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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. Peter Friel

Mr. Peter Friel , who is now farming at Hilton, South Canterbury, 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 moving 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, dur- page 383 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
Mr. P. Friel.

Mr. P. Friel.

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.

The Hon. James Fulton, sometime of Ravenscliffe estate, and one of Otago's earliest settlers, was born at Futtehghur, India, in 1830, He was the third son of Major Robert Bell Fulton, of the Honourable East India Company's Royal Bengal Artillery, and was educated at Blackheath, England. Mr. Fulton came to New Zealand by the “Ajax” in 1849, and shortly afterwards settled at the Taieri, where he and his brother took up a large area of country as a sheep run. At that time there were no roads, but only a small fern track, along which all goods had to be carried on foot. After a time goods were carried on horseback, and then by means of a wooden sledge, drawn by bullocks, Later, the wooden sledge was superseded by an iron one, on which Mr, and Mrs Fulton made many a journey to Dunedin. During the mining rush to the Dunstan and the adjacent districts, in 1861, the Messrs Fulton suffered severe losses by the miners pulling up and burning the fences, and killing their sheep. In fact, the losses in that connection were so serious that it was decided to sell off all stock. Another episode of pioneer settlement experienced by Mr. Fulton was connected with bushranging. A creek close to the homestead came to be known as Garratt's creek, from the fact that the notorious bushranger Garratt stuck up some men beside it. When informed of the occurrence by the victims of Garratt's lawlessness, Mr. Fulton set off for Dunedin to give information, but Garratt succeeded in escaping to Australia. He was, however, subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in Dunedin gaol, Mr. Fulton was for many years Resident Magistrate in the Taieri and for some time in Dunedin and Port Chalmers. From 1879 to 1890 he represented Taiari in the House of Representatives, and was afterwards called to the Upper House. Mr. Fulton died at “Ravensoliffe,” West Taieri, on the 20th of November, 1891. Another article concerning Mr. Fulton appears on page 79 of this volume.