Mr. George Bartrum was born at Bath, England, in 1827. He was brought up as a surveyor, and also gained experience of farming. In May, 1852, he arrived at Lyttelton by the ship “Stag,” and was for some years settled on the Ferry Road, Christchurch, where he grew wheat, and other crops for the support of his household, and used a spade in preparing the ground. In 1867 Mr. Bartrum settled in the Rangiora district, and was for some time engaged in carting. Afterwards he commenced farming over the Ashley river, and at a later period removed to the neighbourhood of Woodend, where he was occupied in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. For some years he has resided in King Street, Rangiora. Mr. Bartrum was married, on the 29th of December, 1851, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Pursey, of Somersetshire, England, and has three sons and six daughters, with whom he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding in April, 1902.

Mr. Henry Blackett was born in Durham, England, in 1820, and s the youngest son of the late Mr. Cuthbert Blackett, worsted and carpet manufacturer of that city. Mr. Blackett was educated chiefly at Durham Grammar School. His first experience in business was with Mr. Ferens, woollen-draper, of Durham, with whom he served five years, after which he spent one year in Leeds, and another year in Manchester in the woollen trade. He then went to London, and for four years was employed by Messrs. C. Meakin and Co., as traveller and buyer for one of their departments. Then he started as a general draper in business in his native city, where he remained eight years. In 1858 he left for New Zealand in search of health, and opened a general store in Rangiora. Mr. Blackett is one of the oldest residents in Rangiora, being among the first to settle in the district. He was on the road board for about fourteen years, and several times elected chairman. It was mainly through his efforts that a drainage board was established for the purpose of reclaiming the Rangiora swamp, and of this he was chairman for seven years, until the work was completed, when he resigned. He was also first chairman of the Rangiora School Committee. The borough of Rangiora was proclaimed in 1878, mainly through Mr. Blackett's efforts, and he had the honour of being elected the first mayor. He has been mayor five times, but has now retired from business and active life. For many years he was the chairman of the Domain Board, and member of the High School Board. He has been connected with nearly every public body in the district. Mr. Blackett was married in 1850 to a daughter of Mr. Andrew Benton, of Brinkburn, Northumberland, England, and has nine children.

Mr. H. Blackett.

Mr. William Buss was born in January, 1840, at Sellings, Kent, England, and arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Roman Emperor,” in January, 1860. He settled immediately at Rangiora, on the Woodend Road, where he has since had his home. In 1862 Mr. Buss founded the large auctioneering business which he successfully conducted for forty years, and from which he retired on the 18th of January, 1902. He claims to have held an auctioneer's license continuously for a longer period than any other auctioneer in Canterbury, and was the first resident auctioneer in the district. The position which Rangiora holds as a market town is largely due to the enterprise of Mr. Buss, who established the weekly Tuesday market day many years ago. As a farmer Mr. Buss has worked 1600 acres of agricultural land, and from 6000 to 7000 acres of pastoral land, for very many years. He took a great interest in the establishment of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Society, of which he was the first secretary and treasurer, and held those offices for fifteen years; subsequently he was president for three years.

Mr. George Cone was born in Aldham Suffolk, in 1842. He was educated in the parish school, and came out with his parents in the ship “Bangalore,” landing in Lyttelton in August, 1851. Mr. Cone was one of the oldest residents in Rangiora, and had been prominently associated with the place from the time it consisted of a single homestead. He was mayor of Rangiora in 1891–92, and as a councillor he had an unbroken record, having occupied a seat in the council since the formation of the borough. Upon retiring in 1897, Mr. Cone was presented with a requisition signed by the most influential residents of the town, requesting him to allow himself to be again nominated for a seat in the council. Mr. Cone took a great interest in agricultural matters, and was a prominent member of the local agricultural society. He was a member of the North Canterbury Racing Club, and president of the Athletic Society, of which he was the principal promoter. For many years he was sergeant in the northern contingent of volunteer cavalry. He was married in 1862 to a daughter of Mr. T. Burt, of Rangiora. Mr. Cone died on the 30th of June, 1898.

The Late Mr. G. Cone.

