The township of Yaldhurst lies seven miles west of Christchurch, in the centre of an agricultural and pastoral district. Its nearest railway station is Hornby, three miles distant. The settlement was in its native state until 1860, when the late Archdeacon Wilson, having acquired the Broomfield estate, commenced to break it up. In the same year a number of settlers arrived, and the late Mr William Parish built the first house. The other settlers were Messrs Alexander Johnston, William Johnston, William Hibbert, G. F. Carpenter, John Thompson, H. F. Gray, James Sinclair, Thomas Parke, Henry Anderson, and George Hepworth. An accommodation house was started by Mr Buchanan in 1860, and some time later the first hotel was erected, and carried on by Mr John Taylor. The general average yield of wheat in the surrounding country is from twenty-five to thirty bushels, and of oats, from thirty-five to forty bushels. The township has an Anglican church, a public school, post office, and telephone bureau, a store, saddlery, blacksmith's shop, and hotel. Yaldhurst is the most central point of the Templeton road district, and is the Board's headquarters. Near Yaldhurst are the large training stables of Mr. G. G. Stead's stud farm, the birth-place and nursery of some of the best racing horses in New Zealand. Recreation grounds, comprising five acres, have recently been purchased, and the swimming baths, built by public subscription, are situated in the school grounds. Several championship matches page 714 have already been held there, and competitors from Australia have taken part. Every institution in Yaldhurst is entirely free from debt.

Mr. Frederick John Clarke, Road Surveyor, Yaldhurst, was born at Brigstock, Northamptonshire, England, in 1865. He was educated at his native place, and afterwards worked for a time as a blacksmith, under his uncle. In 1880 he left England in the ship “Wellington,” and arrived at Auckland on New Year's Day, 1881. A few weeks later he started with a Government survey party in the Waikato, and followed that calling through the northern districts of Auckland for a period of thirteen years. During that time he was chairman of the North Albertland Road Board, and carried on the duties of clerk gratuitously. He was also the first chairman of the Waikeke Road Board, for three years, and served on both the Tauhoa and North Albertland school committees. Owing to ill-health Mr. Clarke came to Christchurch in 1894, and followed various occupations until he became clerk of the Spreydon Road Board in 1897. Soon afterwards he accepted the position of clerk of the Templeton Road Board, and carried on the duties of both boards for nearly three years. As the work of the Templeton Board increased, it necessitated Mr. Clarke's sole attention, and he resigned the clerkship of the Spreydon Board, and has since carried on the work of the Templeton Road Board in a most efficient manner. Mr. Clarke is Secretary of the Templeton Domain Board, Secretary of the Yaldhurst Cemetery Board, and the Yaldhurst Swimming Club, and he has been a member and chairman of the Yaldhurst school committee. He is connected with the Olive Branch of Druids at Hornby. Mr. Clarke married a daughter of the late Mr. William Ward, of Auckland, who served in the Maori wars, and there is a family of two sons and four daughters.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. F. J. Clarke.

