McCann, John, Farmer, Westerfield. Mr. McCann was born in 1845 in County Down, Ireland, where he passed his early years on his father's farm. He came to the Colony in the ship “Matoaka,” in 1869, and settled for a few years at Southbridge, and subsequently at Peel Forest. In 1878 he purchased the first portion of his present farm, which now contains 356 acres of freehold and 330 acres of leasehold land. For a time Mr. McCann cropped his freehold land with good results, but now the whole property is devoted chiefly to the production of wool and mutton for the export trade. In breeding fat lambs for this purpose Mr. McCann prefers Shropshire rams to sires of any other breed. Mr. McCann is a Freemason, and has served on the Westerfield school committee. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Button, and has three sons and five daughters.

Westerfield Estate (Alexander Frederick Roberts, proprietor), Westerfield. This estate was originally taken up and settled by the late Mr. Charles Reid. Its present owner, Mr. A. F. Roberts, was born at Akaroa, and educated in England at Malvern College, Worcestershire. On his return to New Zealand, in 1880, he started farming with his cousins, Messrs Lyon Brothers, at German Bay, on Banks' Peninsula. He afterwards took up the Waikerikikeri run of 3,000 acres on the east coast of the Peninsula, where he remained for twelve years, during which he was engaged in raising sheep and cattle. After having improved and fenced the property, he sold all, with the exception of 900 acres. and bought the Onawe property of 166 acres. In 1900 he sold Onawe, and took up his residence at the old Westerfield homestead, which is pleasantly situated on the south bank of the Ashburton river. Mr. Roberts has 3,000 acres of first-class grazing land, which is occupied principally by sheep and cattle. He was married, in 1889, to Miss Moorehouse, second daughter of the late Mr. T. C. Moorehouse, and niece of William Sefton Moorehouse. His father, Mr. James Fraser Roberts, C.E., was a very old colonist, and was well known at Akaroa, where for many years he held the position of District Civil Engineer.