Edendale took its name from an estate of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, who surveyed the township and sold it in lots. The district is in the Waihopai riding of the county of Southland, and forms part of the electorate of Mataura. Edendale township is the junction of the Dunedin-Invercargill railway and its Edendale-Glenham branch. The station is twenty-three miles from Invercargill and 116 miles from Dunedin; and Wyndham is four miles distant on the branch line, and Glenham ten miles. The post office and railway station are jointly conducted and the station stands at an elevation of 135 feet above the level of the sea. Originally, Edendale estate contained over 120,000 acres, of which the company, in the course of years, sold 80,000 acres to hundreds of farmers. Not long since, the Government bought the balance for closer settlement purposes, and the greater proportion was soon taken up by an enterprising and an industrious class of people, under leasesin-perpetuity. The local dairy factory, started by the late Mr Thomas Brydone, the company's able general manager-was the pioneer of this industry in New Zealand, and was taken up by a private company after the estate was sold. There are large grain stores in the occupation of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co. at the township. Edendale has a Presbyterian church and a public school, temperance hotel, two stores, and butchers', bakers', saddlers', and blacksmiths' page 1069 shops. At the census of 1901, Edendale township had a population of 180, and the district of 230, but since then there has been a substantial increase. In addition to farming, sawmilling is carried on in the district.

Mr. Charles William Johnson , Carpenter and Builder, Morton Street, Edendale. This business was established in July, 1900; the shop stands on a quarter-acre section of freehold land, and the proprietor's residence on a similar area in Hudson Street. Mr Johnson was born in London, in 1866, and came with his father, Mr E. Johnson, to the Bluff, in 1875, by the ship “Adamant.” He was educated at the Invercargill Grammar School, worked at his trade on the railway for three years, and afterwards gained further experience as a builder under his father. Mr Johnson first struck out on his own account at Dipton, where he remained for two years, and was subsequently at the Bluff for nine years before settling at Edendale, Mr Johnson has taken an active part in brass bands since he was twelve years of age, and served in the Garrison bands at Invercargill and the Bluff, and was bandmaster at Wyndham for eighteen months. He was first violin in an orchestra at the Bluff, and also at Edendale. As a Freemason, he is attached to Lodge Fortitude, Bluff, and he was one of the founders of the Loyal Oreti Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, Dipton, of which he is a Past Grand. Mr Johnson was married, in 1891, to a daughter of Mr Daniel Evans, of Dipton, and has two sons.

Robertson, Thomas , Carpenter and Builder, Seaward Downs Road, Edendale. Mr Robertson was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, in 1861, and in the same year was brought by his parents to the Bluff in the ship Robert Henderson.” The family settled at Woodlands, and Mr Robertson afterwards served an apprenticeship as a carpenter in Invercargill. Having entered the employment of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, he served on the Morton Mains and Edendale estates for fifteen years, and during that time built the local dairy factory, and the new Edendale homestead. Mr Robertson has also erected an eight-roomed house for Mr Niven in the township. As a Freemason, he is a member of Lodge Mokoreta, and he was connected with the Alma Lodge of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, at Wyndham. Mr Robertson was married, in 1885, to a daughter of the late Mr Alexander Cameron, of Inverness, Scotland, and has four sons and one daughter.

The Edendale Co-Operative Dairy Factory Company, Limited , Edendale. Directors for 1904: Messrs A. Mitchell (chairman), D. R. Hunter, J. Caldwell, J. Eades, W. Hall, H. Marshall, and D. Ross, Secretary, Mr H. E. Niven. Manager, Mr J. Sawers. This well-known factory, which was originally the property of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, was established in 1881, and received the Government bonus of £500 for the manufacture of the first fifty tons of colonialmade cheese suitable for export. The factory secured first prize (gold medal) at the winter show competitions held in Dunedin in 1895, which were open to all comers, and also carried off the Challenge Cup, given by Messrs McNairn and Co., of Glasgow, for the best half-ton of Cheddar shaped cheese, suitable for export. Since 1901 it has gained most of the first and second prizes at the Dunedin and Invercargill shows in addition to champion prizes at both places, and a gold watch for the most points at Invercargill. The factory also won the Union Steam Ship Company's Cup at Dunedin, in 1903, for the greatest number of points taken in cheese. The factory buildings are of wood and shingle, with the exception of the boiler and enginehouse, which is built of brick. The basement floors are all laid in concrete, and the departments consist of a receiving-room, measuring 20 feet by 20 feet; a making room, containing eight vats, with a capacity of 650 gallons each; a butter-room, 42 feet by 16 feet, with two separators and a butter machine; and three curing-rooms, one on the basement and two above, having a total storago capacity for 150 tons of cheese. Half the shelves are revolving, and thus facilitate the turning operations. There is also a packing room, 40 feet by 20 feet, and all the cases are made at the factory. The annual output of the well-known “Pioneer” brand of cheese is 400 tons.

Edendale from Dairy Factory: 1898.

Currle, William J. , Saddler and Harness Maker, Edendale. Head office, Wyndham. The Edendale branch of this business was established in 1903, and a general stock of goods is maintained.

Mr. Ernest Thomas Morris , who has been manager of the Edendale branch of Mr Currie's business since its opening, was born in 1881, at Kuri Bush, near Dunedin. He attended school at Kuri Bush, Port Chalmers, Sawyer's Bay and Mornington, served a five years' apprenticeship to the saddlery trade in Dunedin, and subsequently gained experience as a journeyman in several shops, before opening Mr Currie's branch at Edendale. in 1903. Mr Morris acts as agent, in the district, for the Electric Healing wash, which is put up by his father, Mr T. Morris. He was married, in 1901, to a daughter ol Mr Thomas Melvin. of Bellknowes, Mornington, Dunedin.

