Farmers

Cunningham, William, Farmer, “The Willows,” Totara Valley. Mr. Cunningham was born in Scotland, in 1859, and came to Lyttelton with his parents in the ship “Captain Cook” in 1862. He is a son of the late Mr. David Cunningham, of Waitohi, was educated at Christchurch and Temuka, and worked with his father for two years. He then engaged in contracting and cropping, and latterly in sheep dealing. As a sheep dealer he has been very successful, and his turnover for the year 1898 was over £35,000. Mr. Cunningham rented a farm of 600 acres from Mr. Verity for six years, and then bought his present property of 500 acres at Totara Valley. The land was then in its native state, but he has cleared it and drained it with pipes, and it is now first-class farming land. Formerly he cropped extensively, but since he has gone in for sheep dealing he utilises most of the land for grazing. He finds the three-quarter and crossbred sheep most suitable. Mr. Cunningham is a member of the Opihi school committee, and has been a member of the Totara school committee. In 1886, he married Miss McLeod, of Kakahu, and they have two sons and four daughters.

MR. W. Cunningham.

Glenelg Estate, Totara Valley. This estate was originally part of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's property. It was purchased in the first instance by Mr. W. W. Cobb, who sold it to Messrs Paterson and Rodgers. Theses gentlemen, in turn, sold the 824 acres which they held to Mr. D. McBeath in 1886. Mr John McBeath subsequently purchased 186 acres adjoining, and now the estate has a total area of 1010 acres. It is all limestone formation, and will grow crops of grain and turnips to perfection. The improvements which have been

Feeding Motherless Lambs.

page 941 made by the Messrs McBeath consist of a good dwellinghouse, beautifully situated on rising ground near the head of the valley. Stables, with stalls and boxes for fourteen horses, have been built of stone and iron, and with walls 15 feet high. The loft is used as a granary, and there are other outbuildings in keeping with the rest of the home-stead, which is enclosed on the north-west and south-west by ornamental and shelter trees. The swamp land on the property has been tile-drained, and the whole of the estate has been cultivated with the exception of a small block which is surface-sown with choice grasses. The property is well fenced, and subdivided into twenty paddocks. During a recent season there were 300 acres in crop, and the balance was carrying and fattening 3700 sheep, besides cattle and horses. The general flock consists of Border Leicesters and crossbreds, but there is a stud flock of Border Leicesters, which was established in 1877 with four ewes purchased from Mr. W. Boag, and descended from imported stock. These ewes were mated with the ram “Bismarck,” bred by Messrs Gillies and Street, and all the rams used since then have been bred by the most noted colonial breeders, as the New Zealand Flock Book shows, In 1889 when Messrs Henderson and McBeath dissolved partnership, they divided their flock, Mr. Henderson taking his portion to Spreydon and Mr. McBeath his to Glenelg.

Glenelg Homestead.

Mr. Donald McBeath, the elder brother, was born in 1835, in Caithnessshire, Scotland, where he was educated and followed a commercial life. In 1863 he came out to Otago in the ship “Helenslea,” and went to Westland soon after gold was discovered there, and there he remained till 1895. He died in November, 1902.

Mr. John McBeath is two years younger than his brother, with whom he came out to Otago. He was for many years settled in Otago, but subsequently entered into business in Christchurch. In 1889 he leased his brother's portion of “Glenelg,” and still leases and works it in conjunction with his own part of the property.

Totara Downs, Totara Valley. This estate is the property of Mr. Charles H. Verity, who came out to New Zealand in 1877, and was for many years manager on “Rockwood” and “The Brothers” estate, near Albury, South Canterbury. “Totara Downs” contains 611 acres of rich limestone formation, and is capable of grazing and fattening a large number of sheep and lambs. The property was originally part of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company's run, and was bought by the present proprietor in September, 1884. It is now devoted chiefly to the breeding and fattening of lambs for the export trade. In order to keep the pasturage in good heart and condition, a considerable area is annually placed under cultivation. The homestead is beautifully situated on the highest part of the property, and commands a fine view of the Canterbury Plains, the Pacific Ocean, and the Southern Alps.

Mr. C. H. Verity's Residence.

Mr. James Balfour. sometime of Totara Valley, was born at Doune, Perthshire,

Standish and Preece, photo
The late Mr. J. Balfour.

page 942 Scotland, in 1841, and was brought up to country life. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Robert Henderson,” in 1862, and for some time found employment as a carrier to the Otago goldfields, and afterwards farmed at Totara in the Oamaru district. About 1873 he acquired 1203 acres of freehold land in the Totara Valley, which he farmed, and resided at his homestead, “Mansfield,” until his death in April, 1897. In addition to “Mansfield,” Mr. Balfour owned 200 acres near Pleasant Point. He was a prominent supporter of the Presbyterian church in his district, and contributed liberally towards its erection. Mr. Balfour was married, in 1872, to a daughter of the late Mr. James Oliver, of Oamaru, who arrived at Port Chalmers with his family by the ship “Strathmore,” in 1855. His wife was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and, at her husband's death, was left with three sons and six daughters. The second daughter studied for the medical profession in Edinburgh, and has recently gained her diploma.

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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Farmers.