Yaldhurst Training Stables. The history of these stables dates back to the later sixties, when Mr. F. W. Delamain laid their foundation with a private stable and training track. Yaldhurst was the birthplace of “Templeton,” by “Traducer,” out of “Belle of the Isles,” bred in Canterbury, for which Mr. Delamain paid 500 guineas, which, in those days, was a big price to give for a mare. “Templeton” won the Canterbury Cup and many other important events, and he was undoubtedly one of the best horses of his day. He was afterwards sold for £650, but subsequently lost his life through injuries received from running into a cow, on the Yaldhurst track. The mare “Pungawerewere,” by “Antidote,” out of “Atlanta,” and “Miss Flat,” cut of “Mountain Nymph” (imported), were others of Mr. Delamain's best thoroughbreds, whose performances will be remembered by veteran sportsmen. In 1877 Mr. R. J. Mason, the present proprietor, commenced training for Mr. Delamain, and he continued in the same capacity for Mr. Gilligan, who purchased the property in the following year. Shortly afterwards Mr. Mason leased the stables, and in 1879 won the first Canterbury Jockey Club Welcome Stakes with “Hilarious.” He then, in partnership with the late Mr. R. H. Vallance, purchased the stables, and bred and trained such notable horses as “Pinfire,” “Lyra,” “Randwick,” “Bundoora,” “Bella,” “Turquoise,” “Salvage,” “Libeller,” “Vampire,” “Nonsense,” “Siesta,” “Billingsgate,” and many others. This successful partnership continued until it was dissolved in 1883, when Mr. Mason bought Mr. Vallance's interest. he next trained the horses owned by the late Hon. W. Robinson, one of the best of which was the New Zealand and the Dunedin Cup winner, “Vanguard,” the sire of the champion “Advance.” In 1885 Mr. Mason commenced training publicly, and also raced his own horses. One of the best of these was “Spade Guinea,” who won the New Zealand Cup, Dunedin Cup, Nelson Cup, and Auckland Easter and Autumn Handicaps, in the seasons of 1885–86–87. In the last-named year Mr. Mason sold his horses, and since that date he has trained entirely for Mr. G. G. Stead, one of the most prominent sportsmen in the Australasian colonies. Since they have been trained by Mr. Mason, Mr. Stead's horses have won £77,000. Starting with “Lochiel,” who won the New Zealand Cup, and “Maxim,” who secured the Canterbury Jockey Club Derby and the Canterbury Cup, a line of unbroken successes has been maintained by the horses trained by Mr. Mason. In 1887, over £8000 was won in stakes. Following “Maxim,” the other Canterbury Jockey Club Derby winners trained at Yaldhurst were: “Scots Grey” (1889), “Medallion” (1890), “Stepniak” (1892), “Multiform” (1897), “Altair” (1898), “Menschikoff” (1901), and “Orloff” (1902). Among some of Mr. Stead's other notable horses, trained by Mr. Mason within recent years, will be remembered: “Russley,” “Marion,” “Enid,” “Gipsy King,” “Sextant,” “Beresford,” “Mannlicher,” “Musketry,” “Mauser,” “Reynard,” “Bellicent,” “Lebel,” “Clanranald,” “Ich Dien,” “Rose Argent,” “Courtier,” “Strowan,” “Bloodshot,” “Gold Medallist,” “Motto,” “Cruciform,” “Conqueror,” “Tolstoi,” “Screw Gun,” “Ismene,” “Bombshell,” “Formosan,” “Royal Artillery,” “St. Michael,” “Siege Gun,” “King Log,” and “Machine Gun.” Visitors to Yaldhurst are impressed with the cleanliness and order that prevails, and with the manner in which the place is laid out. There are twenty-four loose boxes, floored with brick; the whole of the quadrangle is asphalted, and a large windmill supplies the water that is laid on everywhere. Adjoining the stables there are seven grazing paddocks, each with a double fence, and with rows of trees between each, and water-races flow through each paddock. Near at hand is Mr. Mason's residence, a two-storied house of fourteen rooms, surrounded by well-kept lawns and ornamental gardens. The walls of the large dining room are hung with oil paintings of horses, that have won laurels on the New Zealand turf. Yaldhurst consists of about forty acres, and is the freehold property of Mr. Mason. There is also a leasehold training ground, fitted up as a complete racecourse, with a small stand, starting machines and sheds. The circuit of the course is a mile and a furlong with grass and plough tracks, each furlong being legibly marked.

Mr. Richard John Mason was born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1853, and is a son of the late Mr. Sydney Mason, who arrived in that city in 1840. He inherited a strong love of horses, and as a youth gained some valuable experience under a veterinary surgeon. He commenced riding, when a lad, and won his first race at the Hutt, in 1866, wards he rode the horses of Mr. Hugh Stafford, of Nelson, for three years. In 1873 Mr. Mason rode “Papapa,” when he won the Canterbury Jockey Club Derby. He trained and rode “Lurline” in the first Dunedin Cup, and trained “Atlantic,” the winner of the first page 715 Dunedin Champagne Stakes. From that time up to 1877—when he removed to Yaldhurst—he was in the service of Mr. Henry Redwood, of Nelson, “the father of the New Zealand turf,” and rode such horses as “Magenta,” “Nebula,” “Peeress,” “Lurline,” and “Calumny.” He rode the winner of the first Canterbury Jockey Club Champagne Stakes, and also “Kapapo,” the winner of the first twice the New Zealand St. Leger. The horses he has trained during later years have five times won the Dunedin Cup, ten times the Canterbury Jockey Club Derby, nine times the Canterbury Jockey Club Champagne Stakes, and twice the New Zealand Cup. For many years past Mr. Mason has attended all the principal race meetings and horse sales held in the colony. His name will live in the annals of the New Zealand turf, as that of a man at the head of his profession.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. R. J. Mason.

Anderson, John D., Coldock Farm, Yaldhurst. Mr. Anderson is the second son of Mr. Henry Anderson, now of Prebbleton, who, in the eariy days of the settlement, purchased some Government land, and afterwards increased his holding to its present area, 222 acres. The homestead, surrounded by a well laid out garden and orchard, was made when there were few other buildings in the district. All the land, which is of first-class quality, has been brought under cultivation, and yields an average return of from forty to forty-five bushels of wheat, and up to seventy bushels of oats per acre. The farm has been worked on the most modern principles, to which the numerous substantial and well-equipped outbuildings bear ample testimony. Mr. John D. Anderson, who has farmed the property within recent years, was born at the homestead. He was educated in the Yaldhurst district, and afterwards trained to agriculture by his father. Mr. Anderson is a member of the Farmers' Union, and he has been for several years a member of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. J. D. Anderson.

