North East Valley is separated from the city of Dunedin on the north eastern boundary of the latter, only by the Botanical Gardens. On the north and north-west it is bounded by the county of Waikouaiti, on the east by the borough of West Harbour, and on the south, by Lake Logan and Pelichet Bay. The earliest settlers in the district were Messrs John Duncan, James Leckie, David Anderson and James Strain, some of whom settled in the valley in the early fifties, and still reside there. Though there are but few acres of level land within the borough, it has gained considerable popularity as a residential suburb, and farming, especially in connection with the dairying industry, is carried on more extensively than in any of the other suburbs. North East Valley has, also, tanneries, dye works, fellmongeries, rug and mat manufacturies, a brick kiln, two steam laundries, and a stone quarry—all in full swing. Glenroy, Glenaven, and other small townships within the borough have recently been cut up and offered for sale, and the sections have been eagerly bought and quickly built upon. The Town Hall is a commodious three-storey brick and plaster building, situated on the main road, and the borough has two public schools—the Main School and the Upper Junction School. The last-named was opened for the benefit of the children of the farmers, who reside some distance from the township, and is situated high on the hills near the northern boundary. The Presbyterians, Anglicans, Baptists, and members of the Church of Christ have places of worship within the district, which has a post, telegraph and telephone office. Street lighting is provided for by means of gas bought from the Dunedin City Corporation, and drainage is controlled by the Dunedin and Suburban Drainage and Sewerage Board. Communication with the city is well provided for by the electric tramway service, which now runs as far as Normanby.

North East Valley was proclaimed a borough in October, 1877, and Mr. Isaac Green was its first Mayor. The borough has an area of 3,980 acres, and a population of 4,160. The rateable values amount to £21,411; and there is a general rate of 1s 2d in the £, a special levy of 6d in the £ to provide interest on borough loans, and also a drainage rate of 2d in the £; all on the annual letting value of property. In 1903 the system of dividing the borough into wards was abolished, so that each member of the council now represents the total area of his borough. The Council elected in April, 1904, consists of the Mayor, Mr. John Campbell, and nine councillors; namely, Messrs Isaac Green, Thomas Short, Duncan McGregor, William King, Colin Macandrew, James Wilson, William Brittenden, Jonathan Rhodes, and Robert Ferguson. The Town Clerk, Treasurer, and Borough Engineer is Mr. Theodore Arnold, J.P.

North East Valley, from Heriot Row.

His Worship The Mayor Of North East Valley, Mr. John Campbell , was page 416 elected to his present office on the 27th of April, 1904. He is further referred to at page 198 of this volume.

Councillor Isaac Green , J.P., A member of the North East Valley Borough Council, is one of the oldest, ablest and most trusted public men in the North East suburb. He was a member of the Road Board which was the first governing body in the district, became its chairman, and held that position till the road district was merged into the county of Waikouaiti. Mr. Green was then immediately returned to represent his riding in the Waikouaiti County Council, and retained his seat till the proclamation of the borough of North East Valley, in 1877, when he was elected the first Mayor. Mr. Green has held a seat on the Borough Council almost continuously since its inception, and has been four times Mayor. He was born at Hayes, Middlesex, England, in July, 1847. Mr. Green spent several years at the late Mr. Forest's school, at Harlington, and in 1855 he left, in company with his parents, by the barque “Dunedin,” for New Zealand, arriving in January, 1850. He completed his education at the East Taieri school under Mr. James Waddel, and afterwards went to live in North East Valley, where he has ever since been engaged in the dairying industry. His property consists of about 105 acres, and embraces a portion of his father's original farm. Mr. Green was elected a member of the committee of the North East Valley main school as early as 1869, and continued to hold his seat till 1893, having occupied the position of chairman several times. In that year the Upper Junction school district was formed, and on the election of its committee he took office as chairman. He held that post for three consecutive terms, and has since done excellent work for the school district as an ordinary member of the committee. For many years he has been a member of the local lodge of Freemasons. Mr. Green has for several years represented Mornington, Roslyn, Maori Hill, and North East Valley on the Dunedin Ocean Beach Domain Board, and has been a member of the Dunedin Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He is married, and has a family of four sons and one daughter.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Councillor I. Green.

