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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Walker, Donald Downie

Walker, Donald Downie, Farmer, Watershed Road, Ashurst. Mr. Walker came to the Colony in the early sixties, and had some very rough experiences. Among them may be mentioned the fact of himself and his wife having tramped their way along the Coast from Wellington right up to the Manawatu in order to take a billet on a Mr. Perry's station, to which Mr. Walker had been appointed. This was only one of many very rough experiences which were undergone by Mr. and Mrs. Walker in their early experience of colonial life. Mr. Walker was born in Aberdeenshire in 1836, and was educated at the local schools. He then went farming till 1853, when he joined the 94th Regiment, in which he served some years. After visiting Melbourne he crossed to New Zealand and obtained a situation with Mr. J. D. Kebbel, a runholder in Manawatu. Some four years subsequently he became manager of Mr. Manson's station at Kairanga, and while there was a member of the Manawatu Road Board. He now has an excellent property on the Watershed Road, near Ashurst, which consists of about 100 acres. Here Mr. Walker, a remarkably erect, wiry, and hale old Scotchman, resides with his wife and daughter. Mrs. Walker, who was evidently the right sort of woman for a settler's wife, is a daughter of Mr. Gerrie, of Aberdeenshire.