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

Thomson's

Thomson's.

Thomson's is the name of a railway station and farming district, on the Invercargill-Kingston section of the New Zealand railways. The name is derived from a settler who took up a considerable area of land in the early days, and whose descendants are still prominent farmers in the locality. The flag station at Thomson's is sixteen miles from Invercargill, and stands at an elevation of 135 feet above sea level. Thomson's is in the Winton riding of the county of Southland, and the electoral district of Awarua, It extends on both sides of the railway line and main road from Invercargill to the Lakes. There is a timber yard at the railway station, which is connected with the mill at Forest Hill by a tramway three miles in length. The district extends from the western bank of the Oreti river to the Foothills. There is a good deal of rich, level agricultural land, from which the bush has been cleared, but there is still timber on the hills. The postal and educational needs of the settlement are supplied by the surrounding districts.

Forest Hill Sawmill (McCallum and Co., proprietors), Forest Hill and Thomson's; postal address Winton. This mill was established in 1900, and is a wood and iron structure, fitted up with an eighteen horsepower stationary engine, and full plant, including a twin saw, breast and cross-cutting benches, planing and moulding machines. The capacity of the mill is equal to 5,000 feet daily, and fifteen men are employed. A tramway connects the mill with the railway at Thomson's crossing flag station.

Mr. George Henry Bennett , Manager of the Forest Hill Sawmill, was born in 1871, at Forest Hill, where he was educated and brought up to the sawmilling trade. Mr Bennett was employed in the sawmilling trade under Messrs F. Jack, Jack Brothers, McCallum and Co., and Massey, Southland, and Mr Bartholomew, at Feilding, before being appointed to his present position in 1903, He owns a freehold property of 200 acres in the Forest Hill district. Mr Bennett is attached to the Winton Lodge of Freemasons.

Thomson, John , Farmer, “River-side,” Thomson's, near Winton. Mr Thomson was born in 1844, in Kinrossshire, Scotland, where he was brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand
Gerstenkorn, photo. Mr. And Mrs J. Thomson.

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

land at the age of twenty by the ship “Lady Raglan,” and landed at Port Chalmers. Mr Thomson at once settled in the Winton district, where he acquired 664 acres of freehold, and engaged in farming. He has since increased his holding to 1,100 acres, and devotes himself to mixed farming. In 1901, Mr Thomson established a flax- page 981 mill on his property, with a complete plant, driven by steam power. The raw material is cut on his own estate which has a frontage of three miles and a half to the Oreti or New River, sixteen men are employed, and the output of the mill is fourteen tons of dressed flax per month. Mr Thomson is a Justice of the Peace. He was married, in 1878, to a daughter of the late Mr David Warnock, of Invercargill, and has seven sons land four daughters. Mr Warnock, who died in 1902, was well known as a breeder of Ayrshire cattle and Clydesdale horses. Mr Thomson is elsewhere referred to in connection with the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association.
The Clinton Valley.

The Clinton Valley.

Thomson, Thomas , Farmer, “Meadowlea,” Thomson's. Mr Thomson was born in August, 1848, in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to Port Chalmers with his father's family by the ship “Lady Raglan,” in 1864. In 1883, Mr Thomson bought his property of “Meadowlea,” which consists of 341 acres of freehold. The land was then mostly in tussocks and swamp, but has since been well drained by means of four-inch and six-inch pipes. The drainage involved a large outlay, but resulted in the property being brought into a good state of cultivation. Mr Thomson has been a breeder of Clydesdale horses, Shorthorn cattle for dairy purposes, and half-bred sheep. He was married, in 1882, to a daughter of Mr Andrew Kinross, of Invercargill, and has two sons and three daughters.

Thomson, William , Farmer, Winton Plains, Thomson's. Mr Thomson was born in November, 1859, in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to Port Chalmers with his father, the late Mr John Thomson, in 1864, by the ship “Lady Raglan.” He was educated at Winton, where he was brought up to farming, and acquired his farm, which consists of 300 acres of freehold, in 1899. The land was then mostly in tussocks, but Mr Thomson has brought it under cultivation, and has expended a large amount of money in draining, in the erection of buildings, and in the planting of some very fine belts of shelter trees. Mr Thomson was elected a member of the Winton River Board in 1899, and is a membhr of the Farmers' Club, and of the Winton Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He is a breeder of draught horses, for which he has taken prizes at Southland shows. Mr Thomson was married, in 1894, to the eldest daughter of Mr John Thomson, of “Newfield,” Winton.