The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Long Bush
Long Bush.
Long Bush , as the name of the district, is said to have originated with the waggoners who, in the old days, travelled from Dunedin to Invercargill, and used the term as an indication of the length and weariness of the journey. The main southern railway line passes through the district, which has now only a flag statton, though there was at one time a stationmaster: Long Bush is nine miles distant by road and rail from Invercargill, and the flag station stands at an elevation of eighty-eight feet above sea level. Part of the district is in the Waihopai, and part in the Awarua, riding of the county of Southland. The population of the township, at the census of 1901, was 124, and there were twenty-six in the vicinity, all in the Waihopai riding; while that portion of the township which lies in the Awarua riding had a population of ninety-one, and forty-eight additional in the vicinity. The whole district is in the Awarua electorate. Long Bush district has sawmills, extensive brick and tile works, and a flaxmill. The public school stands off the main road, and the local post office, formerly conducted at the railway station, is now under the charge of a postmistress. Much of the original native bush has been cleared away from the land, which is generally level, and in a high state of cultivation. The timber yard at the railway station is connected by a tramway with the Long Bush sawmill, three miles distant.
Long Bush Public School was established in the early seventies, and occupies a section of about twelve acres on the main east road, ten miles from Invercargill. The original buildings have entirely disappeared, and have been replaced by a commodious school and a six-roomed residence for the teacher. The site is one of the best in the district.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. Froggatt.
The Long Bush Sawmill (Braud, Small and Company, proprietors), Long Bush. This mill was erected in 1892. It is constructed of wood and iron, and contains breaking-down and breast benches, with planing and moulding machines. The machinery is driven by a sixteen horse-power steam engine, and the output is about 5,000 feet of dressed and undressed timber per day. Twenty-two persons are employed at the mill, which is connected by tramway with a yard at the Long Bush railway station, three miles distant.
Evans, Louis , Farmer, “Meadowbank,” Long Bush. Mr Evans was born at Ashford, in Shropshire, England, in 1876, and educated partly at the parish school, and partly at a boarding school at Little Hereford. He engaged in farm work until coming to New Zealand in 1889, and in 1892, he he and his brother, Mr T. Evans, took up “Meadowbank,” a farm of 467 acres, which they held jointly until 1897, when they divided the place and dissolved partnership. Mr Louis Evans has been a director of the Woodlands Saleyards Company, Limited, since its inception. He was married in January, 1903, to a daughter of Mr J. Laidlaw, senior, of Woodlands, and has one daughter.
Mcintyre, John , Farmer, “Rozell Bush,” Long Bush. Mr McIntyre was born in 1851, in Perthshire, Scotland, and arrived at the Bluff, with his parents, by the ship “Arima,” in 1864. He was brought up to farming and worked on his father's farm—Mona Bush—till the latter's death in 1898, when he acquired his present property. “Rozell Bush” consists of 350 acres of freehold, including some fine bush, on which a sawmill commenced operations in 1904. Mr McIntyre is a member of the Long Bush school committee. He was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr James McKay, of “Bushy Park,” Long Bush, and has six sons and two daughters.
Sadlier, James Henry , Farmer, Long Bush. Mr Sadlier is a son of the late Mr Henry Sadlier, and was born in 1867, at Long Bush, where he was brought up to farming, and was employed at Forest Hill and Waianiwa for five years. He afterwards removed to Canterbury, where he resided for twelve months, and then returned to Long Bush; and in 1893 he took over his father's farm of 121 acres. Mr Sadlier is a member of the Order of Foresters at Woodlands.
Mr. John Mcintyre , sometime of Long Bush, was born in 1826, in Perthshire, Scotland, where his father was a farmer and cattle dealer. He page 1061 came to New Zealand by the ship “Arima,” in 1864. Shortly after his arrival he bought 100 acres of land known as “Mona Bush,” and subsequently increased his holding to 540 acres. Mr Mclntyre also acquired a property of 360 acres known as “Rozell Bush.” The old homestead in which he resided up to the time of his death was erected in 1857, and is said to have been the first house built in the Long Bush district. Mr McIntyre served as a member of the Long Bush school committee. He was married, in 1846, to a daughter of the late
Mr Joseph Faichney, of Perthshire, Scotland, and at his death in 1898, left two sons and two daughters. Mrs McIntyre, who was born in 1828, Survives her husband.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mrs McKay And The Late Mr. J. McKay.
Residence Of The Late Mr. J. McKay.
Mr. Henry Sadlier , sometime of Long Bush, was born in 1827, at Carmichael, near Lanark, Scotland, where he was brought up to farming. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Bruce,” in 1860, and shortly afterwards took up land in the Long Bush district, where he had 121 acres of freehold, and nine acres of leasehold land. When taken up, it was almost covered with rugged bush, but Mr Sadlier lived to see it hrought to a good state of cultivation, and latterly, the farm was leased by one of his sons. Mr Sadlier was married, in 1857, to a daughter of the late Mr James Sorbie, of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and had four sons and three daughters. He died in January, 1905.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
The Late Mr. H. Sadlier and Mrs Sadlier.