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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Adamson, Thomas, Farmer, Roseburn Farm, Albury. Mr. Adamson was born in 1838 in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he began to work on a farm at an early age. In 1866 he came to Lyttelton by the ship “Victory,” and engaged in contracting and general farmwork, besides working a small farm of sixty acres of freehold near Washdyke. After eight years he sold his property and bought, near Albury, twenty-one acres, which he used for cropping purposes. In the early days Mr. Adamson built his own cob whare of three rooms, and planted trees, which now add greatly to the appearance of his section. While in Albury he was waggon driving for Mr. J. S. Rutherford for about eighteen years. Mr. Adamson was married, in 1863, to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Gibson, of Ayrshire, Scotland. His wife died in 1902, leaving a grown up family of four sons and two daughters.

Burford, photo.Mr. T. Adamson.

Burford, photo.
Mr. T. Adamson.

Annan, James W., Farmer, “Annan dale,” Albury. Mr. Annan was born in 1867, at Tumai, in Otago, where he was brought up to all classes of farming. He was for some time engaged as a shepherd in several parts of Canterbury. In 1898 he was appointed manager of Pinaki station, by Mr. W. K. Parbury, and continued with Mr. C. Sawtell when that gentleman purchased the property. Mr. Annan acquired his present property in 1901, and carries on agriculture and sheep farming. He was married, in 1898, to a daughter of Mr. R. Irving, of Brown-hill, Albury, and has two children, a son and daughter.

Mr. J. W. Annan and Prize Winning Collies. Burford, photo

Mr. J. W. Annan and Prize Winning Collies. Burford, photo

page 948

Bankside Farm (J. Austin, proprietor), Albury. This property, which comprises 1564 acres, was formerly part of the Levels estate, and was taken up by the present owner in 1896. It is situated close to the township of Albury, and is bounded on the south-west side by Rocky Gully. The land is well fenced and grassed, and is nearly all ploughable. About 550 acres are ploughed for oats and the remainder of the land runs 1500 ewes. There is a well sheltered residence of eight rooms, with a large orchard adjoining.

Mr. James Austin, Proprietor of Bank-side Farm, was born at Selwyn, Canterbury, in 1865. He was educated at Winchester and worked on his father's farm until taking over his present property in 1896. Mr. Austin is chairman of the Albury school committee, treasurer of the Presbyterian church committee, and a director of the Albury Saleyards Company. He was married, in 1898 to a daughter of the late Mr. William Stewart, of Orari. Mrs Austin died in 1899, leaving one daughter.

Burford, photo. Mr. J. Austin, Junr.

Burford, photo.
Mr. J. Austin, Junr.

Brown Hill Station (Richard Irving, proprietor), Albury. This estate comprises 1775 acres freehold, and is situated about five miles from the township of Albury. It was originally part of the Levels estate, and was acquired from time to time by the proprietor who has now a complete and well fenced station. Most of the land is ploughed, and in grass, and about 400 acres are cropped yearly. The homestead is built on a rise, and commands a splendid view. It is surrounded by a thick, well grown plantation of trees and a large orchard, while near by are the woolsheds, sheep-dip, stables with twelve stalls, and a loose box, and all other necessary outbuildings. In the front of the property two lakes have been made, and are the home of swans and ducks, and a number of goldfish.

Mr. Richard Irving, Proprietor of “Brown Hill,” is referred to elsewhere as a member of the Mackenzie County Council.

Burford, photoMr. R. Irving.

Burford, photo
Mr. R. Irving.

Charles Brothers (James, Frank and Michael Charles), Farmers, Albury. Messrs Charles are sons of Mr. John Charles, an old resident of Rangitata, and were born in West Eyreton, and educated at Rangitata. In 1897 they leased their present farm of 350 acres at Albury. The land, which, with the exception of thirty acres, is ploughable runs a flock of about 500 sheep; and 100 acres are kept in crop. The brothers have worked their property well and profitably and in 1902 acquired another block of 900 acres at Hilton, on which they run 1600 sheep.

Mr. M. Charles.

Mr. M. Charles.

Corbett, Hugh, Farmer, “Cricklewood House,” Albury. Mr. Corbett, who is the fourth son of Mr. Thomas Corbett, late of Kinallen, County Down, Ireland, came to Lyttelton in the ship “Charlotte Gladstone,” in 1870. Two of his brothers had arrived in the colony in 1862; and his father, mother and his brother Thomas, now of Mayfield, and his two sisters, now Mrs Sinclair, of Wakanui, and Mrs Simmons, of Makikihi, came out in 1871. Soon after landing Mr. Corbett went to the Dunstan diggings, where he spent one year, but meeting with little success, he returned to Canterbury, and took over the old accommodation house at Burnham. He did not like that life, however, and decided to try storekeeping at Greendale, where he bought a section of land, and built a store, and carried on business for eight years. Then he thought he would try farming and bought 570 acres of land at Ruapuna. This he subsequently let, and bought a small farm near Timaru, but not caring for the sea-air, he bought his present farm of “Cricklewood House,” which contains 1050 acres. Mr. Corbett still owns his original estate at Ruapuna. He was married, in 1871, to Miss P. Fulton, fourth daughter of the late Mr John Fulton, of Kinallen, County Down, Ireland. Miss Fulton also came out by the “Charlotte Gladstone,” and landed in February, 1871, exactly a year later than Mr. Corbett himself.