Mr. William John Crothers was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1851, and was brought up to mercantile life at Lurgan. After some years' experience in the United States of America he emigrated to Victoria in the sixties. In 1875 he settled in Canterbury, and started a grocery and drapery van on the road between Christchurch and Rangiora and the Cust districts. He afterwards commenced storekeeping, and founded the business of W. J. Crothers and Co., which he conducted till 1890, when he sold out to the North Canterbury Co-operative Association. Mr. Crothers was married, in 1876, to a daughter of the late Mr. R. Jassett, of Rangiora. His wife died in 1900, leaving three sons and four daughters.

Mr. Malcolm Duncan, formerly of “St. Kidda Farm,” Rangiora. was born in County Antrim, Ireland. He went to America at the age of eighteen, and followed the sea until 1857, when he came to Australia and worked at the diggings for some time. Coming across to Otago at the time of the Gabriel's Gully “rush,” he worked with varying success at different fields, and was the first to find good gold at Skippers', which was called after him, as he was known as “Skipper” Duncan. He put up a store at Miller's Flat and remained there for about a year, when he sold out and built another store at Nevis. From Nevis he went to the West Coast, where he married and started a stock-dealing business. He drove the first mob of cattle from Wairarapa to Wellington, shipped them to Lyttelton, and thence to the West Coast. Mr. Duncan continued dealing in stock for about six years, after which he settled in Canterbury, and purchased “St. Kidda Farm.” Mr. Duncan was a member of the road board for many years, and also of the river board, a trustee in several small estates, and a Justice of the Peace. He has a grown-up family of four daughters and three sons, one of the latter being an officer in the Union Company's service.

Mr. M. Duncan.

Mr. William Foster was born in the Rangiora district in 1858. He was educated and brought up to the hardware business, and occupies a responsible position under Mr. J. Johnston, hardware merchant. Mr. Foster has been for some years a director of the Rangiora Building Society, and holds office as a member of the local school committee. He was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr. J. Johnston, of Rangiora, and has four sons and two daughters.

Mr. James Gulliver was born in Hampshire, England, in 1822. He landed at Lyttelton in 1858 by the ship “Roehampton,” and almost immediately settled in Rangiora, which was then in its natural state of tussock and bush. Being a baker by trade, he shortly afterwards commenced business on his own account, and carried it on for many years. Mr. Gulliver was married, in 1846, to Miss Cradwick, of Portsmouth, England, and has five sons.

Mr. Aquila Ivory was born in Norwich, England, in 1830, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Glentanner” in 1857. He settled page 475 in Rangiora, and helped to make some of the first roads in the district. Subsequently he was well known as a grain buyer and shipper for many years. Mr. Ivory was long a member of the Rangiora Borough Council, and was mayor on two occasions. He was married, in 1854, to a daughter of the late Mr. W. Didcock, of Stoke-Pogis, Slough-by-Windsor, who died in 1898, leaving two sons and one daughter.

Mr. George John Leech arrived with his wife from England in 1853 by the ship “Tasmania,” the last of the Canterbury Association's ships, and they were the first to settle on rural land at Rangiora. For fourteen years prior to sailing for New Zealand Mr. Leech was an officer of the Joint Stock Banking Company in Whitehaven, Cumberland, England. He commenced farming on the Woodend road, on the land now known as “Brooklands.” In 1870, with the late Mr. George Booth, he erected a flax mill, which has been run almost continuously since its establishment. He was also prominently associated with the Rangiora High School, and was for a number of years chairman of its governing body; indeed, his energy and ability had much to do in advancing the school to its present position. Mr. Leech was also a director of the Rangiora Building and Investment Society from its inception. He took an active interest in the establishment of the Anglican church at Rangiora, and for thirty-four years gave his services to the parish as a member of the vestry and a churchwarden. Mr. Leech was born at Maitindale, Westmorland, in 1821, and died on the 16th of January, 1902. He left five sons and two daughters; his wife having predeceased him by about seventeen years. Mr. and Mrs Leech will long be remembered for their genial kindness, hospitality, and for the financial assistance which they gave to many of the early settlers.

The Late Mr. G. J. Leech.

