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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Greendale

Greendale.

Greendale is a rich agricultural and pastoral district in the county of Selwyn. It is situated to the west of, and adjoins Dunsandel, at a distance of about thirty-three miles by rail and road from Christchurch. There is neither railway nor coach communication through the district, but a short drive of eight or nine miles along excellent roads will carry one to either the southern or western railway line, the Norwood station on the southern line being the one most frequently used by the residents. Greendale is abundantly watered by the Hawkins, Waireka, Upper Selwyn, and Hororata, which unite, before leaving the district, to from the Selwyn river. Like many other districts in Canterbury, Greendale abounds in evidences of Maori habitation. Many valuable relics have been discovered in the district, and Mr. T. W. Adams, one of the earliest settlers, is in possession of some interesting specimens. Messrs Hill and Broom were the earliest runholders at Greendale, and held property in the district as early as the fifties. The permanent settlement, however, did not take place till about 1865, and the pioneers were Messrs T. W. Adams, H. McCrostie, Charles Adams, senior, Mangin and Rudd; the three first-named are still (1903) residents of the district. The population is about 370, and the chief occupations of the settlers are sheep grazing and grain growing. Wheat and oats thrive well in the district. The village of Greendale has a public school, a hall, two or three churches—used by the Baptist, Primitive Methodist, and Presbyterian bodies —a general store and a blacksmith's shop, together with a number of farm dwellings. There is a post and telegraph office at the local store, and the district has a daily mail service with Christchurch, via Darfield.

Farmers.

Gough, James, Farmer, Greendale and Kirwee. Mr. Gough was born at Montford, Shropshire, England, in 1830. When eleven
Mr. J. Gough.

Mr. J. Gough.

page 747 years old he left school to commence a life of self-reliance and an all-round knowledge of farm duties, in the rearing and management of stock, grain growing, gardening, and fruit culture. After about eighteen years of active service on different farms, he left England, in 1859, for Auckland, New Zealand. Owing to the Maori war breaking out a few months after his arrival, wages were very low, amounting to only 3s 6d per day or fifteen shillings per week, with board and lodging. Accordingly Mr. Gough left for the new Gabriel's Gully gold diggings in August, 1861. After working with varied success in both mining and surface sluicing, for about twelve months, he came to Canterbury, and bought a small place at Riccarton, on which to keep horses and a contractor's plant. He spent about four years in forming and metalling several of the leading roads near Christchurch, and in other contract work, on the river crossings up-country. In 1866 Mr. Gough commenced farming on the first land bought on the Plains, in the neighbourhood now konwn as Greendale. In 1868, and also in 1876, Mr. Gough made a tour through Australia, California, and the eastern states of America, England, and some of the European countries, where he gained valuable information. Mr. Gough now has about 5000 acres of land, which he bought while it was under its original native tussock, but it is now all fenced and improved, and his homestead is replete with every convenience. He was one of the first to take shares in the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, and had 200 sheep in its first shipment to England. Mr. Gough has ever since been a continuous supporter of the company. He has for over thirty years been a very successful exhibitor of stock, and has done a fair share of the work of local governing bodies, such as county councils, road boards and school committees, and has never, when nominated, failed to secure an election. His connection with various commercial companies has been also of this nature.

McCrostie, Charles Leslie, Farmer, Greendale. Mr. McCrostic is the youngest son of Mr. Hugh McCrostie. He was born at Greendale in 1873, educated at the local public school, and brought up to farming on his father's estate. Later on, in conjunction with an older brother, he took over the property on lease and his father no longer takes an active part in the working of the estate. Mr. McCrostie is a member of the Greendale branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and is also a member of the local cricket club. He was married, in 1900, to Miss Agnes Mathews, of Springston, a daughter of an early settler in that district, and has one son and one daughter.

Nesslea” (James Gough, proprietor), Greendale. This estate was taken up by its present owner in the early days of the settlesen of Greendale, and is now one of the best equipped and most productive farms in the district. It comprises 1125 acres, is bounded by public roads and the rivers Hawkins and Waireka, and divided into about twenty-two paddocks. The residence of the manager is situated within a short distance of one of the public roads which intersect the property, and is surrounded by a full grown and prolific orchard of about 350 trees; the whole homestead is protected from the prevailing winds by tall shelter trees which extend round two sides of the orchard. Near at hand are the outbuildings, which are numerous and particularly well appointed. The machinery includes an eight horse-power portable boiler. Just close to the homestead there are a number of small paddocks occupied by stud sheep —English Leicesters and Southdowns—which are kept for the purpose of sustaining a high quality amongst the stock. “Nesslea” carries about 1200 half-bred and cross-bred ewes, and, in addition to these, a large number of store sheep are annually fattened upon the property. About 300 acres are devoted annually to wheat and oats, and a large area to the production of rape and Italian ryegrass.

Mr. Thomas Elworthy Jarman, in charge of “Nesslea,” was born at Exeter, Devonshire, England, in 1856, and is a son of the late Mr. John Jarman, a farmer, of Tiverton, Devonshire. After leaving school he assisted his father on the farm till sailing for New Zealand in 1877. Two years after his arrival, Mr. Jarman commenced to work as a farm hand on “Nesslea.” In 1884 he married Miss Gough, a daughter of the proprietor, and has a family of five sons and three daughters.

