Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Little Akaloa

page break

Little Akaloa.

Little Akaloa, in the county of Akaroa, is a dairyfarming district on Banks' Peninsula. It has a population of about 300 persons, a cheese factory, and numerous private dairies. There is communication with Lyttelton by steamer, and there is a daily mail service with Christchurch, which is sixty-three miles distant. The local post office has a telephone service and a money order and savings bank branch, and there is a church, a public school, an accommodation house, and a general store in the district, the staple industries of which are dairying, sheepfarming, and the cultivation of grass seed. The mails between Little Akaloa and Little River are conveyed on horseback.

Wilson, S. L., Postmaster, Telephonist, Mail Contractor, and General Storekeeper, Little Akaloa.—Mr. Wilson was born in Tasmania, in 1872. In early years he followed agricultural and pastoral pursuits, but he became a mail contractor in 1893, and entered into storekeeping in 1897. As a storekeeper he does business for six miles around, with settlers, bushmen, fencers, contractors, and grass seeders. Mr. Wilson always takes an active interest in anything that tends to promote the welfare of his district.

Farmers.

“Brookworth” (Charles P. Kay, owner), Little Akaloa. “Brockworth” is an old estate with an interesting history. The oldest portion of it—that lying immediately round Decanter Bay—was originally bought from the Government in the early days by Mr. Duncan, who afterwards became Crown Prosecutor for Christchurch. Mr. Garland then leased that part of the estate, and carried on dairy farming until he was bought out by Mr. Kirk. The section was next purchased by Mr. Cook, who at that time was proprietor of an extensive area of neighbouring country. Mr. Ashton, who became the proprietor of the part now known as “Brockworth,” afterwards bought several other sections, and thereby extended the estate to its present area. The property was bought by Mr. C. P. Kay in 1891. It is 650 acres in extent, is bounded on the north and also partly towards the east by the sea, has a boundary fence towards the south and west; and is subdivided into nine paddocks. The whole area consists of first class pastoral country, and is stocked chiefly with sheep. Decanter Bay, about the centre of the coast line of “Brockworth.” is named after a rock at its entrance, said to be the shape of a decanter. The bay is navigable for coastal vessels, and the local trading steamers call in when requested to do so by Mr. Kay. Within a few yards of the beach, in Decanter Bay, there still stands the residence of Mr. Duncan, the original proprietor of the estate. This house was, for some years, occupied by Mr. Kay, but is now tenanted by one of the farm workers. The residence of the present proprietor is a well constructed and commodious dwelling of a modern type. It stands high up on the hill above Decanter Bay, where it commands a wide view of the surrounding country and the open ocean.

Mr. Charles Phillips Kay, Proprietor of “Brockworth,” is the eldest son of the late Mr. Thomas Kay, of Pigeon Bay. He was born in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1852, and landed at Lybtelton, in company with his parents, in 1859 After being educated at the Pigeon Bay public school, he turned his attention to farming. In 1878, when his father died, he and his brother, Mr. George Kay, continued to farm the property in Pigeon Bay; but in 1890 they sold out, and one year later, Mr. C. P. Kay bought “Brockworth” from Mr. Walter M. Ashton. He was at one time a member of the Pigeon Bay Road Board, and has also been a member of the Little Akaloa school committee. Mr. Kay married Miss Catherine Washbourn, of Riccarton, daughter of the late Mr. Washbourn, who arrived in Lyttelton by one of the first four ships. He has one son and one daughter.

Eaglenest Estate (W. Craw, proprietor), Little Akaloa. This property was taken up from the Crown by the late Mr. George Craw, father of the present proprietor, in 1876. It was then densely covered with bush, but now it is all cleared, fenced and subdivided and stocked with crossbred sheep and Shorthorn cattle. The house is beautifully situated on the top of a hill overlooking Akaloa Harbour, and commanding a fine view of the Kaikoura ranges and the coastline. Mr. Craw has served on the road board; he takes a great interest in all local affairs, and is a vestryman. He was married, in 1883, to Miss Waghorn, and has one son and two daughters.

Mr. and Mrs W. Craw and Family.

Mr. and Mrs W. Craw and Family.

Waghorn, Arthur, J.P., Little Akaloa.—Mr. Waghorn was born in 1852 on the page 620 estate on which he now resides, and was educated at the local school. After leaving school he worked for his father, and now occupies the estate in conjunction with his two brothers. The property consists of 1000 acres, and is devoted to breeding and fattening sheep and Shorthorn cattle, and to raising grass seed, of which a large quantity is reaped every year. Mr. Waghorn was appointed to the Commission of the Peace in 1895. He is chairman of the two local school committees and has served on the road board, recreation and cemetery committees. He is also a vestryman. Mr. Waghorn was married on the 8th of September, 1884, to Miss Cooke, and has three sons and three daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mr. A. Wagorn, Junr.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. A. Wagorn, Junr.

Old Colonists.

Mr. Arthur Waghorn, Senior, Old Colonist, was born at Dartford, Kent, England, sixteen miles from London Bridge, in 1814. For many years he sailed on the Thames in Mr. Fleming's barge. In 1850 he came out to New Zealand in the ship “Randolph” with Mr. Fleming, with whom he stayed one year at Port Levy. He then joined his two brothers in the purchase of two acres of land at Little Akaloa, to which they soon added fifty more. Mr. Waghorn then took to boating timber from the bays to Lyttelton. He purchased a sunken boat, which he raised, and brought to Pigeon Bay for repairs; it turned out to be one of the fastest boats on the coast. Later on, Mr. Waghorn remained ashore bushfelling and growing wheat, which he ground with a small steel stone, the wind supplying the motive power. That was about 1852, and Mr. Waghorn claims to have erected the first windmill in Canterbury. He also brought the first cow to Little Akaloa. Mr. Waghorn gradually increased his area to 1000 acres. The land is now occupied by his three sons, and he himself takes matters easily in the evening of his days. Mr. Waghorn has served on the road board and the school committee. He was married, in 1842, to Miss Dale, of Dartford, but in 1896, he was left a widower, with three sons and three daughters.

Mr. A. Waghorn, Senr.

Mr. A. Waghorn, Senr.