Mr. John Lilly, “Lillybrooke,” Rangiora, was born in Manchester, in 1829. His father was a butcher, and he, too, was brought up to that trade, at which he worked in Newark, and afterwards found employment with Messrs Lee and Sons, Leadenhall Market, London. Subsequently, he was for a short time in business on his own account, at Rochdale, Lancashire. Mr. Lilly came to Lyttelton in the ship “Roehampton” in 1858, and was employed for a short time at Rhodes' Bay. Soon afterwards he settled in Rangiora, and after working twelve months at his trade, he commenced business on his own account, and afterward became also a cattle dealer. Mr. Lilly was actively engaged in business for sixteen years, during which he did a large and lucrative trade. He retired about 1876. He has always taken a keen interest in racing, and was the first clerk of the course at the Rangiora races, which were held opposite the site of the Red Lion Hotel. Mr. Lilly served as a volunteer for six years in the North Canterbury Mounted Rifles, and at Timaru, many years ago, he took high honours at military drill, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. He was married, in 1857, to the eldest daughter of the late Mr. W. Butterworth, of Rochdale, Lancashire. This lady died in 1877, leaving three daughters, one of whom has since died. In 1882, Mr. Lilly married his deceased wife's youngest sister, and of one son and one daughter born of this union, the son has died.

Tolputt and Clarke, photo.
Mr. J. Lilly.

Mr. John Macfarlane, one of the pioneers of settlement in New Zealand, was born in Perth, Scotland. He was brought up to sheepfarming by his father, who was a farmer and dealer. Mr. Macfarlane landed in Nelson, in 1842, and two years later removed to Wellington. About the end of 1850, three weeks prior to the arrival of the first four ships, he came to Canterbury, and took up the Loburn run—so named by him—which he worked till 1862, when, owing to the advent of free selectors, he sold out and purchased land about three miles from Rangiora, since known as “Coldstream.” Mr. Macfarlane resided on this property till his death in 1884, and took considerable interest in local affairs in Rangiora. He was married in Wellington, in 1848, to a daughter of the late Mr. Donald Cameron, who came to the colony in 1840. Mrs Macfarlane survives her husband, and is well known throughout the Rangiora district. She has six sons and three daughters and about forty grandchildren.

Standish and Preece, photo.
The Late Mr. J. Macfarlane.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mrs J. Macfarlane.

Mr. William Paterson, who was a successful Colonist and Farmer, was born at Midfrew, Perthshire, page 476 in 1831, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1865 in the ship “Greyhound.” In the same year he took up 246 acres of Crown land on the Mandeville plains, which he brought under good cultivation, and was a very successful breeder of pure-bred Border-Leicester stock, for which he gained many awards. Mr. Paterson took an active part in general politics. He contested the Ashley seat when there were five candidates in the field, and received a fair share of support. Mr. Paterson retired to spend the afternoon of his life in quiet at Akaroa, where he died in 1897, leaving a widow with one son and five daughters, all of whom are married. Mr. James Paterson, the only surviving son, was born in 1867, and was educated at Swannanoa and Sumner College, afterwards assisting his father in the management of his farm. He was married in 1896 to Miss Garland.

The Late Mr. W. Paterson and Mrs Paterson.

The Rev. Henry Torlesse, who was well known in Canterbury in the early days, was born in 1832, at Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk, England. He came to Lyttelton by the ship “Minerva” in 1853, and became a clergyman of the Anglican Church in the colony in 1859, when he was ordained deacon by Bishop Harper. In 1862 he was ordained priest and was stationed at Okain's Bay for four years. Mr. Torlesse was Government chaplain for three years, and for two years afterwards vicar of Governor's Bay. Eighteen months before his death, in 1870, Mr. Torlesse became an invalid. He was married, in 1857, to Miss E. H. Revell, of Kaiapoi, and left five daughters and two sons.

Mr. John Bollard Wilson was born in Worcestershire, England, in 1834, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Sir Edward Paget” in 1856. He settled in Kaiapoi, and two years later removed to Rangiora to open a branch store for his employer. It was the first store opened in Rangiora, and stood on a Bite near the present railway crossing in High Street. Mr. Wilson afterwards became the first resident postmaster in the district. About twelve months after settling in Rangiora Mr. Wilson bought his employer's interest in the local business, which he conducted till 1865. Since then he has been engaged in mercantile life in the district. He is a very old member of the Masonic Order. Mr. Wilson was married, in 1858. He was left a widower in 1896, with four sons and two daughters.