Wedderburn , ninety-four miles north-west from Dunedin, on the Otago Central railway, stands at a higher elevation than any other railway station in the South Island, being 1,770 feet above sea level. Consequently the district has a very bracing climate. The Wedderburn creek flows through the township, and the settlement is bordered and sheltered on all sides by ranges of hills. Farming is the main industry, but there are also coal pits, and gold-sluicing is carried on. Wedderburn has a public school and a hotel.

The Wedderburn Railway Station was opened on the 1st of June, 1900, as the terminus (for the time being) of the Otago Central line. It stands at a level of nearly 2000 feet above the sea, and is the highest railway station in the Middle Island of New Zealand. The building is of wood, and includes the stationmaster's room, ticket office, public lobby, and ladies' waiting room. There are also goods sheds, coal and engine sheds, a good platform, and other accommodation.

Mr. George A. Travis , formerly Officer in Charge of the Wedderburn Railway Station, was born at Arrowtown, Otago, in 1877. He was educated at his native place, and at Invercargill and Dunedin, and entered the service as a cadet in Dunedin in 1892. After serving at Middlemarch, and at Kokonga, where he was in charge, he was appointed officer-in charge of the Ranfurly railway station, on the 1st of December, 1898, and was afterwards transferred to Wedderburn. During his residence at Kokonga Mr. Travis was secretary and treasurer of the local literary and debating society. He takes a general interest in athletics, and has played in football, cricket and tennis matches. Mr. Travis is now (1904) an officer at the Dunedin railway station.

Mr. G. A. Travis.

Wedderburn Public School ; teacher, Miss M. S. Pretsch.

Miss Maria Selina Pretsch , Mistress of the Wedderburn Public School, was born in Cromwell, where she received the earlier part of her education. She attended the Dunedin High school for three years, and after a year's training at the Normal College, was appointed to the Kawarau Gorge school, where she continued for three years, and was then transferred to Moa Flat. Miss Pretsch resigned her position there at the end of 1899 in order to enter the Otago University to complete her degree. She was afterwards for two years at Lowburn, before being appointed to Wedderburn.

Reed, Francis Sleeman , Farmer, Mengearn, Maruimato, Wedderburn. This property, which consists of 375 acres of freehold and 300 acres of leasehold in perpetuity was taken up by the proprietor in 1880. Mr. Reed was born in 1846 in Cornwall, where he gained his earliest knowledge of agriculture. He came to Port Chalmers in 1862, by the “Chili,” settled in Naseby in November of the following year, and engaged in mining for over twenty years. His property was acquired in 1880, and five years later Mr. Reed took up his residence on his estate. He has been a member of the Wedderburn school committee, and was at one time its chairman.

Mr. Thomas Mawhinney , sometime of “Fairview,” Maruimato (White Sow Valley), Wedderburn, was born in County Derry, Ireland. He arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand, by the ship “Piako,” in 1830, and settled a few years afterwards in Otago, at White Sow Valley. There he held 2000 acres of land; 1000 under a lease in perpetuity, and 1000 as a small grazing run. In 1898 he shore 1200 sheep. Mr. Mawhinney married a daughter of the late Mr. Melrose, formerly of Perthshire, Scotland, and latterly a Government nurseryman in the forestry department at Wedderburn. Since Mr. Mawhinney's death on the 25th of September, 1902, “Fairview” has been let to a tenant, and Mrs Mawhinney now (1904) resides in Dunedin, with her children — three daughters and one son. Mr. Mawhinney was forty-two years of age at the time of his death.

Mrs Mawhinney And The Late Mr. T. Mawhinney.