Fairlie, in the county of Mackenzie, is the terminus of the branch railway from Timaru. It taps the rich pastoral districts of the Mackenzie Country, and is on the direct route to Mount Cook, and its famous glaciers. Fairlie is thirty-nine miles from Timaru, with which it has daily mail communication and it is also a telegraph station. The surrounding scenery is of a very interesting character. Coaches start from Fairlie for the great snowy ranges. The township has three churches, a public school, four general stores, two hotels, and three blacksmiths' shops. Fairlie is also the name of the most populous riding of the Mackenzie county. At the census of March, 1901, it had a population of 968, of whom 597 souls were returned as being in Fairlie township and its neighbourhood. The riding includes Ashwick Flat, Burke's Pass, and Silverstream.

The Mackenzie County Council has jurisdiction over an area of 2537 square miles of country, which is chiefly pastoral, and of a mountainous character. The district was formerly known as the Mount Cook road district, and was constituted as a county in 1879. It has a population of 1697, and its capital value is £753,733. Property carries a rate of three-fourths of a penny, and the annual revenue is about £4635; expenditure, about £4826. The Council meets once a month at its offices in Fairlie. Members for 1903: Messrs F. R. Gillingham (chairman), W. Wreford, J. S. Rutherford, R. Irving, R. Guthrie, and J. A. Pringle, Mr. R. L. Banks is clerk and engineer.

Councillor Richard Irving was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1837. He was brought up to farming, and in 1867 came to New Zealand, under engagement to the Levels Land Company, for whom he brought out a valuable stallion, “Iveno.” After a time Mr. Irving was appointed manager of the farming department, and held the position for fifteen years, when he bought 300 acres of the Levels estate at Albury. He has since increased his holding to 1775 acres, known as “Brown Hill.” In 1899 he took a pleasure trip of seven months to England, and brought to New Zealand a number of very valuable draught stallions, two of which, “Sandy Erskine” and “Agitator,” have been champions ever since coming to the colony. Mr. Irving also owns the stud draught horses “Reformer' and “Brown Hill,” and he has acted as a judge of draught horses at nearly all the agricultural shows throughout Canterbury. He has been a member of the Timaru Agricultural Show Committee for twenty years, a director of the Albury Saleyards Company since its foundation, has served for twelve years on the local school committee, and has been a member of the Mackenzie County Council since 1902. Mr. Irving was married, in 1867, to a daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Young, of Lanarkshire, Scotland, and has seven sons and four daughters.

Councillor William Wreford, Member of Mackenzie County Council, is a farmer residing at Coal Creek, Cave, and was born in Devonshire, England, in 1851. Having been brought up to farming pursuits, he resolved to seek fortune in New Zealand, and in 1874 sailed in the ship “Clarence” for Hawke's Bay. In 1875 he was employed on Captain Russell's station in that province, and remained there for some time prior to coming to Canterbury, where he worked on the Hon. E. Richardson's station at Albury. He then started in business as a butcher and dealer; subsequently, he took up land, and now occupies some 400 acres. Mr. Wreford was elected a member of the County Council in 1896, and was chairman of the Cave School Committee for some years. He was married in New Zealand to a daughter of Mr. John Bussell, farmer, of Makihihi, and has four children.

Mr. W. Wreford.

Fairlie Railway Station And Post Office dates from 1881, when the line was opened to Fairlie. The building is of wood and iron, and contains three rooms where railway, postal, and other official business for the district is transacted. There are goods and engine sheds at the railway station, and trains depart and arrive for and from Timaru, with a double service on Mondays. The goods sent from the station consist principally of wool, sheep, and grain.

Mr. Andrew John Robertson, Stationmaster and Postmaster at Fairlie, was born in 1865, in Dunedin. He joined the railway service as a youth, and was appointed to his present position in 1900. Mr. Robertson was married, in 1886, to a daughter of Mr. Charles Russell, of Seacliff, and has two sons.

The Fairlie Public School, which dates from 1863, has accommodation for 160 children. There are 130 on the roll, and the average attendance is 115. The master's residence is situated near the school, which has a glebe of ten acres. The teacher in charge has two assistants.

Mr. John Robert Wallace, B.A., Headmaster of Fairlie Public School, was born in Dunedin in 1872. He was trained in his native city, and graduated at the University of Otago. Mr. Wallace was appointed to his present position in 1897. He was married, in 1895, to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Connor, of Dunedin.

