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

Drummond

Drummond.

Drummond is one of the best agricultural districts in Southland. The main road northward from the Bluff and Invercargill passes through the district to Heddon Bush and the country beyond, and the settlement is equi-distant between the Oreti and Aparima. It is twenty-six miles by road from Invercargill, ten miles from Otautau by Bays water, nine miles from Fairfax, ten miles and a-half from Winton, fourteen miles from Thornbury, and twenty miles from Riverton. There are two churches in the settlement —Presbyterian and Methodist—and a public hall, which will seat 200 persons. The business premises include three stores, a smithy, a saddler's shop, and a hotel. The land for six miles round the township is perfectly flat, and is held by well-to-do freeholders, who grow grain and graze sheep. The post office, which is conducted at a local store, dates from 1885, and telephone communication was established in February, 1892. The settlement is on, or near, the boundary line of the Awarua and Wallace electorates, with a part in each district. It is also partly in the Otautau riding, and partly in the Winton riding, of the county of Southland. At the census of 1901, the population of the village and vicinity in the former riding was 288, and the latter, seventy.

Shearer, John Cooper , Merchant, Post Office and Telephone Bureau, Drummond. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Riverton. This gentleman was one of the victims of the City of Glasgow Bank failure which caused him to emigrate to New Zealand at the solicitation and advice of his Southland friends. He is the eldest son of Mr. A. Shearer, coach proprietor, and was born in Glasgow in 1846, receiving his education at the Normal School and other academies in that city. Mr. Shearer was apprenticed to the grocery trade, and was subsequently in business in Glasgow. In 1879 he landed at Port Chalmers by the ship “Otago,” and after working on a farm for a short period was engaged by Messrs. Whittingham Bros, and Instone, merchants, Thornbury, with whom he remained for several years. He opened a general store at Thornbury in 1884, and on the 1st of April, 1885, the Post Office and store at Drummond, where he carries on a large trade with the farmers of the surrounding districts. He also owns and cultivates a farm of 200 acres. Since Mr. Shearer settled in Drummond, he has taken an active and prominent part in local matters, having been chairman and secretary of the Drummond school committee for many years. He was married in 1878 to Mrs. M. Pearson, relict of Mr. Pearson, of the Island of Arran, and one son and one daughter have been born of the union. Mrs Shearer had had, by her first husband, six children, of whom five have been married since her marriage with Mr. Shearer.

Coombes, Christopher , Farmer and Threshing Mill proprietor, Maiden Park, Drummond. Mr Coombes was born in 1867, in Cornwall, England, and came to New Zealand at an early age. He was educated and brought up to farming at Russell's Flat, and at Springfield, Canterbury. In 1895, Mr Coombes commenced farming on his own account, and subsequently bought part of the Gladfield estate at Drummond. but resold the property two years later. He then bought a farm at Ringway, but sold it also after two years' occupation. Mr Coombes then settled at Maiden Park, Drummond. This property consists of 356 acres, and is devoted to mixed farming. In 1904, Mr Coombes bought a threshing and chaff-cutting plant which he has worked successfully throughout the Drummond district. He was married, in October, 1896, to a daughter of Mr William McGarvie, of Otautau, and has two sons and two daughters.

Kennedy, William , Farmer, “Bayswater,” Drummond. Mr Kennedy was born in 1871 at Aparima, and was educated at Limestone Plains, and Heddon Bush. He was brought up to farming, and in 1895 took up 200 acres of land on his own account at Heddon Bush. He afterwards, in conjunction with two brothers, bought about 800 acres of land at Ringway. Four years later, he sold out his interest in this property, and bought 1,000 acres at Bayswater. Mr Kennedy has greatly improved his property, every acre of which is now ploughable, and has erected a fifteen stall stable, with four loose boxes. As an Oddfellow, Mr Kennedy is connected with the Winton Lodge. He is also a member of the Order of Good Templars. Mr Kennedy is a keen sportsman, and has been an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds for some years. He has ridden his own trotting horses at Southland race-meetings, and has been a frequent winner. With his horse “White Wave,” he won races three years in succession, and has also been successful with the horses “Silver Mine” and “Ringwood,” at Winton. Mr Kennedy is the proprietor of thoroughbred draught entires, and has a registered flock of Border Leicester sheep.