Rudd, Charles, Farmer, Greendale. Mr. Rudd, who is a Justice of the Peace, is the second son of the late Mr. George Rudd. He was born in Buckinghamshire, England, in 1849, and educated at Broomfleet, Yorkshire, whither his parents had removed in the early fifties. In 1866, he accompanied his parents to New Zealand. For about twelve months after landing. Mr. Rudd obtained employment as a ploughman, and, in 1867, he joined his father at Greendale, where the family were amongst the earliest arrivals. While his father lived Mr. Rudd was engaged upon “Ruddstone Croft,” which he managed latterly in conjunction with his brothers. In 1879, however, at the death of its founder, the estate was divided, Mr. Charles Rudd taking as his share about 300 acres, including the homestead. Upon this he keeps sheep and grows crops. Mr. Rudd has been for fourteen years a member of the Courtenay Road Board. He is a member of the Canterbury and Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, and occupies a seat on the local school committee, of which he was for three terms chairman. Mr. Rudd is a member of the Primitive Methodist church, at Greendale, and a local preacher. He is a Prohibitionist, and takes an active part in promoting the movement. In 1878 Mr. Rudd visited England, where, in May, of the same year, he married Miss Blanche Fisher, of South Cave, East Yorkshire; and there is a family of three sons and five daughters.

Standish and Preece, photo.Mr. C. Rudd.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. C. Rudd.

Rudd, James F., “Wallaby,” Greendale Mr. Rudd was born in Yorkshire, England in 1856, and in 1866 he accompanied his parents to New Zealand in the ship “Victory.” He passed his early years on his father's farm, and commenced farming on his own account in 1878. In conjunction with his brother, Mr. John Rudd, he farms 500 acres at Greendale and 2343 acres in the Upper Ashley Valley. The Greendale farms are devoted chiefly to grain and root crops, but the Ashley Valley land carries sheep and cattle, and a large number of fat lambs raised from halfbred ewes and English Leicester rams are yearly available for the export trade. Mr. Rudd has served on the school committee, and has always taken an active part in the advancement of church matters He was married, in 1879, to Miss Earl, daughter of Mr. Samuel Earl, who came to New Zealand in the ship “Clontarf,” in 1860, and has four sons and five daughters.

Mr. J. F. Rudd.

Mr. J. F. Rudd.

Rudd, John, Farmer, Greendale. Mr. Rudd was born in 1875, at Boroughgreen, near New Market, in Cambridgeshire, and is the eldest son of Mr. Richard Rudd, a farmer, of page 748 Boroughgreen. He was educated at a public school in his native village, and afterwards trained to farming. In 1883 Mr. Rudd sailed for New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton in the same year. For about three years after his arrival he was engaged at various work, but in 1886 he rented a piece of land and commenced farming. Shortly afterwards he acquired his present farm of 150 acres of freehold and 430 acres leasehold at Greendale, and he keeps sheep and grows grain. Mr Rudd is chairman of the Greendale Domain Board, and a member of the Greendale branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. He takes a deep interest in church work, and is an office-bearer in the local Primitive Methodist church. In 1889 he married his cousin, Miss Jane Rudd, a daughter of the late Mr. George Rudd, of Greendale, and has one daughter.

Old Colonists.

Mr. Hugh McCrostie, Greendale, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1834. He was educated at a private school, and afterwards turned his attention to farming. In 1863 he sailed for New Zealand, and, shortly after landing at Lyttelton, made his way to Greendale, of which he was one of the earliest settlers. He took up land in its wild unimproved state, and now owns upwards of 1000 acres, on which sheep are kept and grain is grown. Mr. McCrostie is married, and has three sons.

Mr. George Rudd, sometime of “Ruddstone Croft,” Greendale, was one of the earliest settlers in the district. He was born in East Yorkshire, England, in 1816, and educated at the village of Elloughton. On leaving school he commenced farming, and followed that occupation till he left for New Zealand in 1866, by the ship “Victory.” After landing at Lyttelton he went to Yaldhurst, where he obtained employment as shepherd for Archdeacon Wilson. This position he occupied for about twelve months, and, in 1867, he took up land at Greendale, where he farmed till his death in 1897. Mr. Rudd added to the area of his property from time to time, and, at his death, he had 1000 acres in Greendale, and an extensive section at the Ashley Valley. In 1897 “Ruddstone Croft” was divided amongst the three sons of its founder, and is now conducted as three separate farms. Mr. Rudd was a man of high principle and strong personality. He was one of the founders of the Primitive Methodist church at Greendale, a consistent worker on behalf of Prohibition, and a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Mr. Rudd was married at Kirkella, near Elloughton, England, to Miss Dodsworth, in the same church in which, forty years previously, his father had been married. He left a grown-up family of three sons and one daughter.

The late Mr. G. Rudd.

The late Mr. G. Rudd.