The township of Belfast is situated seven miles to the north of Christchurch, with which it is connected by a coach service and also by rail, the distance by the railway being nine miles. Belfast is surrounded by a rich agricultural district, occupied by farmers holding an average of about forty acres each, and growing chiefly oats, potatoes, and onions. Messrs Bealey Bros, were about the first to purchase land in the district, but they long ago sold their property, which is now cultivated in small holdings. The Church Property Trustees still hold a considerable area of the land, which is rented to farmers. Local industries, of great importance to Canterbuy, have helped Belfast ahead; such as the Belfast freezing works, the New Zealand Provision and Produce Company's soap and manure works, the Kaputone wool works, the oleo works, and Messrs Oppenheimer's works. There is also a butter factory and a creamery belonging to the Central Dairy Factory in the township. The local public schoool has accommodation for 320 scholars. The railway station is well situated between the township and the freezing works; and there is a branch line between the large brick buildings, with platforms at the different departments, for the purpose of facilitating the loading and unloading of sheep and cattle, and the various by-products of the works.

The Belfast Public School occupies a section of about three acres in extent. There are 300 children on the roll, and the average attendance for the year which ended on the 31st of March, 1902, was 218. The headmaster's residence is on a portion of the school property. There are three certificated mistresses, and two pupil-teachers, besides the headmaster, Mr. W. D. Bean.

The Anglican Church at Belfast was erected in the early days of the province by the Church of England Trustees as a schoolhouse, Mr. Folger being the first schoolmaster. It was used for services on Sundays, and a small chancel was aftcrwards added, rendering the building more complete and convenient for public worship. For many years it was the only church in Belfast. The district was originally part of the parish of Papanui, from which it was separated in 1899, when the present vicar, the Rev. Frank Dunnage was appointed. Owing to the increased number of parishioners, it has been decided to build a new church, for which plans have been prepared by Mr. Hurst Seager, A.R.I.D.A. The design is that of a typical English church, and the building will be in concrete and wood. Inside there will be a tablet in memory of the pioneer settlers of the district. Sufficient funds are now (August, 1902) in hand, and the building will shortly be in the hards of the contractor.

The Rev. Frank Dunnage, who was born at the Styx, was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Christchurch in 1895, and priest in 1896. He was for two years curate at Rangiora, and two years at St. Luke's, Christchurch, after which he was appointed to his present charge.

Methodist Church, Belfast. This church was originally built for a Bible Christian congregation. The section on which it stands was a gift from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the late Mr. James Watt, who always took an interest in the welfare of the district, gave a handsome donation towards the building fund. At the time of the union of the Methodist churches, Belfast was joined to the Kaiapoi circuit.

The Rev. Harold E. Bellhouse, Minister of the Belfast Methodist Church, was born in Yorkshire, England. He came to New Zealand with his parents in 1881, and was educated in the province of Auckland up to the time of being accepted for the ministry in 1890. Mr. Bellhouse was appointed to his first circuit in Taranaki in 1893, and since then he has been stationed in various parts of the colony, including Dunedin, Woolston, Wellington and Milton. He took up his work at Belfast, in 1902, as second minister in the Kaiapoi circuit, which includes Belfast and Marshlands.

E. E. Wright, photo.
The Waimakariri at Belfast.

The Belfast Public Library is situated in Howard Street. It is well patronised by the public, and a small annual fee is paid by members, who have the choice of 1500 volumes. The library occupies part of the Town Hall building, which was erected by public subscription in the year 1888. The institution owes its existence chiefly to the energies and generosity of the late Mr. W. Chrystall. Mr. John Cook, and Mr. John Longman. The main hall is used for entertainments of various kinds, and has an excellent floor for dancing. Mr. Robert Guthrie is chairman of the Library Committee, Mr. W. D. Bean secretary, and Mr. W. H. Allen librarian.

