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

Alexandra South

Alexandra South.

Alexandra South , formerly known by the more euphonious name of Manuherikia, is the centre of the golddredging industry in Otago. Situated on the Dunstan Flat, at the junction of the Molyneux and Manuherikia rivers, Alexandra, like most towns in Central Otago, is surrounded by a series of ranges and hills, prominent among which are the Obelisk and Dunstan Ranges, locally termed the Old Man and Old Woman Ranges. The town, which is in the county of Vincent, lies 128 miles north-west page 710 from Dunedin, via Lawrence, and 141 miles, via Ophir, the present (1904) terminus of the Otago Central railway. From both these railway stations there are coach services connecting with Alexandra. In the early days a large traffic across the Molyneux was carried on by means of a punt, which subsequently gave place to a pontoon ferry service. Now a large suspension bridge spans the Molyneux, and carries the traffic of the main south road. A smaller suspension bridge has been built across the Manuherikia river. From the earliest days of settlement to the present time the main industry of the district has been gold mining, and some notable claims have been worked in the neighbourhood. One in particular, which was known as the “Frenchman's,” yielded many thousands of pounds worth of gold. For some twenty years prior to 1898, dredging had been attempted on a small scale in the Molyneux river, and that year saw the rise of a dredging boom, which lasted, with the usual fluctuations, till the latter part of 1902. During that period the whole of the Molyneux river was marked off in claims, companies were rapidly floated, and numerous dredges were constructed and set to work. A few were very successful and some moderately so but a great number of the companies went into liquidation. In the vicinity of Alexandra the industry was pursued with great vigour, and there it is still carried on with fair success. The dredges have not only worked the riverbed, but they have also cut their way into the banks on each side, and worked hundreds of acres of ground carrying gold

A more permanently profitable industry than gold mining, namely, fruit-growing, is being attempted with considerable success in the neighbourhood of Alexandra; and with the advent of the Otago Central railway-which is slowly, but surely, creeping towards the Molyneux—this branch of industry will receive considerable impetus. Messrs Howden and Monerieff, who have established a large nursery and orchard near Alexandra, and other older-established orchardists, have not only amply demonstrated the suitability of the soil for fruit culture; but, in addition to growing all kinds of fruit equal to the best Californian, they have also grown the finest hops produced in the colony. Much of the land, however, will require to be irrigated before the best results can be obtained from its cultivation.

The town of Alexandra South is pleasantly situated, and contains a number of substantial business houses and pretty villa residences. Churches of the Presbyterian, Anglican, and Catholic denominations have been erected, while the Methodist body hold services in the public school, and the Salvation Army uses the town hall for its barracks. There are also post, telegraph, and money order offices, two banks, and a number of hotels. A large reservoir on the hillside, providing the borough with a good water supply, has been installed at a cost of about £8000, and this also furnishes the local fire brigade with a high-pressure service. The recreation reserve, situated near the centre of the town, has a bicycle track and football and cricket grounds, and there is a racecourse outside the town boundary. Alexandra has a rifle corps, a good brass band, a public library, and several social and athletic clubs. There is also a local weekly newspaper.

Alexandra South was proclaimed a borough in 1869. It has an area of 840 acres, an annual rateable value of £6800, and a population of about 1000 souls. There is a general rate of Is 6d in the £, a sanitary rate of 6d in the £ on the house property, and a special annual-recurring rate of Is on the rateable value. Members of the Borough Council for 1904: Messrs George Spencer (Mayor), Louis Anderson. Lawrence Ryan, Henry Schaumann. John Duncan Buchanan, William S. Laidlaw, John Lovell Gregg, George G. McGregor, and Samuel McKnight (councillors). Mr. Frank Young is the Town Clerk and Treasurer

His Worship The Mayor, Mr. George Spencer , J.P., was born in 1845, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up to mereantile pursuits. He came to Port Chalmers, by the ship “Aboukir,” and after an experience of goldmining in Otago and on the West Coast, he settled in Alexandra, in 1870, and has since been interested in goldmining in the district. He is one of the proprietors of the Alexandra Dredging Company, to which he acts as secretary, and has been at different times manager. Mr. Spencer has been a Justice of the Peace since 1895. He was married, in 1892, to a daughter of Mr. L. Cameron, of Alexandra, and has one son surviving.