Shennan And Mclauchlan (William Watson Shennan and William MclLauchlan), General Storekeepers, “The Corner House,” Edendale. This firm was founded in 1903, and the premises consist of a twostorey wood and iron building, containing a corner shop, two storerooms and a residence, and there is also a third store-room in an adjoining building.

Mr. William Watson Shennan , the Senior Partner, was born in 1869. at Berwiek, Taieri, Otago, where he was educated and brought up on his father's farm. In 1892, he helped to start the Berwiek and Maungatuafutter factories, of which he was one of the proprietors, and two years later added a general store. On the dissolution of the firm in 1900, Mr Shennan took over the store and carried it on till September, 1903, when he disposed of the business and removed to Edendale, where he and Mr McLauchlan acquired their present business. Mr Shennan is a member of the Edendale school committee, and is on the committee of management of the local Presbyterian church. He was married, in March, 1902, to a daughter of the late Mr Amos McKegg, of Henley, Otago, and has one son.

Mr. William McLauchlan , the Junior Partner, was born in 1870, at Tapanui, Otago, and educated at Dunedin. He spent twelve years in Victoria and New South Wales, where he gained experience of mercantile life. On returning to New Zealand in 1898, Mr McLauchlan was employed by an uncle at Outram for a year, and had further business experience at Plamerston North and in the Wairarapa district for three years, before joining Mr W. W. Shennan at Edendale in 1903. Mr McLauchlan joined the American Order of Oddfellows in Victoria.

Edendale Sawmill (William Sutherland and John Lopdell, proprietors), Edendale. This mill is worked by a fourteen norse-power engine, and contains the usual cross-cutting and breaking-down saw benches. Fourteen persons are engaged at the mill. The proprietors, who are cutting the bush on 140 acres of land, have a yard on the Seaward Downs road, near Edendale, and they have worked the mill since 1902.

Cranstoun, Alexander , Farmer, Crawford Farm, Edendale. Crawford Farm consists of 240 acres of freehold, and seventy-eight acres held under lease. The proprietor has also 165 acres of freehold at the bush close by. He engages in dairy and mixed farming, and in the season of 1904–5 had fifty cows in milk. Mr Cranstoun was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1854, and obtained early experience of country pursuits in his native shire. In 1878, he came to New Zealand, via Melbourne, and after six months at Oamaru, settled in Southland, where he has since resided, chiefly in the Edendale district. At first he was contracting and farming; but in 1884 leased seventy-eight acres of the Edendale reserve, and subsequently bought 162 acres adjoining. Mr Cranstoun served for a number of years on the Edendale school committee, and was for two years its chairman. He is connected with the Edenendale Presbyterian church, of which he was a deacon for five years. In 1884, Mr Cranstoun was married to the daughter of the late Mr Faulds, of Victoria, and has, surviving, eight daughters and two sons.

Gerstenkorn, phto
Mr. and Mrs A. Cranstoun.

Edendale Homestead (Donald Macdonald, proprietor), Edendale. This property was the homestead of the Edendale estate, the balance of which was taken over for closer settlement, by the Government, in June, 1904. Mr Donald Macdonald, formerly manager of the estate, now owns the homestead and the adjacent land, which he works on his own account. The homestead is picturesquely situated a mile and a-half from the Eden- page 1071 dale railway station, on the DunedinInvercargill line, and the approach to the house is through a beautifull avenue of native trees, such as totara, black and white pine, matai, etc. The grounds attached to the house are tastefully laid out and divided into flower and kitchen gardens, and orchards.

Mr. Donald Macdonald Is the third son of the late Mr Donald Macdonald, Belfield, Campbell town, Argyleshire, Scotland, and was born in that locality in 1858. He was educated at the grammar school of his native town, and worked on his father's farm. He emigrated by the ship “Nelson,” and arrived in Otago in 1878. Mr Macdonald then joined the service of the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and was sent to their Acton station in Canterbury. In 1888 he was appointed manager of Edendale. He was married, in 1891, to Hilda, daughter of the late Dr. Walsh, of Beechworth, Victoria, and of Walshfield, Ireland.

Marshall, Hugh , Ota Creek Farm, Edendale. Mr Marshall was born in 1818, in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, and accompanied his parents to Port Chalmers by the ship “Three Bells,” in 1856. He worked on his father's farm at West Taieri till 1874, when he removed to South Wyndham, where he became interested in a leasehold property, and took agricultural contracts. In 1886, Mr Marshall leased 276 acres at Edendale from the New Zealand and Australian Land Company, and purchased the farm in 1898. Sheepfarming and cropping are carried on and fifty cows are in milk. Mr Marshall is a member of the Edendale school committee, and a director of the dairy factory. He was married, in 1878, to a daughter of the late Mr Neil Ross, of West Taieri, and has five sons and four daughters.

Pattinson, Henry John , Butcher and Farmer. Edendale. This business was established by Mr R. Craig, in 1888, and was acquired by the present proprietor in 1895. The premises, which stand on three-quarters of an acre of freehold, are of wood and iron, and comprise a shop, a small goods room, and a residence. Mr Pattinson was born in 1859 at Alston, Cumberland, England, where he was educated, and served a two years' apprenticeship to an analytical chemist. He arrived at Port Chalmers, in 1877, by the ship “Euterpe,” was employed for eighteen months by Mr J. F. Herbert at Ardmore station, near Tapanui, and was working at Beaumont station for four years. Mr Pattinson was afterwards on the New Zealand Agricultural Company's Waimea estate, before acquiring his present business at Edendale. He was for some time cornet soloist in the Wyndham Brass Band. Mr Pattinson was married, in 1892, to a daughter of Mr Daniel Evans, of Dipton, and has two daughters and two sons.