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

Waimatuku

Waimatuku.

Waimatuku Settlement extends on both sides of the main road from Invercargill to Riverton, and of the Invercargill-Orepuki railway line. The Upper district lies on the north side of the line, and extends by a good main road towards Calcium or Limestone Plains, which is eight miles distant, and towards Drummond, which is twelve miles distant. South of the railway line the district is known as Lower Waimatuku, and is on both sides of the Waimatuku page 927 stream, which passes through the Waimatuku bush to the Waimatuku beach, at Howell's roads. There are numerous settlers in the district, with farms varying in area from 100 to 200 acres, up to 1,400 or 1,500 acres, mostly freehold; but there are also a number of educational reserves which are occupied under leasehold tenures. The flag-station known as Waimatuku stands at an elevation of thirty-six feet above the sea level, and is sixteen miles from Invercargill. The township had a population of 166 at the census of 1901, and is in the Aparima riding of the county of Wallace, while Waimatuku bush and Waimatuku stream are in the Wallacetown riding of the county of Southland. At the census of 1901 these places had, respectively, a population of 150 and 117. Waimatuku lies chiefly in the Awarua electorate. Alongside the railway station there is a large and fully equipped cheese factory, which was commenced on co-operative lines in 1888. The public school in the settlement dates from the seventies, but there is no church in the township, and the Presbyterian and Methodist churches conduct services periodically in the local public hall. The business of the postal department is conducted at the school-house, and the telephone bureau is at the local store. There is a blacksmith's shop in the township. Sheep farming and agriculture are the principal occupations of the settlers. The country is mostly level, and contains a large proportion of rich land.

The Waimatuku Post Office was established in 1879, and has been conducted at the Waimatuku school house since 1889. Mails are received, and despatched, daily, and Mr Duncan McKenzie, headmaster of the school, acts as postmaster. The telephone bureau is situated at the Waimatuku store.

The Waimatuku Public School was removed in 1888 from Flint's Bush—a distance of two miles and a half—and stands on a site of five acres near the railway station. The building is of wood and iron, and contains two classrooms with accommodation for 120 children. In 1904 there were sixty-eight names on the roll, and the average attendance was fifty-four. The teacher in charge is assisted by a mistress. The headmaster occupies a seven-roomed house adjoining the school.

Ranfurly Flaxmill (William Norman and James Francis Norman, trading as Norman and Son, proprietors), Waimatuku. This mill was established in 1901. The building is of wood and iron, and contains a twelve horse-power portable engine, and a full plant. The output of the mill is from twelve to fourteen tons of dressed flax a month. Twenty men are employed, and the supply of green flax is drawn from the surrounding districts.

Mr. William Norman , Senior Partner of the firm of Norman and Son, was born in 1852, in Herefordshire, in England. He came to New Zealand by the ship “British Queen” in 1883, and settled at Woodend, Canterbury, where he was employed in a flax mill for ten years. He afterwards conducted a flaxmill on his own account, and, later on, removed to Westerfield, near Ashburton. In 1900, Mr Norman returned to Southland, and started a mill at Waiau, which he conducted for a year and six months, when he established the mill at Waimatuku. Mr Norman was married, in 1877, to Miss Chinnery, of Norfolk, England, and has one son.

Mr. James Francis Norman , the Junior Partner, was born in 1881, at Woodend, Canterbury, and educated at Woodend, Gebbie's Valley, and the Normal School, Christchurch. He was brought up to the flax milling business, and has been in partnership with his father for several years.

Bickley, Samuel Wallace , Farmer, Eastbourn Park, Waimatuku. Mr Bickley was born in Shropshire, England, in 1832, and was brought up to country life. After farming for some years in the Old Country on his own account he came to New Zealand by the ship “Oamaru,” which arrived at Port Chalmers in 1880. Mr Bickley settled in Southland, worked in various parts of the district, and subsequently leased from 700 to 800 acres at Lower Waimatuku, where he resided for many years. This property is now worked by his sons. In 1899 Mr Bickley, took up 350 acres of leasehold known as Eastbourn Park. He was married, in 1854, but his wife died in 1902, leaving four sons and four daughters.

Boyd, Frank Robert , Sheep-farmer, “Erroldale,” Waimatuku. Mr Boyd was born in Greenock, Scotland, and was educated at the Glasgow Academy. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1862 by the ship “Aboukir,” having been preceded by two brothers. Mr Boyd's property consists of about 1,100 acres of freehold, which is worked as a sheep farm. The property was taken up in the sixties by Mr William Boyd, father of the present proprietor, who had been a Glasgow merchant. He was practically the first settler in the district, and the land consisted mostly of flax swamps Large sums of money have been expended in improving the land, and a very fine residence has been erected on the property. Mr Boyd owns a registered flock of Rommey Marsh sheep, which he has steadily improved since its establishment in 1879. He was for a short time a member of the Aparima Road Board, and has been chairman of the Waimatuku Dairy Factory Company.

Residence Of Mr. F. R. Boyd.

