Mr. Michael Joseph Hoban, some time of Silverstream Farm, Hawarden, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1848, but was educated in Scotland, to which he had gone with his parents. While on his way to New Zealand in the ship “Victoria Tower,” the vessel was wrecked at Cape Otway. After a short stay in Victoria, he came to Lyttelton, in 1869, and engaged in shepherding for four years in various parts of the Oxford district. Later, he bought ninety-four acres, on part of which his family's residence stands, and in 1885, purchased 396 acres of freehold on the Horsley Down estate. In 1886 he bought a further area of 458 acres on Horsley Down, but sold it in 1897 to Mr. M. J. Burke, of Waitohi Peaks. He afterwards bought 404 acres close to his residence, and also 143 acres in Waikari township. Mr. Hoban was married, in 1877, to a daughter of Mr. George E. Mason, of Mason's Flat, and had four sons and five daughters. He died on the 5th of January, 1903.

Mr. James Little, formerly of the “Allandale Estate,” Hawarden, was born in Midlothian, Scotland, was educated in Peebles-shire, and was brought up to a pastoral life. He came to the Colony in the ship “Canterbury” under engagement to the late Dr. Webster, of Corriedale, Otago, for whom he brought out a number of Romney Marsh sheep. Mr. Little is the originator of the Corriedale breed, having begun experimenting in that direction when manager of the Corriedale estate. After taking possession of “Allandale” in 1879, Mr. Little continued his experiments, and became most successful. The Corriedale sheep are found to be stronger in constitution than, and withstand the winter equally as well as, the Merino, while possessing more flesh in proportion to fat than the long-wools. Mr. Little established an English Leicester stud flock in 1892 and afterwards added some of the best stock procurable. As an exhibitor, he gained a very creditable collection of prizes, having won, prior to 1898, five champions, seventeen first, twenty-two second, and fourteen third prizes. In 1899 the proprietors of Gibb's Dipping Fluid presented a thirty guinea cup to be given to the largest prizetaker for English Leicesters exhibited at the Canterbury Metropolitan Show. The cup had to be won two years in succession, and Mr. Little's sheep, besides taking three champion gold medals, won the cup straight out the first two years he was out for competition. The Ayrshire herd at “Allandale” was too well known at the Canterbury and northern shows to need any comment in this article. In public affairs, Mr. Little was a member of the Hurunui Rabbit Board for two terms, chairman of the School Committee and a member of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was married in 1864 to Miss Telford, and has one son and five daughters. Mr. Little sold all his stock in February, 1903, at the expiration of his lease of “Allandale.”

Mr. J. Little.