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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Fairview

Fairview.

Fairview was originally known as Seaview. It is a pleasant farming district with undulating country, about five miles from Timaru, on the Pareora road, and lies between Pareora and Claremont. The population of the settlement is set down at forty-nine, while Fairview road has an additional population of 104. Fairview has a post office and there is a public school in the district. The nearest telegraph office is in Timaru.

The Fairview Public School was established in the eighties. It has a glebe of four acres of land, on which there are some well grown shelter trees. The school building is of wood and iron, and contains a classroom and a porch, with accommodation for sixty children. There are thirty-six names on the roll, and the average attendance is thirty. The globe has a number of lower-beds which are kept by the children. There is a six-roomed house for the teacher in charge of the school.

Mrs Christian Ritchie, Teacher in charge at Fairview, was born in Aberdeen. Scotland, and was educated and trained as a teacher in Edinburgh. In 1885 she arrived at Dunedin by the ship “Chili,” and held a position in the Dunedin Girls' High School. Mrs Ritchie was afterwards in charge at Upper page 1033 Otaio for eight years and a half, before being appointed to Fairview in 1894.

Farmers.

Butchers, Edwin, Farmer, Fairview Mr. Butchers was born in Kent, England, in 1840, and was brought up as a farmer. He came to Lyttelton by the ship “Canterbury” in 1864, and worked for about eighteen months on Longbeach station. Some time afterwards he was employed in the formation of the West Coast road. In 1872, Mr. Butchers commenced farming at Fairview, on eighty acres of land, which he has since increased to 106 acres. He has been a member, of the local school committee since its establishment. Mr. Butchers was married, in 1871, to a daughter of the late Mr. Edward Lawrence, of Pinner, near London, and has three sons and two daughters.

Ferrier, photo.Mr. and Mrs E. Butchers.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. and Mrs E. Butchers.

Elder, John, Farmer, Fairview. Mr. Elder was born in Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1853, and brought up on his father's farm. He had experience for two years in a lawyer's office, and has since devoted his attention to farming. In 1880 he arrived in Lyttelton by the ship “Norfolk,” and was for four years on Clydevale station, Otago, the property of the New Zealand Land Company. For seven years subsequently he was agricultural manager of the Waihao Downs station. In 1899 Mr. Elder took up a grazing run of 4000 acres on the Hunter Range, on which he depastures about 3000 sheep. Owing to the educational needs of his family he removed from the run and bought land at Fairview, in the vicinity of the public school. In addition to his run, he now farms this property of 134 acres, for sixty-eight and a half acres of which he has a freehold title. Since 1898 Mr. Elder has been a member of the Fairview school committee, of which he is chairman, and he is also a member of the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr. Elder was married, in 1889, to a daughter of Mr. A. McLean, of Waihao, and has a surviving family of two daughters and one son.

Ferrier, photo.Mr. and Mrs J. Elder.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. and Mrs J. Elder.

Hunter, James, Farmer, Rosebank Farm, near Fairview. Mr. Hunter was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, in October, 1853. He was brought up to country life in Linlithgowshire, came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Canterbury” in 1880, and found employment in farm work in the Totara Valley till 1896, when he purchased Rosebank Farm, which he has since worked. The property consists of 125 acres of freehold. Mr. Hunter is attached to the Pleasant Point Lodge of Oddfellows.

Ferrier, photo.Mr. J. Hunter.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. J. Hunter.

Kelland, Richard, Farmer, “Kelland Barton,” Fairview. Mr. Kelland was born in Devonshire, England, and was brought up to farming pursuits. He left for New Zealand with his parents by the “Tutor” in 1865, and landed at Lyttelton. After staying a short time in Christchurch, he went to Timaru, where he worked on his father's farm for
Mr. R. Kelland's Prize Sheep.

Mr. R. Kelland's Prize Sheep.

page 1034 about ten years, and then started farming 475 acres on his own account at Fairview, about five miles from Timaru. A few years later he purchased 590 acres at Tycho Flat, and 300 acres adjoining the Levels estate. Mr. Kelland owns altogether 1355 acres of excellent soil. He is an extensive breeder of stud English Leicesters, and has been awarded numerous prizes at various shows. Mr. Kelland is a member of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has been a member of the committee for a number of years; and he has also been chairman of the Fairview school committee for a great many years. He was married in England during a visit to the Old Country, to Miss Cole, the eldest daughter of a Devonshire farmer, and has eight children.
Ferrier, photo.Mr. R. Kelland.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. R. Kelland.