Carpenter, George Frederick, Farmer, Yaldhurst. Mr. Carpenter was born in Essex, England, in 1841. He arrived at Lyttelton in January, 1860, by the ship “Roman Emperor,” and, with his brother, cropped the land at Christchurch, now known as Lancaster Park. He was also engaged on contract work, and helped to form several of the streets in Christchurch. In 1860 Mr. Carpenter took up fifty acres at Yaldhurst, where he settled in 1863, and afterwards bought Mr. Joseph Rosewarne's property, and other holdings. Mr. Carpenter was a member of the Templeton Road Board for thirty years, and was for part of that time its chairman; he has been a member of the Domain Board since its inception, and is now (1903) chairman. He is also chairman of the Cemetery Board, member of the Waimakariri River Board, and for fifteen years he served on the local school committee. Mr. Carpenter has been twice married; first, to a sister of Mr. Stephen Chapman, of Willowby, and afterwards to a daughter of the late Mr. John Griffiths, who arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Zealandia,” in 1870. There is a family of two sons and five daughters by the second wife.

Guy, William John, Farmer, Yaldhurst. Mr. Guy was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1857, and was brought by his parents to Lyttelton in 1862, in the ship “Queen of the Mersey.” After residing at St. Albans for three years, the father, the late Mr. Matthew Guy, took up land at Templetor., which he farmed up to the time of his death in 1886. Mr. W. J. Guy was trained on his father's farm, which he worked in conjunction with his brother Thomas for a number of years, and also engaged in contracting. About 1882 he took up his present property of 180 acres of good agricultural land, now worth £25 per acre. Since 1895 Mr. Guy has been a member of the Templeton Road Board, and for two years was chairman. He served for about eighteen years as member and chairman of the Yaldhurst school committee; he has been a member of the Templeton Domain Board for several years, and is also a member of the Riccarton Licensing Committee. Mr. Guy has been Secretary of the Templeton Foresters' Lodge, and is now a member of the Hornby Orange Lodge. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Alice Clark, and has a family of four sons and five daughters.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. J. Guy.

Jackson, Arthur John, Farmer, Yaldhurst. Mr. Jackson was born near Hull, Yorkshire, England, in 1861. He was brought up as a farmer at Home, and in 1883 came out to New Zealand, via Australia, in the Orient liner “Liguria.” For about fifteen months he resided at New Brighton, where he was employed by his brother. He then removed to Yaldhurst, and took up his present farm, which comprises eighty-eight acres of freehold land, and twenty acres of leasehold. The whole area has been cultivated, and gives an average return of about thirty bushels of wheat, and from forty to fifty bushels of oats to the acre. Mr. Jackson married a daughter of Mr. Charles Gilberthorpe, an old colonist of Hornby, and has a family of two sons and two daughters.

Percy, James Brown, Farmer, Yaldhurst. Mr. Percy has a property of 106 acres of good agricultural land, which was formerly owned by Mr. E. Bowes. It has all been under crop, and produces good average yields. Mr. Percy, who carries on mixed farming, gained his experience on Sir John Hall's estate, at Hororata, where he remained up till 1900, when he went to Ashburton, and gained further experience. In August, 1902, he took over his present farm. Mr. Percy was born in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1866, and, at the age of ten years, arrived with his parents in New Zealand. He is married to a daughter of Mr. R. Roper, of Halkett.

Mr. John Franks, of Yaldhurst, is a native of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, where he was born in 1837, and where he was educated, and brought up to farming. In 1863 Mr. Franks came to New Zealand, by the ship “David G. Fleming,” and landed at Lyttelton. He followed farming near the Sunnyside Asylum, and also at Shand's Track for a short time, when he removed to West Melton, where he took up land, and carried on farming and contracting and also a large steam threshing plant for ten years. On returning to Christchurch, he resided there for three years. In 1878 Mr. Franks went to Yaldhurst, and took over the Talbot Hotel, which was established by Mr. John Taylor about 1866. He has ever since successfully carried on this business. Mr. Franks has served on the Templeton Road Board, and for several years on the local school committees at West Melton and Yaldhurst. At the former place he gave an acre of ground, on which the school was built. As a Freemason Mr Franks was initiated in Lodge Robert Burns, No. 604 S.C., of which he is still a member. Mr. Franks was married before leaving England, to Miss Mary E. Thurlow, of the East Riding, of Yorkshire, and they have a surviving family of five sons and three daughters. The eldest son served in the war in South Africa, as veterinary-lieutenant of the 9th New Zealand Contingent.