Adams, William, Produce Farmer, Mount Pleasant, Masterton. Born in the north of Ireland in 1825, this old settler came to Auckland in 1846, per ship “Jerva,” having enlisted in the Imperial service the previous year. He took his discharge at Wellington in 1850, and settled in the Wairarapa, having resided in Masterton district for forty-six years. Mr. Adams's farm—over eighty acres in extent—which was originally covered with flax, titree and bush, is now good agricultural and grazing ground. During the period of native disturbance, the subject of this notice served in the Masterton Rifles for three years, and was afterwards in the militia. He is of a retiring disposition, and has not taken part in public life. In 1864 Mr. Adams was married to a daughter of the late Mr. M. Dixon, of Masterton, and his eight son; and eight daughters, of whom three sons and five daughters are married, the grandchildren numbering twenty-five.

Beetham, Norman, Sheepfarmer, The Brae, Masterton. Born in Surrey in 1853, Mr. Beetham came to Weillington with his parents at the age of two years, per barque “William and Jane.” He was brought up to a country life at Brancepeth station, where for ten years he gained experience in sheepfarming. In 1880 Mr. Beetham settled in Hawkes Bay on Te Apiti station—14,50) acres in extent, which carries 23,000 sheep, and is still owned by him. In public bodies he has taken interest as a member of the Oeo Road Board, the Hawkes Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the National Association, and the Free Employers and Employees' Association. In 1881 Mr. Beetham was married to a daughter of Mr. H. S. Wardell, of Te Whiti, Masterton, and has two sons.

Bentley, Henry, Settler, Masterton. Born in Scotland in 1819, Mr. Bentley came to Wellington—an A.B. on the ship “Lord William Bentinck”—arriving on the 19th of May, 1841. With five companions he ran away from the vessel, being subsequently arrested as a deserter, and discharged on promising to join a coasting vessel. Soon after arrival in Wellington, he entered the Wellington Customhouse. After the Wairau massacre, Mr. Bentley left the Government brig “Victoria,” on which he had worked for some time. Subsequently he served in the militia, and afterwards joined the armed constabulary, serving against the notorious rebel chiefs Rauparaha and Rangihaeata. Settling at Karori, Mr. Bentley remained till 1853, when he visited the Australian goldfields, from which he speedily returned, and selected land at Masterton. In 1855 he took his wife and family to their new home, then in the bush. During the Maori scare that followed, Mr. Bentley served as lieutenant in the volunteers. For over forty years he has been identified with every movement for the advancement of the district. Some years ago Mr. Bentley was tempted to go into an extensive business speculation, which turned out unfortunately, and since that time he has lived a quiet life.

Mr. H. Bentley.

Chamberlain, Giles Edinburgh, Flour-miller and Farmer, Starwood Farm, Upper Plain, Masterton. Born in 1838 at Northampton, the subject of this notice came to Port Nicholson at the age of four years, per ship “London,” with his father, the late Mr. Thomas Chamberlain, who died shortly after settling in the Wairarapa in 1855. Mr. Chamberlain's farm at Upper Plain—eighty-one acres in area—was mostly bush when purchased. About thirty acres have been cleared and ploughed, the stumps of which are extracted by means of a traction engine—a five-foot root being taken out in this way in about twenty minutes. During the Maori troubles Mr. Chamberlain served in the Masterton Cavalry Volunteers for seven years, when the corps was disbanded. He has been ready to serve on public bodies, having acted as a member of the Masterton Road Board, and cheerfully giving his assistance to the local Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr. Chamberlain is a member of the firm of Chamberlain Bros., flour-millers. He was married to a daughter of Mr. Joseph Whatton in 1865, and has five daughters and two sons.

Mr. G. E. Chamberlain, Masterton.

Gray Bros. (Roderick Gray and Farquhar Gray), Sheep Breeders and Farmers, “Fairburn,” Masterton. This well-known farm of nearly 1200 acres, which was brought into cultivation by the late Mr. Farquhar Gray, who settled in the district in the early sixties, and to which his sons have succeeded, is famous for its stud sheep. Messrs. Gray Bros. are the most noted prize-winners for the Romney Marsh variety, having gained the champion prize for a ram at the last Wellington show. During the past few years no less than twenty gold medals have been won by their exhibits of sheep, cattle, and horses at the various shows in the provincial district, besides several silver trophies and medals. The senior partner, Mr. Roderick Gray, was born in 1870 in Masterton, where he was educated. He learned farming under his father's guidance, and on that gentleman's death in 1893, with his brother, he took over the management of the property. He has earned a reputation as an athlete, being considered the best mile runner in the Wairarapa. In 1893 he was one of the New Zealand representative football team that visited Australia. He is now vice president os the Parkvale Football Club, a member of the Masterton Football Club, of the Wairarapa representative team, and of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society. The firm are, of course, supporters of the various pastoral and agricultural societies.

Messrs. Gray Bros.' Champion Ewe—First Prize and Champion Carterton Show, 1895.

Jones, Edward, Farmer, Kuripuni, near Masterton. The fourth and youngest son of Mr. Henry Jones, whose career is referred to in these pages, the subject of this sketch was born at the Hutt in 1854, and came with his parents to Masterton when two years old. Educated in the district he worked for his father till 1878, when he started in business on his own account. He is now occupied in farming pursuits, and has a chaff-cutting establishment besides a six-horse-power traction engine and complete machinery and fittings, which cost nearly £1000. He is a prominent member of the Masterton Wesleyan Church.

