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

Grieve, Robert

Grieve, Robert , Farmer, Branxholm Park, Oporo. Mr Grieve was born in 1833, near Melrose, Roxburghshire, Southland, and was brought up to country pursuits. He came to Port Chalmers, in 1851, by the ship “Cresswell.” and was one of the early settlers in the Oamaru district, where he was employed as a shepherd for six years. Mr Grieve was the first to take sheep over the Kakanui river, and he placed 1,500 lambs on the Totara country for his employer, Mr Suisted. At that time Mr Grieve was obliged to live for some time in a cave, near the totara tree, after which the district came to be named. He also lived for four years at All Day Bay, which was named by him. In 1857 Mr Grieve came to Southland as pioneer for his father's family, and selected a property, which he named Branxholm,
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.Mr. R. Grieve.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. R. Grieve.

after his native place. He was the first settler in the district, the only communication with which was by boat on the Oreti river, and a track had to be cut through the bush in order to get cattle to his land. Some of the journeys between his property and Invercargill occupied several days, and it was not until he had been two years in the district that surveyors came to mark out the boundaries of his property. Mr Grieve has been successful in breeding Border Leicester sheep. From the early days he has used imported stock and the best selected colonial strains, and has been a prize-taker at the Southland shows from the time of their inception. He has also been successful with Short-horn cattle. Mr Grieve has frequently acted as judge at the shows held at Christchurch, Dunedin, Oamaru, and Palmerston North. He has long been a director of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has held the position of president. Mr Grieve owns 128 acres at Oporo, 314 at Branxholm, and 341 at Waianiwa. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Cully, of Northumberland, England, and has six daughters and four sons.