Mr. James Langdale, Proprietor of “Kirkless” and “Glendale,” was born in the town of Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, and was educated at public schools in his native place. He afterwards spent some years farming in the neighbourhood with his father, and in 1863 sailed for New Zealand. On landing at Lyttelton he obtained employment as driver of a team of horses for Messrs Reese and Barrett Brothers, carriers, and kept that position page 750 for two years. He then went to the West Coast to try his luck on the goldfields, but was compelled, through ill-health, to make an early return. For the four years following he was engaged in the management of a farm at Leeston, owned by the late John Smithson, and at the end of that time he left for the Chatham Islands, where, for ten years, he managed a large run for Captain Ritchie. In 1882 he returned to Canterbury to work “Kirkless” farm, which he had previously bought. Mr. Langdale is a member of the Farmers' Union, of the South Malvern Road Board, of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of the South Malvern Cemetery Board, and of the Coalgate Domain Board, and is also a director of the Coalgate Saleyards Company. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Mary Ann Hunt, of Chatham Islands, and has eight children living, four sons and four daughters.