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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Farmers' Co-operative Dairy Company
Farmers' Co-operative Dairy Company (Cecil Roadley, proprietor), 82 Cuba Street. Established 1887. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This dairy is said to do the largest retail business in the line in Wellington. All leading brands of butter are kept, and a tastefully arranged window with a display of butter and eggs attracts attention in passing. Mr. Roadley was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1853, and finished his education in York. Upon leaving school, he learnt the printing trade. He came to New Zealand in 1874 in the ship “Berar” page 615 Landing in Wellington, he found employment at his trade for one year with Mr. Hughes, and nine years with Messrs. Lyon and Blair, Lambton Quay. At the latter place Mr. Roadley had charge of the mechanical department. After some time he turned his attention to dairying on a farm he had acquired at the Hutt. From this farm he opened a dairy business in Taranaki Street, and eventually came into his present premises. The original farm at the Hutt was sold in 1889, and a larger one of 200 acres acquired. This is worked by Mr. Roadley's sons, John Cecil and Albert Frederick. Mr. Roadley served on the Wainui-o-Mata School Committee as its secretary for one year, and was twice elected to the Mount Cook School Committee. He is an Oddfellow and is promoter and secretary of the Woodville Special Settlement Association, which has a grant of 6700 acres of land from the New Zealand Government. Mr. Roadley was prominently connected at one time with the Woodville Examiner and Marton Mercury newspapers.