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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Cowie, James, Farmer, “Valley Field,” Mason's Flat, Hawarden. Mr. Cowie was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1833. He came to Lyttelton in 1860 by the ship “William Miles,” and was employed at Glenmark estate, for about five years. In 1865 Mr. Cowie acquired Valley Field property, which is 456 acres in extent. The land has been brought from a rough and swampy condition into a high state of cultivation. Mr Cowie served for fourteen years as a member of the Waipara Road Board, and is chairman of the local school committee, of which he has been a member for about twenty years.

Mr. George Edward Mason was one of the Canterbury settlers who arrived in Lyttelton in 1851, by the ship “Castle Eden.” He came out with the intention of settling in Otago, and brought with him twelve rams and four ewes. As the captain was unable to proceed to Port Chalmers, Mr. Mason was compensated, and was received, as a Canterbury settler, on the same terms as the original pilgrims. Mr. Mason was born at Painswick, Gloucestershire, England, in 1810. He was brought up as a farmer, and worked a property for seven years before coming to the colony. He claims to be the first white man to pass north of the Waipara Flat. Mr. Mason first leased the Horsley Down run, 34,000 acres in extent, and afterwards a run of 30,000 acres, known as Black Hill. He fixed his first homestead at Horsley Down, the flat country of which became known as Mason's Flat. Subsequently Mr. Mason leased a large run, of 30,000 acres, on part of which Mount Mason, named after him, is situated; and at a later date, 10,000 acres, known as Virginia run. Mr. Mason held some of these runs for at least ten years. He did a great deal of exploring in the early days, and discovered five lakes the principal of which is Lake Sumner, and he did much to promote the opening up of the country. Mr. Mason was married, in 1846, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. Thorn, of Bristol. Mrs. Mason, who for three years was the only white woman in the Waipara district, died in 1895, leaving five daughters and four sons.