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.

The Bluff Hotel (J. H. Potton, proprietor), Coalgate. This hotel was built about 1876 by Mr. Mark Scott, now of Rangiora. Mr. Scott conducted it for several years, and since his departure from the district it has passed through several hands. It was taken over by its present proprietor, in 1896, and its popularity so speedily increased that an addition of several rooms had soon to be made. The hotel stands on an acre and three-quarters of land. It is built of wood, is two stories in height, and has, architecturally, a pleasing appearance. There are twenty rooms in all, including three private sitting rooms, where absolute quietude can be enjoyed, and there is a large commercial room. The out-buildings provide excellent accommodation for horses and vehicles. As it is within a few chains of the Coalgate railway station, and close to the junction of the Hororata and Glentunnel roads, the Bluff Hotel is admirably page 749 located for the convenience of the travelling public, from whom it receives a large amount of patronage. It is also a favourite resort with angling and shooting parties; the former attracted by the trout in the Upper Selwyn, which flows close by, and the latter by the hares and rabbits, which infest the neighbourhood. In the management of the hotel Mr. Potton is ably assisted by his wife, and everything is done to ensure the comfort and promote the convenience of guests and visitors. The table would do credit to a city house.

Bluff Hotel.

Mr. James Henry Potton, Proprietor of the Bluff Hotel, is a native of England. He landed in New Zealand in the fifties, and was apprenticed to the coach-painting trade in Christchurch, where he worked for many years. In 1896 he took over the Bluff Hotel, which he has since conducted with success.

Mr. J. H. Potton.

Body, Benjamin, General Blacksmith, Implement Maker and Engineer, Coalgate. Mr. Body purchased his present business in 1887, and does a flourishing trade with the farmers in the district and with the run-holders to a distance of fifty miles. He was born in Devonshire, in 1858, and learned his trade in his native county. Mr. Body emigrated in the first instance to Victoria, where he passed ten years, and then crossed the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. He is a member of the Coalgate school committee, of the local sports committee, and of the Oddfellows and Druids. Mr. Body is married and has four sons and four daughters.

Beatty, Ambrose, Farmer, Coalgate. Mr. Beatty was born in Longford, Ireland, in 1856. He arrived at Lyttelton at the age of five years, and was educated under Mr. Broughton, at St. Albans. After leaving school he assisted his father at Courtenay until 1879, when, his father having died, he removed to Coalgate. His property there embraces 542 acres of good agricultural and pastoral land. It yields excellent crops, and produces some of the finest sheep in the district. Mr. Beatty is a member of the Courtenay Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. and Mrs Ambrose Beatty.

Beatty, Alexander, Farmer, Longford Farm, Coalgate. Mr. Beatty was born at Newton, County Longford, Ireland, in 1848 and came to the Colony in 1861, in the ship “Royal Stuart.” He entered the survey department, and subsequently worked on the Malvern and Ashburton railway lines, where he carried out some contract work. Afterwards he began farming in partnership with his two brothers. In 1885 he settled on his present farm of 500 acres. Mr. Beatty carries on mixed farming, grows excellent grain, turnips, and rape, and he fattens a large number of sheep for the export trade. His property is well divided with substantial fences. Mr. Beatty is a member of the local school committee and of the domain board. He was married, in 1889, to Miss Jessie Duke, of Christchurch, and has four sons and four daughters.

Mr. A. Beatty.

“Kirkless,” Coalgate. This farm is a compact piece of undulating country 345 acres in extent, and is situated on the northern side of the Coalgate valley. It was acquired by Mr Langdale in 1880, having formerly been held by Mr. Robison, a bank manager. The homestead on this farm is particularly attractive, and the grounds surrounding it are well laid out. “Kirkless” is fenced, subdivided, and highly improved, and mixed farming is carried on. In 1900 Mr. Langdale disposed of property formerly held by him at Darfield and at Glenroy, and in July of the same year he bought a block of 325 acres, adjoining “Kirkless.” This property is farmed by his sons, and is known as “Glendale.” It consists partly of undulating country and partly of level land, possesses fifteen miles of fencing, and is in good working order. Its improvements include a large dwelling house, which was built and occupied by a former proprietor. “Glendale” is devoted to sheep grazing and grain growing.

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.