Mr. And Mrs G. Spencer And Son.

Mr. James Kelman represented Clutha Ward in the Council, from 1889, until he was elected Mayor in 1897; and he continued to be Mayor, off and on, until May, 1904. He was born at Banchory, Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 15th of February, 1855, and accompanied his parents to Port Chalmers by the ship “James Nicol Fleming,” in 1870. He learned the business of a blacksmith with Messrs Reid and Son, of Riverton, Southland. After five and a half years' experience Mr. Kelman started business on his own account, at Thornbury, Southland, and three years later he removed to Dunedin, where he continued to gain further experience at his trade, till 1885, when he arrived in Alexandra as manager of the business then conducted by Mr. L. Gards. In 1889, Mr. Kelman bought the business, which he has since conducted, and has developed into a very large and page 711 growing concern. Since settling in the Alexandra district, Mr. Kelman has been a prominent man in all matters of public interest, and he serves as a member of the

Mr. J. Kelman.

local school committee. He has been successful as a dredge owner, and holds onethird interest in the Alexandra Company; he is also largely interested in the Molyneux Hydraulic Company, the Earnscleugh, Nos.

The Late Mrs J. Kelman.

1 and 2, and the Earnscleugh No. 3 Dredging and Electric Power Company, in which he is a director. Mr. Kelman was married, in 1882, to a daughter of the late Mr. T. Price, of Invercargill. Mrs. Kelman died on the 12th of August, 1898, leaving three sons and four daughters, and one daughter has since died.

Mr. George Nicholas Macdonald was Mayor of Alexandra from 1882 to 1886, and was for many years a member of the council. He was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1821, was a dyer by trade, and was in business in Cupar, Fifeshire, for some years before coming to the Colonies. He

The Late Mr. G. N. Macdonald.

landed in Victoria in 1865, and in the same year settled at Alexandra. For some time after arriving, Mr. Macdonald was proprietor of a gold mine, and in 1878, he erected a

Dredging At Alexandra.

The Late Mrs. G. N. Macdonald.

store in Alexandra, where he conducted business till the time of his death, which took place in 1886. He took a considerable interest in gold mines, and paid special attention to the development of the district. Before he left Scotland he became a Free-mason, page 712 but was unattached in New Zealand. Mr. Macdonald was married, in 1846, to a daughter of the late Mr. W. Moffatt, of Paisley, and had one daughter, who died at the age of fifteen years. Mrs Maedonald survived her husband by about sixteen years, and, up to the time of her death, conducted business as a draper, storekeeper and fancy goods dealer, in Alexandra.

Mr. Robert Gunion , J.P., who held a seat on the Alexandra Borough Council, for a number of years, was born at Stranraer, Wigtonshire, Scotland, in 1838, and educated at the Stranraer Academy, and at the Inch Free Church school. He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, and came out to Port. Chalmers, in 1861, in the ship “Lady Egidia,” on her first trip. Mr. Gunion was for some time engaged in sheep-farming, and was a station manager for a number of years. He managed successively Luxmore in Canterbury, for four years; Allendale station, Fairlie Creek, for about one year; Rugged Ridges, Otago, for about four years; and Galloway station, near Alexandra, for about fourteen years. Since retiring from the management of Galloway station, Mr. Gunion has been interested in dredging in the Alexandra district, and has been very successful. He acts as secretary to the Ngapara Company, of which he is one of the proprietors. Mr. Gunion was married, in 1874, to a daughter of Captain Jamieson, of Adelaide, and has four sons and three daughters.

