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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Old Colonists

Old Colonists.

Mr. Alexander Colville, sometime of Glentunnel, was the pioneer settler of the Wairere Valley, and was born in Fife, Scotland, in 1830. He came to New Zealand, in the ship “Brechin Castle,” in 1865, and landed at Port Chalmers. After visiting the Wakamarina diggings, where he spent only a short time, he made a tour over the country, looking for a home, and his choice fell on the Wairere Valley, where he purchased 100 acres, and afterwards extended his area to 300 acres. At first the land was covered with flax and water, but he set to work and drained it thoroughly, which was no easy task. He stocked the place with cattle as a means of consolidating the swamp so long submerged in or saturated with water. Mr. Colville's success brought him a number of neighbours, who purchased all the remaining Crown land, but he had, as he deserved, the cream of the valley in his well cultivated farm, stocked with well-conditioned sheep and cattle. The improvements on Mr. Colville's farm were of a permanent nature, and the homestead was well sheltered by forest trees. Mr. Colville always took an active part in road board affairs, and in the local school committee. He was married, in 1889, to Miss Nicholl, and had two sons and one daughter. Mr. Colville died a few years ago.

The late Mr. A. Colville.

The late Mr. A. Colville.

Major General A. G. Davidson, sometime of Glentunnel, was a native of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, and a cadet of the Davidsons of Tulloch, in Ross-shire. He was born in 1825, and entered the army in 1841, when he joined the 29th Madras Native Infantry. After serving for thirty-six years in India under Sir Henry Lawrence and other distinguished leaders, General Davidson retired in 1877, when he came direct to New Zealand, and resided successively at Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, and Christchurch. In 1883 he purchased an estate situated on the southeast of the Wairere Valley, a few miles from Glentunnel, and built a substantial house of brick and iron, and made other extensive improvements. The residence commands a view of the whole of the Wairere Valley. General Davidson was married, in 1851, to Miss Graham, daughter of Dr. J. M. Graham, of Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, and had three sons and five daughters. He died at Glentunnel in 1901.

Mr. James Wallace was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1833, and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1842. He was educated page 757 at private schools in Auckland, and served all through the Maori war. In 1850 he took up land at Papatoitoi, and holds the same land to the present day; he also bought property in the Ellesmere district, Canterbury. Mr. Wallace has taken a prominent part in the establishment and development of most of the important industries in Auckland, and is a member of many public bodies. At seventy years he is hale and hearty, and is a typical specimen of that hardy band of pioneers, who cleared the way for the present generation, and faced the many dangers and difficulties of the early days in the North Island.