Lindsay, John , Farmer, Drummond. Mr Lindsay was born in December, 1854, in Argyleshire, Scotland, and was brought to New Zealand as an infant. He was educated at Waianiwa, where he was brought up to farming. The family removed to
Mr. J. Lindsay.

Mr. J. Lindsay.

Limestone Plains in 1874, and Mr Lindsay worked with his father till 1885, when he bought 175 acres of land in the district. The land was then almost covered with tussocks page 998 and swamp, but after a considerable outlay of money and much labour, the property has been drained and brought into good cultivation. Mr Lindsay was for some time a member of the Drummond school committee. He was married in June, 1885, to a daughter of Mr Thomas Poole, of Calcium, and has nine sons and four daughters.

Lindsay, Adam Wilson , Farmer, “Bogside,” Drummond. Mr Lindsay, who is the seventh son of the late Mr John Lindsay, was born in 1863 at Waianiwa. He was educated there and at Limestone Plains, and was brought up to farming at “Burnbank.” In 1893, Mr Lindsay commenced farming on his own account at Drummond, where he had bought 100 acres of freehold, and ten years later acquired an additional 200 acres. He has made numerous improvements on the property and has erected a substantial residence and outbuildings. Mr Lindsay was for about twenty years joint owner, with his brother, of a threshing plant and a traction engine, and in 1891 became sole owner of the plant. Mr Lindsay was married, on the 24th of January, 1894, to a daughter of Mr Charles McDougall, of Fairfax, and has two sons and three daughters.

McFarlane, John , Farmer, Drummond. Mr McFarlane was born in 1841, at Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand in 1863 by the ship “Indian Empire,” and after spending eight months in Canterbury, removed to Southland. Mr McFarlane was employed in farm work for several years, and in 1889 bought 450 acres at Drummond, where he was one of the first settlers. His property was then in a rough state, but has since been brought into a good state of cultivation. Mr McFarlane has also 350 acres of well-improved land on the Ridge, in the same district. He has given close attention to the breeding of Clydesdale horses, with which he has won a large number of prizes at shows throughout New Zealand. The best known of his entire horses have been “McArthur.” “Extinguisher,” “Young Vanquisher,” “New Style,” and “Old Style.” He usually keeps two or three entires, and twenty or thirty fillies and mares. Mr McFarlane was married, in February, 1897, to a daughter of Mr John Evans, of Drummond, who came to New Zealand in 1859, and has four sons and three daughters.

McLeish, Peter Colin Campbell , Farmer, Drummond. Mr. McLeish is one of the leading settiers in the Drummond district, and formed one of the band of colonists who arrived in 1863, by the ship “Robert Henderson.” He was born in 1845, near Dunkeld, Perthshire, and arrived at the Bluff at the age of eighteen years. After being engaged in agricultural employment for some time, he purchased a section of 200 acres in the Drummond district, to which he has since added other land, and now possesses a fine property of 600 acres. Mr. McLeish does not take an active part in political or social affairs, but confines his whole attention to his farm. He was married, in 1880, to Margaret Maria, daughter of Mr. John Officer, of “Mary's Well Farm,” near Thornbury.

O'Brien, James , Farmer, “Kyle Park” Drummond. Mr O'Brien was born in 1845, in County Tipperary, Ireland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand by the ship “Sevilla,” in 1864, and settled in Southland, where he was in the carrying business on the road to Kingston for several years. About 1888, Mr O'Brien settled at Wallacetown, and six years later removed to Spar Bush, where he bought a farm. He afterwards sold this property, and in 1900, he bought “Kyle Park” at Drummond, a freehold property of 600 acres, on which he has erected a substantial residence and outbuildings, and has otherwise greatly improved the estate. Mr O'Brien served for a year as a member of the Wallacetown school committee. He was married, in 1871, to a daughter of Mr William Deegan, of Oreti Plains, and has three sons and two daughters.

