Counsell, James, Stock-dealer, Woodend. Mr. Counsell was born in Mark, Somersetshire, England, in the year 1842, and came to New Zealand in the ship “Motueka” in 1862. He commenced business as a butcher, but went to the goldfields at the time of the Dunstan “rush” in that year, and was successively at the Bannockburn, Arrow, Shotover page 451 and Wakamarina diggings. Mr. Counsell went to the West Coast and started the first butchering business in the Grey Valley and used to drive stock from Blenheim and Nelson. Returning to Canterbury in 1876 he settled on the Maori run, Woodend, where he has since continued to reside. He has taken an active part in racing matters, at one time winning five races in succession with his horse “Bloodsucker.” Mr. Counsell was married in 1876, and has two sons.