Mr. William H. Allen, Librarian of the Belfast Public Library, is a native of Worcestershire, England, where he was educated and served an apprenticeship to the wool trade. He was married in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and sailed for New Zealand in 1874 by the “Pylades,” which arrived at Lyttelton on the 16th of December in that year. Mr. Allen took up 110 acres of farm land on the lower Styx, and cultivated it for some years. He has been in the district since 1874. except two years during which he was in business as a dealer near Rangiora. He then removed to Belfast, and has been engaged in the wool department of the Belfast Freezing Works for ten years.

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Mr. W. H. Allen.

Belfast Hotel (David Marshall, proprietor), Belfast. The Belfast Hotel is situated on the North Road, Belfast, seven miles from Christchurch. It is a well built and substantial house of twenty-four rooms, all of which are comfortably furnished. Excellent accommodation is provided for boarders.

Mr. David Marshall, Proprietor of the Belfast Hotel, was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1855, and came with his parents to Auckland, in 1863. After a few months on the Thames goldfields, the whole family removed to Christchurch, and the subject of this sketch was apprenticed to the building trade for six years. He afterwards took over the Mandeville Hotel, Kaiapoi, and made it the foremost hotel in the district. Mr. Marshall has been proprietor of the Belfast Hotel for some time. He has been a Freemason for many years, is a Past Master, and has been a Druid for twenty-five years. As a volunteer he was reckoned one of the best shots in his time. In 1874 he represented Canterbury for the championship belt, and gained third place. He is president of the Kaiapoi Caledonian Society. Mr. Marshall was married, in 1880, to a daughter of Mr. John Allard, and has four children.

Mr. D. Marshall.

Scott, Andrew, Bootmaker, North Road, Belfast. Mr. Scott is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and came to New Zealand by the ship “David G. Fleming,” in 1861. He was brought up and educated in Christchurch, where he also served an apprenticeship to the bootmaking trade, and was afterwards for a number of years in the employment of Messrs Suckling Brothers, and Messrs Lightband, Allen, and Co. Mr. Scott left the lastnamed firm to take a position with Messrs Hannah and Co., of Wellington, and was afterwards at Wanganui. He returned to Canterbury, and established himself in the year 1900 in business at Belfast, where he carries on a good general trade, and also does a considerable amount of bootmaking and repairing. Mr. Scott has an all round general stock of men's, women's and children's boots and shoes. Bespoke work, however, is his specialty. As a Druid Mr. Scott is a member of the Pioneer Lodge of Canterbury. He is married, and has one daughter.

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Mr. A. Scott.

Belfast Freezing Works, Belfast. These works belong to the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, Limited. They are situated on 118 acres of land, and are very extensive, and exceptionally complete in the matter of machinery and all the appliances needful to the company's operations. The buildings are constructed chiefly of brick, and separate departments are connected by means of a branch railway. An article on the company and its business appears in the section devoted to the meat trade.

Mr. Benjamin W. Glass, Engineer of the Belfast and Fairfield Freezing Works, was born in Kincardinshire, Scotland. He was educated in Arbroath, and afterwards served an apprenticeship with Messrs Napier and Sons, engineers and shipbuilders, Glasgow. Mr. Glass left Scotland and joined the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, in 1876, and was chief engineer of the s.s. “Te Anau” when he resigned his position to fulfil an engagement with the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company in 1887. The extension of the Company's plant, made necessary by the rapid growth in its business, has been carried out under the supervision of Mr. Glass, who has designed the additions made to the works within recent years. Mr. Glass page 419 took a prominent part in the formation of the Marine Engineers' Institute. He has been a member of the Belfast school committee, and secretary of the Public Library, and is attached to the Order of Freemasons, into which he was initiated at Onehunga in 1887.

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Mr. B. W. Glass.

Mr. Arthur Hopkins, who is head of the clerical staff at the Belfast Freezing Works is a native of Devonshire, England. After being some years at sea, he came to New Zealand, in 1880, and followed various pursuits, including gold digging at Coromandel. He was afterwards book-keeper for Messrs T. P. Baber and Co., general merchants, of Christchurch, for seven years. Mr. Hopkins then entered the service of the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Export Company. He has been a member of the Belfast school committee for many years, and has been chairman part of the time.

