The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Otiake
Otiake.
Otiake lies between the Kurow and Otiake creeks, on the south bank of the Waitaki river, and extends Lack to the hills. It is a sheepfanning and agricultural district, and has many fine alluvial flats, with fertile valleys among the hills. Otiake has a public school, where divine services are held on Sundays, a library in the school grounds, and a post office and telephone bureau. There are two flag stations on the railway line—Hille's and Strachan's; the first, one mile, and the second, four miles from Kurow. Otiake is in the Otekaike riding of the Waitaki county, and in the Mount Ida electoral district. At the census of 1901 the village and neighbourhood had a population of 146.
The Otiake Public School dates from the 5th of June, 1882. It has accommodation for sixty-two children, there are twenty-eight names on the roll, and the average attendance is about twenty-three Miss Dinah Wilson is the teacher in charge.
Cunningham, James , Farmer, Otiake. Mr. Cunningham was born in 1861, at Tuapeka, Otago, and went to school at Hamiltons, where his father was a storekeeper, and at Mosgiel and Dunedin. He was brought up to country life, and about 1881 started farming at Otiake, on rough tussock land, which he has now fenced and cultivated. The property consists of 320 acres of freehold, which is devoted to grain growing, and the raising of sheep, cattle, and horses. Mr. Cunningham drove one of the first waggon teams through the hilly part of the settlement. He has been a member of the North Otago Mounted Rifles since 1893, and holds office as senior sergeant. For a number of years he served on the Otiake school committee, and also on the library committee. Since 1901 he has resided in Oamaru, where he owns livery and bait stables. Mr. Cunningham was married in Melbourne, in 1890, to a daughter of Mr. John Orr, of Oamaru, and has three sons and two daughters.
Grant, Charles , Millowner. Otiake. Mr. Grant was born on the 26th of January, 1872, in Dunedin, where he was educuated. He learned engineering, drove a threshing mill for a good many years, and about 1901 invested in a complete milling plant, consisting of a traction engine, threshing mill and chaff-cutting machinery. Mr. Grant finds plenty of work for this fine plant in the North Otago district.
Hill, Robert , Farmer. “Fairfield,” Otiake. Mr. Hill was born near the university city of Oxford, England, in May, 1852, and found employment on various farms before emigrating to the colony. He arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Carnatic,” in 1873, and settled at Otepopo, where he farmed on his own account for several years. In 1886 Mr. Hill bought 126 acres at Otiake, near the hills, and lived there for about ten years. He then took up Fairfield,” which is on the main road and consists of 233 acres of freehold, and he has since worked both properties. Mr. Hill runs sheep and grows grain. He was married, in 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr. John O'Shea, of County Kerry, Ireland, and has a surviving family of five sons and four daughters.
Hille, Frederick William , Farmer, “Denby Dale,” Otiake. Mr. Hille is the eldest son of the late Mr. Christian Hille, well known for many years in the Kurow district, and was born at Otiake in 1861, and educated at Oamaru. He was brought up to country life in the Kurow district, and has since 1890 been engaged in mixed farming on his own account at “Denby Dale.” The property consists of 300 acres of freehold, and Mr. Hille also owns 1000 acres on the Kurow creek. He runs about 1000 half bred and cross-bred sheep, and about fifty head of cattle. He also breeds backs and draught horses on his property, and crops about 200 acres annually. Mr. Hille was married in 1891 to a daughter of Mr George Watson, of Weston, and has three daughters and one son. Mrs Hille's eldest brother, who was educated in Oamaru, and served an apprenticeship an a compositor in the Oamaru Mail office in that town, is Mr. J. C. Watson. Premier of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs F. W. Hille and Family.
Mr. and Mrs R. Little.
Mcgimpsey, James , Farmer, Sandstone, Otiake. Mr. McGimpsey was born in March, 1850, in County Down, Ireland, and brought up to country life. He came to Auckland by the ship “Delharrie” in January, 1875; six months later he removed to Christchurch, and, finally he settled in the Oamaru district in 1876. In May, 1881, Mr. Mc-Gimpsey bought the first 220 acres of his present property, which now consists of 680 acres of freehold land, devoted chiefly to sheep farming, Some very fine crops are also raised on the beautiful alluvial valleys of the estate. Mr. McGimpsey is chairman of the Otiake school committee. He was married in February, 1885, to a daughter of Mr. James McCone, of Otiake, and has five sons and one daughter.
Scott, Joseph , Farmer, “Castlefinn,” Otiake. Mr. Scott was born in the village of Castlefinn. County Donegal, Ireland, in 1844, and went to sea when fourteen years old. Altogether he spent nearly twenty years at sea, and became captain of a cutter on the New Zealand coast in 1872. He was master of the cutter “Margaret Culley,” and afterwards of the “Hope,” of which he was owner, trading on the coast of Otago, before leaving the sea in July, 1876. Mr. Scott was in business in South Dunedin as a storekeeper for four years, and in 1880 bought 192 acres of freehold land, which he has now increased to 720 acres. The property runs about 500 sheep, and 200 acres are put annually under crop. Mr. Scott has served as a member of the Otiake school committee, and for a time was a member of the Otekaike Licensing Bench. He was initiated as a Freemason in Lodge Glasgow, St. Clair, of which he is a Past Master, Mr. Scott was married, in 1867, to a daughter of Mr. Walter Ross, of Glasgow, Mrs Scott, who was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, arrived in Otago by the ship “Agnes Muir” on the 24th of July, 1869. Before leaving the Old Country Mr. Scott served five years in the Royal Naval Reserve, and re-reived two stripes and twopence per day extra for accurate firing in the big gun exercise. His grandfather, William Scott, was the first to start cloth-weaving, and giving out shirts to be made, in Londonderry, Castlefinn, and other places in the North of Ireland.
Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. Scott.