The Church Of St. Stephen, at Fairlie, is built of wood and iron, and was erected in 1896. It is a good and well appointed church, and has accommodation for 100 adults. The site consists of half an acre, and is centrally situated in the township. Services are held, morning and evening, every Sunday. There is a Sunday school attended by twenty-five children, in charge of three teachers. The vicar-in-charge resides at Pleasant Point.

Black, Walter, Government Stock Inspector, Fairlie. Mr. Black was born at Caroline, Southland, in 1869, and was trained at a butcher and farmer. After being in Invercargill and Lumsden for fifteen years he worked on several sheep stations about Southland, until receiving an appointment as Government rabbiter at Thornbury, in 1888. Mr. Black was afterwards agent at Lumsden for three years, and was also at Clinton, Ophir, and Tapanui, before receiving his present appointment at Fairlie in 1893. His boundaries include all Mackenzie county, and part of Geraldine and Mount Peel road district. Mr. Black is specially interested in the Mackenzie county agricultural show, at which he is the largest exhibitor, and he has been successful as a prize taker with horses, cows and garden produce. He is honorary secretary and treasurer of the local racing club. Mr. Black was married, in 1892, to Miss Jaggers, daughter of one of the oldest settlers in Southland, and has three sons and three daughters.

Ashwick Flat School, near Fairlie. This school was opened in December, 1892. It consists of one room capable of accommodating sixty children. There are thirty-nine names on the roll, with an average attendance of thirty. The school stands on the corner of a fifty-acre section, the whole of which, with the exception of about two acres, is reserved for the sole use of the master. The chief credit for establishing the school is due to Mr. Robert Allan of Ashwick Flat. Mr. S. N. Ormandy is at present (1903) in charge.

Mr. William Melville Yates, formerly Master of the Ashwick Flat school, South Canterbury, was educated at the Bury Grammar school, England. He was English master in the Denbigh Grammar school, North Wales; and mathematical master in the High school, Sale, Manchester. Mr. Yates is an English certificated teacher, and holds certificates in eight subjects, from the Science and Art Department, South Kensington, London. He is the author of a work on “Latin Prose Composition” (Macmillan) and of “Short Methods in Arithmetic” (Whitcombe and Tombs). Mr. Yates studied vocal music in Manchester, under Henry Coy, Mus. Doc. (Oxon.) and R. H. Wilson, Mus. Bac. (Oxon.), and was for a short time a member of Sir Charles Halle's choir. He came to New Zealand in 1887 in the s s. “Tainui,” and landed at Lyttelton. Mr. Yates was for five years headmaster of the Lakeside school, North Canterbury. He is well known in musical circles, and was for two years paid choirmaster of the St. Andrews and Beaconsfield churches. Mr. Yates was married, in 1883, to the third daughter of Mr. James Robertson, a noted Edinburgh paper-maker and patentee, and author of “Hints on Papermaking.”

Mr. W. M. Yates.

Dopping, Antony John, Accountant and Commission Agent, Fairlie. Mr. Dopping was born in Hampshire, England, in 1855, and received his education at Blackheath. After leaving college he went to Ceylon, where he engaged in coffee planting for eight years, but owing to ill health returned to England in 1880, and a year later came to New Zealand. He landed at Auckland, and going thence to Lyttelton, became a cadet on Sir John Cracroft Wilson's station at Rangitata for two years. Mr. Dopping afterwards established his present business at Fairlie, where he holds agencies for the Manchester Fire and the National Mutual Life Insurance Companies. He takes a general interest in local affairs, and is secretary for various clubs.

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Gladstone Grand Hotel, Fairlie. See page 956.

Foden, Thomas, Builder and Contractor, Fairlie. Mr. Foden was born in 1850, in Staffordshire, England, and came to Lyttelton by the ship “Mermaid” in 1866. He went to Timaru the same year, and served an apprenticeship as a builder with Mr. Samuel Harding. Mr. Foden carried on his trade in the district for thirty years. He held the contract for the council chambers at Burke's Pass in 1877, the Hermitage, at Mount Cook, in 1888, and Mr. E. Brown's residence at Temuka in 1892, besides several churches and the Catholic Boys' School at Timaru. In 1880 Mr. Foden acquired a farm of 100 acres at Silverstream, and in 1894 settled at Fairlie, where he has a two-acre section, upon which his residence and workshop stand. He is a member of the local school committee, and was the first chairman of the Silverstream school committee. Mr. Foden has been connected page 956 with the Foresters' Court since 1877, and founded the lodge of Mackenzie Freemasons, for which he acted as secretary for five years. He was married, in 1870, to a daughter of the late Mr. Edward Foden, of Staffordshire, England, and has three sons and four daughters.

