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

Long Bush

Long Bush.

Long Bush , as the name of the district, is said to have originated with the waggoners who, in the old days, travelled from Dunedin to Invercargill, and used the term as an indication of the length and weariness of the journey. The main southern railway line passes through the district, which has now only a flag statton, though there was at one time a stationmaster: Long Bush is nine miles distant by road and rail from Invercargill, and the flag station stands at an elevation of eighty-eight feet above sea level. Part of the district is in the Waihopai, and part in the Awarua, riding of the county of Southland. The population of the township, at the census of 1901, was 124, and there were twenty-six in the vicinity, all in the Waihopai riding; while that portion of the township which lies in the Awarua riding had a population of ninety-one, and forty-eight additional in the vicinity. The whole district is in the Awarua electorate. Long Bush district has sawmills, extensive brick and tile works, and a flaxmill. The public school stands off the main road, and the local post office, formerly conducted at the railway station, is now under the charge of a postmistress. Much of the original native bush has been cleared away from the land, which is generally level, and in a high state of cultivation. The timber yard at the railway station is connected by a tramway with the Long Bush sawmill, three miles distant.

Long Bush Public School was established in the early seventies, and occupies a section of about twelve acres on the main east road, ten miles from Invercargill. The original buildings have entirely disappeared, and have been replaced by a commodious school and a six-roomed residence for the teacher. The site is one of the best in the district.

Mr. Alexander Stott , F.E.I.S., who has been Headmaster of the Long Bush Public School since 1886, is a native of Montrose, Scotland, where he served his apprenticeship as a pupilteacher under Mr Menzies, of St.
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. A. Stott.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. A. Stott.

John's. Before entering the Normal School, Edinburgh, he acted for some time as first assistant to Mr Cunningham, Lockerbie Institution, Dumfries shire. He distinguished himself at Moray House Training College, and secured a full teacher's drawing certificate and Queen's. Prize for Animal Physiology. Afterwards, he held the position of headmaster of the Free Church Institution, Girvan, Ayrshire, for several years, and during that time was elected a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland. Mr Stott came to Dunedin, in 1874, by the s.s. “Taupo,” under engagement to the Otago Education Board. He had charge of the Kensington School, Dunedin, for several years; was then appointed headmaster of the Ashburton Borough Schools, and held the position for about four years. On returning to Dunedin, he acted as first assistant at Kaikorai for some time before his appointment to Long Bush. In Dunedin he attended the Otago University classes for Latin, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Mental Science, and took the first section of his B.A. degree. He is a member of the New Zealand Educational Institute. Mr Stott married, in 1879, the only daughter of John Sinclair, Esquire, Mount Clifton, Waitati; but his wife died at Long Bush in 1893, leaving three sons and one daughter to mourn their loss.
Froggatt, Joshua , Apiarist and Orchardist, Broadleaf Apiary, Long Bush. Mr Froggatt commenced bee farming in 1879, with two hives, and has gradually increased his stock, until, in 1904, he had 275 boxes, partly of the Langstroth, and partly of his own design. Between seven and eight thousand pounds weight of honey have been produced in a single year. Mr Froggatt has also a very fine variety of fruit trees, chiefly apples, and as much as three tons of fruit have been gathered in a season. The property consists of twenty-six acres of freehold, charmingly situated amidst native bush. Mr Froggatt was born in 1847, in Shropshire, England, where
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. J. Froggatt.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. Froggatt.

he was educated and brought up on his father's farm. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1864, by the ship “Ajmeer,” settled in Southland, and worked for a time at Edendale station, and was afterwards in Invercargill. He worked a small farm at Kennington for several years, and was subsequently employed in sawmilling and flax-milling. At a later period Mr Froggatt commenced farming at the Ridge, Long Bush, but sold out and bought his present property in 1896. He was married, in 1901, to a daughter of the page 1060 late Mr Arthur Ward, of Drummond, and has one son and one daughter.

The Long Bush Sawmill (Braud, Small and Company, proprietors), Long Bush. This mill was erected in 1892. It is constructed of wood and iron, and contains breaking-down and breast benches, with planing and moulding machines. The machinery is driven by a sixteen horse-power steam engine, and the output is about 5,000 feet of dressed and undressed timber per day. Twenty-two persons are employed at the mill, which is connected by tramway with a yard at the Long Bush railway station, three miles distant.

