Mr. Leicester Matson's school days were broken up by a period of ill-health, which necessitated his leaving the Boys' High School in 1883. He was sent to his relatives, the Manifolds, in Australia, and worked as a station hand on Purrumbete, Danedite, and Coomete stations. The former place carried 10,000 head of cattle and 53,000 sheep, and in one year 900 head of fat stock realized at the Ballarat and Melbourne markets £14 10s. per head. Returning with renewed health to Christchurch, he went to Christ's College, to find that his enforced absence was the means of placing him in the lowest form. By close attention he speedily made up for lost time, and reached the middle fifth before leaving early in 1887, when he joined Matson, Cox and Co., at Ashburton, as a junior. After two years he returned to Christchurch, becoming grain clerk in the business, and continuing in various positions till 1891, when he joined Mr. David Thomas, of Ashburton, as auctioneer and stock manager. This position he held till 1892, when on the death of his eldest brother, he was called on to fill the vacant position in the business of H. Matson and Co., then associated with the National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd. His was a most difficult task (as the late Mr. Jack Matson was admitted to be the best all-round man in the stock trade in Canterbury), but constant perseverance has brought its usual reward.