Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Old Colonists

Old Colonists.

Mr. Robert Finley was born near Belfast, Ireland, in 1830. He was brought up to agriculture, and in 1864 sailed in the ship “Royal Standard,” for Melbourne. Two years later he came to New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton. After spending a few months at Scuthbridge, he went to Lincoln, where he remained for six years. He then went to Halkett, and bought Longfield Farm, which he worked until 1896, when he sold out his implements and stock, and let the property to his son-in-law, Mr. W. A. Davis, with whom he has since resided. Mr. Finley has been actively connected with the Halkett Presbyterian church, and has served as a committeeman. He was married in the Old Country, and has a family of one son and four daughters.

Wrigglesworth and Binns photo.Mr. R. Finley.

Wrigglesworth and Binns photo.
Mr. R. Finley.

Mr. Alexander McKay was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1825, and was brought up to pastoral pursuits. In 1861 he came to New Zealand by the ship “Royal Stuart,” and landed at Lyttelton. Soon afterwards he commenced shepherding for Mr. G. A. E. Ross, on Waireka station. Mr. McKay subsequently went to West Melton, where he was a shepherd on another property owned by Mr. Ross. In the later sixties he bought a farm at Halkett, but let it to a tenant and went to Southbridge shepherding for Mr. Samuel Bealey. Later on he returned to Halkett, and worked his property till 1894, when he removed to Spreydon, where he has since resided. Mr. McKay served on the Halkett school committee, and was also connected with the Presbyterian church. He was married in the Old Country, and has a family of one son and two daughters.

Mr. Robert Roper, sometime of Pine Grove Farm, Halkett, was born in Suffolk, England, in 1834, and brought up to farming. In 1860 he came to New Zealand, in the ship “William Miles,” and landed at Lyttelton. After remaining in Christchurch for a few weeks, he went to the Ashburton Forks, and two years later to the Prebbleton and Lincoln districts, where he remained three years. Mr. Roper then removd to Halkett, and took up 100 acres of agricultural land, and afterwards increased his holding to 200 acres. It was named Pine Grove Farm. He was a member of the Halkett school committee, and was also connected with the Anglican church. He died at Halkett, in 1899, leaving a widow and a family of five sons and six daughters.

The Late Mr. R. Roper.

The Late Mr. R. Roper.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mrs R. Roper.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mrs R. Roper.

Mr. William Turner was an Englishman by birth, and a sailor by profession. He served in Her Majesty's Navy, and first visited New Zealand in a man-of-war in the early fifties. Some years later he left the sea, returned to New Zealand and settled in the colony. His first colonial experience was bullock-driving in North Canterbury, and he afterwards took over the accommodation house at Hanmer. In 1868 he married a daughter of page 735 the late Mr. Frederick King, an old Canterbury colonist, who came out in the ship “Joseph Fletcher,” in 1854. In the same year Mr. Turner gave up the accommodation house, and twelve months later he went to Halkett, where he bought land, and resided there up to the time of his death. He died on the 24th of March. 1892, aged fifty-five years, and left a widow and one son.

The late Mr. W. Turner.

The late Mr. W. Turner.