and three daughters.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs G. Mehrtens.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs G. Mehrtens.

Morris, William, Settler, East Oxford. Mr. Morris was born in Warrington, England, in 1848, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “British Crown” in 1863. After a short period in Christchurch he went to Oxford, where he has since been engaged in bushwork. He was for sixteen years a member of the Loyal Oxford Lodge of Oddfellows. Mr. Morris was married, in 1876, to a daughter of the late Mr. Richard Johnston, of West Oxford.
Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs W. Morris.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Morris.

page 503 His wife died in June, 1883, leaving three sons and two daughters In May, 1884, Mr. Morris contracted a second marriage with a daughter of the late Mr. John Bamish, of Australia, and five sons and two daughters have been born of this union.

Papps, Henry James, Farmer, Powell's Road, East Oxford. Mr. Papps was born in 1856, in Gloucestershire, England. He is a millwright by trade, and came out to Port Chalmers by the “Jessie Readman,” in 1874. Removing almost immediately to Canterbury, he settled with an uncle in the Oxford district. Subsequently he began farming on his own account in Powell's Road, East Oxford, and, later, purchased a larger area on German Road, Ashley. Mr. Papps confines himself chiefly to sheepfarming. As an Oddfellow he is attached to the Nil Desparandum Lodge, East Oxford, and has passed the chairs. He was married, in June, 1890, to the eldest daughter of the late Mr. John Horne, of East Oxford, and has one son and two daughters.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs H. J. Papps.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs H. J. Papps.

Rutherford Estate, West Oxford. This property, which contains 1000 acres, was originally part of View Hill run, and was purchased in 1875 in its unimproved state. Substantial buildings have been erected—namely, a large dwellinghouse, overlooking the town and bush, with the snowy ranges in the distance; and also convenient stables and wool-shed. The farm, which is divided into sixteen paddocks, has a branch of the county water-race running through each paddock. It was first stocked with Merino sheep crossed with Border Leicester rams. Mr. Wotherspoon, the pro prietor, has since established a small stud flock of English Leicesters of a superior strain, which he keeps in addition to his usual Border-Leicester flock.

Mr. Archibald Wotherspoon, Proprietor of Rutherford Estate, West Oxford, was born in 1835 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. He entered into commercial life in Glasgow, but after two years his health gave way, and he leased “Spotsmains Farm,” in Roxburghshire, for nineteen years, and was a breeder of Border-Leicester sheep. On the expiration of his lease in 1875, he came out to the Colony in the ship “Merope.” Mr. Wotherspoon has served on the Oxford Road Board and the Cust and Summerhill School Committees, and is also a member of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, to which he was elected in 1858. He was married in 1856 to a daughter of Mr. Adam Thomson, of Rutherford, Roxburghshire, cousin of the late Mr. Thomson, sometime surveyor-general of the Colony, and has six sons and four daughters.

Sharman, Charles William, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Sharman was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1858, and followed farming until he left for Lyttelton, in the ship “Lady Jocelyn,” in 1874. He settled at Oxford, where he was road contracting until he started farming. Mr. Sharman was married, in 1885, to a daughter of Mr. J. Powell, an old resident of East Oxford, and has three daughters.

Mr. and Mrs C. W. Sharman and Daughters.

Mr. and Mrs C. W. Sharman and Daughters.

page 504

Stubbs, Arthur, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Stubbs was born in Cheshire, England, in August, 1850, and arrived with his parents at Lyttelton in December of the same year by the ship “Sir George Seymour.” After boyhood he followed farming work in the Riccarton district for three years, and then went to Oxford, where he worked on his father's farm of 475 acres. In 1873 Mr. Stubbs had 200 acres of freehold hind. He, however, sold that, and bought his present property of 300 acres, on which he conducted mixed farming. Since his father's death, in 1883, Mr. Stabbs has been working the farm left by his father, as well as his own, and his stock consists of 800 sheep, seventy head of cattle and thirty horses. Mr. Stubbs has been a member of the Oxford Road Board since 1896, and a member of the East Oxford school committee since 1893. He was married, in 1871, to a daughter of Mr. C Mehrtens, of Oxford, and has five sons and four daughters.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.Mr. and Mrs A. Stubbs.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs A. Stubbs.

