Ashworth, James, Farmer, “Harlston,” Saltwater Creek; postal address, Sefton. Mr. Ashworth was born in Lancashire, England, in 1845, and accompanied his father (after whom he was named) to the colony in 1853. He worked on the first section of the Sumner Road, from Lyttelton to Christchurch, and assisted in the fencing of the first little paddock that was made at Sumner. Subsequently, father and son worked in the Bays for several years. As long ago as 1854 Mr. Ashworth and other men went overland to Timaru to bring sheep to Rhodes' Bay. The family settled at Saltwater Creek, in October, 1859, and father and son became the pioneers of the carrying trade for North Canterbury, then roadless, bridgeless, and covered with page 527 tussock. Their tracks were afterwards largely adopted by road surveyors. They established the first horse teams on the North Road, and had the trade in their own hands for many years. Mr. Ashworth carted the “Glenmark” wool to Kaiapoi in 1859, and frequently afterwards. In the year 1860 he also carted the wool from St. Helen's, Hanmer Plains, Highfield, and Tekoa, and during the twenty-one years in which he was engaged in the carrying business, did either all or part of the carting that was done for all the stations between Kaiapoi and Glenwye. He also took the first timber from Oxford across the Waimakariri for the late Mr. Kenrick, for the first houses in the Kirwee and Springfield districts, before there were any bridges on that river. In the year 1867 he had six teams working at the Taipo, on the West Coast Road. Mr. Ashworth, senior, was an admirable colonist, and the right man for the work of a pioneer. He built a stone house in 1863. During the financial crisis, he got into difficulties, and assigned his estate. His son took over large responsibilities to the creditors, and purchased the goodwill of the business, but without any freehold property. Mr. Ashworth, the elder, was one of the 130 persons who perished in the wreck of the steamer “Tararua,” which went down at the Otira Reef, on the 29th of April, 1881. At the time of his death he was sixty-three years of age. By dint of hard work his son succeeded in meeting his obligations, and has since been successful as a settler. In 1878 he purchased the old stone house erected by his father, and now lives in it; and he acquired 2500 acres of freehold land, which he has farmed for some years. This fine property has about seven miles and a half of water-frontage. Mr. Ashworth has been twice married; firstly, in 1878, to the eldest daughter of Mr. C. Skevington, of Waikuku, who died in 1899, leaving four sons and seven daughters; and, secondly, in June, 1901, to the widow of Mr. H. Reeves, of Woodend, a daughter of Mr. W. Hicks, of Hampshire, England. Miss Hicks came out in the ship “Canterbury” in 1863, under engagement to the Rangiora school, and was afterwards well known at Woodend and St. Stephen's schools.