Woodend is situated on the main North Road, about four miles from Kaiapoi, and also about four from the borough of Rangiora. It is a long straggling settlement in the Mandeville riding of the county of Ashley, and at the census of April, 1901, contained a population of 365 souls. The district is devoted chiefly to agriculture and dairy farming. Flourmilling, flaxmilling, brickmaking, and bacon-curing are carried on in the township, which has a mechanics' institute and public library. There is also a creamery, which is well supported by the local settlers. The district has several churches, and there is a public school. Woodend has daily postal communication with Christchurch.

Woodend Public School, which was establisied in the early days of settlement in the district, is erected on a section of about three acres in extent. The building consists of two class rooms and two porches, and has accommodation for 150 pupils; the roll in March, 1902, contained 131 pames, and there was an average attendance of 117. The headmaster is assisted by a mistress. There is a good playground attached to the school, and a recreation reserve adjoins the site. A schoolhouse of eight rooms is erected on the property.

Mr. James Sutherland, B.A., Master of Woodend School, was born in the North of Scotland in 1862. In November, 1890, he was placed in charge of the Model School, Christchurch, whence he was appointed to Woodend in 1899. He is a member of the North Canterbury Educational Institute, and, as a Freemason, belongs to Lodge Concord, Papanui. Mr. Sutherland was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr. T. Ritchie, of Duredin, and has one daughter.

Mr. J. Sutherland.

Wesleyan Methodist Church, Woodend. This is one of the oldest churches in North Canterbury, and was erected at the end of the fifties. It is built of wood and iron, and has accommodation for 150 worshippers. There is also a convenient schoolroom, which will hold 100 pupils. The Sunday school has sixty pupils and eight teachers. The parsonage, a seven-roomed building of one storey, adjoins the church. There are two acres of land, one of which is used as a cemetery.

Rev. Thomas Alfred Joughin, Minister in charge of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, was born at Kirkbride, Ramsey, Isle of Man, in 1863, and educated at the Ramsey Grammar School and King William's College, Castletwn, Isle of Man. He arrived in Auckland in 1880, by the ship “British Empire,” and was for three years engaged in farming with his brother at Pukekohe, till he became a local preacher in that district, and subsequently a candidate for the ministry. The Conference of 1884 accepted him for training at Three Kings College. He was called out to supply in the Upper Thames circuit in November 1883. In March, 1887, Mr. Joughin succeeded the Rev. T. G. Hammond in charge of the Native and European work in the Hokianga district, where he remained for six years. He was afterwards stationed at Te Aroha, Upper Thames, from 1893 to 1896, when, owing to domestic bereavement and ill-health, he obtained the permission of the Conference to visit England. His health being restored by the voyage, he supplied in the Wesley circuit, Liverpool, for one year, and returned to New Zealand about Christmas, 1897. Mr Joughin was appointed to Roxburgh, Otago, in 1898, and to Woodend in 1901. He was married, in 1890, but Mrs Joughin died on the 1st of December, 1895, leaving one daughter. In September, 1902, Mr. Joughin was married at Kaiapoi to Miss Wilson, daughter of Mr. Isaac Wilson, of that town.

Woodend Creamery (Sefton Dairy Company, Ltd., proprietors), Woodend. This creamery was opened on the 19th of December, 1901, and by March, 1902, it was being supplied by eighteen settlers, who were milking, in the aggregate, about 200 cows. The building is of wood and iron, and contains a Delaval separator, capable of dealing with 440 gallons per hour. The machinery is driven by a four-horse power turbine, and the cream is sent daily to the Sefton factory.

Mr Walter John Lawry Barnett, Manager of the Woodend Creamery, was born in 1867 at Tei Tapu. He was educated at Leeston, and gained his experience of dairy work at the Central Company's creamery. Lakeside. On the opening of the Woodend establishment he was appointed to the position of manager. Mr. Barnett is a member of the Order of Druids, and is attached to the Ashburton Lodge

Mr. W. J. L. Barnett.

