Clent Hills Station. This is the property of Mr. James Harrison, and was origin ally taken up by Messrs Tooth and Rowley in 1859. After changing owners several times it was purchased by the present proprietor in 1885. “Clent Hills” comprises 52,000 acres leasehold and 1500 acres of freehold, and carries a well-bred flock of Merino sheep and a good herd of Shorthorn cattle. The homestead is situated on the north bank of the south branch of the Ashburton river, and the grounds, lawns and gardens are tastefully laid off, and planted with many choice trees and shrubs.

Mr. James Harrison, the Proprietor, was born in North Lancashire, England, in 1856, and studied engineering as a profession. He came to New Zealand in 1885, in the s.s. “Tainui,” and joined his brother in the ownership of “Clent Hills.” After a time he bought his brother's interest in the property and is now sole owner. Mr. Harrison served on the local road board for six years, and has always taken an active part in church affairs. He was married, in 1888, to Miss Williams, and has five sons and two daughters.

Mr. J. Harrison.

Harvey, Alexander, Farmer and Butcher, Mount Somers. Mr. Harvey was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, and came to New Zealand in 1864 in the ship “William Miles,” Captain Rabb. On the passage out the ship got into such cold quarters that the passengers had snow-balling matches on board. Where they reached Lyttelton and disembarked, Piper Sinclair played them over the hills to Christchurch; the marching party consisting of seventy-five young men, fourteen single women, and fourteen married couples. Mr. Harvey settled first at Kaiapoi Island, but subsequently visited the Westland goldfields. He, however, returned to Canterbury and helped to make the West Coast Road. While at work on the Cloudy Ranges he was for a whole month in wet clothes. Mr. Harvey then began farming at Leeston, where he remained till 1868, and was then at Hororata till 1875, when he moved to Mount Somers, where he was the first butcher. Mr. Harvey has a farm of 210 acres, on which he fattens a considerable portion of the mutton used in his business. Mr. Harvey has been a member of the school committee for twenty years, and its chairman for eighteen years. He is also a member of the Cemetery and Domain Boards, and takes an active part in church affairs. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Corbett, and has three sons and four daughters.

Hood, John, Farmer, Mount Somers. Mr. Hood was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, in 1851, and came to New Zealand in 1862. He went to Mount Somers in 1866, took up land, and built and opened the Mount Somers Hotel in 1872, but afterwards gave up the hotel and took to farming. He has 1600 acres of land, which is chiefly devoted to the production of wool and mutton and fat lambs for the export trade. For the purpose of breeding fat lambs Mr. Hood prefers halfbred ewes and Leicester rams. Mr. Hood takes an active interest in local affairs, and is chairman of the road board, and the domain and cemetery boards, and a member of the library committee. He was married, in 1877, to Miss Johnston, and has four sons and three daughters.

Mesopotamia Station. This station is the property of Mr. George Allan McMillan, and was originally taken up by Mr. Butler in 1860. After passing through various hands it was purchased by the present proprietor in 1885. It comprises 2070 acres of freehold, 38,000 acres of Canterbury Agricultural College Reserve, and 27,000 acres of Crown Land, and is stocked with Merino sheep and cattle. In 1896 Mr. McMillan purchased the homestead block of Cracroft station, consisting of 5000 acres of freehold, and this he uses for the purpose of raising the fat lambs which are now so much in demand for the export trade

Mr. George Allan McMillan, the Proprietor, was born at Contin, Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1832. He came out to New Zealand in 1859 in the ship “Zealandia,” and went almost directly to Cheviot, where he became successively head shepherd and manager. Mr. McMillan held this position till 1879, when he purchased Lake Sumner station, which he sold again in 1883. Mr. McMillan served his district on the local road board for a number of years.

Mr. G. A. McMillan's Residence.

Mount Possession. This is the property of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. It was originally taken up on a pastoral lease in 1858 by Messrs Tripp and Acland, and consisted at that time of 56,000 acres of Crown land. Now it comprises 9000 acres of freehold, and 47,000 acres of leasehold land. “Mount Possession” is worked in conjunction with “Hakatere,” which is also now the property of the Loan and Mercantile Company. “Hakatere” was originally taken up by Mr. T. H. Potts, in 1858. It has an area of 86,000 acres, and was originally stocked with cattle, which were afterwards superseded by Merino sheep.

Mr. T. S. Johnston, Manager of “Mount Possession” and “Hakatere,” was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1854. He came to the Colony with his parents in 1863, in the ship “Brother's Pride,” and entered upon station life at an early age. He was first with his father at Lake Heron, and was subsequently at “Clent Hills” for fourteen years, and has, therefor, been among sheep in the Upper Ashburton county from boyhood. Soon after entering the service of Mr. Potts he was appointed manager of “Hakatere,” and in 1888, he was appointed manger of “Mount Possession” by the Loan and Mercantile Company, which now owns both runs. Mr. Johnston was married, in 1878, to Miss Lambie, second daughter of Mr. George Lambie, and he has six sons and two daughters.

Mr. T. S. Johnston.

The late Mr. J. M. Furze.