Ataahua is a farming settlement within one mile of Gebbie's Valley, ten miles of Little River, and twenty-six miles of Christchurch. It has a local post office, and telephone service.

“Bloemfontein” (Joseph Hodgson Parkinson, proprietor), Big Bay, Kaituna, Little River. This estate comprises about 1644 acres of first class agricultural and pastoral country, and is part of the original Kaituna station. In the earliest days of Canterbury settlement, Mr Thomas Hudson Parkinson, father of the present proprietor of “Bloemfontein,” was employed by Mr Robert Rhodes to manage his Kaituna station of 25,000 acres. Mr Parkinson afterwards bought 12,000 acres of this property, and at his death, about 1883, the estate was divided amongst his sons. The particular portion under notice was originally alloted to a son who afterwards enlisted for service in the South African war, and met his death in a conflict with the Boers. The property was not long afterwards bought by Mr J. M. Parkinson, who immediately styled it “Bloemfontein,” in memory of his brother. The estate is devoted chiefly to the rearing of sheep.

Mr Joseph Hodgson Parkinson, proprietor of “Bloemfontein,” has for many years been intimately associated with active life on Banks' Peninsula, as a member of the Akaroa County Council and of the Little River Road Board. Mr Parkinson is an enthusiastic sportsman, and has for fourteen years been a prominent member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, especially at the shooting tests, where he has made good scores. He was born at “Kaituna,” in 1860, and is the second son of the late Mr Thomas Hodson Parkinson. After attending Daleroy House School, Dampier Bay, Lyttelton, he left, in 1873, for England, where he spent two years at Lancaster Grammar School, and resised during that period with his uncle, Mr. John Parkinson, of Templand Bank, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire. He returned, in 1876, and at his father's death a few years later, he became manager of the estate until its final division in 1900. Mr Parkinson's private residence is situated on a valuable section of twelve acres at Halswell. It is known as “Te Rainga,” and is a model home in appearance and for comfort. In 1886, Mr Parkinson was married to Miss Lydia Blatchford, daughter of one of the earliest colonists, and has one son and one daughter.

Coop, John, Farmer, Kaituna. Mr. Coop was born, in 1866, in Christchurch, and is a son of the late Mr. William Coop. He was educated at Little River, and brought up to sawmilling. At the age of twenty-six he took up his residence at Gebbie's Valley, where he carried on farming on the property of Messrs Coop Brothers. Later on the brothers purchased a block of 1,960 acres at Kaituna, where Mr. John Coop soon after took up his residence. Cropping and dairying are the two industries conducted on the estate. Mr. Coop was one of the first in the neighbourhood to start hillside ploughing. He was married, in 1895, to Miss Margaret Little, daughter of a farmer, now in the North Island, and has one son.

Parkinson, John, Sheepfarmer Kaituna. Mr Parkinson was born at Kaituna in 1871. He was educated at Christchurch, and after leaving school he went as a cadet to Burnt Hill, East Oxford, and subsequently to his father's station of Kaituna, where he passed his early years. He has held successively, on his own account, “Aorangi” at Lake Ellesmere and “Highfield” at Kirwee, but sold both properties. Mr Parkinson is a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and an active member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, which he joined in 1890, and is referred to in the military section of this volume. He was married, in 1893, to Miss A. Parish, and has one son and one daughter.

Willsden Estate, Ataahua. This is the property of Mr. William Birdling, and consists of 3360 acres, purchased in 1886, when a large portion of the land was in its native state. The homestead is beautifully situated on the banks of the creek, and well sheltered from the prevailing winds by the hills, and a patch of native bush and imported trees and shrubs, which thrive well in company with their native comrades. A large number of sheep and cattle are annually fattened in the well grassed, well fenced paddocks of Willsden estate.

Mr. William Birdling, the Proprietor, was born at Lakeview station, in 1852, and was educated at Governor's Bay and Lyttelton. He was a member of the County Council for six years, of the road board for ten years, and the domain board for five years; and he is also a member of the County Racing Club, regatta committee, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and the Templeton Road Board. Mr. Birdling resides at Vale Royal, Port Levy. He was married, in 1884, to Miss Lough, of Amberley, and has one son and one daughter.

Mr. W. Birdling.

Mr Thomas Hudson Parkinson, sometime of Kaituna Valley and Park Hill, was born in Lancashire, England, and came to New Zealand by the “Gil Blas,” landing at Lyttelton. For many years he acted as overseer to the late Mr R. Heaton Rhodes, on the Kaituna station. He afterwards carried on a butchering business in Lyttelton for a few years with the greatest success. Having purchased the well-known Kaituna estate, he built the beautiful residence of Park Hill, where he lived for two years previous to his death, which occurred through an accident at Dampier Bay, Lyttelton, in 1883. Mr Parkinson left a widow and a family of fifteen children, twelve of whom are now living—nine sons and three daughters. Eight sons are married, and in prominent positions.

The late Mr. T. H. Parkinson.