Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Wakanui

Wakanui.

Wakanui, in the county of Ashburton, is a fertile farming settlement. Its distance from Christchurch is fifty-nine miles. The sea is only three miles away, and the district is about six miles to the east of Ashburton, the county town. There is a local post office, and a daily mail service with Christchurch. The nearest telegraph office is at Ashburton.

Wakanui Crown Roller Flour Mills (Mr. Thomas Rollitt, proprietor), Wakanui. These large mills were erected in the early days of Canterbury by a Mr. Moffatt, and were subsequently owned for several years by Mr. Edward Thomas, who converted them into roller mills of the latest type, and afterwards sold them to Mr. Rollitt. They are situated in the centre of the Wakanui district, one of the most renowned wheat growing districts in New Zealand, and the supply of grain is almost at the very door. The mills supply the local demand, which is sufficient to keep them running constantly the whole years round; their capacity is from three to four sacks per hour. The building is four stories in height; the machinery is driven by an overshot wheel, 18 feet in diameter, and the water supply comes from the Ashburton river. A farm of 100 acres, attached to the mill, is also the property of Mr. Rollitt, and on a recent occasion it yielded an average of seventy-three bushels per acre of Tuscan wheat. Mr. Rollitt's residence is picturesquely situated near the mill, and is surrounded by a prettily laid out garden.

Wakanui Roller Flour Mills.

Wakanui Roller Flour Mills.

Mr. Thomas Rollitt, Proprietor, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1861, and is a son of Mr. William Rollitt, milling engineer. He was brought up to the milling business in the Old Country, where he received a thorough practical training. Mr. Rollitt came to New Zealand in 1883, by the first direct steamer that traded to the Colony, and has ever since been identified with milling. He is a member of the Ashburton Thistle Lodge of Freemasons. Mr. Rollitt was married, in 1892, to the third daughter of the late Mr. page 811 James, of Belmont, Richmond, Tasmania, and has two sons.

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.