Mount Somers, noted for its quarries of building stone, is in the county of Ashburton, and lies at the foot of the Southern Alps, twenty-six miles inland from the town of Ashburton, with which it is connected by railway, on the Ashburton-Springburn branch line. The Mount Somers road district had a population of 928 persons, at the census taken on the 31st of March, 1901. There are coal mines a few miles from the township, and the stone quarries are kept constantly busy, as the stone is esteemed in all parts of the colony for building purposes. There is a post, telegraph, money order office, and a Post Office Savings Bank at the local railway station, and there is a daily mail service with Christchurch, distant seventy-eight miles. Mount Somers is a pastoral district, and stands at a height of 1184 feet above the level of the sea.

Mount Somers School was built in 1879, on the corner of a three-acre section of land, and consists of one room, which can accommodate fifty children. There are thirty-eight names on the roll, with an average attendance of thirty-two, and all the standards are taught. The school is in charge of Mr. Kerr.

Mr. M. J. Kerr, Headmaster, was born in 1871, at Belfast, Ireland. He was educated in his native place, and at Ashburton and Hampstead, Canterbury. In 1894, he was appointed to the charge of the Wakanui side school, and received his present position at Mount Somers in 1897. Mr. Kerr was married, in 1898, to Miss Stewart, daughter of Mr. Peter Stewart, of Seaview.

Mr. and Mrs M. J. Kerr.

Mount Somers Coal Company's Mine. This mine, which is situated at Mount Somers, was first taken up by Mr. James Gibson, who leased it from Mr. McClemont, who had the freehold. After the ground had been thoroughly prospected, the company was formed, with Mr. Gibson as business manager. Work was started in 1900, and the tramway took nine months to complete. In 1901 a start was made on the coal, and the returns have proved most satisfactory. In the seam of brown coal, drives have been put in 350 feet, and the seam is seventy-five feet thick. The mine is situated nine miles from Mount Somers, and the coal is conveyed by means of the company's and the County Council's tramways a distance of ten miles, and thence by rail to Ashburton, another twenty-six miles. The coal has come into general use in Ashburton and the surrounding districts. The mine being in its infancy, the output is still limited, but there is a large quantity of coal to be worked, and drives are being put into a lower seam, where coal of a superior quality is known to exist.

Mount Somers Coal Mine. This mine was discovered by the pioneer settlers early in the fifties, but the credit of opening it up belongs to the late Mr. C. G. Tripp, who began operations in 1863. The working of the mine was, however, confined to the supply of local requirements till the railway was opened to Mount Somers. A tramway of eight miles was laid down in 1880 by the Ashburton County Council, and this gives access to the neighbouring lime and stone quarries as well as to the coal.

See page 843.
Mr. D. McMillan.

Mr. G. T. Park, Proprietor of the Mount Somers Coal Mine, is a son of Mr. Gavin McIntyre Park, one of the pioneer settlers of Otago, who came out, in 1848, in the ship “Philip Laing.” He was born in Dunedin in 1863, and when a child removed with his parents to Westland. After leaving school, he was engaged in office and in railway work for some years, and subsequently spent some time in exploring the ranges for gold-bearing reefs. In this connection he met with some success on the banks of the river Waiau. Mr. Park has an enviable reputation as a canoeist. On one occasion he took his canoe from the Teremakau river, crossed the saddle, and launched himself on the head waters of the Hurunui; came through Lakes Taylor and Sumner; said good-bye to his brother and friends at the Hurunui township, passed the lower gorge, and arrived at Lyttelton the same evening. At another time he launched his canoe at Eketahuna on a tributary of the Manawatu river, passed Mangatainoka, joined the main stream near Woodville, came through the gorge, and arrived in good time at Palmerston, where he was cordially welcomed by his friends. Mr. Park still takes a keen interest in various kinds of sport, while duly page 843 attending to the work of his coal mine, which turns out over 3000 tons per annum. He was married, in 1893, to Miss Burroughs, a daughter of one of the pioneer settlers of Westland, and has two sons and one daughter.

Mr. G. T. Park.

Mount Somers Saddlery (David McMillan, proprietor), Mount Somers. This business was established in 1879 by Mr. Lavery and purchased by the present proprietor in 1879. Since then Mr. McMillan has considerably improved the business in many ways, and enlarged the circle of its customers, who include the surrounding settlers, runholders and contractors. He always has a large stock of harness and ironmongery on hand, and is able to supply any order on the shortest notice.