Mr. John Mcleay , Manager of the Long Bush Sawmill, was born in the district in 1871. He was educated at Rimu, and was brought up to
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. J. McLeay.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. J. McLeay.

the sawmilling trade at Brunswick. Mr McLeay has been employed at the Long Bush Mill since 1894, and became working manager in 1902.
Colwill, John , Farmer, Long Bush, Mr Colwill was born at Alternun, Cornwall, England, in 1856, and brought up to farming. He arrived at the Bluff in 1879, and immediately started work on a farm, and was afterwards employed for a short time at a sawmill. Subsequently Mr Colwill took up a farm of 215 acres at Forest Hill, where he remained for about six years, and in 1892, he acquired his present farm of 100 acres at Long Bush, which he has increased to 289 acres, and where he carries on mixed farming. Mr Colwill was a member of the Makarewa River Board; he served on the Long Bush school committee for eleven years, and is a church steward of the Primitive Methodist church at Kennington, where he is also superindent of the Sunday school. He was
Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. And Mrs J. Colwill.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs J. Colwill.

married, in July, 1888, to a daughter of Mr James Adamson, farmer, Grove Bush, and has one son and four daughters.

Evans, Louis , Farmer, “Meadowbank,” Long Bush. Mr Evans was born at Ashford, in Shropshire, England, in 1876, and educated partly at the parish school, and partly at a boarding school at Little Hereford. He engaged in farm work until coming to New Zealand in 1889, and in 1892, he he and his brother, Mr T. Evans, took up “Meadowbank,” a farm of 467 acres, which they held jointly until 1897, when they divided the place and dissolved partnership. Mr Louis Evans has been a director of the Woodlands Saleyards Company, Limited, since its inception. He was married in January, 1903, to a daughter of Mr J. Laidlaw, senior, of Woodlands, and has one daughter.

Mcintyre, Donald , Farmer, “Mona Bush,” Long Bush. Mr McIntyre was born in 1857, in Perthshire, Scotland, and accompanied his father, the late Mr John McIntyre, to the Bluff, by the ship “Arima,” in 1864. He has farmed the Mona Bush property since his father's death in 1898. The farm consists of 554 acres of freehold, and fourteen acres of leasehold, and is devoted to mixed farming. Mr McIntyre is attached to the Shamrock, Rose, and Thistle Lodge of
Gerstenkorn. photo.Mr. D. McIntyre.

Gerstenkorn. photo.
Mr. D. McIntyre.

Oddfellows, Invercargill. He was married, in 1902, to a daughter of the late Mr Archibald Sellars, of Woodlands.

Mcintyre, John , Farmer, “Rozell Bush,” Long Bush. Mr McIntyre was born in 1851, in Perthshire, Scotland, and arrived at the Bluff, with his parents, by the ship “Arima,” in 1864. He was brought up to farming and worked on his father's farm—Mona Bush—till the latter's death in 1898, when he acquired his present property. “Rozell Bush” consists of 350 acres of freehold, including some fine bush, on which a sawmill commenced operations in 1904. Mr McIntyre is a member of the Long Bush school committee. He was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr James McKay, of “Bushy Park,” Long Bush, and has six sons and two daughters.

Sadlier, James Henry , Farmer, Long Bush. Mr Sadlier is a son of the late Mr Henry Sadlier, and was born in 1867, at Long Bush, where he was brought up to farming, and was employed at Forest Hill and Waianiwa for five years. He afterwards removed to Canterbury, where he resided for twelve months, and then returned to Long Bush; and in 1893 he took over his father's farm of 121 acres. Mr Sadlier is a member of the Order of Foresters at Woodlands.

Mr. John Mcintyre , sometime of Long Bush, was born in 1826, in Perthshire, Scotland, where his father was a farmer and cattle dealer. He page 1061 came to New Zealand by the ship “Arima,” in 1864. Shortly after his arrival he bought 100 acres of land known as “Mona Bush,” and subsequently increased his holding to 540 acres. Mr Mclntyre also acquired a property of 360 acres known as “Rozell Bush.” The old homestead in which he resided up to the time of his death was erected in 1857, and is said to have been the first house built in the Long Bush district. Mr McIntyre served as a member of the Long Bush school committee. He was married, in 1846, to a daughter of the late

The late Mr. J. McIntyre.

