The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]
Broadfields
Broadfields.
Broadfields is in the county of Selwyn, and within three miles of Prebbleton. There is a school, a post office, a Wesleyan church, and a Roman Catholic church in the district, which is a fine farming area bounded by the Springston, Ladbrook and Prebbleton districts. Mixed farming is carried on; the land yields large crops of wheat, and numerous sheep are fattened for freezing purposes. The main Christchurch and Southbridge road intersects the district, and the local roads are good for cycling. A company has built large shearing sheds, at which the sheep of the farmers are shorn by machinery; and the venture so far has proved very profitable to the shareholders, and most convenient to the farmers.
Farmers.
MR. W. Armstrong.
Boyd, Robert, Farmer and Orchardist, Broadfields. Mr. Boyd was born at Portaferry, near Dundee, Scotland, in 1824, and came to New Zealand in 1859. He was brought up as a gardener, and for five years after coming to New Zealand was employed in that capacity by Mrs Deans, of Riccarton. In 1864 he bought his present property, of which two acres are devoted to the cultivation of fruit—principally apples, peaches, and plums. Mr. Boyd now leads a quiet retired life. He is married, and his only daughter, Mrs Bennie, resides at Rolleston.
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. R. Boyd.
Ryan, Michael, Farmer, Broadfields. Mr. Ryan was born in the County of Tipperary, Ireland. He passed his early years on his father's farm, and arrived in New Zealand on the 13th of December, 1863. At the end of 1864 he took up the first part of his present property, which now comprises 1160 acres. The land was originally over-run with spear-grass, broom, and tussock, but it is now covered with well-cultivated fields, which carry a large number of sheep, all in the pink of condition. The majority of Mr. Ryan's sheep are the progeny of Down rams. He began with dairy cows, but when the price of dairy produce fell, he changed to sheep. Mr. Ryan has served on the Broadfields school committee. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Hagan, and has nine sons and five daughters.
Mr. M. Ryan.