Summerfield, Henry, Farmer, East Oxford. Mr. Summerfield was born in Maulten, Bedfordshire, England, in 1842. For some years he worked as a gardener, and came to Lyttelton in 1874 by the ship “Crusader.” He went to Oxford, where he found employment in various ways, and was road contracting for two years. In 1880 he leased 230 acres, and has ever since carried on mixed farming. Mr. Summerfield was married, in 1865, to a daughter of the late Mr. S. Richardson, of Maulden. Mrs Summerfield died, leaving eight sons and three daughters. Mr. Summerfield afterwards contracted a second marriage.

Tollput and Clarke, photo. Mr. H. Summerfield.

Tollput and Clarke, photo.
Mr. H. Summerfield.

Thompson, David, Farmer, Ashley Gorge, East Oxford. Mr. Thompson farms 1325 acres of leasehold land, on which he depastures about 1000 sheep. He was born at Fernside, in 1869, has always been engaged in country pursuits, and began farming on his own account, when he was only seventeen years of age. In 1891 he took up land at Cheviot, and was one of the earliest settlers in that district. Two years later he removed to the Oxford district, and settled at Ashley Gorge. Mr. Thomson has been attached to the Cust Mounted Rifles, and is a member of the Nil Desperandum Lodge of Oddfellows at Cust. He is also a member of the Oxford Road Board, to which he was elected in May, 1901, and of the Ashley Gorge school committee, which was constituted to run a conveyance to take the children to and from the East Oxford school. Mr. Thompson was married, in June, 1896, to a daughter of Mr. G. Searles, of Cust, and has two daughters and one son.

Mrs D. Thompson.

Mrs D. Thompson.

Thompson, Francis L., Farmer, Midlands Farm, East Oxford. Mr. Thompson was born in 1872 in East Oxford, where he received his schooling, and was for two years in his father's general store Later on he followed farming for two years, and in 1890 be started in the drapery business at Cust, where he carried it on for three years and a half. He went farming for three years, and was afterwards for four years and a half in the drapery business. Mr. Thompson then turned his attention to sheepfarming on his freehold property of 416 acres. He was married, in 1898, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Garland, of Cust, and has one son.

Vincent, Thomas, Farmer, Ashley Gorge Homestead, East Oxford. Mr. Vincent was born at Bendigo, Victoria, in 1857, and accompanied his parents to Canterbury in 1863. After two years in Kaiapoi the family removed to the Oxford district, where Mr. Vincent was brought up to country life. He has seen the district developed from its original state, when it was without roads or bridges, and covered extensively with bush, flax and scrub. At fifteen years of age he commenced to work on his own account with a bullock team, and ten years later turned his attention to saw-milling, which he followed till his health failed. Mr. Vincent has been farming since 1893. Ashley Gorge homestead consists of 270 acres of land held on the perpetual lease system, and the property is worked as a dairy and general farm. Mr. Vincent is a member of the Order of Oddfellows, and is attached to the Nil Desperandum Lodge, East Oxford, in which he has passed the chairs. He was married in January, 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr. R. Johnson, of Oxford, and has had
Tolputt and Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs T. Vincent.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs T. Vincent.

page 505 eight sons and five daughters. One son and one daughter are dead.

Wratt, Richard, Farmer, “Meadow Bank,” West Oxford. This settler was born in 1844 in Nelson, and was brought up to country life in that district, and in Marlborough and Canterbury. When he was five years old the family removed to the Marlborough district near Top House, and eighteen months later settled on a property between Renwick and Blenheim, where they resided for three years, and then removed to Blenheim. In 1864 Mr. Wratt came to Canterbury, and short'y afterwards visited the West Coast, at the time of the Greenstone rush. He settled in the Oxford district in 1865, and was employed for about seven and a half years on the Ashley Gorge station. In 1873 he purchased “Meadow Bank,” which consists of sixty-nine and a half acres.

