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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

[Rotherham]

The township of Rotherham is situated seven miles from Culverden on the main coach road to Waiau and Kaikoura. The settlement possesses a hotel, a store with a post and telegraph office, and a public school. Most of the population find employment in country work, and some have small farms in the vicinity of the township. There are two large stations within a short distance of the settlement, namely, “Achray” and “Mount Palm.” The township is in the Rotherham riding of the Amuri county, and has a population of 146. A mail coach arrives and departs daily.

The Public School, Rotherham, was established about the year 1881, on part of a section of one acre, upon which there are some well grown ornamental trees. The building is of wood and iron, and contains a class room and a porch. It has accommodation for fifty children, of whom there are twenty-six on the roll, and the average attendance is twenty-four. A public library is cernected with the school, which is used on Sunday for church services in connection with the Anglican and Presbyterian bodies.

Mr. William Dickie, Headmaster of the Rotherham school, was born at Blackwall, London, in 1858. He was trained as a teacher in England, and served for four years under the London School Board. After arriving in Port Chalmers by the ship “Marlborough” in 1884, he was stationed in various parts of the colony, as a teacher, till he received his present appointment in 1902. Mr. Dickie was married, in 1881, to a daughter of the late Mr. C. Bohli, of Blackwall. This lady died in 1891, leaving two sons and one daughter. In 1893 Mr. Dickie was married to a daughter of the late Mr. W. Smith, of Christchurch, and has two sons by this union.

Rotherham General Store (Albert Waters and Hugh McKay, proprietors), Rotherham. This business was established by Mr. W. Farrley and then bought by Mr. R. McBride, who carried it on until 1886, when it was taken over by Mr. Fraser, and in 1901 it was bought by the present proprietors. The shop was rebuilt in 1889, with a neat dwelling on an adjoining section. The stock consists of groceries, drapery, fancy goods, boots, ironmongery, and saddlery. There is a post and telegraph office at the store, and mails are received and despatched daily.

Mr. Albert Waters was born in Kent, England, in 1873, and came to Lyttelton in 1879. He was educated at Ashley school, and went in 1887 to Rotherham, where he engaged in the storekeeping business with Mr. Fraser, with whom he remained until 1901, when he and Mr. McKay bought the business.

Mr. Hugh McKay was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1865, and was brought up to farming. In 1884 he arrived in Lyttelton, and engaged in shepherding on various stations throughout Canterbury, including “Achray,” where he was head shepherd for seven years. In 1901 he bought his present business, with Mr. Waters.