The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]
Totara Valley
Totara Valley.
Totara Valley is a rich farming district extending for several miles on the northern bank of the Tengawai river, in the Tengawai riding of the Levels county. The population at the census of 1901 was set down at forty. The building stone which is excavated from picturesque limestone cliffs is of considerable value, and if facilities for its transport were available, would be largely in demand. There is a Presbyterian church and a public school in the district and also a blacksmith's shop.
The Public School at Totara Valley was opened about 1890. The building, which is prettily situated on a grassy knoll surrounded with pines, is constructed of wood and iron, and has the usual class room, with a porch entrance. There is accommodation for fifty pupils, but there are only twelve on the roll.
St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Totara Valley, was built of the local lime stone in 1890, It has accommodation for 120 worshippers. A Sunday school, consisting of forty children and four teachers, meets in the building. Services are regularly held, and the minister at Pleasant Point is in charge.
Miller, Joseph, General Blacksmith and Farrier, Totara Valley, Mr. Miller started business in 1886 in a shop built of stone quarried in the district. The residence, which adjoins the smithy, is of wood and iron, and stands on part of a section of two-and-a-half acres of freehold. Mr. Miller was born in 1848, in Caithness, Scotland, where he served his time to the blacksmith's trade as general blacksmith, for a period of four years. He then went as an improver to the Clyde, where he worked as a ship-smith. Mr. Miller came to New Zealand in the ship “Hydaspes,” and landed at Lyttelton in 1869. He found employment intermittently in different parts of New Zealand, and, like all early colonists, tried his hand at various kinds of work.
Farmers.
Cunningham, William, Farmer, “The Willows,” Totara Valley. Mr. Cunningham was born in Scotland, in 1859, and came to Lyttelton with his parents in the ship “Captain Cook” in 1862. He is a son of the late Mr. David Cunningham, of Waitohi, was educated at Christchurch and Temuka, and worked with his father for two years. He then engaged in contracting and cropping, and latterly in sheep dealing. As a sheep dealer he has been very successful, and his turnover for the year 1898 was over £35,000. Mr. Cunningham rented a farm of 600 acres from Mr. Verity for six years, and then bought his present property of 500 acres at Totara Valley. The land was then in its native state, but he has cleared it and drained it with pipes, and it is now first-class farming land. Formerly he cropped extensively, but since he has gone in for sheep dealing he utilises most of the land for grazing. He finds the three-quarter and crossbred sheep most suitable. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Opihi school committee, and has been a member of the Totara school committee. In 1886, he married Miss McLeod, of Kakahu, and they have two sons and four daughters.
Mr. Donald McBeath, the elder brother, was born in 1835, in Caithnessshire, Scotland, where he was educated and followed a commercial life. In 1863 he came out to Otago in the ship “Helenslea,” and went to Westland soon after gold was discovered there, and there he remained till 1895. He died in November, 1902.
Mr. John McBeath is two years younger than his brother, with whom he came out to Otago. He was for many years settled in Otago, but subsequently entered into business in Christchurch. In 1889 he leased his brother's portion of “Glenelg,” and still leases and works it in conjunction with his own part of the property.
Totara Downs, Totara Valley. This estate is the property of Mr. Charles H. Verity, who came out to New Zealand in 1877, and was for many years manager on “Rockwood” and “The Brothers” estate, near Albury, South Canterbury. “Totara Downs” contains 611 acres of rich limestone formation, and is capable of grazing and fattening a large number of sheep and lambs. The property was originally part of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's run, and was bought by the present proprietor in September, 1884. It is now devoted chiefly to the breeding and fattening of lambs for the export trade. In order to keep the pasturage in good heart and condition, a considerable area is annually placed under cultivation. The homestead is beautifully situated on the highest part of the property, and commands a fine view of the Canterbury Plains, the Pacific Ocean, and the Southern Alps.
Standish and Preece, photo
The late Mr. J. Balfour.