Wright, James, Farmer, West Oxford. Mr. Wright was born in Essex, England, in 1861, and came with his parents to Lyttelton in the ship “Crusader,” in 1875. He went to Oxford in the same year, and engaged in general farm work until he began on his own account in 1885 to farm 263 acres of leasehold. Mr. Wright was married, in 1890, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Grant, of Kaiapoi, and has two sons and three daughters.

Wright, Peter, Farmer, “Riverdale Farm,” East Oxford. Mr. Wright was born in Nottingham, England, in 1849, and accompanied his parents to the Colony in 1859 in the ship “Zealandia.” He first purchased fifty acres of land in 1873 and has extended its area at various times till his farm now comprises 600 acres in a high state of cultivation, with a good two-storey dwellinghouse. Mr. Wright is a member of the Oxford Road Board and school committee, and was one of the first to advocate the utilisation of waste water from the first race constructed by the Government in 1883; a course which was subsequently found most beneficial to the district. Mr. Wright has been a breeder of hunting stock, which have often found a place on the local race-course. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Henry, and has two sons and eight daughters.

Mr. P. Wright.

Mr. P. Wright.

The Warren Estate, East Oxford, is the property of the heirs of the late Mr. G. W. H. Lee and contains about 5000 acres freehold and 900 acres of leasehold land. Mr. Lee imported a number of horses and cattle from Australia and pure shorthorn bulls from England. He was a genuine sportsman and among other importations of his were the entire horses “Peter Flat” and “Chatterbox,” and he bred a number of good horses, his colours being frequently carried first past the winning post.

Mr. Frederick Crowe, Manager of the Warren Estate, is a native of Essex, England. He came to New Zealand in 1860 in the ship “Ambrosyne” and in 1875 was appointed manager of the Warren and Wharfdale stations—another property of Mr. Lee's, “Wharfdale” was sold in 1877, when Mr. Crowe took up his abode at the “Warren” and gave his attention to the improvement of the property and stock. At the South Sea Exhibition of 1890 he won first honours for a bale of greasy and a bale of scoured Merino wool, and at the Paris Exposition, 1889, he gained third prize for Merino fleeces. The “Warren” sheep have always been successful on the show ground, and have been awarded several champion medals and many other prizes.

Mr. F. Crowe.

Mr. F. Crowe.

Youngman, Harry, Farmer, “The Terrace,” West Oxford. Mr. Youngman was born in Camberwell, England, in 1847, and accompanied his parents to Lyttelton by the ship “Zealandia,” in 1858. He has resided in the Oxford district since 1865, and has gained his experience of agricultural and pastoral work in the neighbourhood. In 1884 Mr. Youngman commenced farming on his own account; some years later he sold his first farm and purchased another, which is being brought into working order. He has been a sufferer from some of the severe fires which have occurred in the Oxford district Mr. Youngman served for about three years in the Oxford volunteer corps. As an Oddfellow he has been connected with the Loyal Oxford Lodge since 1870. He has passed through
Mr. H Youngman.

Mr. H Youngman.

page 506 all the chairs, and holds office as a trustee in the Lodge.

Whyte, George Edward, Traction Engine, Threshing and Chaff-Cutting-Machine Proprietor, West Oxford. Mr. Whyte was born at Stoke, near Cust, in 1867, was brought up to outdoor life, and started work in the Oxford district. He was afterwards for about six years at Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, and was also for a time at Palmerston North. In November, 1897, he removed to Cheviot, where he had a chaff-cutting plant, with which he worked until March, 1901. Then he removed to Oxford, and has since added a threshing plant, with which he works throughout the district. Mr. Whyte was a member of the Nil Desperandum Lodge of Oddfellows for seven years. He was married, in December, 1899, to a daughter of Mr. T. Wakelin, of Duvau-chelle's Bay, and has one daughter.

Mr. and Mrs G. E. Whyte and Children.

Mr. and Mrs G. E. Whyte and Children.