Chambers, Frederick, Butcher and Farmer, Woodend Butchery, Main North Road, Woodend. This butchery, which is situated in the centre of the township, is the oldest-established in the district. Mr. Chambers acquired the business on his arrival at Woodend in 1882, and he has since conducted it in a successful and highly efficient manner. Meat is delivered daily to the settlers in the surrounding country. The slaughter-houses are situated some distance away from the township, on the native reserve. In addition to his business, Mr. Chambers owns and farms a property of ninety-six acres, fourteen acres of which are leasehold and the balance freehold. Mr. Chambers was born in Victoria, in 1858, and arrived in Otago with his parents four years later. He was brought up as a butcher, but has also been engaged in agricultural work ever since he was a lad. Mr. Chambers has been a member of the Woodend school committee for about twenty years, during four of which he has been chairman. As an Oddfellow he is a member of the local lodge, and has passed through all the chairs. He was married at Woodend to a daughter of the late Mr. Edwin Howell, and has six sons and six daughters. One of his sons served with the New Zealand Contingents in the war in South Africa.

Archer, Nathaniel Barnard, Flourmiller, Ravenswood Roller Flour Mill, Woodend. This well known mill, which is of wood and iron, and contains two stories and a basement, was built about 1856. The plant, which produces about a sack of flour per hour, is driven by a water-wheel, of about five-horse power. The water-race was originally out by the Rev. John Raven, one of the earliest settlers in the district. Mr. Raven also built the mill, which has been worked by the present proprietor since 1882. Mr. Archer was born in 1846 in Essex, England, where his father was a farmer, and he himself was brought up to the milling business. He landed in Lyttelton on the 1st of January, 1870, and in the following year he went to Australia, but returned to New Zealand in 1872, and settled at Southbrook. A year later, he went to Christchurch, and after twelve months removed to Oxford, where he lived for three years. Since settling in the district Mr. Archer has served for a good many years, on the Waikuku school committee, and holds office as a member of the Waikuku Domain Board He was married, in 1878, to a daughter of Mr. J. Maddison, of Templeton, and has three sons and four daughters surviving.

Little, William Henry, General Storekeeper, Woodend. Mr. Little has conducted his present business since 1897. His store contains the local post and telegraph office, telephone bureau, Government money order office and savings bank, and mails are received and despatched daily. Mr. Little does a general trade throughout the district. He was born at Yaldhurst, Canterbury, in 1866, and was educated at Woodend, where he also learned his trade as a blacksmith. Mr. Little worked at his trade with his father, Mr. J. Little, for twelve years, before entering on his present business. He was for eight years a member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Mr. Little was married, in 1888, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Bramley, and has three daughters and one son.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. W. H. Little.

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.

Dampier-Crossley, John, Farmer, “Brockenhurst,” Woodend. Postal address, Kaiapoi. Mr. Crossley was born at Esk Head, Hurunui, Canterbury, in 1873, and was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. He was brought up to country pursuits, and became manager of Brockenhurst estate, which consists of 400 acres of freehold, and is used for fattening and cropping purposes. “Brockenhurst” was leased by him in 1895, and in 1902 he bought a block of the late Colonel Fox's estate at Hawarden. Mr. Crossley is a member of the Canterbury and Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Associations. He was married, in 1900, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. W. McRae, of the “Glens of Tekoa,” and has one son.

Derbridge, Charles, Farmer, Woodend. This settler was born in Herefordshire. England, in 1834, and arrived in New Zealand in the ship “Columbia.” He worked in the Lyttelton tunnel, and for some time after-wards on the Lyttelton breakwater. After leaving Lyttelton he had charge of the Oxford branch of the railway formation, and, after living in Rangiora a few years, he took up his present property at Woodend, where he has since carried on mixed farming. Mrs Derbridge was born in Bierford, Shropshire, England, in 1825, and came to New Zealand in 1863 in the ship “Antress.”

Mr. and Mrs C. Derbridge.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo
The Homestead, “Brockenhurst.”