Mr. William Hansen , who represented Clutha Ward on the Alexandra South Borough Council for several years, was born in Norway, in 1849. In his early days he visited London, Melbourne, West Australia, Singapore, India and China. After returning to Europe, Mr. Hansen came to New Zealand in 1871, and settled in Alexandra South, where he established himself in business as a butcher. After the introduction of dredging, he devoted his energies to mining. For about seven years he worked at Sandy Point on the Molyneux river, adjoining the Earnscleugh No. 2 claim, and was afterwards manager. He was also manager of the Chicago Dredge for the Alexandra Gold Dredging Company, and had interests in mining claims. Mr. Hansen served as a member of the Alexandra South school committee, and held office as a deacon of the local Presbyterian church. He was married, in 1884, to a daughter of Mr. L. Cameron, of Alexandra South, and had two daughters. Mr. Hansen died on the 21st of February, 1903.

Mr And Mrs W. Hansen And Family.

Mr. James Nieper represented the ratepayers of Clutha Ward in the Alexandra South Borough Council for some years. He was born within the borough in 1869, educated at the public school, and served his time to the butchering business. Till establishing himself in business in 1891, at the corner of Talbot and Limerick Streets, he worked at his trade or followed mining. Mr. Nieper is a member of Court Pride of Alexandra, Ancient Order of Foresters, and has passed all the chairs with the exception of that of C.R. He is also a member of the Alexandra Jockey Club. Mr. Nieper was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. J. R. Jones, of the Occidental Hotel, Dunedin, and has two sons.

Mr. And Mrs J. Nieper and Children.

Mr. James Simmonds , J.P., who was one of the representatives of Manuherikia Ward, on the Alexandra Borough Council, was first elected to the Council in 1876, and was mayor for the years 1880–2, 1892–4, and 1896–7. He was for twenty-three years almost continuously a member of the Council. Mr. Simmonds served his

Mr. J. Simmonds.

time as a cabinet-maker in Hobart, Tasmania, where he was born in 1841, and after being three years on the Australian goldfields, he came to Otago when he was twenty-one years of age. He was for some time in page 713 business as a builder at Invercargill; subsequently he was engaged in mining at Waita-huna and Wetherstones, and settled in the Dunstan district in 1866. At Alexandra he was one of the contractors who erected the fine bridge across the river Molyneux; he built the post office, police camp, and a number of other places in the borough; completed several Government works at Clyde, and constructed the Manorburn bridge. For twelve years he was in business as a storekeeper in a large building he erected near the Alexandra bridge. Mr. Simmonds has had an extensive mining experience. He was one of the party who first brought in water in a twenty-six head race from the Gorge Creek to Bald Hill Flat, and he has considerable interests as one of the proprietors of the Last Chance Elevator Company, Bald Hill Flat, of the Vincent Goldmining Company, Gorge Creek, and of the Shamrock Elevator Company of St. Bathans. The Last Chance was the first elevating company in the district, and was originally known as Herson, Simmonds and Company. In the early days he acted as secretary to the Alexandra Mining Association. Mr. Simmonds was chairman of the Licensing Bench of the district for three years, and secretary of the school committee for a long time; he served on the library committee, the Dunstan Hospital committee, and is a member of the Central Otago Hospital Board. As Mayor of Alexandra Mr. Simmonds printed the first copies of the local newspaper and planted the first tree on the recreation ground. He was the successful designer of the local Town Hall, for which he received a bonus, and subsequently drew the plans and specifications. Mr. Simmonds was married, in 1864, to a daughter of the late Mr. G. Rowbottom, of Melbourne. This lady died in 1891, leaving one son, and in 1892 Mr. Simmonds married a daughter of Mr. W. T. Bowden, of Dunedin; and two daughters and a son have been born of this marriage. Mr. Simmonds is now (1904) farming at Pukerau.

Mr. Henry Symes , J.P., formerly Town Clerk, Valuer, Treasurer and Collector for the Borough of Alexandra South, was born in Lawrence on the 23rd of December, 1866. He was educated at Lawrence and at the Blue Spur, brought up to mining pursuits, and settled in Alexandra in 1891. Mr. Symes conducted business as an auctioneer and mining agent; and was founder and for some time proprietor of the “Alexandra Herald.” He was also the first in Alexandra to connect his office and private residence by telephone. Mr. Symes unsuccessfully contested the Tuapeka seat for the House of Representatives at the by-election of 1898. He was secretary of the Klondyke and several other gold-dredging companies. Mr. Symes was married in 1890, and has two sons and two daughters.