Mr. Robert W. Caldwell, Foreman of the Preserving Department of the Belfast Freezing Works, is a native of Croydon, England. Accompanied by his mother and other members of the family who settled in Christchurch, the came to New Zealand in 1863 by the “Himalaya.” He was educated in Christchurch, where he had a few years of experience in business. Later on he was engaged at the Templeton Meat Preserving Works, where he learned his business. He was for five years at the Belfast Preserving Works, which he left to take charge of the late Mr. W. H. Mein's meat preserving works in Durham Street, Christchurch. During this engagement Mr. Caldwell obtained a first prize bronze medal for preserved meats. He afterwards spent five years with Messrs Nelson Brothers at their Tomoana works in Hawke's Bay, and went thence to Messrs Hellaby Brothers, of Auckland, with whom he remained for two years and a half. Mr. Caldwell then accepted a position with the Gear Meat Company of Wellington, and after the death of his wife he went to the Boga Rabbit Preserving Works at Blenheim, whose preserves were awarded a first prize medal at the Paris Exhibition during Mr. Caldwell's term of management. He was appointed to his present position in 1890. During his term of supervision the Company has obtained seven first prizes in different parts of the colony. Mr. Caldwell became a Freemason in 1895, and is attached to Lodge Concord Papanui. He was married to his second wife in 1900, and has a family of two sons and four daughters. Mr. Caldwell resides on his own farm near the freezing works.

Mr. George Ellis, Head of the Wool Department of the Belfast Freezing Works, was born in Christchurch, and educated there at Mr. Gee's grammar school. He acquired a knowledge of wool classing with his father. Mr. Arthur Ellis, an old Crimean veteran, who now resides in Park Road, Addington Subsequently he worked at his trade in various parts of Canterbury. He received his present appointment in 1892, and now supervises the whole of the wool works at Belfast. Mr. Ellis takes an active interest in local affairs. He has been chairman of the Belfast school committee for the past five years, and has been one of its members since 1893. Mr. Ellis became a Freemason in Lodge Concord, Papanui, in 1895. He is married, and has a family of three sons and one daughter.

Mr. George Jamieson Sproat, Stock-classer at the Belfast Freezing Works, for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, is a native of the parish of Balmaghie, Kirkcud-brightshire, Scotland, and was brought up with Mr. S. R. Crockett, the novelist. He followed pastoral pursuits in his native land. In 1891 he arrived in New Zealand, and started colonial life under Mr. M. Stitt, of Winchmore, in the Ashburton district. He was with Mr. Stitt for three years and was afterwards in the service of Mr. John Grigg, of Longbeach, for five years. After that he received the appointment of head sheep-classer and stock-grader for the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. Mr. Sproat has acted as a judge of sheep at many of the agricultural and pastoral shows throughout the province of Canterbury.

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Mr. G. J. Sproat.

Gregory, W. J., Butcher, North Road, Belfast. Mr. Gregory was born in Melbourne, and came to New Zealand with his parents in the s.s. “Alhambra” in 1867. The family settled first in Dunedin and afterwards in Christchurch, where the subject of this notice received his education, and was afterwards in the employment of Mr. Mein, butcher, of Cashel and Colombo Streets, and later on with Mr. Lane, of Cashel Street. Mr. Gregory then removed to Belfast, where, after being employed at the Belfast Freezing Works for ten years, he established his present business in 1900, and now has a growing and prosperous trade. As a Forester Mr. Gregory is a member of the Court Star of Belfast. He is a married man.

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Mr. W. J. Gregory.