Councillor Duncan Mcgregor , J.P., has been a member of the North East Valley Borough Council for about fifteen years, and has twice filled the mayoral chair. He was a member of the North East Valley licensing committee for about three years, and is at present (1904) one of the oldest members of the Upper Junction school committee, of which he has several times been chairman. Mr. McGregor was born in May, 1856, in Perthshire, Scotland, and came to Otago by the ship “Robert Henderson” in 1858. He gained some tuition at the North East Valley public school, and completed his education at Waitati, under the late Mr. Porteous. After serving an apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Dunedin he removed to Port Chalmers, and carried on his trade on his own account for about ten years. Mr. McGregor took up land at North East Valley in the early eighties, and has since been engaged in the dairying industry. He pays particular attention to the rearing of Ayrshire cattle, and has carried off many prizes at the metropolitan and other shows. He is president of the Dunedin and Suburban Dairymen's Association. Mr. McGregor is married, and has two sons and two daughters.

Wrigglesworgh and Binns, photo.
Councillor D. McGregor.

Councillor William King , who was elected to the North East Valley Borough Council, in 1903, was born in May, 1846, in Berkshire, England. He came to Port Chalmers in 1875, in the ship “Waimate,” and carried on business until late in the nineties, when he retired from trade. Mr. King has been twice married, and has a family of five sons and three daughters.

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Councillor Colin Macandrew , who serves on the North East Valley Borough Council, is referred to at page 161 of this volume, as secretary of the Otago School Commissioners.

Councillor James Wilson , who is referred to in the Masonic Section of this volume, was elected to the North East Valley Borough Council in March, 1903, and is a member of the Works and General Committee.

Councillor William Brittenden , who has been a member of the North East Valley Borough Council since 1901, was born in Deal, in the county of Kent, England, in September, 1852, and came to Dunedin in 1889.

Councillor Jonathan Rhodes , who holds a seat on the North East Valley Borough Council, was first elected to that body in April, 1903.

Councillor Robert Ferguson , who was elected to the North East Valley Borough Council in January, 1904, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1851, and came to New Zealand in 1875. He has represented the workers of Otago and Southland on the Conciliation Board for many years, is one of the oldest members of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, a member of the Otago Workers' Political Committee, and a prominent member of the Lodge Loyal Albion, 5283, in the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows.

Mr. Theodore Arnold , J.P., Town Clerk, Treasurer, Engineer, Valuer, and Returning Officer to the North East Valley Borough Council, became Inspector of Public Works to the Council in 1876, and was appointed to the combined offices he now holds in 1892. As a proof of the valuable services Mr. Arnold has rendered, and of the high estimation in which he is held in the borough, it need only be mentioned that in 1902, when he was offered the joint offices of Town Clerk and Surveyor to the Borough of Linwood, Christchurch, to which position he had been appointed, the ratepayers of North East Valley immediately waited on their Council by means of an influential deputation, and largely signed petition, asking that the Town Clerk's services should be retained. The Council accordingly gave Mr. Arnold a fixed tenure of office for five years, with an increase in salary of £100 a year, and thus induced him to continue in its service. Mr. Arnold was born at Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, in 1853, and is the second son of the late Mr. Julius Arnold, barrister and solicitor, and notary public, of that place. He was brought to New Zealand at the age of twelve, and completed his education at Konen's High School. He has since acquired a large experience in civil engineering, has served several public bodies with credit to himself, and engaged in extensive public works, such as railway bridges, harbour works, viaducts, etc. He is president of the Missionary Executive of the Associated Churches of Christ in the South Island of New Zealand, president of the North East Valley Literary Society, Past Representative of the Grand Master of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society in the South Island, and is the Worshipful Grand Chaplain of the Scotch Constitution of Freemasons, New Zealand South. Mr. Arnold also is president of the Young Men's Christian Mission, and as the conductor of the elocutionary class in connection therewith, has been the means of bringing out some capital platform speakers.

Wrigglesworgh and Binns, photo.
Mr. T. Arnold.

