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

Island Cliff

page 485

Island Cliff.

Island Cliff is an agricultural and pastoral district with a flag station on the Oamaru-Tokarahi line, twenty-three miles from Oamaru, and two miles from Tokarahi. The station stands at an elevation of 681 feet above sea level, and the population of the settlement at the census of 1901 was seventy-one. Island Cliff is in the Awamoko riding of the Waitaki county, and in the electorate of Mount Ida. The district has a post office and telephone bureau, a public school, a blacksmith's shop, and a creamery, which is well supported by the settlers in the neighbourhood. The district takes its name from a notable hill on Mr. W. Gardiner's estate; the hill is almost entirely surrounded by streams, and its cone consists of limestone formation. The main road along the settlement passes through a remarkable ravine on the course of the Awamoko river; its sides consist of limestone buttresses, from which slope away the green table-lands. A great many of the settlers hold their land from the Government under leases in perpetuity, the farms having originally formed a portion of the Tokarahi estate.

The Island Cliff Public School , which stands on part of a section of ten acres in extent, is of wood and stone, and contains a class room and porch. There is accommodation for forty children; there are twenty-six names on the roll, and the average attendance is twenty-three. A teacher's residence of four rooms adjoins the school building. There is a shelter shed in the playground, and a convenient paddock for the children's horses. The school was originally known as the Tokarahi school, but the name was changed to Island Cliff on the opening of a new school on the Tokarahi estate.

Miss Mary Agnes Burnside , Headmistress of the Island Cliff school, was born in Dunedin, and educated there at the Normal school and Girls' High school. She studied for two years at the Normal Training College and gained a D 3 certificate. Miss Burnside was in charge of Deep Stream school for two years and a half, and afterwards for a year at Tahora school, before being appointed to her present position in September, 1902.

Henderson, John , General Black-smith and Farmer, Island Cliff. This business was established at Cross Ford in 1878, and was removed to its present site on the opening of the Tokarahi estate. Mr. Henderson was born in Carnwath parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1854, and learned his trade as blacksmith under his father. He came to Port Chalmers in 1884 by the ship “Wild Deer,” and for some time worked under Mr. E. Menlove at Windsor Park, and was afterwards with Mr. David Henderson at Oamaru, before starting his present business. In addition to carrying on his trade, he leases sixty acres of land from Mr. William Gardiner. Before leaving Scotland, Mr. Henderson was a member of the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Cavalry, and after settling in New Zealand he served as a member of the North Otago Hussars for four years. He held office as farrier-corporal, and farrier-sergeant, and resigned with the rank of sergeant-major. Mr. Henderson served for a year on the Island Cliff school committee, and was chairman of that body. He was married, in 1877, to Miss White, of Hawick, Scotland, and has three sons and two daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. J. Henderson.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. J. Henderson.

Bennett, Alfred , Settler, Island Cliff. Mr. Bennett was born in Kent, England, in 1850, and in his early years was employed at lime and cement works. In 1874 he came out to Port Chalmers by the ship “James Nicol Fleming,” and settled in the Oamaru district, where he has since resided with the exception of a year spent in Australia. He has found employment on various stations, and since 1897 has been engaged in general work on Mr. William Gardiner's station at Island Cliff.

Dobson, Thomas , Settler, Island Cliff, Mr. Dobson was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on the 10th of May, 1852, and was brought up to farming. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1874 by the ship “Parsee,” and for two years was employed by Mr. Menlove at Windsor Park, and for five years subsequently worked for Mr. Andrew Bell, contractor. Dunedin. Mr. Dobson was then employed for four years by Mr. William Howden, of Tokarahi, and in 1883 he was appointed surfaceman in charge of the Island Cliff section of the roads under the Waitaki County Council, which position he still holds. He is a member of the Island Cliff school committee, and is a Past Noble Grand of the Ngapara Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. Mr. Dobson was married, on the 3rd of January, 1883, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Henderson, of Oamaru, and has one son and one daughter. Mrs Dobson came to Port Chalmers with her father in 1874 by the ship “Wild Deer.”

Dobson, William , Farmer, Cross Ford, Island Cliff. Mr. Dobson was born in 1855, near Derry, Ireland, and was brought up to an outdoor life. He arrived in Port Chalmers by the ship “Parsee,” and shortly after-wards settled in the Ngapara district. About 1883 he commenced cropping, and followed that calling for a number of years, before leasing his present farm of 100 acres at Cross Ford. Mr. Dobson is a member of the Island Cliff school committee, and is attached to the Ngapara Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. He was married, in 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr. Henry Diver, of Donegal, Ireland, and has four sons and two daughters.

Fox, Thomas Henry , Farmer, Olrig Farm, Island Cliff. Mr. Fox was born in 1852, and is a son of the late Mr. Fox of Nelson. For about fourteen years he was master of the Ashburton Old Men's Home, and in 1897 became one of the original selectors of the Tokarahi estate. Mr. Fox's farm, which he holds under a lease in perpetuity, consists of 400 acres, and the land is utilised for rearing cattle, sheep, and pigs, and the raising of crops. Mr. Fox was married in 1883 to Mrs Maclaren, widow of the late James Maclaren, merchant, Glasgow, Scotland.

Gardiner, William , Farmer, Tapui, Island Cliff. Mr. Gardiner was born at Colac, Victoria, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand, in the ship “Armin,” in 1861. His father was for many years managing partner at Maerewhenua, in the firm of Messrs Borton and McMaster. Mr. Gardiner purchased the Tapui property, which consists of 3850 acres, in 1877, and at once engaged in wheat-growing; his average yields in a fair season have been equal to forty bushels to the acre. He also breeds and fattens stock, especially crossbred sheep, and besides these, he keeps a splendid flock of strong combing Merinos, his page 486 young rams being always in good demand at top prices. Mr. Gardiner gives great attention to his stud stock, and has always been a successful exhibitor at pastoral shows. He has never entered public life, though repeatedly asked to do so.

McKay, William , Settler, Island Cliff. Mr. McKay was born in Caithness, Scotland, in December, 1844. He was brought up as a shepherd and came to Port Chalmers by the ship “William Davie” in 1887. He was a shepherd at North Taieri for two years, and after a short time at Oamaru went to the Dunstan in 1869, when he took a position on the Galloway station for a year. Subsequently he was shepherding for a year at Pisa station, and then engaged in mining in that district for two years. Mr. McKay was sent to Lake Wakatipu to deliver a station and stock to Messrs Matheson Brothers. He then returned to Galloway station, where he was employed until 1877, when he settled at Island Cliff, and for about fifteen years was cropping and farming on the Tokarahi estate. Mr. McKay is at present (1904) shepherd to Mr. William Gardiner, of Island Cliff. He was at one time a member of the Order of Foresters at Alexandra. Mr. McKay was married, in 1876, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Roach, of County Wexford, Ireland, and has six sons and five daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo. Mr. and Mrs W. McKay.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. and Mrs W. McKay.