The Gladstone Grand Hotel, at Fairlie, was established in 1884 It is a modern brick building, and stands on a two-acre section, with a lawn and garden, surrounded by a plantation of trees. The hotel has thirty rooms, including a fine billiard room, three sitting rooms, and two dining rooms. It is a favourite resort for tourists on their way to Mount Cook, and visitors always receive every consideration from the proprietor and his wife. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly patronised this hotel on their way to and from Mount Cook.

Mr. Nicholas O'Toole, Proprietor of the Gladstone Grand Hotel, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1849. He was educated at St. Patrick's Seminary, Tullow. County Carlow, and worked on his father's farm. At his father's death Mr. O'Toole took over the management of the property and managed it until he sailed for New Zealand in 1879 by the ship “Hawarden Castle.” He engaged in farm work and contract cropping at Waimate, and in 1886 took up 370 acres, 170 of which he purchased from the Government. Mr. O'Toole worked the property as an agricultural farm until he sold out, and took over the Gladstone Grand Hotel, in 1901. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1895, and was for some years a member of the Glenavy school committee, and also served on the Domain Board. Mr. O'Toole was married, in 1888, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Nolan, of Marshallstown, County Kildare, Ireland.

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Mr. and Mrs N. O'Toole.

Kerr And Frayne (Hugh Kerr and Frank Frayne), Coach and Livery and Bait Stable Proprietors, Fairlie. This business was originally established by Mr. Thomas Shaw, and has greatly increased since it was taken over by the present proprietors in 1894. There are now two large stables with the sheds necessary for accommodating the numerous vehicles, which include four covered-in coaches, a drag, four waggonettes, single and double buggies, as well as gigs. The proprietors keep thirty horses, exclusive of two valuable stallions, which are set aside for stud purposes. Two years after acquiring the business the proprietors took over the contract for carrying the mails between Fairlie and Mount Cook. During the tourist season, from the 1st of November to the end of April, coaches are run to and from the Hermitage, at Mount Cook, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Messrs Kerr and Frayne's Coach Leaving the Hermitage for Fairlie.

Mr. Frank Frayne, Senior Partner in the Fairlie Livery and Bait Stables, was born in 1885 in Lancaster, England, where he received his education. He was brought up to stable work, and on coming to Lyttelton in 1882, went to Rangiora, where he spent most page 957 of his time before taking over his present business in conjunction with Mr. Kerr, in 1894. Mr. Frayne was married, in 1899, to a daughter of Mr. Charles Evans, of Kaiapoi.

Messrs Kerr and Frayne's Coaches Leaving Fairlie for Mount Cook.

Cross, Charles Edward, Farmer, Fairlie. Mr. Cross was born in 1876 at Christchurch, and was educated at the Boys' High School there, and at Akaroa, where he became a cadet on Mr. G. J. Black's estate. In 1895 he went to Fairlie, where, with his brother, he worked his father's farm for four years, and was afterwards, until going to South Africa with the Third New Zealand Contingent, buying stock for Mr. Acton-Adams. While in East London, Africa, Mr. Cross received the Royal Society's Medal for rescuing a comrade from drowning. From Africa he went to England for six months, and returned to New Zealand in 1901. Mr. Cross was among the seven selected from the Third Contingent to represent New Zealand at the coronation of King Edward VII. He returned to Fairlie in 1902.

Cross, James Edward U., Farm Manager, Fairlie. Mr. Cross was born in 1878, at Christchurch, where he received his education at the Boys' High School. On leaving school he went to Fairlie, and afterwards became manager of “Rivermead,” which was bought by his father in 1895. This farm, which comprises 440 acres, is situated about two miles from Fairlie. It runs about 600 sheep, and there are several well bred and valuable horses. Mr. Cross takes an interest in volunteering, and is sergeant in the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles.

Harries, Edward Lifford, Sheepfarmer, Fairlie. Mr. Herries was born in Nelson, in 1854, and received his education in Dunedin. He was brought up to shepherding on various stations in the district of Waitaki, and was for seven years on the Ohau Lake station, where he was head shepherd for some time. In 1887 he went to the North Island, but returned to Otago after two years and resumed his former occupation. Mr. Harries came to Canterbury in 1900, and took up his present holding of 2143 acres leasehold, upon which he runs a flock of 1600 half and three-quarter bred ewes. His lease takes in the sheep yards, dip, outbuildings, and substantial stone built woolshed of the old Three Springs station. Mr. Herries was married, in 1893, to a daughter of Mr. William Mason, of Christchurch, and has one son.

