Rangitata Island is formed by the forks of the Rangitata river. The land is good and is all occupied by farmers. There is postal communication three times a week with Timaru, thirty-one miles distant. The nearest telegraph office is at Rangitata, on the main line of railway, five miles away. There is a public school in the district, with an attendance of fourteen or fifteen children.

Hearn, Henry, Farmer, Pine Villa Farm, Rangitata Island. Mr. Hearn was born at Wendover, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, in 1852, and was brought up to farming pursuits, but worked for two years in a cement mill in Warwickshire. He came to Lyttelton by the ship “Crusader” in 1874, and worked for Mr. H. Engelbrecht, Mr. Thomas Ellis, at Ashley Gorge, and for the late Mr. J. G. Ruddenklau, and started a station at Ealing for the latter gentleman, afterwards managing his Rangitata Island property. In 1893 Mr. Hearn leased a farm of 2000 acres which he is occupying. He is a member of the local school committee, and also has charge of the post office. Mr. Hearn married Miss Mary Ann Clay, of Berkshirea shipmate of his—and has eight children.

Mr. H. Hearn.

Snell, William, Farmer, Rangitata Island. Mr. Snell was brought up to farming in Devonshire, England, where he was born in 1846. He went to sea in early life, and came to Victoria by the ship “Victoria,” in 1865. The vessel left in May following for New Zealand, and was wrecked at the Bluff. Mr. Snell went on to Dunedin, then to Lyttelton by the ship “Auckland,” and settled in North Canterbury for fifteen years. Removing to Rangitata in 1880, he leased about 750 acres of land. He was a member of the Temuka Road Board for many years, and was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the local school, of the committee of which he was a member. Mr. Snell has three sons and six daughters.

Mr. W. Snell.

Mr. Henry Grainger, sometime of “Willowbank,” Rangitata Island, was born in Yorkshire, in 1835, and came to the Colony in 1864 by the ship “Tipton.” He obtained ready work at farming, and was afterwards employed by Mr. Hoskins, a surveyor. Mr. Grainger first took up land at West Melton, and after selling this property went to Tai Tapu, and, subsequently, to Rangitata Island, where he had about 550 acres. Deeply interested in educational matters, he was one of the originators of the local school, and for many years acted as chairman of the committee. Mr. Grainger was a member of the Wesleyan Church, and superintendent of the Sunday school. He was married at York, had six children, and died on the 28th of October, 1899.

Mr. H. Grainger.