Ward, William Edward , Farmer, “Welton,” Drummond. Mr Ward's property contains 499 acres of free
Mr. W. E. Ward.

Mr. W. E. Ward.

hold, and is devoted to mixed farming. A specialty is made of poultryraising, and from 400 to 500 fowls of pure strains, chiefly of the White Leghorn variety, are kept. Complete sets of houses and pens have been erected, and a large number of eggs are incubated every season. Mr Ward, who is the eldest son of the late Mr Arthur Ward, was born at Woodend, Canterbury; but was educated principally at Riverton. He was brought up to farming at Drummond, and succeeded to “Welton” on the death of his father in 1902.

Mr. Arthur E. Edridge , some time of Yellow Bluff Farm, Drummond, was a son of the late Sir Thomas Richard Edridge, “The Elms,” Croydon, Surrey, England, and was born in April, 1852. He was educated at the Naval College, Gosport, entered the Royal Navy, and joined H. M. s. “Bellerophon,” attached to the Channel Fleet, being afterwards transferred to H. M. s. “Lifiey,” of the Flying Squadron, which visited the Australian colonies. In 1872 Mr Edridge left the service, and three years later sailed for Port Chalmers by the ship “Maladale.” After gaining some experience, he bought Yellow Buff Farm, which consisted of 1,400 acres of good grazing land. Mr Edridge was married, in 1883, to Ellen, daughter of the late John Sutton Maltby, Lincolnshire, England, and died in 1901.

Mr. Allan Jones , sometime of “Gladvale,” Drummond, was the second son of Mr. E. Jones, builder. He was born at Whittington, Shropshire, England, in 1854, educated at the local national school, and trained as a carpenter at the London and North Western railway workshops, where he worked until leaving England by the ship “Earl of Zetland” for Port Chalmers. On his arrival he proceeded to the Bluff, and worked at his trade for ten years in the Riverton district, and also farmed some land in that neighbourhood. In 1894, he purchased 600 acres of the Gladfield estate, which he cultivated upon the mixed plan, principally raising fat lambs for export, and also growing linseed. Mr. Jones was well known throughout Southland, Otago, and Canterbury as an experienced and successful breeder of draught horses, as well as a prize exhibitor of linseed at the agricultural shows, at Dunedin, Riverton, and Winton. He was a keen sportsman, and was vice-president of the Drummond Racing Club; he had also been a steward of the Western Districts Agricultural and Pastoral Society for several years. Mr. Jones was married, in 1878, to Miss Newton, and had six children. He died some time ago, but his widow and family still live at “Gladvale.”

Mr. Archibald Nelson was born near Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland page 999 where his father, Mr. James Nelson, was a farm steward. He was educated at the parish school, and afterwards emigrated to Port Chalmers by the ship “Timaru.” Mr. Nelson obtained employment as a shepherd with Captain W. J. Raymond, of Avondale, Southland, and remained with him for five years. He was afterwards employed on the Ermdale Estate, and on the British and New Zealand Mortgage Company's “Gladfield” property. When the latter estate was cut up eleven years later, Mr. Nelson acquired 172 acres of that property, and became a wellknown stock-dealer throughout the Southland district. Mr. Nelson was married, in 1884, to a daughter of Mr John Robertson, of St. Kilda, Victoria.

Mr. Arthur Ward , sometime of “Welton,” Drummond, was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England. He went to sea as a lad, and came to New Zealand about the year 1850. Mr Ward settled in Christchurch, where he followed a mercantile life for some years, and twenty years later, acquired the property now occupied by his son, Mr W, E. Ward. The land was then in its native state, but Mr Ward lived to see it fully improved, and planted with some very fine belts of shelter trees. He was married, in 1862, to a daughter of the late Mr Edward Simpson, of Stowemarket, Suffolk, England, and at his death in September, 1902, left two sons and three daughters.

The late Mr. A. Ward and Mrs Ward.

The late Mr. A. Ward and Mrs Ward.