The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
East Taieri
East Taieri.
The East Taieri Rifles , one of the oldest established volunteer corps in Otago, was founded in 1864, with a strength of sixty-five men; the late Mr. James Allan, of Hope Hill, was captain, and Messrs James Todd and Thomas Shand, were lieutenants. Captain Allan retired after two years, and his place was successively taken by Messrs Andrews, Rissel, and Carncross. Captain Alexander Cameron is now in command, and is assisted by Lieutenants MacLaurin and Quelch.
Captain Alexander Cameron was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand in 1860. He first joined the East Taieri Rifles in 1869, passed through the various grades, and was appointed lieutenant in 1887 and captain in 1902. Captain Cameron has received the Imperial long service medal, and the Victoria Decoration.
The East Taieri School was established in 1862, and is a wooden building, divided into two large class rooms. Willi one exception, it is the oldest school in Otago. and has had some notable masters, such as Mr. Gebbie. Dr. Hislop, and Mr. James Waddell, senior. There are 152 scholars on the roll, and the average attendance is 135. Mr. James Waddell. B.A. (a son of the former master) is the headmaster, and is assisted by two pupil teachers.
Mr. James Waddell , B.A., headmaster of the East Taieri school, was born in the Taieri in 1882, and was educated partly in the school of which he is now master, and partly at the Normal School, in Dunedin, and also studied at the University of Otago, where he took his degree. Mr. Waddell was married, in 1899, to Miss Julia Walker, of Dunedin.
page 635Mr. And Mrs J. Waddell.
The East Taieri Presbyterian Church . This church is often spoken of as the prettiest country church in New Zealand. It certainly has considerable historic interest, and it was the second chaise established south of the Waitaki. The first minister was the Rev. William Will, whose parish stretched from the suburbs of Dunedin to the Clutha. The congregation began its corporate existence on the 19th of February, 1851, when the first regular services were held; since then it has been the parent of six separate congregations, and still retains its strength and vigour. The present church and manse, on a superb site over looking the fertile Taieri Plain, were built by Mr. Lawson, architect, Dunetlin. and form one of the most specimens of his work. The first minister of the congregation was the Rev. William Will, who was born in Collace, Perthshire, Scotland, and educated at the University of Edinburgh. He came to New Zealand in 1851. and ministered to the Taieri congregation till 1899. Mr. Will was the second minister to arrive in Otago, and throughout his long pastorate did much towards building up the church in the south. He was succeeded by the Rev. James B. Hall, who, after a short pastorate, removed to Hunterville in the North Island.
The Rev. Alexander W. Kinmont , M.A., the present minister, was born in Edinburgh, where he graduated at the University, and was trained for the ministry at the New College. After taking charge of the Scotch church in Florence, Italy, for a season, he was ordained to the Free Church at Burntisland, in Fifeshire. His ministry there extended over fourteen years. Mr. Kinmont was inducted to East Taieri on the 3rd of September, 1903.
Islington Farm (William Cuthbert Todd, proprietor), East Taieri. Mr. Todd, who is the youngest son of the late Alexander Todd, arrived with his parents by the “Mooltan.” He was born in Glasgow, but educated at the Anderson's Bay and East Taieri schools, and has followed farming practically since his arrival at the Taieri. On the death of his father, he, in conjunction with his brothers, succeeded to the estate, and when his brothers died some years later he succeeded to the whole property. Latterly, Mr. Todd has withdrawn from farming, and now enjoys a life of ease and retirement. Mr. Todd always took a prominent part in the local affairs of the district and was an active member for twelve years of the Taieri Coueity Council, and for years a deacon of the Presbyterian church at East Taieri. He married Miss Muirhead, a daughter of an old Taieri settler.
Mr. Alexander Todd , sometime of Islington, East Taieri, was one of the pioneers of Otago. He was born in 1803, in Glasgow, Scotland, where he occupied the position of a banker until his departure for New Zealand. Mr. Todd arrived in Otago, in 1843, by the ship “Mooltan,” accompanied by his wife, five sons, and one daughter. He came out with the determination of carrying on farming in the new country, and brought cut a married couple as servants, an Ayrshire cow, and numerous farm implements. At first the family resided at Anderson's Bay, but in 1859 they removed to Islington, in the Taieri, then, as a district, practically a swamp in its virgin state, without roads, and the only mode of conveyance was by bullock drays. Mr. Todd never mixed in public affairs, except in regard to the church, in which he took a great interest. He died at his residence, Islington, in 1886, aged eighty-three years, leaving a surviving family of five sons and two daughters. Mrs Todd had predeceased him in 1860.
The Late Mr. A. Todd.
Law, Robert , Farmer, “Lawfield,” East Taieri. Mr. Law is the only son of the late Mr. John Law. He was born in Leith, Scotland, and accompanied his parents to New Zealand in the ship “Blundell.” in 1848. Mr. Law was engaged in farming with his father, and succeeded to the property when his father retired from active life. Mr. Law was a member of the East Taieri Road Board, and of the East Taieri school committee, and has been a deacon and an elder of the Presbyterian church for over twenty-five years. He was also a volunteer for some years, and a member of the Taieri Agricultural and Pastoral page 636 Association. Mr. Law married Miss Jane Harrison, daughter of the late Mr. Harrison, and a sister of Mr. James Harrison, Managing Director of the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association, who all came out by the ship “Blundell” in 1848
Mr. And Mrs R. Law.
Mr. John Law , one of the pioneers of the Taieri, was born at Prestonpans, Haddingtonshire, Scotland, and for some years previous to his arrival in New Zealand was stationmaster at Musselburgh. He came to Otago by the ship “Blundell,” in 1848, accompanied by his wife, one son, and four daughters. At first the family settled at Anderson's Bay, but in 1852 removed to the farm he had bought in East Taieri, where Mr. Law resided till 1876, when he retired from farming and left for Balclutha, where he died in 1884, aged seventy-six. He left a family of four daughters and one son, his wife having predeceased him in 1873, aged sixty-six.
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mr. D. Sutherland.
The Late Mr. J. Sutherland
Todd, Andrew , Farmer, Johnstown Farm, East Taieri. Mr. Todd is the only son of the late Robert Bruce Todd. He was born in East Taieri, and has had the management of Johnstown Farm for years. Mr. Todd is a member of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and one of the committee of the Taieri Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He is a member of the committee of the East Taieri Farmers' Union, and has been a member of the East Taieri Rifle volunteers for three years. Mr. Todd is unmarried.
Marriage Of Mr. John Allan And Miss Todd: Group Includes The Bride's Parents, The Late Mr. And Mrs R. B. Todd