Kilgour And Son (Alexander Kilgour and William Howie Kilgour), Bakers and Confectioners, Tarbert Street, Alexandra South. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business, which was originally established by Mr. Bell, of Clyde, was purchased by Messrs Kilgour and Son, in September, 1898.

Mr. Alexander Kilgour , the Senior Partner, was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, on the 3rd of November, 1839, and learned his business in Edinburgh. He arrived in Dunedin in 1856 by the ship “Sir Edward Paget,” and worked at his trade till 1866, when he established a business on his own account. This business he conducted in Dunedin for two years, at Tapanui for three years, at Balclutha two years, and at Oamaru for twelve years. Mr. Kilgour then removed to Cromwell and established the business which has been conducted by Mr. Richards since 1894. On the 13th of May, 1862, Mr. Kilgour was married

Alexandra South.

Mr. A. Kilgour And Son.

to a daughter of the late Mr. A. Peat, of Auchtermuchty, Scotland, and has five sons and four daughters, and nine grandchildren.

Mr. William Howie Kilgour was born in Balclutha in 1876, and educated at Oamaru, where he learned his trade with his father. He worked at his trade in Dunedin, and was subsequently in the Union Steamship Company's employment, which he left to join his father in the establishment of the firm of Kilgour and Son, of Alexandra.

[After these articles were in type, the partnership was dissolved, and the business sold.]

Aitken, George Brown , Builder and Contractor, Tarbert Street, Alexandra South. Mr. Aitken was born in the Orkney Isles, on the 15th of April, 1837, brought up as a ship carpenter, came to New South Wales in 1857, and settled in Otago six years later. After a year in the Queenstown district, he moved to Alexandra, and engaged in mining till 1868, when he established his present business. Mr. Aitken held the office of Inspector of Works for the Vincent County Council, for about six months, and subsequently for the New Zealand Government, under the Roads Construction Act, for two years, on the Arrowtown and Macetown roads. He was connected with the Cromwell volunteers for two years, and while in the Borough Council he rendered good service in connection with the Cromwell water-works. Of late years Mr. Aitken has not taken any prominent part in local politics, but he is an page 714 out-and-out admirer of the present Seddon administration.

Mr. G. B. Aitken.

Drummey, Jeremiah , Contractor, Alexandra. This old settler was born in 1833, in Canada, where he was brought up as a carpenter. In July, 1859, he landed in Victoria, and worked at the Inglewood goldfields till 1861, when he came to Otago. Mr. Drummey has been in the Dunstan district since 1862.

Mr. J. Drummey.

He was one of the party of twenty-six men who turned the Manuherikia river so as to work the river-bed, and in December, 1863, he started the Manuherikia water-race. He surveyed and laid this race out for twenty-eight miles, and formed a company of twelve men to do the work. He was the first in Otago to use horses and ploughs at race-cutting. Three years later he went to the West Coast, and while there he built the Upper Buller bridge at the slip. He returned to Otago in 1870. For many years Mr. Drummey has been engaged as a contractor for roads and buildings, bridges and water-races. He completed Messrs Hallenstein's, Hazlett's and McKerra's premises and water-works at Cromwell, and constructed the Carrick waterrace for the Government at a cost of £4200. Mr. Drummey also built the Macandrew bridge over the Kawarau river. In 1878 he erected the schoolhouse at Nevis, the courthouses at Alexandra and Ophir, and was the contractor for the Alexandra bridge. For some years subsequently he was farming in Ida Valley. Mr. Drummey has been engaged in coalmining of late years. He purchased the Newcastle coal mine, when the first owner was driven out by water, and got down after three different attempts. At the present time he has a coal mine on the Manuherikia Flat, where he has a seam of 12 feet. He also took up the Chatto claim, which is worked by the Chatto Creek Company. Mr. Drummey was married, in 1867, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Allan, of Glasgow, contractor, and has had three daughters and three sons, of whom one daughter survives.

