Abbotsford , which is the railway station for Green Island, is situated in the Taieri county, six miles south of Dunedin, and four miles north of Mosgiel. There is a railway station and post and telegraph office combined. The place was named after Mr. Abbot, a surveyor, and in the home of a number of men employed in the adjacent coal mine. Abbotsford has a library containing 1,800 books, and there is also a volunteer hall. The district's earliest settlers include Mr. William Martin, J.P., a “Phillip Laing” passenger, and Messrs R. Crawford, James Kirkland, Alexander Brown, the Muir family, and Dr. Will.

The Abbotsford Railway Station is situated five miles south of Dunedin on the main south line. The station was opened in 1874 by Mr. J. R. Blair, Engineer of Railways, and Mr. T. Butchart was the first stationmaster. Forty-three trains pass the station daily, and, with the exception of the north and south express, they all make it a stopping place. The building, which is of wood, contains a large and comfortable office, ladies' waiting room, and a large vestibule, where seats have been placed for the convenience of the travelling public. There is a signal cabin close by, containing the switches and signals used for trains passing on to the Fernhill branch, and the main south line. Most of the output of coal from the local mine is railed from this station.

Mr. James Mckechnie , who has been Stationmaster. Postmaster, and Telegraphist at Abbotsford since 1899, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1854, and apprenticed as an engineer. He came to New Zealand in 1874 by the ship “Invercargill,” and for three years was engaged in farming life in the Wyndham district, Otago. Mr. McKechnie entered the railway service in 1877, and shortly afterwards was appointed stationmaster at Burnside. He subsequently filled similar positions of trust at Waitati, Caversham, and Newmarket, near Auckland, before receiving his present appointment in 1899. Mr. McKechnie was a member of the Green Island school committee for seven years, is attached to the Cargill Kilwinning Lodge of Freemasons, No. 632, Scottish Constitution, and is an enthusiastic member of the Green Island Bowling Club. He was married, in 1883, to a daughter of Mr. Andrew Mulholland, farmer, of Eden, County Derry, Ireland, and has one son and two daughters. Mr. McKechnie built and furnished the Prince of Wales Private Hotel, at Clinton, in the county of Clutha. This hotel is now occupied by him, and is replete with all modern conveniences. It is extensively patronised by tourists and anglers, the famous Waiwera and Pomahaka fishing streams being in the vicinity. The house is situated seventy miles south of Dunedin; and the train from Dunedin reaches it in two hours and a half, and from Invercargill in two hours and twenty minutes.