Gladfield is an agricultural and pastoral settlement four miles and a-half from Drummond, and nine miles from Otautau. It takes its name from Gladfield estate, at one time owned by the late Mr James Mackintosh, pioneer and politician. About 1893, the Gladfield property was subdivided for closer settlement, and since that time a considerable number of settlers have erected homesteads in the district. Gladfield is in the electoral district of Wallace, and in the Otautau riding of the county of Southland, and at the census of 1901, had a population of sixty-four. The land is level, and of good quality. The public school was opened in February, 1904, and has an average attendance of twenty children. The local road extends from Gladfield northward towards Heddon Bush, southward to Limestone Plains, eastward to Drummond, and westward to Otautau. There is no church in the district, but ample accommodation in this respect is provided in the neighbouring settlements.

Buick, Robert , Farmer, Gladfield. Mr Buick was born in 1868, in County Antrim, Ireland, where he was brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand by the s.s. “Rimutaka,” in 1878, and settled in the Winton district, where he was employed in farm work for several years. In 1896, Mr Buick bought 170 acres of the Gladfield estate, and in 1901 acquired a further area of 143 acres. Mr Buick has effected considerable improvements in the property, which is devoted to mixed farming.

McFetrick, William, Farmer, “Gladfield Homestead,” Gladfield. Mr McFetrick was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1846, and came to New Zealand by the ship “Dauntless,” in 1863. He was engaged in gold mining, chiefly in the Nevis district, for over thirty years. In the year of his arrival in New Zealand, he proceeded to the West Coast, but three years later returned to Otago, where he engaged in hydraulic sluicing, with considerable success. In 1893, Mr McFetrick retired from mining, and bought “Gladfield Homestead,” a property of 564 acres, and he has since acquired an additional area of 272 acres in the neighbourhood. Mr McFetrick devotes himself to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, Clydesdale horses, and crossbred sheep.