The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Lorne
Lorne
Lorne is in the electorate of Awarua and in the riding of the same name in the county of Southland. The local post office, which is conducted at a store at the corner where the main north road crosses the roads leading to Dacre and Riverton respectively, is five miles from Invercargill by a good road, four miles of which are traversed by the Invercargill and Suburban Tram Company's line. The cross-roads in question are often spoken of as Wallacetown Crossing. The township of Wallacetown is three miles distant, but the railway station of the same name is quite near, and alongside the railway station are the Wallacetown Junction saleyards, where large stock sales are conducted every alternate Tuesday. There is a hotel alongside the railway station, and the Southland Frozen Meat Company's slaughtering and manure works also adjoin the railway. On the main road, not far from the cross-roads, stands Lorne farm, one of the most notable charitable institutions in Southland. As a district Lorne is devoted to agriculture and dairy farming. The district is fairly level though somewhat undulating, and contains some good agricultural and pastoral land.
Lorne Farm is one of the institutions managed by the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The establishment was opened on the 29th of June, 1899, as an Old Men's Home, but was enlarged in 1902 by the addition of another wing, to provide accommodation for old women and children. The original building, which was of one storey, contained two bedrooms, and a sitting-room for the men, besides a dining-room, three bathrooms, a storeroom, a kitchen, a scullery, a drying-room and washhouse, and four rooms for the master and matron. The accommodation was sufficient for twenty-three inmates, besides officers and assistants. The new addition is a two-storey brick building, and contains, on the first floor, girls' and boys' bedrooms, each with twenty beds; a female domitory, with six beds; a sick room, with two beds, besides two servants' rooms, and a linen press. On the ground floor there is a nursery, with nine cots, and accommodation for two attendants; separate rooms for the boys and girls; a sewing-room, kitchen and pantry, four bathrooms, the master's office, and the conservatory. There is an asphalt playground with shelter sheds, and other buildings, including an engine-room, pump-house, store-room, chaff-house, carpenter's shop, a loft, and dairy, all in brick. There are also stables, byres, and pigsties. The land, which was originally known as Lorne estate, contains ninety-five acres, five of which are in garden and orchard; the balance is laid down in grass, or is used for cropping as required. In November, 1903, the inmates in the institution numbered sixty-four, including twenty men, three women, twenty-four boys and seventeen girls, the cost of whose maintenance was 4s 10d a head per week. The produce of the farm, besides supplying the requirements of the institution, is a source of revenue to the Board; and the surplus sold during the year which ended in March, 1903, realised £180. The institution is under the care of a master and matron.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. A. Cusworth.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mrs A. Cusworth.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs K. Finlayson
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Mr. R. Russell.
Gerztenkorn, Photo.
The Late Mr. And Mrs K. Finlayson.