Bendigo Hotel (E. M. Bellamy, proprietor), Tarbert Street, Alexandra South. This well-known hotel was established in 1862 by the late Mr. L. G. Ryan, who conducted it till his death in 1897. Since then the premises have been rebuilt, and now consist of a two-storied brick building with thirty bedrooms for the public, four sitting-rooms, a large dining-hall, with accommodation for forty-five guests, two sample-rooms and a billiard-room. The stone stables, on the opposite side of the street, contain six stalls, and an equal number of loose-boxes, and there is also a five-stalled stable and loft, leased to Messrs H. Craig and Co., whose coaches arrive and depart daily from and for Dunedin, via Queenstown, Lawrence, and Ranfurly. The Bendigo Hotel takes rank as the leading commercial house in Alexandra South.

Mr. Michael Mcallen , formerly Proprietor of the Bendigo Hotel, was born in 1862, at Loch Grainey, in County Clare, Ireland, and came to Port Chalmers in 1881, by the ship “Timaru.” He was brought up to agricultural pursuits, which he followed till 1885, when he joined the Armed Constabulary, and two years later was transferred to the Police Force, in which he did duty till his resignation in 1897. Whilst he was at Alexandra, Mr. McAllen took an active part in the formation of the Alexandra Rifles, of which he became lieutenant. He was also a member of the Alexandra Borough Council, and of the local school committee. Mr. McAllen afterwards removed to Wellington in the North Island.

Mr. M. McAllen.

Caledonian Hotel (James Geddes, proprietor), Tarbert Street, Alexandra South. This hotel is built of wood and stone. It contains thirteen bedrooms, two sitting-rooms, a dining-room with seating accommodation for sixteen guests, and a billiard-room. The stable, at the back of the hotel, contains six stalls and two loose-boxes. The Caledonian Hotel was established about 1869.

Mr. Archibald Smith , formerly proprietor of the Caledonian Hotel, was born in the parish of Isla, Port Ellen, Argyle-shire, Scotland, in 1860, and arrived in Port Chalmers in 1868. He was educated at Switzers, and after finding employment as a shearer at Lumsden for about two years, he commenced business as a butcher in Waikaia. Three years later he became a hotelkeeper at that place, and subsequently conducted the Lumsden Hotel for seven years. After being a year out of business, he became the proprietor of the Caledonian Hotel, in Alexandra, on the 9th of May, 1897. Mr. Smith was married, on the 25th of October, 1880, to a daughter of Mr. James Paterson, of Waikaia, and has four daughters and two sons. He went to South Africa after giving up the ownership of the Caledonian Hotel.

The Otago Central Foundry And Engineering Company, Limited , was founded and originally owned by Mr. James Kelman, who is still one of the directors. Mr. Kelman came to Alexandra in 1884 to take charge of the blacksmith's shop for Mr. L. Gards, who was carrying on business as a wheelwright and blacksmith. At that time the business was very small, there being only one fire in the shop. In 1890 Mr. Kelman bought the business, and although the place was very dull, he, by giving all his energy and perseverance to the trade, soon made it increase so that he had to extend his shop and put in another fire. Thenceforward the business kept increasing, and Mr. Kelman found it page 715

The Otago Central Foundry Co.'s Premises.

