Spotswood, in the Waiau riding of the county of Cheviot, is about eight miles from McKenzie, and is centrally situated in the district of East Waiau. There is a post office, which is conducted at one of the local homesteads, and a blacksmith's shop. The population of the Waiau riding was 200 at the census of 1901.

The Spotswood Post Office was established in 1896, and is conducted at the residence of Mr. John Gills, Parnassus Road. Two mails are received and despatched from the office weekly.

The Spotswood Public School was opened in July, 1895, and contains a class room and porch. It has accommodation for forty-one pupils; there were fifty-three names on the roll in 1902, and the average attendance was forty-one. There are two acres of land attached to the school premises; and there is a residence of five rooms for the teacher.

Mr. George Frederick Allen, Headmaster of Spotswood School, was born in Christchurch, in 1875. He served five years as a pupil-teacher at St. Albans Main School, studied for a year at the Normal College, Christchurch, and was appointed to his present position in 1898. He was married, in 1899, to a daughter of Mr. C. Pickering, of Palmerston North, and has two sons and one daughter.

Craighead, Alexander, Farmer, “Gowerbrae,” Spotswood, Cheviot. Mr. Craighead's property consists of 248 acres, which he holds from the Crown under a lease in perpetuity. The land has been reclaimed from the tussocks, and brought into a good state of cultivation. Mr. Craighead was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in June, 1847, and came to Lyttelton with his parents by the ship “Cashmere” in 1859. He went to service at Sumner, where he remained for seven months. Then he joined his parents, who were living near Christchurch, and went with them, in 1860, to Shands' Road, near Prebbleton, where he acquired practical experience in farming. In May, 1865, he went to Russell's Flat, and in 1868 he commenced farming on his own account. He removed to Home Bush in 1875. In 1877 he turned his attention to road work, and between that date and 1881 took a considerable number of contracts from the South Malvern Road Board. In May, 1881, Mr. Craighead paid a visit to Southland, with a view to settling there, but did not think the prospect good enough. Shortly afterwards he joined Mr. Colthart, Clerk of the Magistrate's Court at Sheffield, as bailiff, and also acted as collector of agricultural statistics, census sub-enumerator, deputy-returning officer, etc. In 1885 he was assessor for the Malvern districts for the property tax. In March, 1893, Mr. Craig head severed his connection with Mr. Colthart, and in November of the same year took up land at Cheviot. He sold his property at Home Bush in 1894, and removed his family to Cheviot in May of the same year. Mr. Craighead was for several years a member of the South Malvern Road Board, and has also been a member of various school committees.

Hughes, photo.
Mr. A. Craighead.

Hansen, John Nicholas, Farmer, Spotswood. Mr. Hansen was born in Denmark, in 1850, and on leaving school went to sea for upwards of ten years. In 1874 he [gap — reason: illegible] away from his ship at Lyttelton, and settled at Belfield village settlement, near Orari, where he remained for about thirteen years. He became one of the successful selectors at Cheviot, in 1894, and holds 185 acres under a lease in perpetuity. His land is in an advanced state of cultivation. Mr. Hansen is a member of the local school committee, of the Cheviot Settlers' Association, and of the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. He was married, in 1881, to a daughter of Mr. H. Newport, of Orari, and has one son and five daughters.

Smith, Ernest William, Farmer, Spring Creek, East Waiau, Spotswood. Mr. Smith was born in Herefordshire, England, in 1867, and came to Lyttelton with his father, the late Mr. W. H. Smith, in October, 1880, by the ship “Crusader.” He was brought up to country life, and settled in the Cheviot district in February, 1894. His property consists of 100 acres held under a lease in perpetuity, and has been reclaimed from the tussocks, fenced, planted and cultivated.

Smith, Frederick Herbert, Farmer, “Riversview,” East Waiau, Spotswood. Mr. Smith was born in Herefordshire, England, in June, 1868, and accompanied his father, Mr. W. H. Smith, to Lyttelton, in the ship “Crusader,” which arrived in October, 1880. Mr. Smith settled in the Cheviot district in February, 1894, when he acquired 157 acres under a lease in perpetuity, and has now built a homestead, and planted and fenced his holding. Mr. Smith was married in November, 1894, to a daughter of Mr. F. Stigley, of Aahburton, and has one son and two daughters.

Wilkinson, Thomas Henry, Spotswood, Cheviot. Mr. Wilkinson was born in 1859, in Cumberland, England, where his father was a land agent. Before coming to Australia, in 1879, Mr. Wilkinson gained experience of farming at Cirencester Agricultural College. Shortly after arriving in Australia, he came to an uncle in Canterbury, but subsequently removed to Pukekohe, Auckland, where he was engaged in farming for a good many years. Finally he became a settler at Cheviot on the establishment of that settlement. His property consists of 330 acres of leasehold in perpetuity. Upon this he has built a fine homestead, and has greatly improved the land. Mr. Wilkinson is a member of the Settlers' Association, and of the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. He was married, in 1883, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. H. Wright, of Pukekohe, and has four sons and five daughters.

Hughes, photo.
Mr. T. H. Wilkinson.