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

Owaka

Owaka.

Owaka is a prettily-situated township in the county of Clutha, near the sea coast. It lies seventy-two miles south-west from Dunedin by rail, and for some years was the terminus of the branch line that was extended to Catlins river in June, 1904. The late Mr. Simon Saunders was the first settler in the district, but he was soon followed by Messrs John Smith, George Harle, Andrew Lees, and Charles Hayward. Sawmilling was an important industry in the early days, and it is still carried on; Messrs Guthrie and Larnach at one time had a large mill there employing about seventy men. The surrounding hills are still (1904) densely covered with timber and scrub, but much of the undulating and level land has been cleared and laid under cultivation. Dairyfarming is now, therefore, the leading industry, and there is a large dairy factory in the settlement. The township has Presbyterian, Anglican, Catholic, and Baptist churches, a public school, post and telegraph office, stores, public hall, and Oddfellows' hall, and a first-class recreation ground; and the social organisations comprise a Caledonian Society, an Oddfellows' Lodge, cricket, football, and tennis clubs. A volunteer corps, known as the Owaka Rifles, has also been formed. “Owaka” in the Maori language means “the place of boats,” and was so named on account of the number of small vessels on the river and coast in the early days. The town is a favourite place with visitors during the summer months; indeed, the scenery of the district is of surpassing beauty; the Owaka and Catlins rivers teem with fish, and there is good shooting for sportsmen. The Devil's Blowhole, on the coast, is one of the attractions of the neighbourhood.

Young, Samuel , Merchant, Owaka. This business was established in 1876, under the style of Dabinett and Young, but the partnership was dissolved in 1899, and since then Mr. Young has conducted the business on his own account. Mr. Young was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1848, and came to Port Chalmers with his parents in the following year by the ship “Mary.” The family settled in Dunedin, but eight years later removed to Warepa in the Clutha district, where Mr. Young, senior, carried on farming and storekeeping until his death in 1881. Mr. Samuel Young, after gaining experience in his father's store, travelled to the Dunstan, Switzers, and Waikaka goldfields, where he did good business. In 1876 he went to Owaka, where, in conjunction with Mr. Dabinett, he established the business of which he is now sole proprietor. He also devotes some attention to farming. Mr. Young has been an elder of the Owaka Presbyterian church for many year; and he has also served on the school committee, and was a member of the Ancient Order of Oddfellows. He married a daughter of the late Mr. Charles Todd, of the Taieri, and has a family of six sons and five daughters.

Logan, Glasgow , Farmer, Owaka. Mr. Logan was born near Larne, in East Antrim,
Mr. G. Logan.

Mr. G. Logan.

Ireland, and came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Nelson” in 1862. Soon after his arrival he joined a Government survey party under Mr. Adams, and when it was disbanded page 748 he joined a similar party under Mr. Thomas McFarlane. In the course of a few months he left Mr. McFarlane's party and went to the West Coast, where he remained for several months, but, not meeting with success, he returned to Otago, and worked for some time in the Mount Ida district. After that he joined Mr. Howden's survey party, with which he did survey work about Queenstown, Skippers, Wanaka, and the Mount Benger districts. On Mr. Howden leaving the public service his party was disbanded, and Mr. Logan “fossicked” for gold on the Molyneux for some months. He then rejoined Mr. Adams, with whom he remained for fully a year, during which the party surveyed the country from Moa Flat to Manuka Creek. Mr. Logan then left the party and visited Victoria, and was at Queenscliff, Port Arlington, Lancefield, and Warrambool. From Australia, he sailed for London in the ship “Loch Tay,” and paid a brief visit to his native land, the time spent from landing in the “Loch Tay” to his re-embarkation in the “Robert Henderson,” in 1871, for New Zealand, being one month and three days. On leaving Ireland on this occasion Mr. Logan had a young wife with him, and on reaching New Zealand they settled down at Owaka, where Mr. Logan had bought some land in 1863. He has since increased his holding to 460 acres, which he devotes to dairy farming and fattening stock. Mr. Logan was created a Justice of the Peace in 1902, and he has served on the local school committee, and taken an active part in the public affairs of the district. He has a family of seven.

Saunders, Alexander Clark , Farmer, Owaka. Mr. Saunders is referred to under Balclutha, as a member of the Clutha County Council.

Mr. Simon Saunders , the pioneer settler of Owaka, was a master mariner and
The Late Mr. S. Saunders.

The Late Mr. S. Saunders.

ship owner. About the year 1864 he was the first to take a vessel into Martin's Bay on the West Coast of New Zealand. In January, 1865, he took up a block of land near the present township of Owaka, where he settled his family. However, he could not adapt himself to a farming life, and three years later he returned to the sea. In 1885 Mr. Saunders went to England, where he purchased a vessel, brought her out to Auckland, whence he took her to Lyttelton, and then to Newcastle, where he loaded her with coal for Amoy, in China. After discharging this cargo at that port, he sailed in ballast, for Manilla, but the vessel and crew were lost at sea. Mr. Saunders left a family of three sons.