The late Mr. J. McIntyre.

Mrs J. McIntyre.

Mrs J. McIntyre.

Mr Joseph Faichney, of Perthshire, Scotland, and at his death in 1898, left two sons and two daughters. Mrs McIntyre, who was born in 1828, Survives her husband.

Mr. James McKay , sometime of Bushy Park, Long Bush, was born in the parish of Rogart, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1830, and when he arrived at manhood he left his native land Mrs McKay. for Australia. He landed at Melbourne in 1852, when Victoria was in the full tide of its gold discoveries. Instead, however, of rushing to the diggings with the majority, young McKay entered the service of Mr Gray, a pastoralist, and remained with him for some time. Then he followed, in succession, various other occupations, but as he did not altogether like Victoria, he turned his attention to New Zealand, and arrived in Wellington in 1856. His desire was to secure land, and as nothing near Wellington satisfied him, he removed to Canterbury. There he remained for some time, chiefly in the neighbourhood of Christchurch, and took a contract to harvest one of the early crops of wheat grown in the settlement. As a reminiscence of the past, and a comparison with more modern methods, it may be observed that the grain was cut with a sickle. Once more Mr McKay took up his bed and walked—that is, he carried his swag southward from Christchurch, with a Portuguese as his mate, and at last found himself at Invercargill. He was three weeks on the journey, and some of the rivers on the way could not not be forded, but had to be swum, owing to their being in flood. It was still the year 1856 when Mr McKay reached Invercargill, and at the time of his arrival Mr J. T. Thomson was surveying the town. Mr McKay found employment in connection with the survey of the surrounding district, and while he was thus engaged he bought his land at Long Bush, and there, shortly afterwards, he began to make the home of all his later life. during 1858 and 1859 he paid brief business visits to Victoria, and had to travel overland from Long Bush to Port Chalmers, and then take passage in a sailing vessel bound for Sydney. While he was visiting Victoria, Mr McKay made the acquaintance of his future wife, and, after some of the wilderness at Long Bush had been reclaimed, and a house built, the bride-elect arrived in New Zealand. The young couple were married at Mr Finlayson's house
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mrs McKay And The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mrs McKay And The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Residence Of The Late Mr. J. McKay.

Residence Of The Late Mr. J. McKay.

page 1062 at, Waikiwi, on New Year's Day, 1861. Some of the circumstances of the wedding are worth recalling, as a contrast between the past and the present The bridegroom, his brother, and a few guests had to tramp through swamp, tussock, and flax from Long Bush to Waikiwi; and the Rev. A. H. Stobo also had to trudge along a primitive bush track from Invercargill, to perform the marriage ceremony, after which the wedding party walked backed to Long Bush, where they entertained themselves and each other with caber-throwing, leaping, racing, and dancing to the strains of a violin played by Mr Alexander Ross now (1905) of Tyne Street, Invercargill. Mr and Mrs McKay became prosperous colonists, and the father and mother of five daughters and seven sons, two of whom—a son and a daughter—they lost by death. Mr McKay was one of the founders of the Long Bush Ploughing Match Association, and became an office-bearer of the Woodlands Presbyterian church, chairman of the school committee, a member of the Southland Caledonian Society, and a cordial supporter of the Pioneers' Association; and he was for several years chieftain of the Highland Society of Southland. Mr McKay died at Bushy Park, Long Bush, on the 6th of December, 1904, aged seventy-four years; and was survived by his wife, six sons, and four daughters.

Mr. Henry Sadlier , sometime of Long Bush, was born in 1827, at Carmichael, near Lanark, Scotland, where he was brought up to farming. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Bruce,” in 1860, and shortly afterwards took up land in the Long Bush district, where he had 121 acres of freehold, and nine acres of leasehold land. When taken up, it was almost covered with rugged bush, but Mr Sadlier lived to see it hrought to a good state of cultivation, and latterly, the farm was leased by one of his sons. Mr Sadlier was married, in 1857, to a daughter of the late Mr James Sorbie, of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and had four sons and three daughters. He died in January, 1905.

Gerstenkorn, photo. The Late Mr. H. Sadlier and Mrs Sadlier.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
The Late Mr. H. Sadlier and Mrs Sadlier.