Mr. E. Jones.

Jones, Henry, Settler, Masterton. This old gentleman was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1811. Coming to New Zealand in 1842, in the ship “London,” he settled at Wadestown, and afterwards removed to Karori. Mr. Jones experienced the vicissitudes incidental to pioneer settlement, but with untiring industry he persevered until he secured a competency. While at Karori he held cottage services, which were greatly valued by the settlers at that time. In 1856 he bought a farm in Masterton, which he worked for many years. In 1870 he sold out, and with his daughter, Mrs. Collett, took up his residence in the township. Mr. Jones, who may be said to be self-educated, was a local preacher for twenty-eight years in the Wesleyan Church, in which he has filled all the offices open to a layman. For many years he was one of the prominent pillars of the Wesleyan Church in Wellington Province, rendering signal service in establishing churches and founding Sunday schools. Mr. Jones was married in 1832 to Miss Mary Willetts, who died a few years ago. His family numbers twelve children, fifty-two grand-children, and fifty great grand-children—a grand total of 114.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Jones

McKenzie, James, Farmer, Boyne Terrace, Masterton. Born at Taratahi in 1865, Mr. McKenzie was brought up to farming by his father, the late Mr. Alexander McKenzie, whose widow owns the snug little farm, which is leased to her son. Mr. McKenzie engages chiefly in agricultural farming, having had a general colonial experience in Australia as well as in this Colony. He takes an interest in field sports as a member of the Masterton Football Club, on behalf of which he used to play forward.

McKenzie, William, Sheepfarmer and Stock-dealer, Burnside, Manaia, Masterton. One of a family of sixteen who are all living at the time of writing, Mr. McKenzie was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, in 1859. His father, Mr. Kenneth McKenzie, of Stony Creek, near Palmerston North, who arrived in Wellington with his family by the only trip of the ship “Queen of the Avon” in 1861, brought up his son to the life of a settler. The subject of this notice, who has done a good deal of stock-dealing since the age of thirteen, has been well known as a leading stock buyer in Masterton since 1884. He leases 1116 acres of land, on which he resides, and has usually from 3000 to 4000 sheep on the estate, as many as from 70,000 to 80,000 sheep having passed through Mr. McKenzie's hands in a year He has been a member of the committee of the Wairarapa Agricultural and Pastoral Society for several years, and as a judge of stock he is generally called on to act at the Hawkes Bay, Palmerston North, and Hawera shows. In 1886 Mr. McKenzie was married to a daughter of Mr. F. Shaw, of Te Ore Ore.

Photo by Mrs. Herrmann.
Mr. W. McKenzie.

Mawley, Septimus, Sheepfarmer, “Ditton,” Wangaehu. Mr. Mawley possesses a magnificent property of some 3700 acres of fine limestone country, laid down in English grasses, and well planted with shelter trees. “Ditton,” which may be safely page 982 said to have very few superiors in the Wairarapa district, affords pasturage for about 8000 Lincoln sheep and 400 head of cattle. Between two bush-crowned hills lies the snug homestead, with cotages for the manager and his staff, and the usual farm buildings. Mr. Mawley, who was one of the pioneers in the Wangaehu district, was born in London in 1846. Educated at Tunbridge school with a view to adopting his father's profession as a surveyor and architect, Mr. Mawley spent nine years in his father's office, afterwards joining Mr. F. W. Porter, the well-known London architect. In 1873 Mr. Mawley decided to come to the colonies, and after some time in Melbourne he came to New Zealand. After spending some years in gaining colonial experience, during the earlier part of which he was on Mr. Williams's station in Hawkes Bay, he acquired his present property. As a public man, Mr. Mawley is chairman of the Ditton School Committee, and a member of the Wellington Agricultural and Pastoral Society. An enthusiast in cricket, he was a member of the first cricket club formed in Masterton. Mr. Mawley has two sons, one of whom is at the Wanganui College.

Mr. S. Mawley.

Tai Awhio Te Tau, Farmer, Kaumoana, Masterton, is a remarkably fine specimen of the native race. Descended from a long line of famous fighting chiefs, Mr. Te Tau is the chief of the Tumapuhia tribe well known throughout the Wairarapa. He and his wife are English in everything but name, the fine two-story house named “Kaumoana” (“From over the sea”) testifying to that fact. Valuable Maori curios, weapons, mats and specimens of beautiful native carving and a flag presented by the Duke of Edinburgh to Mr. Te Tau's father on behalf of the Wairarapa natives, are among the objects of interest in the house. At the back of the house are large and extensive stables for the accomodation of the racehorses, which number among them “Ned Kelly,” “The Duchess,” “Lady Gorton,” “Rahotu” (bred by Mr. Te Tau) and several others. He is the owner of large farms situated in Gladstone, Lower Valley, on the East Coast, Taueru and Lower Taueru, besides property in other parts of the Island. Mr. Te Tau was born in the Lower Valley, and on the death of his father he became chief of the tribe and assumed the management of the numerous properties belonging to his father and mother. As a footballer and huntsman he is well known and justly popular.

Mr. Tai Awhio Te Tau.