Motunau is the name of a sheep-farming district lying towards the sea coast, to the eastward of the Waipara-Cheviot road and railway route. It extends several miles in a southerly direction from the banks of the Motunau river. The district is in the Waipara riding of the Ashley county, and has a scattered population, which, at the census of 1901, numbered 165. The nearest post and telegraph office, and public school are at Tipapa, the mid-day stopping place for the Cheviot-Waipara coaches.

Cameron, John, Farmer, “Glenmore,” Motunau. Mr. Cameron was born in 1841 at Rothiemurchus, Inverness-shire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up to pastoral pursuits. For some time he was in the service of the Earl of Stamford as game-keeper and deer-stalker in Glenmore fores. He came to the Colony in the ship “Chrysolite” in 1861, and after being two years employed in station life, went to the West Coast diggings with two mates, and they were the first to find payable gold in Kanieri Creek, where they worked with good luck for two years. Mr. Cameron returned to Canterbury and took up a farm on Mount Grey Downs, where he spent twenty-five years. He sold out in 1892 and acquired his property at Glenmore, in conjunction with his eldest son. The area of the farm is 3500 acres devoted to raising cross-bred sheep. Mr. Cameron has always taken an active part in public affairs; he has been a member of the road board for many years, has acted on the cemetery and domain boards, is a vice-president and one of the founders of the North Canterbury Caledonian Society, and has been an active promoter of the Leithfield sports from the date of their establishment. Mr. Cameron served in the Kowai Volunteers and Rifle Club, and with Messrs Hunter and de Morg organised one of the first corps in the Southern Hemisphere in 1870. He was second captain of the Rifle Club and afterwards its vice president; he has gained twenty cups, besides six gold and silver medals at various shooting contests. Mr. Cameron was married in 1873 to Miss Frame, and has four sons and four daughters.

Mr. and Mrs J. Cameron.

Gibb, Mrs H., Farmer, Motunau. Mrs Gibb is the widow of Mr. S. Gibb. She has a farm of sixty acres of freehold land, and also keeps an accommodation house for the convenience of travellers and drovers. Her paddocks accommodate flocks of sheep passing between Cheviot and Waipara. Mrs Gibb was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1839, and came to Lyttelton in the ship “Accrington” in 1863. Her husband, Mr. S. Gibb, met his death by drowning in 1867.

Gibb, James L., Farmer, Heathfield Farm, Motunau. Mr. Gibb was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1858, and came to Lyttelton in the ship “Accrington,” in 1863. He was brought up to farm work at Motunau, and engaged in shearing for eleven seasons about the district, and was for three seasons similarly employed in Australia. While in Australia Mr. Gibb travelled 700 miles inland, and saw carcases of cattle and sheep lying in every direction—the result of the drought of 1885. On returning to New Zealand he engaged in farm work and contracting, and began on his own account in 1891 at Motunau, where he has a freehold property of 300 acres, on which he keeps sheep. Since 1897 Mr. Gibb has been a shareholder of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association. He was married, in 1891, to a daughter of Mr. R. M. Roberts, of Waikari Valley, and has one son and three daughters.

Mr. and Mrs J. L. Gibb.

Glen Clova Farm, Motunau. This is a small grazing run of 2,000 acres of Crown land, which is owned and worked in partnership by two brothers. Mr. Stewart B. Gibb and Mr. George Gibb.

Mr. Stewart B. Gibb, the Senior Partner of this firm, was bern at Brown's Bridge, Amberley, in 1864, and received his education principally at Wainate. He was engaged in shepherding about Motunau district for eleven years, and subsequently took up 2,000 acres of Crown land in partnership with his brother. Mr. Gibb was a member of the Waipara Road Board for three years. He has page 549 served on the Greta Vale school committee since 1896, and was chairman for two years. He was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. H. M. Roberts, of Waikari Valley, and has one son and four daughters.

Mr. S. B. Gibb.

Mr. George Gibb was born at Teviotdale, and educated at Waimate. He was brought up on his mother's farm, and joined his brother in taking up “Glen Clova.” In 1900 he visited England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, France, the Paris Exhibition, America, and the Niagara Falls, and returned home by way of Vancouver and Brisbane.

Mr. G. Gibb.

“Greta Vale” Station now comprises 4000 acres, and is used for pastoral purposes. It carries about 3400 half-bred sheep, and 200 acres are cultivated for stock feed. The residence of eight rooms is situated in a plantation of trees, and is occupied by the manager. “Greta Vale” is the property of Mr. T. S. Mannering, and since 1900 has been leased by Mr C. E. Calcutt, of Christchurch.

Mr. Martin Smith, Manager of Greta Vale station, was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1857. He came with his parents to Lyttelton in 1861 in the ship “Motoaka,” and settled at Flaxton, where He was brought up to sheep farming. Mr. Smith has long been engaged in shepherding throughout Canterbury, and in 1890 became a shepherd on Greta Vale station. He was appointed manager of the station in 1900. Mr. Smith was married, in 1894, to a daughter of the late Mr. Cross, of Norfolk England.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. and Mrs M. Smith.