Mr. and Mrs H. Corbett.

Mr. and Mrs H. Corbett.

Hart, James Reese, Farmer, Albury. Mr. Hart was born in 1875, in Christchurch, and attended school there and at Winchester where he afterwards worked in a flaxmill for about four years. He was farming with Mr. R. Smith, of Winchester, for two years, and
Burford, photoMr. J. R. Hart.

Burford, photo
Mr. J. R. Hart.

page 949 worked on several farms until 1897, when he took up his present property of 100 acres under a lease in perpetuity. Mr. Hart has since cultivated the whole of his land, it is now well fenced, and he has erected a comfortable cottage. He is a member of the Tengawai school committee, and also of the Albury Forest Conservation Board. Mr. Hart has been prominent in football circles, and has taken part in the local matches of various districts. He was married on the 4th of September, 1901, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Caswell, of Timaru.

Higgs, William, Farmer, Albury. Mr. Higgs was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1852, and came to Timaru with his parents in 1863. He followed farm work at Gleniti, and about 1875 started cropping and contract ploughing in the district with his father. In 1878, in conjunction with other members of his family, Mr. Higgs acquired his present farm of 150 acres freehold, on which he runs about 200 ewes. He and his wife were among the earliest settlers of Albury, and their property has now been well fenced and much improved altogether. Mr. Higgs was for some time a member of the local school committee, and is now a shareholder in the Albury Saleyards, the “Timaru Post,” and the South Canterbury Dairy Company. He was married, in 1881, to a daughter of Mr. Albert Smith, of Albury, and has five sons and three daughters.

Burford, photo.Mr. W. Higgs.

Burford, photo.
Mr. W. Higgs.

Monavale Estate consists of 3000 acres of freehold land. It is near Coal Creek, was originally part of the Levels station, and was purchased by the late Mr. A. B. Smith. There is an exceptionally fine stud of Merino sheep connected with the property. Mr. Smith established this flock in 1884 by the purchase of 105 ewes from Mr. H. R. Kermode, of Monavale, Tasmania, and of three rams from the Hon. James Gibson, of Bellvue. This flock came into the possession of the Messrs Smith Brothers in 1891, and was subsequently removed to “Waratah,” near Albury.

Mr. A. B. Smith, the founder of the flock, was born in 1833 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and was apprenticed to the business of ship-building. He subsequently traded to New Zealand with three ships of his own, one built by himself and two purchased, but he sold out in 1861 and purchased the Merino Downs station in Southern Otago. After selling out that property he settled in the Mackenzie Country and eventually bought “Monavale.” Mr. Smith was for some time chairman of the Mackenzie County Council. He was gored to death by a bull in 1896. Mr. F. H. Smith, the third son, who manages Waratah station, contested the Timaru seat with the Hon. W. Hall-Jones at the general election of 1896, and also at that of November, 1902, when he received 1394 votes.

Opawa Station, Albury.—This station is the property of Mr J. S. Rutherford. It was originally taken up by Messrs Kennaway and Acton about 1856, and was purchased by the present proprietor, in partnership with his brother, Mr. Robert Rutherford, in 1870. It then consisted of 33,000 acres, of which only 1600 acres were freehold. There were then very few buildings, no trees, and the other improvements consisted of two paddocks—one of five acres, and the other of 700 acres. The total area of the station is now 21,000 acres, of which 11,300 acres are freehold, and the balance leasehold. There are 100 miles of fencing on the property, 5000 acres have been brought under cultivation, and 100 acres have been planted with a choice selection of trees. The improvements at the homestead consist of a good dwellinghouse and other buildings, lawns, orchard and garden, and ponds with water lilies. Merinos and crossbred sheep are kept on the property, and there is a small stud herd of Hereford cattle. Mr. Rutherford bought his brother's interest in the property in 1877.

Mr. J. S. Rutherford, the Proprietor, was born in Victoria in 1846, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1860. He passed his early years at Leslie Hills. Mr. Rutherford served on the Mount Cook Road Board until it was merged into the Mackenzie County Council, and since then he has served on the County Council. He is chairman of the Albury Saleyards Company, has been twice president of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and he is a life member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at the shows of which he has been a successful competitor. His four-in-hand tandem ponies have always attracted much attention. Mr. Rutherford drove Lord and Lady Onslow and family through the Mount Cook country, through Central Otago, and on to Invercargill. He is a keen sportsman and kept the South Canterbury hounds for four years at Albury at his own expense; and he has long acted as president or judge in connection with all the races, and cricket and football matches throughout his wide district. Mr. Rutherford married Miss Brown, and has three children.

Mr. J. S. Rutherford on his Hunter “Jumbo.”

Mr. J. S. Rutherford on his Hunter “Jumbo.”