Dunback , in the county of Waihemo, is situated on the banks of the Shag river, nine miles by rail from Palmerston, and fifty miles north-west by rail from Dunedin. The township has a population of about 150, and the district is noted for its game—deer, hares, rabbits, ducks, and pigeons, and the river abounds in trout. There is a post and money order office, and, apart from farming, there are two gold-mining dredges working in the neighbourhood. There are two hotels in the district, and the road from Palmerston to Dunback is exceptionally good, and a favourite with cyclists. Hyde, twenty-four miles from Dunback, is the nearest point on the Otago Central railway.

The Dunback Railway Station , which is the terminus of the Palmerston-Dunback branch, is a wooden building with a ladies' waiting room, lobby, ticket and booking office, stationmaster's room and post and telegraph office. There is a large goods shed and engine shed, and a substantial passenger platform. In connection with the station there is also a fine water service. The station has been open since the completion of the line in 1888.

Mr. William John Venn , Stationmaster, Postmaster and Telegraphist, at the Dunback Railway Station, joined the service in 1874, and served as a stationmaster at Te Auto for four years. Mr Venn also served for four years, at Kaikora, prior to 1892, when he was appointed to his present position.

The Dunback Public School , which was established about 1878, has a prominent site in the township. It is a wooden building of the ordinary design, and is situated on a section of four acres in extent. There is a large playground, and the school-house, which has five rooms, is prettily situated at the back of the school. The number on the roll is sixty-three, with an average attendance of about fifty, and the staff consists of the headmaster and one assistant.

Mr. John Mills , Headmaster of the Dunback Public School, was born in 1864 at Green Island, and was educated in Dunedin. He was trained for two years at the Normal Training College, and holds an E2 certificate. After acting as headmaster at Macrae's for two and a half years, he was appointed to the Dunback school. Mr. Mills is a member of the Palmerston branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. He is prominent in connection with local sports, is vice-president of the Dunback Cricket Club, and has passed through all the chairs in the Dunback Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. Mr Mills was married, in 1888, to a daughter of Mr B. O'Neill, of Shag Valley, and has two sons and four daughters.

Appleby, photo.
Mr. J. Mills and Son.

Mr. Aaron Battersby , formerly Manager of the Dunback Rabbit Factory and Meat Preserving Works, was born at Oamaru in 1870, and was educated at the Waitaki High School. He became accountant at the works in 1892, and was promoted to the managership in 1896. While at Dunback Mr. Battersby was a member and secretary of the local school committee, adn passed through all the chairs in the Loyal Dunback Lodge of Oddfellows. He was married, in 1898, to a daughter of Mr. A. Mitchell, of Waitaki, Mr. Battersby now (1904) resides in High Street Roslyn, near Dunedin.

Mr. A. Battersby.

Urquhart, William , Storekeeper, Dunback. Mr. Urquhart was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1853, and was brought up to milling in his native country. Before coming to New Zealand in October, 1881, he was employed in the West Street Roller Mills, Glasgow, said to be the first roller mills in Scotland. He came to Otago under engagement to the late Mr. J. Runciman, of Green Island, and brought from Leeds for Mr. Runciman a complete roller plant, which was installed under his supervision. Mr. Urquhart worked the mill successfully for five years, and then leased the Glen Park Mill, at Palmerston. He is now (1904), in business as a storekeeper at Dunback. Mr. Urquhart was married, in 1885, to a daughter of the late Mr. T. Donaldson, head miller for Mr. J. F. White, of the Kettock Mills, Aberdeen, and has one son.

Mr. W. Urquhart.

Cockerill, Alfred , Farmer, Spring-bank, Dunback. Mr. Cockerill was born in 1858, in Tasmania, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits. He settled in Otago in 1875, and was engaged in the Shag Valley district, in mining and farming, until the year 1896, when he purchased the Springbank property, which contains sixty-one acres of freehold land. Mr. Cockerill ws married on the 28th of April, 1897, to a daughter of Mr. John Ferry, of Strabane, Ireland.

The Grange Station (William Orr McKellar, manager), Dunback. This property, which consists of eight thousand acres of freehold, and carries about six thousand sheep, is mostly pastoral country. It is the property of Mr. Malcolm McKellar.

Mr. William Orr Mckellar , Manager of the Grange Estate, is the son of the proprietor, and was born in Oamaru in 1877 He was educated at the Waitaki Boys' High School, and was brought up to agricultural and pastoral pursuits. Mr. McKellar, who has been in charge of the “Grange” since 1896, is a member of the Palmerston Agricultural and Pastoral Society.

Mr. and Mrs A. Cockerill.