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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Rangitata

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Rangitata.

Rangitata is seventy-five miles from Christchurch on the main line of railway, and within twenty-five miles of Timaru. Bush abounds in the district, and timber felling is a local industry. In summer the Rangitata river attracts large numbers of anglers, who often go in camping parties, though private board can be obtained if arranged for beforehand. There is a coach service between Rangitata and the Arundel village settlement, eight miles distant. Rangitata is in the county of Geraldine. There is a daily mail service with Timaru, and postal and telegraphic business is conducted at the local railway station.

Mr. R. D. Petrie's Children.

Mr. R. D. Petrie's Children.

Bridge Hotel (R. D. Petrie, proprietor), Rangitata. This hotel was established about 1874. It contains twenty-seven rooms, of which twelve are well-furnished bedrooms, and there are two dining-rooms, with chairs for twenty-five persons. There are also two private sitting rooms, three parlours, and one good bagatelle table. Mr. Petrie has large stables, with several loose boxes, and six securely fenced and well-watered paddocks for the accommodation of travelling stock, and he keeps a baker's, butcher's, and a blacksmith's shop on the premises.

Mr. R. D. Petrie, the Proprietor, was born at Oxford, North Canterbury, in 1867, and was apprenticed to the butchering trade. He subsequently carried on a successful business in Christchurch and at Rangitata, where he purchased the Bridge Hotel in 1898. Mr. Petrie was married, in 1892, to Miss Greer, and has one son and two daughters.

Farmers.

Button, Robert Thomas, Sheepfarmer and Sawmiller, Upper Rangitata. Mr. Button was born in Norfolk, England, in 1828. He was educated in his native place, and was in the Norwich Union Fire Office for some time. In 1850 he left England, by the “Catherine Stewart Forbes,” and landed at New Plymouth. He went farming in the Taranaki province, and was there till 1859, when he removed to Canterbury and settled at Kaiapoi, where he had some property and carried on the business of carpenter and builder. In 1863 Mr. Button went to Little River for eighteen months. Thence he removed to Leestson and became the owner of a threshing machine. He afterwards went to Rangitata and purchased a part of Peel Forest bush from the late Mr. Robert Rhodes, erected a sawmill, and has since carried on farming and sawmilling.

Edgar, Adam, Farmer, Rangitata. Mr. Edgar was born in 1838 in Berwickshire, Scotland, and was brought up to farming. He came to New Zealand by the “Queen of the Mersey,” and landed at Lyttelton on the 19th of November, 1862. He first went as a shepherd to Sir Cracroft Wilson, with whom he remained for fourteen months. After that he was shepherding on Action station, Rakaia, for three years. He then visited various parts of the South Island, including the diggings, and was afterwards contracting in Canterbury. In 1875 he started farming at the Rangitata, where he has between 400 and 500 acres and keeps sheep and grows crops. Mr. Edgar has several times been on the local school committee. He was married to Miss Selina Barnham, of Oxfordshire, England, in 1877, and has four daughters and two sons living.

Miss Button and her Jumper, “Waihao.”

Miss Button and her Jumper, “Waihao.”

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Hackfall Farm is situated on the north bank of the Rangitata river, and close to the traffic bridge. It consists of 1700 acres of medium quality land, very suitable for sheep, with which it is well stocked. There is generally a considerable area under crop as well, and oats and root crops thrive on the land. “Hackfall” was originally part of the Cracroft run, and was bought by Mr. Knight in 1900.

Mr. and Mrs A. McClelland.

Mr. and Mrs A. McClelland.

Mr. Donald Frederick Knight was born at Lincoln, and educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. His father, Mr. A. C. Knight, was a pioneer colonist, and sat for some years in the Canterbury Provincial Council. He resided for some years on his father's farm at Akaroa, and afterwards had two years' experience of farming in the North Island. On his return to Canterbury he bought a Government run at the head of the Rangitata Gorge; it was known as “Stronchrubie,” and he occupied it for ten years. About twelve months after selling “Stronchrubie” he removed to “Hackfall.” Mr. Knight married a daughter of the late Mr James Pilbrow.

McClelland, Alexander, Farmer, “Orangeville,” Rangitata. Mr. McClelland was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1851, and came to New Zealand by the ship “Charlotte Gladstone,” in 1871, landing at Lyttelton. After a few months at Courtenay, he moved to South Canterbury, and in 1876 acquired his farm of 194 acres. Mr. McClelland married Miss Mahan, of Rangitata, and has two children. Mr. McClelland is a member of the Temuka Orange Lodge.

Mr. Archibald Mahan, Old Colonist, was born in Carigallan, County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1834. He was educated in Dublin, and brought up in the teaching profession. After his college course he went to County Longford, where he taught for fifteen years. While there he married Miss Cody. Mr. and Mrs Mahan arrived at Lyttelton, by the first trip of the “Duke of Edinburgh,” in 1874. After teaching for a short time in the Main School, in Timaru, Mr. Mahan went to Waitohi Flat, where he opened the local public school. He was teaching in South Canterbury for twenty-five years, within a radius of twenty-five miles from Timaru. Mr. and Mrs Mahan had fourteen children, eight sons and six daughters, eleven of whom are living. Mr. Mahan retired from the teaching profession in 1899 and started farming on the Rangitata, where he remained until his death in April, 1901.

Mahan, photo.The late Mr. A. Mahan.

Mahan, photo.
The late Mr. A. Mahan.

Mahan, photo.Mrs A. Mahan.

Mahan, photo.
Mrs A. Mahan.