McPhedran, Duncan, Farmer, “Coonoor,” Fairview. Mr. McPhedran, whose father was a farmer, was born on the 23rd of January, 1833, at Inverary, the capital of Argyleshire, Scotland, and near the seat of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. He went to sea early in life, and visited various parts of the world, including the colonies. On one occasion he suffered shipwreck, in the dead of winter, and on the south-west coast of Ireland, and all on board, except himself and another, found a watery grave. Weary and friendless, he travelled all the way to Dublin, whence he went to Glasgow. He then shipped for Sydney, New South Wales, but missed his vessel, which, owing to the state of the tide, sailed two hours earlier than the appointed time. The ship foundered, and all on board perished, except one man, who by clinging to a spar escaped to tell the tale. At the time of the Australian gold rush in the early fifties, he and all the crew deserted their vessel in Melbourne, but every one of the dserters was caught and put in irons, with the exception of Mr. McPhedran and his mate. Mr. McPhedran acquired large interests at Ballarat, and was among the first to put down deep shafts on that goldfield. Some years afterwards—in May, 1861—he removed to the Otago goldfields, and was very successful at Gabriel's Gully. While on an expedition in Central Otago he lost his way, and after wandering about for some time came out at the present site of Waitahuna. The spot selected for a camp proving to be rich in gold, he procured a prospecting claim, and did very well at mining in the district. Subsequently Mr. McPhedran went back to Ballarat, and made a great deal of money as a goldminer. He then returned to the Old Country, and after making three unsuccessful attempts—owing to illness in the family—to return to New Zealand, bought an estate in Scotland, about halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, with all minerals, and spent a great deal of money in boring the property, which was proved to contain coal and other minerals. Mr. McPhedran went to great expense, and opened up the mine, when he was unfortunate in having a law case decided against him, in reference to the legal title of all minerals; and after spending a fortune he sold his property at a quarter of its cost. Mr. McPhedran then returned to New Zealand, and acquired large tracts of land at Oxford and afterwards at Darfield, where he farmed till 1895. During his residence in the district Mr. McPhedran served for a number of years on the Oxford Road Board, and also held seats on the licensing committee and on the local school committee. In 1895 he acquired his present property of 400 acres freehold, at Fairview, where he has since resided. Mr. McPhedran was married at Geelong, on the 8th of July, 1862, to Miss Catherine Campbell, who died suddenly on the 12th of February, 1901, leaving seven sons and five daughters.

Ferrier, photo.Mr. D. McPhedran.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. D. McPhedran.

Squire, George Wood, Farmer, Fairview. Mr. Squire was born in Devonshire, England, in February, 1846, and farmed for some years on his own account before coming to New Zealand. He arrived at Lyttelton in 1865 by the ship “Glenmark,” and settled in the Rangiora district, where he was farming for some time. In 1870 he returned to the Old Country, and some time later went to page 1035 Australia, but again visited England. Mr. Squire came back to New Zealand in 1880, and, after visiting both Islands, finally settled in South Canterbury in 1884. For seven years he was farming at “White Rock,” near Cannington, and took up a grazing run of 2000 acres at Westercombe near St. Andrews, in 1892. He still works this property and also seventy-two acres of freehold at Fairview, where he has resided since April, 1898. Mr. Squire served in the 10th Hussars at Home for nearly four years. He was married on the 24th of December, 1884, to a daughter of Mr. G. Lilienthal, of Anklan, Germany, and has five sons and two daughters.

Ferrier, photo.Mr. G. W. Squire.

Ferrier, photo.
Mr. G. W. Squire.

Whittaker, John Thomas, Farmer, Fairview. Mr. Whittaker was born near Burnley, Lancashire, England, in 1860, and at the age of three years accompanied his parents to Timaru in the ship “Victory.” He was brought up by his father as a shoemaker, but, owing to his health, gave up that employment in 1880, and since 1882 he has been farming on his own account. For about six years Mr. Whittaker was contracting and cropping at Raincliffe, and now works 190 acres of freehold together with 320 acres of leasehold at Fairview. He served as a volunteer in C Battery at Timaru for four years, and has for some years been a member of the Fairview school committee. Mr. Whittaker was married, in November, 1834, to a daughter of Mr. William Alexander, of Timaru, and has two daughters.

Ferrier photo.Mr. J. T. Whittaker

Ferrier photo.
Mr. J. T. Whittaker