Mr. John Evans , J.P., who was Mayor of the Borough of North East Valley for 1903–4, was first elected to the Borough Council in 1892, when he took his seat as senior member for East Ward. He represented that ward till 1897, when he was elected to the mayoral chair. On the expiration of his term he retired from public life, and did not seek re-election till 1902, when he was returned unopposed to fill an extraordinary vacancy for East Ward. In 1903 he was elected Mayor, defeating the other candidate, an ex-mayor of the borough. Both of Mr. Evans' terms as mayor have been unusually eventful periods, and the able and conscientious manner in which he has discharged his onerous duties has won for him universal goodwill in the borough. Mr. Evans was born in October, 1862, in Dunedin, and was educated at the High Street, Halfway Bush, and North East Valley public schools. He was apprenticed at an early age to the bootmaking trade, but soon after left it to learn upholstering in the firm of Messrs North and Scoullar (now Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm). with whom he remained four years. In 1882 he took up work in the country, but in the following year he returned to town, and has since been continuously engaged at his trade in the firm of Messrs A. and T. Inglis, of George Street. Mr. Evans was for some years a member of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, and page 418 he is at present a member of Court Pride of Dunedin in the Ancient Order of Foresters. He was married, in 1887, to Miss M. Chisholm, and has two sons and one daughter.

John Begg and Co. , (William Begg), Sheepskin, Mat and Rug Manufacturers. North East Valley. This firm was founded by the late Mr. John Begg, who established a factory as early as 1884 at Sawyers' Bay. Two years later, the firm having property in the North East Valley, removed into its present premises. The factory consists of a spacious three storey iron, brick and wood building with several annexes. The raw material—consisting of sheepskins, bought in the local markets—is stored in the annexes, and is removed as required into the ground floor of the main building. There the pelt is changed into leather, the wool dyed, and the whole skin stretched and dried. It is then removed to the first floor, where the final processes of mat and rug manufacturing take place. A number of girls and young women are constantly employed in scissoring the skins into various sizes and artistic designs, covering the pelts, and finally trimming the mats and rugs for parlour use. The factory throughout is very conveniently arranged, and is equipped with the most modern requirements for the trade. The firm of Messrs John Begg and Co. has long beer renowned for the high quality of its manufactures, and the whole of its large output finds a ready sale within the colony and neighbouring states.

Mr. John Begg , Founder of the firm of Messrs John Begg and Co., was born in Falkirk, Scotland, in 1845, and was trained as a currier and tanner. He landed in Dunedin in 1879, spent a short time with a local firm of tanners, and then started a business in the North East Valley for the preparation of shoe leather. This he conducted till 1884, when he founded the firm of Messrs John Begg and Co. Mr. Begg met his death at Purakanui, Otago, in November, 1903, through a boating accident, whereby his third son also lost his life in a gallant attempt to rescue his father. He left a widow and a large family to mourn their loss.

The late Mr. J. Begg.

Mr. William Begg , Senior Partner in the firm of Messrs John Begg and Co., was born in May, of the early seventies, and is the eldest son of the late Mr. John Begg. He was educated at various public schools in and around Dunedin and at the University of Otago, and was trained under his father to the rug and mat manufacturing business. In 1902 Mr. Begg went Home, and after travelling through the British Isles, he accepted an appointment with a firm of rug and mat manufacturers near London. He had scarcely, however, got settled in his new position when he learned of the unfortunate accident at Purakanui, and had at once to return to New Zealand. Since that date Mr. Begg has occupied his father's place in the firm of Messrs John Begg and Co., and has bent the whole of his energies to the management of an extensive and prosperous business.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. W. Begg.

Anderson, William Black , “Hazelbank,” North East Valley. Mr. Anderson is the only surviving son of the late David Anderson, who is noticed in the Old Colonists' section. He was born in the North East Valley, and studied farming for a few years in Canterbury. In 1892 be returned to Dunedin, and since then he has carried on his present farm. Like his father, he has taken an active part in local politics. He was a member of the North East Valley Borough Council for seven years, and Mayor in 1901, during the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. As a Freemason he is a Past Master of Lodge 662, Scottish Constitution. He is also a Past Chief Ranger in the Order of Foresters, Court Pride of Leith, and a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Anderson was one of the promoters of the Dunedin and Suburban Dairymen's Association, and a member of the executive.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. W. B. Anderson.

