Isla Bank is the postal name of the Limestone Plains district, which lies partly in the Winton riding, and partly in the Aparima riding, of the county of Southland. At the census of 1901 the population under the heading of Isla Bank—which is in the Winton riding—was 103; and that of Limestone Plains—which is in the Aparima riding—was 191. Isla Bank post office is some four miles from the Fairfax railway station, eight miles from Thornbury Junction, and six miles from Drummond. The district is about four miles from Flint's Bush northward, and is to the southward of Drummond, and to the eastward of Fairfax. Not far from the Isla Bank post office, there is a township known as Calcium, on part of which stands the local school, known as the Limestone Plains school, which was removed to its present site in 1899. The average number of children in attendance, in 1904, was thirty-five. Isla Bank is a parish of the Presbyterian church, and there is a commodious sanctuary, and a comfortable manse for the resident clergyman. The Waimatuku stream runs through the district, which has undulating land, with soil noted for its richness. There are a good many large farmers in the district, mostly freeholders; but some extensive education reserves are held under leasehold tenure.

The Isla Bank Post Office

was established in 1882. The business is carried on at the residence of Mr Alexander McHardy, and mails are received, and despatched daily. Mr Donald McHardy is postmaster.

Baird, Robert , Farmer, “Glencairn,” Isla Bank. Mr Baird was born in January, 1870, in Kircudbrightshire, Scotland, where he was brought up on his father's farm. He came to New Zealand by the ship “Scoresby,” and landed at Port Chalmers in 1862. He afterwards removed to Southland and worked in the Riverton district, where he was employed in breaking-in young horses to the plough and dray. He was subsequently engaged as a shepherd on an up-country station, and then resided for some time at Limestone Plains. In 1879, Mr Baird took up 800 acres of leasehold land, belonging to the Southland High School Board. The land was then in tussocks, without fences or other improvements, but has since been brought into a state of good cultivation, and is devoted to mixed farming. Mr Baird has also erected a substantial residence and outbuildings on the property. He was a member of the Western Districts Agricultural and Pastoral Association for twenty-one years, and was steward of the ring for draught horses for the same period. Mr Baird has been twice married. His first wife, who died leaving three sons and one daughter, was the daughter of Mr Archibald Brass, of Kircudbrightshire, Scotland. His second wife is a daughter of the late Mr James McMinn, of the same county, and there are, surviving, two sons and two daughters by this marriage.

McHardy, Alexander , Farmer, Isla Bank. Mr McHardy was born on the 6th of July, 1828, in the parish of Corgarff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He came out to the colony by the ship “Rhia Sylvia” and arrived at Lyttelton, in the 6th of May, 1861. Mr McHardy worked as a ploughman at Kaiapoi Island for a short time, and then removed to Otago, where he was engaged in carting to the diggings. He then worked for a time on the goldfields, and, in 1863, came to Southland, and was engaged in bush work at Longwood for a year. Mr McHardy then took employment on a general farm at Seaward Bush, and resided there for a considerable period, removing afterwards to Taieri. He was for nearly two years—1869–70—on the Orepuki diggings, which he left for a year's term on Woodlands station, West Waiau. About the year 1868, Mr McHardy bought 119 acres of freehold land at Isla Bank, and ten years later acquired 100 acres at Drummond, and still farms both properties. He has been a member of the Aparima Road Board, is a member, and also librarian of the Calcium Library; has been manager of the Calcium Cemetery since its formation, and has held office as a deacon of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder. Mr McHardy has had charge of the local sheep dip since 1884.

Teviotdale, Peter , Farmer, Isla Bank. Mr Teviotdale was born in 1831, in Kineardineshire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up as a farmer. He came out to Victoria in 1852, and after working on the gold diggings for ten years without much luck, came to New Zealand. Mr Teviotdale worked for three years on the Otago goldfields, and went to the West Coast for a short time, in 1865. In 1867, he settled in Southland, and having saved a little money, bought 170 acres of land. His farming operations have been eminently successful, and he is now one of the largest farmers in the district. His property consists of 1,600 acres of freehold land, and is devoted to cattle and sheep.