Residence Of Mr. F. R. Boyd.

page 928Fraser William. Farmer, “Taurima, Waimatuku. Mr Fraser is a son of the late Mr Duncan Eraser, and was born in 1858, in Inverneass-shire, Scotland, where he was educated, He arrived with his parents at the Bluff on the 30th of January, 1861, by the ship “Edward I horn-hill,” and helped in clearing his father's land. Mr Eraser started farming on his own account in 1883, when, in recognition of his service, his father presented him with a team of horses and £100. His farm then consisted
Mr. W. Fraser.

Mr. W. Fraser.

of 157 acres of leasehold land, which he afterwards purchased. He subsequently bought 300 acres from his father, besides leasing 360 acres of the Riverton Harbour Endowment. Mr Fraser has been a deacon of the Riverton Presbyterian church since 1884. He was married, in February, 1901, to a daughter of Mr William Anderson, of North Invercargill, and has one daughter.

Fraser, John , “Balmain,” Waimatuku. Mr Fraser's farm, which comprises 295 acres of leasehold, was acquired by him in the eighties. It was then in its natural condition, consisting chiefly of tussocks and swamp, but now, with the exception of thirty acres, it has been broken up and sown down in grass. The property is worked as a mixed farm, cattle and sheep being raised and crops cultivated. Mr Eraser is further referred to as chairman of the Wallace County Council.

Fraser, Lachlan , Farmer, “Meadowside,” Waimatuku. Mr Fraser was born in I Inverness-shire, Scotland, in 1859, and came to the Bluff with his father, the late Mr Duncan Fraser, on the 30th of January, 1864, by the ship “Edward Thorn-hill.” He was educated at Waianiwa and Flint's Bush, and was brougnt up to farming. In 1884, Mr Fraser leased 200 acres of the Riverton Harbour endowment land. The land was then in its native condition, but more than half has since been brought under cultivation.

Fraser, Thomas , Farmer, “Fairfield,” Waimatuku. Mr Fraser was born in 1863, on the ship “Edward Thornhill,” on her voyage to the Bluff. He is a son of the late Mr Duncan Fraser, and was educated at Flint's Bush. Mr Fraser was brought up to farming by his father in the Waimatuku district. In 1884 he took up 300 acres of leasehold land, which he worked as a mixed farm for many years. “Fairfield,” which he now owns, consists of 150 acres of freehold.

McGaw, George Washington , Farmer, “Woodside,” Waimatuku. Mr McGaw was born in 1831, in Wigtonshire, Scotland, where he worked on his father's farm for seventeen years, and afterwards learned the trade of a carpenter. He subsequently emigrated to America and joined his uncle, who was manager of a tobacco factory in Louisville, Kentucky, but soon returned to Scotland, and a year later Came out to Australia with three cousins. Mr McGaw resided in Australia for five years, when he returned to Scotland, married, and embarked for Auckland by the ship “Mermaid,” in 1859. For a short time he served as a volunteer during the Maori disturbances. In 1860 he went to Sydney, but soon returned to New Zealand, and worked at his trade at the Lake diggings. A year later he removed to Riverton, and shortly afterwards to Invercargill, where he resided for four years, during part of which time he was employed on the old Post Office building. Mr McGaw then turned his attention to farming, and bought a property at Thornbury, which he worked for four years. In 1872, he removed to flint's Bush where he resided for seixteen years, and in 1888 he purchased the property known as “Woodside,” Waimatuku. This property consists of 207 acres, seventy-three of which are leasehold, and the balance freehold. Mr McGaw was one of the first directors of the Waimatuku Dairy Company. He was married, in 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr Stephen Hunter, Stranraer, Wigtonshire, Scotland, and has, surviving, a family of five sons and five daughters.

Rance, Henry , Farmer, Waimatuku. Mr Rance was born in 1854, in Middlesex, England, where he was educated and brought up to country life. In 1873 he came to New Zealand by the ship “Lutterworth,” and landed at Port Chalmers, whence he was conveyed to Moeraki by the s.s. “Samson.” After residing at Hampden for two years, Mr Rance removed to Waimatuku, where he worked for some years. In 1885 he bought part of his present property, which now consists of 320 acres; 220 freehold, and the balance under perpetual lease. An area of 200 acres has been reclaimed from its native condition, and brought into a good state of cultivation. Mr Rance has been a member of the Waimatuku school committee since 1895, and was one of the early shareholders in the dairy factory. He was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr John Mclndoe, of Spar Bush, and has three sons and five daughters.

Mr. Duncan Fraser , sometime of Waimatuku, was born in 1832, in Inverness-shire, Scotland, where he was educated, and became a teacher. His father was a farmer, and on his death Mr Fraser took charge of the farm. He arrived at the Bluff by the ship “Edward Thornhill,” on the 30th of January,
The Late Mr. D. Fraser.

The Late Mr. D. Fraser.

1864, and after working for some time as a gold miner at Picton, and the West Coast, he settled in the Waimatuku district, where, in 1870, he took up 450 acres of land, which he farmed until his death in 1902. Mr Fraser was one of the first directors of the Waimatuku Dairy Factory. He was married, in 1850, to a daughter of the late Mr William Fraser, of Craigie, Inverness-shire, Scotland. His wife died in 1893, leaving three sons and five daughters.