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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Bruere, Graham Augustus, Farmer, “Stanwell,” Balcairn. Mr. Bruere was born at Sefton in March, 1876, and educated at Mount Grey Downs school. He was brought up to country life by his father, the late Mr. Graham Bruere, and has managed his father's estate since February, 1902. As an Oddfellow he is attached to the Loyal Leithfield Lodge. He also holds a seat on the Balacairn school committee. Mr. Bruce was married, on the 5th of September, 1900, to a daughter of Mr. Ashby, of Blacairn.

Tolputt, photo. Mr. G. A. Bruere.

Tolputt, photo.
Mr. G. A. Bruere.

Dennis, Charles, Farmer, Racecourse Farm, Blacairn. Mr. Dennis was born in Colchester, Essex, England, in 1844, and was brought up to farming. He arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Light Brigade” in 1868, and was farming in the Malvern district for seven years. In 1875 he bought 316 acres at Balcairn, and has transformed the land from its natural condition to a high state of cultivation. It takes its name as Racecurse page 529 Farm from the fact that for a number of vears it was used for a racecourse. Mr. Dennis was married to a daughter of Mr. Robert Brydon, of Leithfield, and has two sons and six daughters.

Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs C. Dennis.

Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs C. Dennis.

Evans, T. H., Farmer, Balcairn, near Amberley. Mr. Evans is a native of Westbury, Shropshire, where he was born in 1838, was educated there, and spent his early years on his father's farm. He came out to Australia in 1864, and after a short stay in Melbourne and Sydney, crossed over to the West Coast of the Middle Island, where he spent two years as a storckeeper and gold-miner. Mr. Evans and his party spent much time in prospecting the Grey river and its tributaries, where they discovered valuable coal, and where rich gold has since been found. Crossing the ranges to Christchurch in 1867, Mr. Evans managed a station for one year. He afterwards purchased the livery stables of Mr. E. G. Wright, and the City Hotel at Leithfield. Selling out at Leithfield, he visited the Auckland golfields, and in 1872 went via Honolulu to San Francisco, through America to England and Ireland, returning to the Colony in 1874 Mr. Evans purchased at Balcairn, the farm which is now known as the “model farm,” which in 1878–9 gained the first prize as the best kept farm in the district. Having disposed of his property in 1883, he purchased “Numburnholme,” another farm in the same neighbourhood, which gained the second prize in a similar competition. Mr. Evans has been a member of the Kowal Road Board and Domain Board for many years; he is a member of the cemetery board and school committee, and is a vestryman of many years' standing. He was married in 1886 to Mrs Gilchrist.

Fleming, John, Farmer, “Summerlea,” Balcairn. Mr. Fleming was born in Cumberland, England, in 1865, and being the son of a farmer was brought up to outdoor life. He arrived at Lyttelton in 1885 by the s.s. “Doric,” and settled at Brookside, where he found employment in farm work for five years. After removing to Balcairn Mr. Fleming bought forty-two acres, on which he settled, and has since increased his property to 142 acres. His homestead was burnt down in March, 1902, and a new building has been erected on the section of the property nearest to the Kowai river. Mr. Fleming has about 150 sheep, and milks nearly twenty cows, and, having his own separator, produces a good deal of butter, which is sent to market every week. He was married, in 1889, to a daughter of Mr. R. Moor, of Brookside, and has five sons and two daughters.

Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs J. Fleming.

Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. Fleming.

Hanna, John, Farmer, “Littleover,” Balcairn. Mr. Hanna was born in 1870, in Sefton, where he was educated, and brought up to country life. He has farmed on his own account since 1896; his present property consists of 200 acres of freehold and 140 acres of leasehold land. Mr Hanna is a member of the Balcairn school committee, and holds office as Junior Deacon of the Amberley Masonic Lodge, No. 2007, English Constitution. As an Oddfellow he is connected with the Loyal Leithfield Lodge; and he is a steward of the Rangiora Racing Club, and a member of the Amberley Steeplechase Club. He was married, in June, in 1895, to a daughter of Mr. H. Fuller, of Balcairn, and has two daughters.

Mount Grey Estate, Balcairn. This property was owned by the late Mr. Charles Ensor, who bought it in 1873, when it was chiefly all leasehold, but the freehold now comprises 12,000 acres.

