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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Green Island

Green Island.

Green Island is about five miles and a half from Dunedin, on the main south road. The railway station is at Abbotsford, and the local post office at Mr. Campbell's store. Green Island is a small thriving borough, situated in the county of Taieri; and many of the early settlers took up land and made their homes in the district. The local industries include a flour mill, lignite coal mines, a ham and bacon curing factory, and the Otago Iron Rolling Mills and other factories are just outside the district. There are two hotels and several private boarding houses in the town. A prominent feature of the landscape is the tall white spire of the Presbyterian church, which can be seen many miles away; Green Island has two other churches—an Anglican and Primitive Methodist. It has, also, a fine public school and a gymnasium hall, and the hall is much used by the school children.

Green Island was proclaimed a borough in 1878. Mr. J. J. Eagerty was its first Mayor, and his successors have been: Messrs Charles Samson, James Runciman, A. Woollatt, James Loudon, J. Toomey, Joseph Ensor, Andrew Kane, and Mr. James Miller, who is the present Mayor. The councillors for 1904 are: Messrs William Geddes, William Highet, George Russell, Andrew Kane, James Jenkins, A. McKinley, A. Falconer, and James MacMullan: Town Clerk, Mr. Thomas Thomson. Green Island borough has an area of 103 acres; population, 700; dwellings, 148; ratepayers, 179; rateable properties 171. The rateable annual value is £2,968. A rate of 1s 3d in the £ was struck on the 26th of April, 1902. The borough's assets on the 31st of March, 1902, stood at £4 13s 1d; liabilities, a bank overdraft of £225 11s 6d.

His Worship The Mayor, Mr. James Miller , J.P., who was elected Mayor of Green Island in 1903, and again in April, 1904, has occupied a seat on the Council, either as councillor or Mayor ever since the borough was incorporated as a municipality. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1868, by the ship “Anges Muir.” After a year spent in a bacon-curing business at Caversham, he removed to Green Island, and with Mr. McDonald, opened up a similar establishment. On the retirement of Mr. McDonald in 1893 Mr. Miller took his son into partnership. The firm cures on an average about 4,000 pigs in a season, which are distributed to customers all over the colony. Mr. Miller has been a member of the Caversham Licensing Committee, chairman of the Green Island Domain Board, and chairman of the local school committee. He believes that the only rational solution to the Kaikorai stream question is the extension of the Green Island borough, which, if accomplished, would enable the ratepayers to demand a water supply from the Silverstream, thus providing the factories with clean water with which to carry on their operations. Mr. Miller was married, in 1874, to a daughter of Mr. John Mills, and has a family of six sons and three daughters.

Mr. Thomas Thomson was appointed Clerk to the Green Island Borough Council in November, 1901. He also acts as clerk for the school committee, and the Cemetery and Domain Board. Mr. Thomson is a native of Scotland, and came to the colony in 1887.

Ritchie, Thomas , Architect, Land and Estate Agent, Green Island, near Dunedin. Mr. Ritchie was born at Fernie Castle, Fifeshire, Scotland, and educated partly there, and partly at the Free Abbey Academy. He studied architecture under Mr. R. Hay, a leading architect and land surveyor in Dunfermline, page 594 and succeeded to the management of the business on the expiration of his apprenticeship. In 1867 be became manager for Mr. J. J. Rockhead, of Glasgow, who was then completing the Wallace monument at Ailsa Craig, near Stirling, and the Bank of Scotland buildings, in Vincent Square, Glasgow. Two years afterwards Mr. Ritchie was compelled to give up his profession for a time, owing to a breakdown in health, and arrived in Auckland in 1875. He was appointed assistant teacher at the East City school, and subsequently became headmaster at Riverhead. Mr. Ritchie left Auckland for Otago in 1861, and was engaged by Messrs Herbert and Co., the pioneers of the Portland Cement Industry in New Zealand. On the dissolution of that Company he received an appointment in connection with the newly formed Burnside Freezing Works; but owing to the severe strain on his constitution by his attention to the freezing department, he retired, after twenty years' service, and resumed his profession as architect. During his long residence at Green Island, Mr. Ritchie has taken a considerable interest in public affairs, and was for some years a member of the local school committee. He drew the plans and superintended the erection of the Green Island Drill Shed, besides several handsome residences in the neighbourhood. Mr. Ritchie is a Freemason of over thirty-five years' standing, and pioneer of Lodge Hiram, of which he was for three years secretary. He was also for seventeen years connected with the Loyal Excelsior Lodge. No. 41, Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia. Mr. Ritchie is married, and has a family of two sons and two daughters.

Mr. T. Ritchie.

Mr. T. Ritchie.

Campbell, John , Storekeeper and Postmaster, Green Island. Mr. Campbell was born in 1839, in Glasgow, Scotland, and was brought up to the drapery trade. He sailed for Melbourne by the ship “The Lightning,” in 1860, and a year later came to Port Chalmers. After three months with Mr. John Mollison, in Dunedin, Mr. Campbell removed to Green Island, and started in business as a general storekeeper, and as such he still carries on. The premises, which are situated on the main south road, consist of a large two-storey brick building, with living rooms on the first floor; and the stock comprises drapery, groceries, ironmongery, and other articles of household use. Since 1863 Mr. Campbell has acted as postmaster, in addition to carrying on his business. Owing to his business occupying most of his time he has been forced to decline many prominent public positions. Mr. Campbell was married. in 1863, to a daughter of Mr. Richard Runciman, an old and respected colonist, and has a grown-up family of two sons and three daughters.