necessary to make still further additions to the buildings and plant. Accordingly there is now a spacious fitting shop, equipped with large lathe, vertical drilling-machine, large punching and shearing machines, emery stones and grindstones, and a fanner for supplying a blast to the fires. Motive power is supplied by a four horse-power Tangye steam engine, with a fixed boiler, capable of supplying steam to the engine and a good-sized steam hammer, which has been fitted up in the smith's shop. An eight horse-power horizontal steam engine has been erected to do the increased work, and the plant is now capable of turning out any up-country work. In the yard at the back of the shop there is a complete plant for making hydraulic fluming. It includes punching, shearing, bending and rivetting machines, and also a large tar bath for dipping the pipes in. The company has found it necessary to keep an unusually large stock for a country business, owing to the delay caused by waggons having to carry goods between Alexandra and the railway terminus, and the want of railway communication. It has a fine large rack and store, and can now easily meet orders for any kind of steel, iron and plates required for the large dredges at work on the Molyneux. It also keeps a largo stock of all engineers' and blacksmiths' accessories, and, on an average, employs nine men in the shop. The buildings are of stone and iron, and are erected on a freehold section in the main street. Mr. Kelman is referred to elsewhere as a former Mayor of Alexandra.

Mr. William Lindsay , formerly Accountant at Mr. James Kelman's engineering works. Alexandra, was born in Dunedia, in 1876. He was educated at the North school.

Otago Central Foundry Premises: Another View.

Mr. W. Lindsay.

Oamaru, and became a cadet with Mr. T. C. Dennison, M. Inst., C. E., with whom he remained about four years. Mr. Lindsay subsequently became a teacher in the South school at Oamaru, where he remained for one year, and was afterwards in the Albany Street school, Dunedin, for three years. Owing to a breakdown in his health he had to abandon teaching, and became clerk on the Galloway station, and in January, 1898, he joined Mr. Kelman, as accountant. He is a member of the Order of Foresters, and while in Alexandra was attached to Court Pride of Alexandra. Mr. Lindsay acted as secretary of the Alexandra Cycling Carnival.

Nieper, James , Butcher, corner of Tarbert and Limerick Streets, Alexandra South. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. The business conducted by Mr. Nieper was established on the 21 st of May, 1891. The premises, which are freehold, consist of a convenient shop and office, and a five-roomed dwelling-house. There is a second shop, which is well-lighted, and fronts the main street.

Boldero, Alexander , Livery Stable Keeper, Limerick Street, Alexandra South. Mr. Boldero's stable is a stone building, with page 716 eleven stalls and six loose boxes. There is a large yard and convenient sheds for vehicles. Mr. Boldero has six horses for hire, together with one double and one single buggy, and

Mr. A. Boldero.

two gigs. He may be relied upon to supply bis customers with good, quiet, staunch horses, and comfortable vehicles, at the shortest notice, and is open to arrange to drive picnic parties or tourists to any points of interest in the district. Mr. Boldero was born in Auckland in October, 1871, and was brought up to farming. Subsequently he was at Matakanui in Central Otago. He removed to Alexandra in 1897, and took over the old-established business which he has since conducted.

Dawson, Richard , Orchardist, Rose Vale Gardens, Conroy's Gully, Alexandra. Mr. Dawson was born in 1833, in Lancashire, England, where he was brought up as a carpenter and joiner. He worked at his trade for eight years, and in 1854 emigrated to Victoria, and followed goldmining till 1862, when he removed to Otago, where he was for many years engaged in mining. At first Mr. Dawson leased his property of about fifty acres in Conroy's Gully, but ultimately purchased the freehold. It is well named Rose Vale, and in the season is remarkably attractive, for both its flowers and fruits. Mr. Dawson has made a success of fruit-growing, and has been prize-winner for the best collection of choice fruits, at the Dunedin Show. He was married, in 1865, to a daughter of Mr. P. Darling, of Dublin, and has one daughter.

Enterprise Gold Dredge Company (No liability). Head Office, Rattray Street, Dunedin. This Company's claim consists of fifty-two acres. It has two dredges, one of which has been working since May, 1894, and 33s. per share has been paid in dividends.

Mr. Samuel James Luke , Master of the Enterprise Company's No. 1 Dredge, has been in the service since early in 1895. He was born in Cornwall, England, in 1853, and brought up to foundry work. In 1874, he arrived at Port Chalmers, by the ship “Tweed,” and since then has been identified with gold-mining and dredging. He was for eighteen months manager of the Wakatipu Dredge, on the Upper Kawarau river. Mr. Luke was

Mr. S. J. Luke.

married, in 1885, to a daughter of Mr. A. J. Merley, of Hayle, Cornwall. Mrs Luke died in 1890, leaving one daughter.

