Panmure, originally a Pensioner settlement, is pleasantly situated on the west bank of the Tamaki river, having on its south side the Waipuna lagoon, which communicates with the Tamaki. The Maoris once inhabited the place in great numbers, but they were almost exterminated by the raids from the north, led by the notorious Ngapuhi chief, Hongi. It has not altered in character, and much of the village is still occupied by the widows or descendants of the original pensioners. The tannery of Messrs Ireland Brothers gives employment to many workmen, but this is the only manufacture in the village. The Anglican church is built on a hill, whence may be obtained a beautiful view of the surrounding country, including the windings of the Tamaki and its lagoon, and the handsome bridge across the river, on the way to Howick, about five miles distant. The church itself is a small but handsome structure, with sittings for about 120 worshippers. Like nearly page 660 all the country and suburban churches, it is built of wood, but with a solid stone foundation. The cost of the tower was defrayed by the family of the Rev. James Hamlin, who was one of the old missionary body that worked among the natives of New Zealand years before the country became a British colony; and it was men of his stamp that made it possible for colonists to settle here. The other places of worship are the Roman Catholic and the Wesleyan. The slopes of the volcanic hill, Mount Wellington, on the eastern side of Panmure, form a mass of rock and scoria which can be utilised for grazing purposes only; but between the mountain and the Tamaki there are farms containing as rich land as any in the province of Auckland, and the farm of the late Mr. Cawkwell has yielded an average of twenty tons of potatoes to the acre. The distance of Panmure from the railway, three miles, shuts it out from being suburban to Auckland, which is nine miles off. If this difficulty were removed, the village would, no doubt, become a favourite place of residence for those engaged in the city.

Wellington Park Stud. Auckland became famous many years ago for the successful breeding of thoroughbreds by the Sylvia Park Stud, and this fame has been perpetuated by the scarcely less successful Wellington Park stud farm, which is owned by Mr. Thomas Morrin, and which now ranks as the greatest breeding establishment in these colonies. Mr. Morrin was the founder of the Sylvia Park stud, and for some time the managing director of the company, and before and at the period of its liquidation acquired the nucleus of his present establishment by judicious purchase. Wellington Park is situated about six miles from Auckland in the direction of Tamaki, and is an ideal farm for breeding purposes. The estate consists of about 500 acres, and the soil, a rich volcanic, furnishes luxuriant pasturage. There are four thorough bred stallions of the highest reputation in the stud, St. Leger, Hotchkiss, Castor, and Phœbus Apollo, and as many as fifty admirably bred brood mares. The progeny of the stud has won £175,000 in stakes during the last fifteen years, in New Zealand and Australia, to say nothing of cups and other trophies. St. Leger was bred by the late Lord Falmouth. During his stud carrer, his offspring have won £63,499 in stakes, £8283 of which was won during the 1898–99 season, by twenty-four winners. Ninety per cent. of St. Leger's progeny prove to be racers, and the stud fee of fifty guineas is therefore, not a high one. St. Leger is the sire of Waiuku, St. Paul, St. Hippo, Nestor, Hermosa, St. Crispin, St. Simon, St. Kilda, St. Cyr, Doris, Rex, St. Ursula, Sylvia Park, St. Laura, Lady Anna, Clanranald, Blue Jacket, Woodstock, and many other winners. Hotchkiss was got by Musket, out of Petroleuse, and is considered by competent judges to be the best Musket stallion in the Australasian colonies. He is sire of the champion Multiform, who headed the list of winning horses for the 1897–98 season; Uniform, which won the Wellington Cup, and was subsequently bought by Mrs Langtry; Swordfish, True Blue, Oscular, Waiorongomai, Forma, Screw Gun, Formula, and Battleaxe. Castor, the third of these splendid stallions was himself a great performer on the turf in his racing days, having won twenty-two races out of twenty-eight in which he started. He was sired by Zealot, from Lady Yardley, thus being half-brother to Disraeli, the winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, in 1898, and was bred by Mr. Graham, of the Yardley Stud, England. During 1898 his progeny won twenty races, to the value of £6880, an improvement on the record for any previous twelve months. He is the sire of Antares, an Auckland Cup winner, Casket, a Dunedin Cup winner, Coronet, Altair, Dayntree, Armilla, and the brilliant Sydney-owned Cravat. Of the fifty brood mares on the farm, it may be said that nearly every one has bred a winner, while many of them are the dams of winners of classical races on the New Zealand and Australian turf. Mr. Morrin holds a sale of Wellington Park yearlings after the Auckland Cup of each year; it attracts the chief racehorse-owners from Australia and all parts of New Zealand, and there is always strong competition for the treasures of the stud nursery.

Not photographed, only copied, by Hanna.
Mr. T. Morrin's “Phœbus Apollo” (By St. Simon, out of Polynesia, by Barcaldine).