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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers

Farmers.

Bonifant, John, Farmer, Avoca Farm, Wakanui. Mr. Bonifant has been identified with the Colony since 1861, when he came out in the ship “Matoaka.” He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1838, and was brought up to farming under his father, Mr. James Bonifant. On arriving in New Zealand he first went to Culverden and Balmoral, then to South Canterbury, and he subsequently had six years' experience in the North Island. On returning to Canterbury, he took up his present farm, which comprises 400 acres, and has resided there for the past twenty-one years. Mr. Bonifant also owns another farm of 555 acres in the same district. Both properties have been entirely under cultivation, and the crops average forty-seven bushels and a half of wheat per acre; oats and barley, fifty bushels. Mr. Bonifant devotes much attention to breeding sheep, and has 300 purebred Leicester ewes on his property. He is an active member of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has for several years acted as judge of Leicester sheep at shows in Canterbury and North Otago. In 1882 he married Miss Mary McGrath, of Dublin, and has two sons and one daughter.

Rose, William, Farmer, Wakanui. Mr. Rose was born in Prussia, and was brought up on his father's farm at Menton, where he was also educated. He arrived in New Zealand in December, 1856 by the ship “Egmont,” by which the late Bishop Harper and his family also came to the colony. After working for Mr. Cridland, of Hoon Hay, for eight years, Mr Rose removed to Wakanui, and settled on a farm of fifty acres, to which he subsequently added 118 acres. Here he has resided during the past forty years, growing cereals and rearing cattle and sheep. The land is particularly good for growing oats, wheat and barley. Mr. Rose was married, at Christchurch, to Miss Griffiths, who came to Lyttelton with her parents by the ship “Travencore” in March 1851. Her father, who was a blacksmith, was in business on the Lincoln Road, and afterwards at Sunnyside, where he was well known. He died at Kaiapoi. Mr. Rose has three sons.

Mitchell, photo.Mr. and Mrs W. Rose.

Mitchell, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. Rose.

Wilson, David, Farmer, Wakanui. Mr. Wilson was born in County Down, Ireland, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Victory” in May, 1859. After working at the formation of the Ferry and Opawa roads, he bought a small farm at Yaldhurst, and occupied it for three years. He then held about 200 acres of agricultural land at Irwell and Brookside, where he was engaged in dairying and growing cats and wheat. In 1872 Mr. Wilson went to the Wakanui district where he secured a block of 500 acres, and subsequently acquired several hundreds more, upon which he raises sheep and cattle and carries on general farming. He also owns land between Wakanui and the beach, and at Seafield. Mr. Wilson was for some years a member of the Wakanui school committee and road board. He was married in Ireland.

Mr. and Mrs D. Wilson.

Mr. and Mrs D. Wilson.