Wilson, Leonard Mariot, Fruitgrower, Chaney's Corner, near Belfast. Mr. Wilson is the youngest son of the late Mr. William Wilson, one of the oldest and most prominent of the early settlers of Canterbury, referred to elsewhere in this volume as the first Mayor of Christchurch. Mr. L. M. Wilson was born in Sydenham, and received his education at Warwick House School under Mr. C. Cook. He was afterwards apprenticed to the engineering trade at the Canterbury Foundry. After being seven years at his trade, he took up his present holding of twenty-five acres of first-class land, which is planted with a choice selection of pears and apples, the majority of which are in full bearing. Since acquiring the property Mr. Wilson has carried on considerable improvements in planting and building. His cool store, which is built of brick with double walls and specially ventilated, has room for the storage of three thousand cases, and gives him a distinct advantage as an extensive dealer in fruit. He exports a considerable amount of fruit to Wellington and Dunedin, in addition to supplying the local demands. Mr. Wilson resides at his orchard, and personally superintends the pruning of the trees and packing of the fruit.

Brown, Mrs Annie, Storekeeper, North Road, Belfast. This business was established in 1882, by Mrs Brown's husband, the late Mr. William E. Brown, who was a native of Lancashire, England. He arrived in New Zealand with his wife in 1879, and since his death, in 1891, the business has been carried on by Mrs Brown. The store occupies the front of a two-storey double-fronted building, contains a very complete stock of groceries, ironmongery, glassware, and all goods necessary to the equipment of a general store, and does the largest trade in the district. Mrs Brown is a native of Lancashire, England, and the appearance of her well-stocked shop does credit to her business ability.

The Kaputone Wool Works And Fellmongery, Belfast. These works are situated between the Belfast freezing works page 420 and the Belfast railway station, and are among the local industries which have made the township of Belfast. The works occupy seven acres, and the buildings have accommodation for seventy hands, who are fully employed during the season. The two main buildings are 160 feet long by 80 feet broad, with a large painting cellar 80 feet by 60 feet, where the skins are painted with chemicals to facilitate the removal of the wool. The engine and machine rooms also occupy a considerable area. The wool scouring machine, which has a capacity of thirty bales a day, was made in England, and is of the latest pattern according to McNaught's well known patent. The drying machine, which has a capacity of four bales an hour, is one of Nelson's revolving cylinder make. In the packing room there are two wool presses, a “Lough's” and a “Speedy”; and they are capable of packing from 300 to 400 bales a week. The works are under the immediate supervision of the proprietor, Mr. William Nicholls.

Mr. William Nicholls, Proprietor of the Kaputone Wool Works and Fellmongery, Belfast, is a native of St. Anstill, Cornwall, England. He came to New Zealand in the sailing ship “Warsprit, and landed at Auckland in 1863. Four years later he removed to Canterbury, where he completed his education and served an apprenticeship to the wool trade under the late Major Hornebrook, with whom he remained for ten years, after completing his term of apprenticeship. Mr. Nicholls started in business in the wool trade at Belfast in 1877, in conjunction with the late Mr. J. M. Watt, under the style of the New Zealand Provision and Produce Company. After Mr. Watt's death Mr. Nicholls took over the wool scouring branch of the business and still carries it on under the style of the Kaputone works. Mr. Nicholls resides on his farm “Springrove,” at Belfast, where he has a very fine residence and one hundred acres of first-rate agricultural land.

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Mr. W. Nicholls.

The New Zealand Provision And Produce Company, Belfast. The first soap works in Canterbury were established by the late Mr. W. H. Mein, about thirtyeight years ago, on the Lincoln Road. In 1871 he removed his plant to Belfast. It was very primitive, the output of soap was very small, and, like the plant, the manufactured article was very crude. At that time most of the soap used in the colony was imported from England. The late Mr. J. M. Watt took the business over from Mr. Mein. In 1879 the premises were destroyed by fire, and a much improved building and plant took their place. A light tax was placed on imported soap, sufficient to protect the colonial industry, and the trade in locally made soap then increased very largely. On the death of Mr. J. M. Watt, the business was taken over by the present proprietors, Messrs Wood and Gibbs, who have improved and enlarged the premises. New and up-to-date plant has taken the place of the old, and the trade in Belfast soap now extends from Auckland to the Bluff. Messrs Wood and Gibbs manufacture not only the well known Silkstone soap, for they are extending their trade to other varieties and also to the manufacture of soda crystals.

