Anderson, Andrew, Farmer, “Shanzie,” Leeston. Mr. Anderson was born in the parish of Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1837. He was brought up to farming and arrived at Lyttelton in 1863 by the ship “Lancashire Witch.” Shortly after his arrival he obtained employment at ballasting the page 701 newly formed railway line between the tunnel and Chrischurch, and later on he worked for about two years as a hammerman for the late Mr. John Anderson at the Canterbury foundry. He was then attracted to Leeston, where he bought a farm which he prosperously worked for some years. In 1877, wishing to extend his operations, he disposed of his property, and bought his present farm of 222 acres, then in its natural and unimproved condition, but now in a through state of cultivation, with a fine residence and the necessary outbuildings. Mr. Anderson also now owns 320 acres of fine land at Oamaru. He has been a member of the Leeston school committee for years, was one of the directors of the Central Dairy Company for over seven years, and is at present a member of the executive of that prosperous association. Mr. Anderson married a namesake, Miss Anderson, of Perthshire, and there is a family of five sons and three daughters.

Mr. and Mrs A. Anderson.

Ballagh, Samuel, Farmer, “Rosendale,” Leeston. Mr. Ballagh was born at Grey Abbey, County Down, Ireland, in 1832. He arrived in Lyttelton, in 1862, by the ship “Mystery.” For the first ten years of his residence in the colony he was engaged in ploughing and other farmwork. In 1872 he purchased his present property of 370 acres, which he has converted from swamp land into a well fenced, and well drained estate, on which he carries on mixed farming. Mr. Ballagh was for many years well known as a breeder of draught horses and Shorthorn cattle, but has lately given less attention to breeding stock. He has never mixed in politics, but has devoted his time and energy to the improvement of his farm. Mr. Ballagh is married, and has a family of four daughters and three sons.

Mr. and Mrs S. Ballagh and Family.

Hay, Harry Morris, Farmer, Lake View Farm, Leeston. Mr. Hay is a grandson of Mr. Henry Phillips, a prominent pioneer settler of the district, and was born at Papanui in 1866. He accompanied his parents to England in 1875, and lived with them for seven years in the Isle of Wight, where he was educated. On returning to New Zealand in 1882, he learned farming on his grandfather's property at Leeston, and on the retirement of his grandfather, he entered into possession of the estate, on which he conducts an extensive system of cropping. The land is known in the district as being of exceptional quality, and has yielded 110 bushes of oats to the acre. Mr. Hay is a member of the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has taken numerous prizes for his draught horses. He is a member of the Order of Oddfellows. Mr. Hay married Miss McConkey, daughter of Mr John McConkey, a well known settler in the district, and has three sons and two daughters.

Mr. H M. Hay.

Lochhead, Robert, Farmer, Leeston. Mr. Lochhead was born at Burnshouse, Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1834. He came to Auckland, in 1858, by the ship “Mary Anne,” and was employed by Mr. Robert Robertson, of Otahuhu, and afterwards by Mr. John Carruth, of Papatoitoi. On the breaking out of the Maori war he left Auckland for Canterbury with the late Mr. John Lochhead. After looking about for some time for land, he bought 150 acres of his present property, which now consists of 740 acres of the finest land in the Ellesmere district. Mr. Lochhead had to face his full share of the hardships which confronted the pioneer settlers. He has been a member of the Ellesmere Road Board since its formation, and has been several times its chairman. Mr. Lochhead is a member of the North Rakaia River Board and was its chairman for a number of years, and is now, and has been for many years, a member of the Ellesmer Agricultural and Pastoral Association, in which he has aways taken a great interest. He unsuccessfully contested the Ellesmere electorate against Mr. John (now Sir John) Hall, and was one of the first in Canterbury to agitate for land nationalasation. Mr. Lochhead has worked constantly and intelligently in many ways to promote the prosperity of the Ellesmere district. He is unmarried.

McConkey, John, Farmer, “The Pines,” Lake Ellesmere, Leeston. Mr. McConkey was born at Clougher, County Down, Ireland, in 1840. He and his wife arrived in New Zealand in 1862 by the ship “Zealandia.” For a considerable period he was engaged in driving, in Christchurch, for Mr. Connor, who had then an extensive carrying business and plant. Mr. McConkey and Mr. W. B. Campbell purchased the business from Mr. Connor, and for years the firm carried on a most successful trade. Mr. McConkey ultimately bought his partner's interest, but sold the business in 1878. Previous to that date he had bought his present property, which consists of 300 acres of the fertile land around Lake Ellesmere. He devotes his attention chiefly to dairying, and to the fattening of cattle. Mr. McConkey, who is an excellent judge of horses, breeds both draught and light horses, and was awarded a first place at the Ellesmere Agricultural and Pastoral Association for a yearling trotter, out of “Rothschild.” His dairy herd is exceptionally fine, and consists of Shorthorns. Mr. McConkey was married, in 1861, to Miss Pedlaw of County Down, Ireland, and of a family of four, two daughters are alive, and married, respectively, to Mr. Hay and Mr. Quigley, farmers in the Ellesmere district.

Mr. J. McConkey's Residence.

O'Boyle, Patrick, Farmer, “Roseneath,” Leeston. Mr. O'Boyle was born in Glenariff, County Antrim, Ireland, and came to New Zealand by the ship “Huntress” in 1863. After a few days in Christchurch, he and his cousin, Mr. Francis O'Boyle, started up country. His first contract was for the erection of sheepyards for the late Mr. Marmaduke Dixon, the advocate of the Waimakariri water race scheme. Shortly afterwards he found his way to the Ellesmere district, where he carried out several contracts for the Ellesmere Road Board. Mr. O'Boyle bought page 703 his first section of land in 1864, from the Government; it was near Leeston, and adjoined the property of Messrs Lochhead Bros. His next purchase was a section of land on the Doyleston drain road, but after a few years he sold out, and bought Mr. H. P. Hill's farm, at Hill's road station, where he was for fifteen years engaged in dairying. During that time he imported the first De Laval cream separator used in Canterbury, the prosperity of which, as well as that of the rest of New Zealand, has been greatly helped by the introduction of those machines. At the time the Bealey estate was sold Mr. O'Boyle bought 163 acres, and afterwards bought the late Mr. John Milner's farm. This adjoined Mr. O'Boyle's other hand on the Bealey estate, and brought his area up to 500 acres. The land is of the finest quality and well supplied with water, as Hart's Creek runs through the centre of it. This stream is also well supplied with trout from Lake Ellesmere. Mr. O'Boyle sold his other farm at Hill's Road to Mr. L. Mathias. He carries on a system of mixed farming, and fattens a number of lambs for freezing and shipping to London. Mr. O'Boyle has always taken a great interest in church matters, and is a liberal supporters of the Leeston Catholic church, which is one of the finest buildings in the district. He married Miss O'Neill, and there is a family of three sons and two daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Mr. P. O'Boyle.