Mr. J. Gartley.

Spring Vale Mine , the property of Messrs John and James Gartley, has been worked by the firm since 1889. The Messrs Gartley are the owners of valuable water-rights. The main race is brought over a distance of ten miles, and they have been successful in their operations in the Spring Vale mine.

Mr. James Gartley was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1845, and was brought up to agriculture He arrived at Port Chalmers, by the ship “James Nicol Fleming,” in the year 1869, and settled in the Alexandra district, where he has been continuously engaged in sluicing operations. Mr. Gartley is a member of the Spring Vale school committee. He was married, in 1881, to a daughter of the late Mr. R. Toohill, of Ireland, and has six sons.

Mr. James Austin was born in Cheshire England, in 1851, and is a coppersmith by trade. He came to Port Chalmers in 1873, by the ship “William Davie,” and, after three months in Dunedin, settled in Alexandra, where he became engaged in mining. For some time he was representing a share on the “Galatea,” one of the last of the spoon dredges, and afterwards worked on a current-wheel dredge. Mr. Austin was employed on the erection of the first large steam dredge built by Messrs Kincaid and McQueen, in 1882. He has been largely interested in the industry, and is one of the proprietors of the Ngapara Company, which has several dredges in operation. He is chairman of directors of the Alexandra Coalpit Company, and has a seat on the boards of the Klondyke and Success Gold Dredging Companies, besides owning interests in other private dredges. Mr. Austin was married, in 1898, to a daughter of Mr. Andrew Rutherford, of Nelson. He now (1904) resides in Dunedin.

page 717

Mr. Gilbert Paterson Blue Manager of the New Fourteen Mile Beach Company's Dredge, was born in 1862, in Greenock, Scotland, where he was educated. After six years at sea he landed in Port Chalmers in November, 1880, and has been connected with dredges; at first, under the Dunedin Harbour Board, and since April, 1881, on the Kawarau and Shotover rivers, and on the Molyneux at Alexandra. He became manager of the Chatto Creek Company's dredge in November, 1898, and is now with the New Fourteen Mile Beach Company. As a Freemason, Mr. Blue is attached to Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning, No. 109, in which he has held office as senior deacon.

Mr. G. P. Blue.

Mr. John Magnus , formerly a dredge owner at Alexandra, was born in Sweden, in 1856, but educated and brought up in England. He served for two years in the Police Force, at Hull, in Yorkshire, and subsequently in the Police Force, in China, but was afterwards at sea for a number of years, and travelled an over the world as a ship's carpenter. In 1887, Mr. Magnus arrived at the Bluff, by the ship “Soukar,” and settled in the Alexandra district, where he engaged in mining and dredging. He was at one time manager of the Molyneux and Butcher's Point Hydraulic Companies, and Gold Beach Hydraulic and Dredging Company, and he also held considerable interests in dredging companies, being a director of the Gold Queen Dredging Company. Mr Magnus was married, in 1890, to a daughter of Mr B. Butler, of Roxburgh, and has two sons and one daughter. He now (1904) owns the Wheatsheaf Hotel, at Teddington, on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury.

Mr. William Anderson Thomson , formerly proprietor of the Alexandra Coal

Mr. And Mrs W. A. Thomson.

Mine, was born in Forfarshire. Scotland, in 1832, and was brought up to a seafaring life, which, he followed for twelve years. In 1853, he settled in Victoria, where he was engaged in mining till the Gabriel's Gully “rush, which brought; him to Otago, in January, 1862. He settled, in 1861, in the Dunstau district, where he engaged in gold-mining till 1870. Mr. Thomson has served as a member of the local school committee, and has long been connected with the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. In 1856, he was married to a daughter of the late Mr. D. Ogilvie, of Arbroath, Scotland, and has three sons and two daughters alive, and eighteen grandchildren. He now (1904) lives in retirement at Alexandra.

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

Alexandra South

Alexandra South.