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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Colyton

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Colyton.

Traversing six miles of good road from Feilding, the tourist reaches Colyton, the centre of an extensive district, where there is a large number of farmers. The township, which has its sale-yards, where periodical stock sales are held, is in the County of Kiwitea, the Electoral District being Rangitikei. Colyton has its local telephone burean and postoffice, with daily mail service, where also postal notes are issued; it is also a school district in connection with the Wanganui Education Board, schools being also situated at Aratika and Pukoroa, in the immediate vicinity.

Hight, William, Farrier and General Blacksmith, Taonui Road, Colyton. Private address, Ashurst Road. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Feilding. This business was established by Mr. T. J. Smith in 1886, and taken over by the present proprietor in February, 1896. The premises have a frontage of 30 feet and a floorage space of 600 square feet. Being a skilled tradesman, and by closely studying the wants of the public, Mr. Hight has gained for himself a good steady trade. Born in Christchurch in 1866, he is the son of the late Mr. David Hight, one of Canterbury's oldest identities. Shortly after leaving school he was apprenticed to his William Hight trade, and was for four years in the employ of Mr. James Armstrong, Waddington, and for a like term with Mr. John Fraser, Springfield. After spending a few years at different places, Mr. Hight established himself in business at Kimberley, where he had a successful run of five years, but was induced to come to the North Island, and, hearing good accounts of Colyton, took over the present business. He is well patronised by the surrounding settlers, who recognise in Mr. Hight an experienced and persevering workman.

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.

Burton, Jonathan, Farmer, Berkshire House, Reading Farm, Colyton. Born in 1844 at Reading. Berkshire, Mr. Burton was apprenticed to the carpentering trade, but after about three years gave it up, and engaged in the plastering trade, working at that for eighteen years, when he left England for New Zealand, arriving in 1873. He spent three months in carpentering at Wanganui, and then returned to Wellington, establishing himself as a plasterer. Mr. Burton, who retired in 1895, carried on this business for over twenty years, having partners with him at various periods. Among the many buildings in Wellington that testify to his ability as a tradesman may be mentioned:—the National Mutual Buildings, Sargood, Son and Ewen's, Ross and Glendining's, P. Hayman and Co.'s, Sharland and Co.'s, and the Supreme Court, Government Life Insurance Buildings, Briscoe, MacNeil's, City Buffet Hotel, and various others. His farm at Colyton consists of 204 acres of freehold land, on which he has erected a handsome residence. It is a one-story building, massive in appearance, the rooms being large and lofty, and plastered throughout in diff rent tints. The dairy and out-buildings are all up-to-date, and there is a fine orchard.

Photo by Bunting. Mr. J. Burton.

Photo by Bunting.
Mr. J. Burton
.

Hawker, Edward henry, Baker and Confectioner, corner of Ash and Taonui Roads, Colyton. Bankers, Bank of Australasia, Feilding. Established 1896.

Ivess, John, Boot and Shoemaker, Ashurst Road, Colyton. Established 1893. Bramwell Bros. (David Wilson, Manager), Storekeepers, Colyton.