Flutey, Charles, Farmer, Woodend. Mr. Flutey was born in Okain's Bay, Banks' Peninsula, in June, 1853, and was brought up to country pursuits at the Maori Pa. He farms about fifty acres of land, which is well situated, in Woodend. Mr. Flutey was married, in May, 1878, to a daughter of Mr. J. Crane, of Waihola, Otago, and has five sons and three daughters.

Gibbs, Samuel, Farmer, Woodend. Mr. Gibbs is a son of the late Mr. James Gibbs, who arrived in Lyttelton in 1858. He was born in 1862, at Woodend, and in early life turned his attention to farming. He farms 370 acres altogether, and is a stud breeder of Shropshire Down sheep. In 1892 a ram which he exhibited won the championship at the Canterbury agricultural and pastoral show, and Mr. Gibbs has also gained many other prizes. Besides being a farmer, Mr. Gibbs carries on business as a stock-dealer and freezer, and shipper of mutton. He was married, in 1894, to a daughter of Mr. J. Marshall, farmer, Ohoka, and has one son and two daughters.

Hewitt, Daniel, Farmer, Woodend. Mr. Hewitt was born in Warwickshire, England, in 1837. He was brought up as a gentleman's servant, and held various positions, as groom and coachman, till coming to Lyttelton in 1874 by the ship “Mongol.” After passing six months in Dunedin, he settled at Woodend, and has been engaged chiefly in farming; his farm is 100 acres in extent. Mr. Hewitt has served as a member of the local school committee for some years. He married a daughter of Mr. T. Griffith, of North Wales, and has seven sons and two daughters.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. D. Hewitt.

Horrell, Frederick, Farmer, “Te Pakiaka,” Woodend. Mr. Horrell was born in Devonshire, England, in 1852, and came to Lyttelton with his parents in the “Roe-hampton” in 1857. He was educated at the Woodend school and at Mr. C. Merton's boarding school at Rangiora. In the year 1808, he took the Board of Education's first prize at that school for general proficiency. After leaving school he worked on the farm and took the management of it some time prior to his father's death in 1892. This property contains about 150 acres of freehold land, which is under thorough cultivation, partly under crops, and grazed by sheep and cattle. The Improvements include a substantial dwelling, with gardens and orchards eight acres in extent. Mr. Horrell was appointed organist at St. Barnabas Church, Woodend, when only sixteen years of age, and has occupied the position ever since. He was instrumental in obtaining six acres of ground from the Government for a public domain, and has taken great interest in athletic sports, having played several football matches for the old North Canterbury team. He joined the Woodend lodge of Oddfellows in 1874, and has been through all the different offices connected with the lodge, and a trustee for fifteen years. Mr. Horrell has been an energetic member of the Waimakariri Harbour Board for many years, and is a member of the Mandeville and Rangiora Road Board. He was married in 1876 to the daughter of Mr. William Rayner, printer, Lyttelton, and has eight children living. Mr. Horrell is further referred to in the Military Section of this volume.

Judson James, Farmer, Woodend. Mr. Judson was born in 1847, in Leicestershire, England, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Clontarf” in 1860. Having gained experience in farming, he began on his own account at Woodend, in 1870. Mr. Judson has always taken an interest in local matters, and for fifteen years acted as librarian and treasurer of the local library. He also served one year as a member of the licensing committee. Mr. Judson was married, in 1869, to a daughter of the late Mr J. Sutherland, of Helmsdale, and has three sons and five daughters.

Pateman, Edward Claude, Farmer, Beaconsfield Farm. Woodend. Mr. Pateman was born in Christchurch in 1861, and, since he was three years of age, he had spent most of his time in Woodend. He was brought up to a country life, and has farmed on his own account since 1880. As a volunteer, Mr. Pateman is a member of the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles. He was married, in 1888, to a daughter of Mr. W. Judson, of Woodend, and has had three sons and two daughters. One son is dead.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. E. C. Pateman.

