Georgetown is a farming settlement in the Waitaki Valley, and on the adjoining tablelands. It is in the Awamoko riding of the Waitaki county and in the Oamaru electorate. The population of the village and tablelands at the census of 1901 was 118. The flag station on the Oamaru-Duntroon-Hakataramea branch line of railway, eighteen miles distant from Oamaru, stands at an elevation of 267 feet above sea level, and is named Uxbridge. The main road between Kurow and Oamaru runs right through the village, which consists of a post and telegraph office at the local blacksmith's shop, a hotel and a store. The district is served by a creamery at Awamoko, and a public hall and school in the same district. There are many freeholders at Georgetown, the district having been settled in the early seventies. Church services are held at the Awamoko hall and school.

Georgetown Hotel (Robert Forrest, proprietor), Georgetown. This hotel was established in the early eighties, and the building, which was enlarged in 1895, is of wood and iron. It contains seven bedrooms, two sitting rooms, besides kitchen, bar, and a commodious dining room, which will accommodate from sixteen to twenty guests. There is a three-stall stable, and a paddock of an acre and a half adjoins the hotel.

Mr. Robert Forrest , the Proprietor. was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 10th of December, 1851, was brought up to the trade of a baker, and was in business as such for some years in two different parts of Scotland. He was for eight years contractor for stores on the Girvan-Port Patrick line of railway in Ayrshire. In 1883 he came to Wellington by the ship “Port Glasgow.” Mr. Forrest settled at St. Andrews, Canterbury, and for four years conducted the store now owned by Messrs J. Young and Son. In 1887 he removed to Georgetown, and bought the freehold of the hotel, which he has since conducted in conjunction with the general store which is carried on in a separate building. In 1900 Mr. Forrest took a trip Home, and visited England, Scotland and Ireland. He travelled by the s.s. “China,” which was wrecked near Perram, at the mouth of the Red Sea, and the passengers had to continue their voyage in the s.s. “Carthage.” Mr. Forrest was initiated as a Freemason at Girvan, in Lodge St. John, Scottish Constitution, but he is not affiliated in New Zealand. He was married, on the 21st of December, 1875, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Strain, of Wishaw, Scotland.

Mr. R. Forrest.

Glenn Brothers (James and Robert Glenn), Farmers, “Te Puke,” Georgetown. “Te Puke” consists of 1577 acres of freehold. The land, which is mostly rolling downs, and free from cliffs, is good cropping and sheep country, and carries about 3000 sheep. There are three homesteads on the estate, which is subdivided into twenty paddocks, and about 400 acres are annually laid down in cereals; wheat and oat crops average forty and sixty bushels an acre, respectively.

Mr. James Glenn was born at Greymouth in 1870, and went to school at Manaia. Taranaki, where he was brought up to country life. He farmed in that district in conjunction with his father and brother for some time, and joined the latter at Georgetown in 1902. Mr. Glenn was married, in 1899. to a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Parsons, of Otakaio, Taranaki, and has two sons.

Mr. Robert Glenn was born in 1875 at Greymouth, and, like his brother, attended school and gained experience in agricultural and pastoral pursuits at Manaia, Taranaki, before settling at Georgetown in 1898. Mr. Glenn was married in July, 1900, to a daughter of Mr. H. B. Williamson, of Wanganui, and has one son and one daughter.

Hutchison, David , Farmer, “Baltora,” Georgetown. Mr. Hutchison was born in 1859 in Launceston, Tasmania, and was brought by his parents to New Zealand when a year old. He was trained to farming in the Awamoko district, and worked with his father till 1899, when he started on his own account. Mr. Hutchison served as a volunteer in the Otago Hussars, for three years, for a similar period in the North Otago Mounted Rifles and for a year in the Duntroon Rifles. He has been a member of the Awamoko school committee since 1899. Mr. Hutchison was married, in 1899, to a daughter of the late Mr. William Grant Munro, of Otamatata and has one son and three daughters. Mrs Hutchison, who was the widow of the late Mr. William Shirres, of Awamoko, had one daughter and three sons by her first marriage.

Standish and Preece, photo.
Mr. and Mrs D. Hutchison and Infant.

Mcauley, James , Farmer, “Rocklands,” Georgetown. Mr. McAuley is the son of a farmer in County Meath, Ireland, and was born in Dublin, in 1839. He went to school in Dublin, and at Tullow in County Carlow, and was brought up to farming. Mr. McAuley came out to Melbourne in 1860, and shortly afterwards arrived in Otago, and had some experience as a gold seeker at Gabriel's Gully. He was a shepherd for some time page 565 and finally settled in the Awamoko district early in the sixties. “Rocklands” consists of 141 acres of freehold, and Mr. McAuley also owns and works 250 acres on the Awamoko hills adjoining. Mr. McAuley has served as a member of the Awamoko school committee. He was married in October, 1862, to a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Hunt, of Oamaru. His wife died in November. 1900, leaving four sons and five daughters.

Mahan and Muir, photo.
Mr. J. McAuley.