Mr. and Mrs E. L. Harries and Child.

“Melville Downs,” Fairlie (A. L. Macpherson, Wycherley Grove, Staffordshire, England, proprietor). This estate comprises 1835 acres of freehold land, and is situated about seven miles from Fairlie, adjoining “Allandale” and “Trentham.” It was formerly part of Ashwick station, and in 1885 was purchased by the present proprietor. The land, which is nearly all cultivated and sown in grass, is well fenced and subdivided into nineteen paddocks, carrying a flock of 2300 breeding ewes. The homestead is prettily situated on a terrace with a fine plantation of shelter trees surrounding it, and with all the necessary station buildings adjoining.

Mr. Robert Scott, Manager of “Melville Downs,” was born in 1848, in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, where he received his education and followed the life of a shepherd. He was employed on several large farms in Sutherlandshire, and in 1873 came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Dunfillan.” He was head shepherd for Mr. William Shand at the Taieri for two years, and afterwards was at Ohoura station, and Whale's back station as under manager for seven years. In 1885 Mr. Scott became manager for Captain Hayter at Rolesbury station, and four years later was appointed to his present position. In 1902 he acquired for himself 813 acres of Melville Downs, and his place is stocked with 800 breeding ewes and 200 hoggets. Mr. Scott was at one time a member of the Ashwick school committee, and has been a member of the Fairlie Farmers' Union, and a shareholder of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association since 1896. He was married, in 1877, to a daughter of the late Mr. Ronald McMillan, of Waitaki.

Melville Downs Homestead.

Milne, William, Farmer, Raincliff, Fairlie. Mr. Milne was born in Otago, and at an early age was brought to Canterbury by his parents, who took up a farm at Ashwick Flat. He received his education at the Fairlie school and was brought up to farming, and remained at home until his father left Ashwick Flat and took up a page 958 farm at Albury. Mr. Milne was shearing for about ten seasons on various stations in the district, and in 1893 leased 640 acres adjoining his father's property, which he used for sheep grazing purposes for four years. In 1899 he started a butcher's shop in Fairlie, in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Mr. Adamson, and carried on the business for eighteen months. Mr. Milne then turned his attention to farming again, and acquired 227 acres leasehold, and 209 acres of the Raincliff estate, and runs a flock of 900 crossbred sheep. Since 1900 he has been a member of the Mackenzie Mounted Rifles.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. W. Milne.

Nixon, John, Farmer, “Springvale,” Fairlie. Mr. Nixon was born in 1843, in County Down, Ireland, where he passed his early years on his father's farm. In 1864 he came to New Zealand in the ship “William Miles,” and during the succeeding year he passed six months on the Westland goldfields. On his return to Canterbury, he bought land and commenced farming, cropping and dairying. Mr. Nixon purchased the first portion of “Springvale,” in 1883, partly from the Crown and partly second hand, and he has gradually extended his area to 1600 acres, on which he carries on mixed farming, and fattens sheep for the export trade. The improvements at “Springvale” include a good dwellinghouse, necessary outbuildings, and a good garden and orchard, sheltered by two acres of plantation. Mr. Nixon has served as a member of the local school committee and of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. He was married, in 1874, to Miss Currie, and has four sons and six daughters.

Mr. J. Nixon.

Robinson, John, Farmer, Fairlie, Mr. Robinson was born in 1851, in Westmorland, England, where he was educated, and brought up on his father's farm. He came to Dunedin in 1879, and was working for some time on the Taieri. Then he came to Canterbury, and engaged in farm work at Peel Forest till 1880, when he went to Raincliff station, where he worked as a farm hand. He started cropping and contract farm work in 1896, and took a lease of 200 acres on Raincliff. In 1897 he took up 498 acres of leasehold land close to Fairlie, where he carried on sheepfarming and mixed farming. He is a member of the committee of the Mackenzie Agricultural Society. Mr. Robinson was married, in 1897, to a daughter of Mr. James Gallen, of County Tyrone, Ireland, and has one son and one daughter.

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Mr. And Mrs J. Robinson.