Mr. Gilbert Hutcheson, Shepherd at Mount Grey, first entered on his duties at the station on the 14th of August, 1863. There were then no roads in that part of the country, but only tracks, along which the haulage was all done by bullocks. The sheep were all Merinos, and the first Romneys were brought to the district in 1865 by Mr. (afterwards Sir Frederick) Weld. Leicesters were introduced in 1870, and were very popular for a time, but the Shropshires are now rapidly supplanting them. Turnips were first raised at “Mount Grey” in 1870, and £3 an acre was offered for the crop. Mr. Hutcheson was page 530 born on the 21th of November, 1838, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and since his youth he has followed pastoral pursuits. He came to New Zealand in the ship “Chariot of Fame.” In 1866 he was married to Miss Rouse, and has five sons and five daughters.

Moore, James Clarke, Farmer, “Willow Bank,” Balcairn. Mr. Moore was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1839, and was employed on his father's property prior to coming to New Zealand in 1860, by the ship “Roman Emperor.” Mr. Moore settled in the Balcairn district in 1861, and seven years later acquired “Willow Bank,” then in its natural condition. He has served as a member of the Balcairn school committee. Mr. Moore was married, in 1883, to a daughter of the late Mr. O'Donnell, of County Fermanagh, Ireland, and has two sons and one daughter.

Clarke, photo. Mr. and Mrs J. C. Moore.

Clarke, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. C. Moore.

Pawsey, John Robert, Settler, “Oak Farm,” Balcairn. Mr. Pawsey, who is one of the earliest settlers in the district, was born in 1826 in Haughley, Suffolk, where he was educated and brought up to an agricultural life. He came to the Colony in 1859 in the ship “Clontarf” and entered the service of Mr. W. D. Wood, of Christchurch, with whom he stayed for four years. Subsequently he was in partnership for three months with Mr. Leith, after whom Leith-field is named. Mr. Pawsey bought “Oak Farm” in 1863 and has resided there ever since, having considerably added to his first purchase. “Oak Farm” contains about 700 acres; grain and root crops are raised and a fine flock of Cotswold sheep is kept. Mr. Pawsey has recently purchased another property in the Upper Waipara district containing 8200 acres, which is stocked with Merino sheep. The out-buildings on “Oak Farm” are of concrete and iron, and the plant includes one of Fowler's portable engines, together with the latest machinery for sowing and harvesting. In the early days, Mr. Pawsey served as a member of the road board, but having had the misfortune to lose one of his legs, he can only get about with difficulty. He was married in 1864 to Miss Simpson, and has five sons.

Sutherland, George, Farmer, Fox's Farm, Balcairn. Mr. Sutherland was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1834. He was brought up to farming, and came to Lyttelton in 1862 in the ship “Mersey” For a year he was engaged in general farm work at Horseshoe Lake, near Christchurch, and was afterwards at many other places in the district, including “Coldstream,” Rangiora, where he remained five years. After being at Sefton for one year, he finally started for himself on seventy-five acres of freehold at Balcairn, where he carries on dairy farming. Mr. Sutherland served fourteen years on the Balcairn school committee, and was for four years a director of the Sefton Dairy Factory. He was married, in 1858, to a daughter of the late Mr. Roderick Jack, of Morayshire. Scotland, and has two sons and five daughters.

Tolputt, photo. Mr. and Mrs G. Sutherland.

Tolputt, photo.
Mr. and Mrs G. Sutherland.

Wagner, Alfred James, Farmer, “The Pines.” Balcairn. Mr. Wagner was born in Invercargill in 1870, and educated at the Boys' High School. Christchurch, where he was successful in winning the Challenge Cup for the largest number of points at the sports in 1882. He served as a volunteer in the Hokitika cadets. His present property was formerly known as the “Model Farm,” and consists of 100 acres of freehold. In addition to this he works 1100 acres at Weka Pass, on which he has 1000 sheep. Mr. Wagner was brought up to country life in the Lincoln and Hororata districts, and has farmed on his own account since 1893. Before that date he was for several years in Australia. At the Melbourne Exhibition of 1898 he was in charge of the Wolesley Sheep Shearing Company's exhibits. He had four years' experience on sheep stations in New South Wales and Queensland, and after returning to New Zealand was in charge of the shearing operations at Balmoral station for two seasons. As a Freemason Mr. Wagner is attached to the Amberley Lodge, 2007, English Constitution. He is also a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.