Hamilton, Thomas , Dairy Farmer. Watts' Road, North East Valley. Mr. Hamilton is a native of Scotland. He was born at the village of Larkhall, about sixteen miles from Glasgow, in 1875, and was educated at the neighbouring township of Overtown. As a lad Mr. Hamilton was trained to fruit growing and farm work, and, on reaching his majority in 1896, he sailed for New Zealand, landing in Port Chalmers in the month of April. During the three ensuing years he gained experience of colonial farm life at Gore, and in 1899 he removed to North East Valley, where for a similar period he was engaged partly in dairying and partly with Messrs Pryor Brothers, coal merchants. In 1901 Mr. Hamilton joined a brother in partnership to take over the dairy business of Mr. N. Gordon, of the newly-formed township of Glenroy, and, under the style of Messrs T. and N. Hamilton, they engaged in the dairying industry. Two years later the junior partner withdrew, and after Mr. Thomas Hamilton had conducted the business alone for a few months, the property known as “The People's Dairy” was sold by Mr. Gordon. Mr. Hamilton's present farm is situated on the north-western side of the valley in Watts' Road, and has an area of seventy-one acres. It is devoted entirely to dairying, and milk is delivered daily to a large connection in the Valley.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. T. Hamilton.

“Warwick Farm” And “Glenburnie,” (Tom Lewis, proprietor), North East Valley. These two farms, which adjoin each other in the upper part of the borough, have a total area of 312 acres; “Warwick” 112 acres, and “Glenburnie” 200 acres. “Warwick Farm” is cleared, stumped, and subdivided into about a dozen paddocks, and about a third of its area is annually under cultivation “Glenburnie,” an the other hand, stretching to the summit of the Pine Hill and Mount Cargill range, is for the most part unimproved, more than half of its area being densely wooded. The two properties are devoted entirely to the dairying industry, and the young stock and cattle other than milch cows are grazed at Merton, in the county of Waikouaiti, where Mr. Lewis holds a further 200 acres of excellent grazing country. There is a private residence on each of the properties, but the permanent homstead is situated on “Warwick Farm,” near one of the main public roads of the district. It is one of the best equipped homesteads in the borough, and, apart from the residence of the proprietor, comprises a commodious and well built byre, 40 feet by 80 feet—to be further enlarged—with accommodation for forty cows, a concrete-floored milk room, with spring water laid on, and a set of boilers near at hand; a six-stalled stable, and other conveniences. The machinery used upon the estate represents a very large outlay, and every implement is of the very best make. Mr. Lewis's herd of milch cows consists of about sixty pure-bred Ayrshires, and is renowned all over the Australasian colonies; many of its members have won valuable trophies at the metropolitan and neighbouring agricultural exhibitions. All these animals have been reared upon the property, and were bred from such illustrious stock as “Ayrshire King,” “Baron of Ayr,” “Marquis of Ailsa,” and “Baron Drumlanrig.” The famous Ayrshire bull, “Hold-fast of Nether Craig,” recently imported from Home by the New Zealand Government, is now (1904) temporarily in Mr. Lewis's charge. The young stock from the herd is highly valued by cattle breeders in all parts of the colony, and commands very high prices. For over fourteen years Mr. Lewis has held the contract for the supply of milk to the Dunedin Hospital, and he also has a very large private connection in the city.

Mr. Tom Lewis , Proprietor of “Warwick Farm” and “Glenburnie,” was born in Warwickshire, England, in May, 1868, and was educated in his native place. He arrived in Dunedin in 1883, in company with his father, Mr. Thomas Henry Lewis, who is still associated with him, and twelve months after his arrival took up his present estate. Mr. Lewis was for several years a member of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society; for over fourteen years a member of the committee and secretary of the Waitati Agricultural and Pastoral Society; and he is frequently selected as a judge of Ayrshire cattle at the various local agricultural exhibitions. For several years he has been a member of the executive of the Dunedin and Suburban Dairymen's Association. He has been a member of the Upper Junction school committee for about nine years, and has been twice its chairman.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. T. Lewis.

“Woodlands Farm” (John Buttar, proprietor), North East Valley. Mr. Buttar was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, in 1841, and is a son of the late Mr. Buttar, for some years a teacher, but latterly a farmer in Forfarshire. He was educated and brought up to farm life in his native village, and afterwards spent about five years in shepherding in Aberdeenshire. In 1868 Mr. Buttar sailed for Port Chalmers. He spent the first year after his arrival on Mr. Donald Reid's estate at the Taieri, and then joined a survey party. In this capacity he assisted in the laying-out of North East Valley, and in 1870 he took up a portion of his present property and commenced farming. In addition to “Woodlands,” Mr. Buttar has an extensive holding in the county of Waikouaiti. Both properties are systematically farmed, chiefly in connection with the dairying industry. Mr. Buttar was married, in 1870, to Miss A. McPherson, and has a family of three sons and one daughter.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. J. Buttar.