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

Lochiel

Lochiel.

Lochiel is the postal name of the Forest Hill district. The settlement is on the Invercargill-Kingston line of railway, and on the main road from Invercargill to the Lake district. It is in the Winton riding of the county of Southland, and in the electorate of Awarua. At the census of 1901, the population of Forest Hill was set down at thirty-eight, and the population of Lochiel, likewise at thirty-eight. The flag railway station, known as Forest Hill, is fifteen miles from Invercargill, and four miles from Winton, and stands 121 feet above the level of the sea. The tablet signal system is in operation. Elderslie is the name given to the public school, which is close to the railway station. It was established about 1880, and had an average attendance, in 1904, of thirty-five pupils. Lochiel has had a postal service for about twenty years, and the business has been conducted at the school since 1894. The Forest Hill sawmill is connected with the railway station by a tramway four miles in length. Generally, the land of the district is undulating, and is still graced with considerable patches of the original native bush. Tussock creek passes through the district, and the Aparima river runs on its western boundary. Lochiel was constituted a River Board district in 1901, chiefly with a view to the effective drainage of the land.

The Forest Hill Tablet Signal Station was established in June, 1903. The next signals on either side are at Winton and Makarewa Junction. The flag station at Forest Hill has been established many years, and the business of the railway department at this point isu nder the care of the porter in charge.

Mr. John Sammons . Officer in charge of the Forest Hill Tablet Signal Station, was born in Oxfordshire, England, in 1844. He went to sea as a youth, and served twelve years in the Royal Navy, in various parts of the world. Mr Sammons came to the Bluff, by the ship “Zealandia,” in 1872, and joined the New Zealand railway service, in which he held the position of guard until he was appointed officer in charge of the Forest Hill fag station. Mr Sammons was married, in 1899, to the widow of the
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. J. Sammons.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. Sammons.

late Mr Thomas Mills, of Invercargill. Mrs Sammons had five sons and three daughters by her former marriage.
Chrystal, Andrew , Farmer, Wetherlie Farm. Lochiel. Mr Chrystal was born on the 15th of May, 1844, in Perthshire, Scotland, where he was brought up as a practical farmer, on his father's estate. He came to New Zealand by the ship “Helenslea,” in 1868, and settled in North Otago, where he took up land and engaged in farming for twenty years. Mr Chrystal removed to Southland in 1888 and bought Wetherlie Farm, a property of 240 acres of freehold, which he has brought into good cultivation. Mr Chrystal is well known throughout New Zealand as a successful breeder of Clydesdale horses, Border Leicester sheep, and Ayreshire cattle, and he has frequently taken top prices for rams at the Winton markets. Mr Chrystal
“Clan McArthur“: Property Of Mr. A. Chrystal.

Clan McArthur“: Property Of Mr. A. Chrystal.

Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. And Mrs A. Chrystal.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs A. Chrystal.

page 980 usually keeps three or four entire horses, and the well-known horse “Clan McArthur,” has taken many prizes, as have also his progeny. Mr Chrystal is an exporter of Clydesdales, which he ships to all the neighbouring colonies. He has been a member of the Winton River Board for several years. Mr Chrystal was married, in 1883, to a daughter of the late Mr James Forrester, of Stirlingshire, Scotland, and has three sons and one daughter.

Cameron, Duncan , Farmer, “Fassifern,” Forest Hill. Mr Cameron is a son of the late Mr Dugald Cameron, one of the pioneer settlers of Forest Hill, and was born at Forest Hill in 1871. He was brought up to farming in the district, and acquired his present property in 1889. His farm consists of 450 acres of freehold, and eighty acres of leasehold, and is in a good state of cultivation. Mr Cameron is named after his grandfather, the late Mr Duncan Cameron, who came out to the colony and lived and died at Forest Hill.

O'Brien, Morgan , Farmer, “Oak Bank,” Lochiel. Mr O'Brien was born in 1856 in county Kerry, Ireland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand by the ship “Waitangi,” in 1875, and was employed for six years at Otaio, near Timaru. Mr O'Brien removed to Southland on the 29th of June. 1899, and purchased a farm at South Hillend. Having effected numerous improvements on the farm, he sold out, and bought his present property, of 480 acres at Lochiel. While a resident at South Hillend, Mr O'Brien was for fourteen years a member of the school committee, and he is now a member of the South Forest Hill school committee. Mr O'Brien was married, in February, 1882, to a daughter of the late Mr Michael Corrigan, of King's County, Ireland, and has three sons and six daughters.

Mr Dugald Cameron , Sometime Of Forest Hill, Was Born Near Killin, Perthshire, Scotland. He Came To Port Chalmers By The Ship “Henrietta,” In 1862, And Settled In The Forest Hill District, Where He Was One Of The First To Take Up Land. Mr Cameron Acquired 200 Acres In Its Native State, And Effected Considerable Improvements On His Property. He Was Married To A Daughter Of Mr Charles Livingstone, Of Forest Hill, And At His Death, In 1879, Left Two Sons And Five Daughters. Mr Livingstone Also Came To New Zealand In The “Henrietta,” In 1862.