Crow, Michael John, Farmer, Hilton. Mr. Crow, who is the eldest son of Mr. William Crow, J.P., Leeston, was born at Polesworth, Warwickshire, England, in 1859, and came out to Lyttelton with his parents in the ship “Lancashire Witch,” in 1863. He worked on his father's farm at Leeston for about twelve years, and was subsequently for three years at Coldstream. In 1881, he purchased 400 acres at Rangitata, where he remained for three years. He then removed to Invercargill, and took up 450 acres in Southland. After a three years' sojourn, he found the climate of Southland unsuitable to his health, and bought a farm at Hilton and another at Arowhenua Downs, the two together comprising 572 acres. In 1883 he married Miss Clara Johnson, daughter of Mr. Thomas Johnson, of Irwell, and has a family of five daughters and three sons.

Mr. M. J. Crow.

Friel, Peter, Farmer, Hilton. Mr. Friel was born in the County of Donegal, Ireland, in 1843. He was brought up to farming and came out to Australia in 1862, in the ship “Greyhound,” which landed at Melbourne. After a stay of six months he came over to New Zealand. He remained twelve years in Otago, eight years of which he spent on the goldfields. On coming to Canterbury he settled at Pleasant Point, where he was engaged in contracting on the Levels estate for three years. Afterwards he bought a farm at Waitohi Flat, where he resided for twenty years, during which he continued cropping and contracting. Some years ago he sold out his farm at Waitohi Flat, and in 1897 he took up his present property at Hilton on lease in perpetuity; it consists of 264 acres, and is part of the Arowhenua estate. Mr. Friel has never taken much part in public affairs, but he was a member of the Upper Waitohi Flat school committee for several years. In 1876, he married Miss Eleanor Coll, of County Donegal, and they have one son and three daughters.

Mr. P. Friel.

Greene, William, Farmer, Hilton. Mr. Greene was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1849, and passed his early years on his father's farm. He came to New Zealand in the ship “City of Dunedin,” and settled at Ashburton, where he followed farming. In 1897 he took up the largest farm offered on the Raketairi settlement. It contained 425 acres, and was partly cultivated. Mr. Greene immediately set about improving the property by building a dwellinghouse, erecting about two miles of subdivision fences, and renewing the old pastures. He raises fat lambs for the export trade, for which he breeds from halfbred ewes and English Leicester rams. Mr. Greene has served on the local school committee for a number of years. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Cameron, and has two sons and four daughters.

Mr. W. Greene.

Hunt, James John, Chippendale Farm, Hilton. Mr. Hunt was born at Portsmouth in 1857, and was apprenticed as an engineer and blacksmith. He came to New Zealand in 1875, by the ship “Blairgowrie,” and worked at his trade for twelve years in Christchurch. In 1887, he removed to Rangitata, where he remained for ten years. He then bought 220 acres of land from the Government, and named his farm “Chippendale.” Mr. Hunt has cultivated his land with excellent results, and has occasionally threshed fifty bushels of wheat and eighty of oats to the acre. He also grows good crops of turnips and rape, and fattens crossbred Leicester sheep for the export trade. Mr. Hunt has made permanent and substantial improvements in the shape of a good dwellinghouse, outbuildings, garden, and orchard and the farm is divided into six paddocks. He has been twice married, and has sons and daughters.

Mr. and Mrs J. J. Hunt.

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Skinner, Robert, Farmer, Hilton. Mr. Skinner was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in 1844. He was educated in his native place, and brought up to farming by his parents. In 1868 he set out for New Zealand and arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “William Davie.” A year after his arrival he began cropping at Totara station, near Oamaru, and was there for about seven years. Mr. Skinner then removed to Hilton, in the Geraldine county, where he acquired a farm, and has since been engaged in farming. His farm consists of about 600 cres of freehold, is named “Redcliff,” and he has 660 cres of leasehold land known as Burleigh farm. In 1896, Mr. Skinner was elected a member of the Timaru Harbour Board, and he has been chairman of the Hilton school committee for the past eighteen years. He takes a great interest in all social matters, and occupies the position of president of the Geraldine Farmers' Club. Mr. Skinner is married, and has a family of four daughters and one son.

Mrs R Skinner.

Mr. R. Skinner.