Ross, John, Farmer, Shinness Farm, Fairlie. Mr. Ross was born in Shinness, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and was brought up to shepherding. He worked for five years on the Shinness Farm and for eleven years on the Forest Farm, Ross-shire. Mr. Ross came to Lyttelton by the ship “Merope” in 1870, and went as shepherd on the Tekapo station for two years. He worked on several other runs, and was managing Richmond station for some time. He went to the North Island for two years; and on his return resumed the management of “Richmond” for sixteen years. page 959 Mr. Ross then, in conjunction with a partner, leased the Lilly-Bank run of 70,000 acres for several years. In 1891 he bought his present farm of 265 acres, which he has named after his birthplace. He also leases four other properties in the district, amounting in all to nearly 2000 acres, and his stock comprises 2200 sheep and 100 head of cattle. Mr. Ross was for some time a member of the Mackenzie County Council and is now a member of the Timaru Agricultural Association, the Mackenzie Masonic Lodge, the Mackenzie Agricultural Show Committee and the Fairlie Oddfellows' Lodge, and has a large interest in the local saleyards. Mr. Ross was married, in 1878, to a daughter of the late Mr. John Clarke, of Rose Hall, Scotland.

Strathallan Estate, Fairlie, is the property of Messrs LeCren Brothers, and comprises 2600 acres. It was originally part of the Ashwick run and was purchased from the Crown in 1878 by Mr. F. LeCren, father of the present owners. The property is devoted to grazing purposes, is divided into fourteen paddocks with sixteen miles of substantial fencing, and carries 3500 sheep. The improvements consist of a good dwellinghouse, an orchard and garden, blacksmith's shop, sheep dip and yards, and two stables—one for heavy horses and one for light horses; and the homestead is sheltered by a wellgrown plantation. The proprietors have with great judgment planted a number of trees in every paddock to provide winter shelter and summer shade for the stock. With a view to keeping the pastures in a state of well ordered renewal, Messrs LeCren annually bring a considerable area of land under the plough, and put it down chiefly in rape and turnips. The grain grown on the estate is also consumed upon it.

Strathallan House.

Mr. F. J. LeCren, the Senior Partner, was born in 1863 in Christchurch, and educated at Christchurch and Timaru, where he was in commercial life for five years, when he turned his attention to pastoral pursuits, which he followed for twelve years. In 1897 he went to reside at Strathallan. Mr. LeCren has always taken an active part in athletic sports. While he was at school he won three silver cups, besides many minor prizes, and since then he has won two silver cups.

Mr. C. J. LeCren, the younger brother, was born in Timaru, and educated there and in Christchurch. He was for two years at the Agricultural College, Lincoln, and subsequently followed farming.

Mr. C. J. Le Cren.

Trotter, John, Farmer. “Punaroa,” Fairlie. Mr. Trotter was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1860, and came to Port Chalmers in 1867 with his father, who was engaged by the New Zealand Land Company to manage the Totara estate in the Oamaru district. He received his education at Palmerston South and was brought up to farming. At the time of the Kimberley gold rush he went to Australia, but returned to New Zealand, which he thinks is far superior to Australia. In 1897 Mr. Trotter bought 126 acres of the Eversley Farm, and two years later leased from the Government 496 acres, which he works as a sheep and agicultural farm. His property is well fenced and cultivated, and he has built a neat four roomed cottage with sun-dried bricks, of his own manufacture. He crops about 180 acres, and runs a flock of 600 half bred and cross bred ewes. Mr. Trotter is Immediate Past Master of Lodge Mackenzie, 93. New Zealand Constitution, with which he has been connected since 1894. He takes an active part in all local affairs, and is steward of the Mackenzie Agricultural Society, and president of the Mackenzie Jockey Club. Mr. Trotter was married, in 1889, to a daughter of Mr. W. Brown, of Middlemarch, Otago, and has one son and three daughters.

Farquhar, John, Head Shepherd, Clayton, Fairlie. Mr. Farquhar was born in the Braes of Angus, in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1854. He came out to New Zealand in 1874 by the ship “Tweed,” and landed in Otago. After his arrival Mr. Farquhar followed station life at Benmore and the head of the Waitaki, and also in the Mackenzie Country. In 1880 he visited Cape Colony, where be joined the volunteers. He was in Baker's Horse during the trouble with the Basutos, and took part in a few skirmishes. In 1881 he returned to New Zealand, and resumed his usual employment. He was appointed to his present position in 1884. Mr. Farquhar has generally taken an active part in athletic sports, and has frequently competed at the Caledonian Society's sports, and carried away first prize for throwing the hammer. He was married, in 1893, to Miss Allan, of Pleasant Point, and has two sons and one daughter.

Mr. J. Farquhar.