Mr. John Longman, J.P., Works Manager of the New Zealand Provision and Produce Company's Works at Belfast, is a native of London, where he was educated, and had charge of the stores department of one of the largest London sugar refineries, of which his father was the works manager. In early life New Zealand attracted his attention, and he arrived in Lyttelton, by the ship “Mermaid,” Captain Rose, in the year 1862. Finding things very quiet in Canterbury, Mr. Longman made his way to Wellington, by the three-masted schooner “Rifleman,” but finding no improvement in trade in that province, he returned, and followed various callings. Very soon after Messrs Holmes and Richardson secured the contract from the New Zealand Government for the completion of the Lyttelton Tunnel, and for the construction of the railway work between Christchurch and Ferrymead. As a sub-contractor under these gentlemen, Mr. Longman completed the covering-in of the first shed on the Canterbury railways, and so satisfied were they with the work, that he subsequently obtained the contract for the whole of the work. The goldfields of the West Coast then attracted his attention, and after working on them for some time without any marked success, he was engaged on the Government surveys of the district. In 1867 he was engaged by the Canterbury Meat Export Company, which had the first meat preserving works in New Zealand, as foreman of the tinning department. After holding that position for four years, he joined the late Mr. W. H. Mein, as manager and preserver at his new works, at Belfast. The factory was afterwards carried on by the late Mr. J. M. Watt, and at his death, was taken over by Messrs Wood and Gibbs, who entrusted Mr. Longman with the management of their soap works, where the well known Silkstone soap is manufactured During his thirty-one years' residence at Belfast Mr. Longman has taken a leading part in all social and educational matters. He was the first chairman of the school committee, under the present Education Act, and served in that posrtion and as a committeman for twenty years. Mr. Longman took a leading part in establishing the Belfast Town Hall and Public Library, and also the Wesleyan church in the township. In politics Mr. Longman is a Liberal, but in addition to presiding at the general elections for his own party, he has invariably presided for the opposing candidate so that his spirit of fair play has made him very popular. As a Freemason, he is secretary to the Lodge of Concord Papanui, and is esteemed, not only by his page 421 own lodge, but by all the craftsmen who know him. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace, in 1895. Mr. Longman married Miss Smith, niece of the late Mr. Charles Turner, in 1864, and has a family of nine children. His son Walter is a meat preserver, and has sole charge of the preserving department of the Smithfield Freezing Works at Timaru.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. J. Longman.

Baker, James F., Farmer, Belfast Road, Belfast. Mr. Baker came to New Zealand in the ship “Cressy,” and landed in Lyttelton in 1850, with his parents, he being then only five years of age. He was brought up on his father's farm at Kaiapoi, and later on he was for ten years owner of a threshing machine plant, and afterwards owned and worked a farm at Kaiapoi for a number of years. He purchased his present holding in 1888. Mr. Baker was married in Kaiapoi to Miss Burrows, a daughter of a very old colonist, who was a coalminer on the West Coast. Three sons and two daughters have been born of the union. Mr. Baker's father is referred to in another article as an old colonist.

Mr. J. F. Baker.

Gimblett, Mathew Robert, Farmer, Kyrsee Villa, Belfast. Mr. Gimblett was born at Kyrsee Manor, in the parish of Trenogliss, Cornwall, England, in the year 1837. He was brought up to farming on the farm of his father, Mr. John Gimblett, of Kyrsee Manor. Mr. Gimblett left England for New Zealand on the 21st of November, 1870, in the ship “Charlotte Gladstone,” which arrived in Lyttelton on the 1st of January, 1871. After seven years of experience in various occupations in Canterbury he took up his present residence in the Belfast district. His land is very rich, and second to none in Canterbury for growing potatoes, beans and all root crops. Mr. Gimblett resides at Kyrsee villa, Belfast. He was married in the year 1861 to the daughter of Mr. William Stone, of St. Gennys, Cornwall, and has two sons and three daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. M. R. Gimblett.

Implement Section, Christchurch show.