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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Coalgate

Coalgate is a farming district, about eight miles west of Darfield, on the branch railway line to Whitecliffs. It occupies the entrance to the valley which affords the only means of communication with the coalfields a few miles further west, and was consequently regarded as a gate to the coal; hence Coalgate. Relies of Maori habitation have been discovered in the neighbouring hills, but dates concerning the occupation of the district by the native race are not available. Homebush station was the first local property acquired by a European, but its owner—the late Mr. John Deans—did not reside in the district, and the real pioneers of Coalgate were Messrs James McIlwraith, Manson, and K. Wilson. Sheep grazing is the principal industry, and public sales are held monthly in the village. Grain also is grown with considerable success, especially along the bands of the Upper Selwyn, which flows through the heart of the district. Coalgate possesses a railway station, a hotel, a blacksmith's shop; and a general store and a police station, and exchanges mails twice a day with Christchurch. The post and telegraph office, and other branches of the public service, are at the railway station.