Stanton, James, Farmer, North Road, Woodend. Mr. Stanton came out to New Zealand in 1865, and took up land at Woodend, at a time when heavy bush covered the whole of that part of the country. He was born in Smetwich, Staffordshire, England, in 1832. His little homestead is situated between Rangiora and Woodend.

Mr. J. Stanton.

Stanton, James Gibbs, Farmer, Woodend, Mr. Stanton was born at Olney, Bedfordshire, England, in 1856, and was brought up to farming, having tried his hand at ploughing before he was able to lift a single-furrow plough. He was brought to Lyttelton by his parents in the ship “Zealandia,” in 1858, and the family were early settlers in Woodend, where he has since resided. The remains of a sod-house (one of the first in Woodend) are still (1902) to be seen on his property. It was erected about 1858, and for some time afterwards was the home of two families. Mr. Stanton was married, in 1878, to a daughter of Mr. R. Petrie, of Woodend, and has four sons and two daughters.

Pioneer's House (1858) on Mr. J. G. Stanton's Farm, Woodend.

Stone, Henry Joseph, Farmer, “The Sandhills” Woodend. Mr. Stone is a son of the late Mr. Samuel Stone, who came to Nelson, as a blacksmith for the New Zealand Company, by the ship “Prince of Wales,” in 1842. Mr. Stone, senior, went through the troubles of early colonial life in Nelson during the trying time when, owing to a dispute between the Imperial Government and the New Zealand Company, the settlers were almost reduced to starvation. He removed to Canterbury in 1856 and settled at “The Sandhills,” where be lived till 1896, when he died at the advanced age of eighty-nine. Mr. H. J. Stone was born at Richmond, Nelson, in 1850, and was brought up to country life, in the Kaiapoi district, by his father. His property consists of fifty-eight acres, on which he conducts mixed farming. For ten years Mr. Stone was a member of the Kaiapoi Volunteer Band. He is well known as a capital shot, and has won many prizes in that connection. As a sportsman he has also taken many trophies in connection with large game. Mr. Stone was married, in 1878, to a daughter of Mr. R. Hamlett, a very early settler, who arrived in the ship “Castle Eden” at Lyttelton, in February, 1851, and was one of the first to erect a house in Kaiapoi. Mr. and Mrs Stone's family consists of one son and three daughters.

Zuppicich, Antonio, Farmer, Woodend. Mr. Zuppicich was born in Austria in 1841, was brought up to a seafaring life, and came to Lyttelton, by the ship “Sebastopol,” in 1861. After a short time in the Timaru district he settled at Woodend in 1862. He was married, in 1863, to a daughter of Mr. H. Cleaver, of Woodend, who came out in one of the first four ships, and has three sons and four daughters.

Mr. Benjamin Bailey is one of the oldest surviving settlers in the Woodend district. He was born in 1815, at Turvey, Bedfordshire, England, and after a varied experience in England and on the Continent, he came to Lyttelton in the ship “Cashmere' in 1855. He settled in Woodend in August, 1857, and was engaged in farming for over twenty years. Mr. Bailey was married, in 1838, to a daughter of the late Mr. Gibbs, of Turvey. His wife died in 1884, leaving one son.

Mr. William Lincoln Porter was born at Egworth, near Liverpool, in 1839, and arrived in Auckland in 1848. Subsequently he went to Wairau with Sir Charles Clifford, with whom he remained for two years. He then removed to Canterbury, and afterwards went on to the Otago goldfields, where he remained until 1864. On returning to Canterbury he settled at Woodend, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Porter had the misfortune to lose an arm in the Ravenswood flaxmill, Woodend, about 1875, and in consequence he took up a carrying business between Christchurch, Woodend, and Rangiora, which he still keeps up. His house was destroyed by fire in 1896, and the inhabitants of Woodend and the surrounding district showed their esteem and sympathy by replacing it with a good four-roomed house. Mr. Porter was married, in 1864, to a daughter of Mr. William Judson, of Woodend, and has four sons and six daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. W. L. Porter.