Mr. David McMillan, the Proprietor, was born in 1875, in Christchurch, where he learned his trade, and worked at it for eight years. He was for seven years a member of the Canterbury Engineer Volunteer corps.

Paton, Robert, Blacksmith, Mount Somers. Mr. Paton was born in County Down, Ireland, and was educated at Lord Dufferin's private school up to the time he was apprenticed to his trade. He subsequently shod horses for Lord Dufferin, James Jameson, John Glasgow, Kennedy Brothers, and many other noted stud owners. In 1872 he came out to New Zealand in the ship “Isles of the South.” He was for the first two years with Messrs P. and D. Duncan, and subsequently served with Messrs Scott Brothers. Mr. Paton was the first blacksmith to open at Mount Somers, and he built the trucks used on the tram to take the coals from the mines, the lime from the kilns, and the stone from the quarries to the railway station. Shoeing forms the chief branch of Mr. Paton's business, and horses are sent to his smithy from a distance of twenty-five miles. He also does a good business in repairing farm implements. Mr. Paton takes an active part in anything that tends to advance the district. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Savage, and he has five sons and four daughters. Two of the sons are in South Africa.

Mr. W. T. Webster's Wool Scouring Works.

Mr. R. Paton's Smithy

Mr. A. Clark.

Hakatere Wool Scouring Works, Mount Somers. Mr. W. T. Webster, the proprietor of these works, purchased them in 1890. The building is erected on the most modern principle, and fitted up with the latest improved and best machinery, including a Williams' patent box. There is provision for rolling the bales easily on to the sorting table, at which there is room for three classers. From the table the wool passes to the warm water tanks, and the soap used is specially made in Christchurch for the purpose. From the tanks the wool passes into the Williams' patent box, with an unlimited supply of soft water. Over 1000 bales are scoured at the works between December and March, and as many as fourteen hands are employed during that time.

Mr. W. T. Webster was born in Liverpool in 1856, and came to New Zealand in the s.s. “British Queen.” On his arrival he joined his brothers, who were in the trade, and remained with them until he bought the Hakatere works at Mount Somers. Mr. Webster had a long experience in the trade in page 844 Lancashire, his native county. He was married, in 1897, to Miss Dunbar, and has one daughter.

Mount Somers Wool Scouring Works (G. Pickles, proprietor, and A. Clark, manager), Mount Somers. These works were established in 1893 on the north bank of the south branch of the Ashburton river, and fitted up with the latest and most improved machinery. The soap used is specially manufactured for the works. There is an unlimited supply of water, and from December till March over 550 bales of wool are scoured at the works.

Mr. Alfred Clark, Manager, was born in 1862, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, where his father carried on the wool stapling business for over forty years. Mr. Clark early gained experience at his father's works, and for the last twenty-three years he has been wool classing and scouring in New Zealand and the Australian colonies.

Doak, W. T., General Storekeeper, Mount Somers; branch at mayfield. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Telegraphic address, “Doak, Mount Somers.” Mr. Doak does business with the settlers, farmers, and runholders of the Ashburton Gorge, and with the local limeburners, coalminers, quarrymen and contractors. The store was established in 1890, and has been gradually extended and the building enlarged. Mr. Doak is a native of Ireland. He came to New Zealand in the ship “Dover Castle,” in 1875, and landed at Auckland, where he resided for eight years. In 1882 he came to Canterbury, and was for eight years at Methven and Sefton. He is a member of the Mount Somers school committee. Mr. Doak was married, in 1888, to Miss Carr, and has four sons and two daughters.

Mr. W. T. Doak.

Todd, Robert, Waggoner, Mount Somers. Mr. Todd was born in 1853 in County Antrim, Ireland. On leaving school he crossed the sea to Glasgow, and was engaged in the carrying trade for a few years. He came to New Zealand in 1866, in the ship “Matoaka,” and was farming for five years at Papanui. After disposing of his interest at Papanui, he bought a farm at Mount Somers, and entered into the carrying business by carting stores and fencing material into the back country, and bringing out wool. As a matter of necessity he has had to ford the Rangitata, Ashburton, Wilberforce and Rakaia rivers for twenty years, but he has never had a single accident. Mr. Todd also went in for contract cropping, and has had as much as 500 acres in grain in one year. He takes a keen interest in educational matters, and was a member of the Mount Somers school committee for many years. Mr. Todd was married, in 1877, to Miss Armstrong, and has three sons and three daughters.