Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1908, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

Share:

Mr. James Johnston Rathie, who represents Clive riding on the Hawke's Bay County Council, has been a member of the Clive River Board for several years, and of the local school committee for fifteen years, ten years of which he has been chairman. He has also been a member of the local Lodge of Foresters for sixteen years, and is a member of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr. Rathie was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in the year 1854, and is a son of a Presbyterian minister. He was educated at the parish school, and afterwards devoted his attention to farming. In 1874 he came to New Zealand by the ship “Tintern Abbey,” under engagement to Mr. John Scott Caverhill, of North Canterbury; two years later, however, Mr. Caverhill sold out. Subsequently Mr. Rathie had a varied experience in pastoral work at Longbeach (Ashburton), Heslerton (Rakaia), Moa Flat (Otago), and Ardgour (Central Otago). In 1882, he removed to Hawke's Bay, under an engagement to. Mr. John Roberts, of Clive Grange, where he remained for seven years. Mr. Rathie then bought a small block of land, and started farming on his own account. His property now (1906) consists of 84 acres of rich freehold land, devoted to mixed farming. Mr. Rathie is married, and has two sons and seven daughters.