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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Adsett, Henry

Adsett, Henry, Farmer, Manchester Farm, Colyton. The residence is a fine one-story building, within easy distance of Colyton, and about four miles from Feilding, and may well be considered among the best in the district. The farm consists of 500 acres of freehold land, situated on either side of the road leading from Feilding to Colyton, via Taonui. There are 2500 sheep running on this property during the summer months, with about fifty head of cattle, principally shorthorns, and some ten horses. The sheep are fed on hay during the winter months. The farm was at one time a totara reserve, the timber of which has been cut by Mr. Adsett A fine orchard, planted with choice fruit-trees, is in a thriving condition. The farm is well watered by a never failing source, and is subdivided into twenty paddocks. Mr. Adsett was born in Sussex in 1841, and spent his early days in London. He went to sea at the age of twelve, per ship “Rob Roy,” and was on various vessels for five years, trading between London and Alexandria during the Russian War, supplying coals for the fleet. After a trip to Coquimbo, in South America, he returned to England, and was engaged in shipbuilding yards in London till 1873, when he decided to throw in his lot with the Henry Adsett page 1257 emigrants who came out under the auspices of the Colonists' Land Corporation, per ship “Salisbury.” Landing in Wellington on the 18th of January, 1874, Mr. Adsett came on to Feilding with some ten families, who were to settle on the Manchester Block. After pit-sawing for some time, he worked for the Corporation for eighteen months. After some experience in the sawmills at Palmerston, Mr. Adsett took over a sawmill, which stood alongside his present residence. For many years he was engaged in cutting the totara which grew on the surrounding country, having a contract from the Government for the supply of 100,000 sleepers for the railway. Not being afraid of hard work, and keeping closely to his business, Mr. Adsett made sawmilling a success, so that he was enabled in a few years to purchase his valuable freehold farm. He also owns several properties in Feilding and Palmerston North. Mr. Adsett is married to a daughter of Mr. John Allen, of Kent, and has five sons and four daughters.