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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[Pigeon Bay] — Pigeon Bay

Pigeon Bay lies to the south of Lyttelton Heads, and is in the county of Akaroa. It has a post, telegraph and money order office, and a population of about 360 persons. The district is devoted to dairy farming, and the production of cheese, and is connected thrice a week by steamer with Lyttelton; distance, twenty-one miles. A coach from Akaroa meets the steamer, and travellers to and from Lyttelton find this the quickest and pleasantest route. Pigeon Bay is one of the historic pioneer settlements of New Zealand, and was first settled in 1843 by Messrs Hay and Sinclair; Mr. Hay taking the head of the bay or Pigeon Bay proper, and Mr. Sinclair what is now called Holmes' Bay, a bay and valley on the west side, about five miles inland from Pigeon Bay heads. Mr. Sinclair sold out to the late Mr. George Holmes, the maker of the Lyttelton-Christchurch tunnel. The estate, about 5000 acres in extent, is now (1903) owned by Mr. G. G. Holmes, a nephew of the first proprietor. Mr. T. O. Hay, second son of the late Mr. E. Hay, is now owner of the Pigeon Bay estate. Mr. E. Hay and his family stuck to their holding, in the face of many difficulties, and kept adding to it for many years, and now, the estate, named “Annandale,” comprises about 8000 acres. The Pigeon Bay road district contains about 21,000 acres, which includes McIntosh and Decanter Bays, both of which were early settlements. All the different parts of the present Pigeon Bay page 621 road district sent away large quantities of sawn timber, posts and rails, and firewood, in the early days, especially from 1850 till 1875. The next largest estate to Mr. Holmes's is that of Mr. Menzies, about 3000 acres; and the other properties range from 1200 or 1300 down to twenty acres. Cocksfoot grass seed has been a most important factor in the prosperity of the residents of Pigeon Bay. Commencing in the late sixties, the industry increased yearly till 1874, which was the first big year—the first year with a phenomenal yield of grass seed. The shipments for years past have been from 8000 to 13,000 sacks. There are two schools in the district, a church, used by both Anglicans and Presbyterians, a store, and a business which combines blascksmithing and wheelwrighting.

Pigeon Bay.

Pigeon Bay.