The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Waianiwa
Waianiwa.
Waianiwa is an agricultural and pastoral district in the electorate of Awarua, and in the Wallacetown riding of the county of Southland. At the census of 1901 the village had a population of 52, its neighbourhood 106, while the village of Argyle, which is also included in the settlement, had a population of eighty persons. Waianiwa is on the Invercargill-Orepuki line of railway, and the flag-station, twelve miles from Invercargill, stands at an elevation of fifty-three feet above sea level. It is surrounded by the districts of Spar Bush, Wallacetown, Wright's Bush, and Oporo. At the local railway station there is a timber-yard, which is supplied from the Spar Bush mills, with which it is connected by a tramway four miles in length. There is a library at the local public hall, where services in connection with the Presbyterian church are held regularly. The local public school is about a mile down the road, towards Wallacetown. The post office and the telephone bureau are conducted at the Waianiwa store, and there are two blacksmiths' shops. Waianiwa is noted as a rich farming district, and the land is gently undulating.
The Waianiwa Post Office has been conducted at the Waianiwa store since 1888, and a telephone bureau was opened at the same place in 1890. Mails are received, and despatched, daily.
Mr. J. G. Steans.
The Waianiwa Public School is said to be the oldest school in Southland. The original building, which now forms part of the teacher's residence, was used in the sixties as a school and residence combined. A school building was afterwards erected at the corner of the crossroads, Lower Waianiwa, and subsequently this building was removed a mile nearer to the township of Waianiwa. The school residence stands at the cross roads, on a site of ten acres, and the new school building stands on an acre of land. The school is a wood and iron building, and contains two classrooms, with accommodation for 100 children. At the end of 1903, there were sixty-five names on the roll, and the average attendance was fifty seven. The teacher in charge is assisted by a mistress.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. A. Y. Smith.
Mckay, John , Saddler, Waianiwa. Mr McKay was born in 1866, at Wick, Caithness-shire, Scotland, and was educated at Thurso, where he was apprenticed to the harness-making trade. When he came to New Zealand, in 1863, he engaged in general farm work for some time. He then entered into business as a horse dealer, and was engaged in that line for a few years in various parts of the South Island. Since returning to his trade, Mr McKay has travelled about with a van and two horses, visiting various stations and farms all over Southland.
Steans, James Goymer , General Storekeeper, Waianiwa. Mr Stean's premises consist of a wood and iron building, containing a shop, post office and residence. There are also convenient stables standing on a freehold section, of one acre. Mr Steans is further referred to as the local postmaster.
The Waianiwa Timber Yard (New Zealand Pine Company, proprietors), Waianiwa. This yard is connected by tramway with the Spar Bush sawmill, and a large stock of timber is maintained, the surplus being sent away by railway, with which the yard is connected by a siding.
Mr. Francis Boyd , Manager of the Waianiwa Timber Yard, was born at Hobart, Tasmania, in 1858. He arrived in Southland at the age of five, and was brought up in Invercargill. When twelve years of age, he began to learn the sawmilling trade under his father, Mr William Boyd, of the firm of Boyd and Edwards. This firm afterwards sold the business to the Pine Company, in whose service Mr Boyd has since been regularly employed, except for eighteen months, during which he was engaged in flaxmilling. He was appointed manager of the yards in 1899. As a volunteer, Mr Boyd served for several years in the Invercargill Rifles, and, as an Oddfellow, he is a member of Lodge Pioneer. Mr Boyd was married, in 1879, to a daughter of the late Mr Frederick Mitchell, of Riverton, and has two sons and six daughters.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs A. Beaven, And Mr. J. Beaven.
Fraser, Lachlan , Drummond Farm. Waianiwa. Mr Fraser was born in 1836, in Inverness-shire, Scotland, where he was brought up on his father's farm. He came to Victoria in 1853, and worked for six months on the Fiery Creek diggings. He was afterwards engaged in country pursuits and arrived at the Bluff in March, 1856, with a cargo of sheep from Australia. At that time there were no houses in Invercargill, and Mr Fraser helped to cut the survey lines of the borough. He shortly afterwards acquired fifty acres of land in the Waianiwa district, in which he was one of the first half-dozen settlers. Mr Fraser has since increased his holding to 350 acres, and he also owns 360 acres of freehold at Spar Bush. Mr Fraser was a member of the Southland County Council, as representative for Wallace-town riding, in the early days, and was a member of the Aparima Road Board. He was married, in 1853, to a daughter of the late Mr John McLean, of Ross-shire, Scotland, and has had four sons and six daughters. Two of the sons are dead, and Mrs Fraser died in April, 1898.
Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Mr. R. Grieve.
Mr. H. Howells.
Mcdermid, Duncan , Farmer, “Willow Bank,” Waianiwa. Mr McDermid was born on the 21st of October. 1841, in Campbelltown, Argyleshire, Scotland, where he was educated, and brought up as a wheelwright. He landed at the Bluff from the ship “Helenslea,” in October, 1863, and worked at his trade in Invercargill for over twelve years. About Christmas, 1875, he settled at Waianiwa, where he had three years previously purchased 120 acres of freehold land. Mr McDermid has since resided on the property, which he has brought into a good state of cultivation. As a volunteer, Mr McDermid served in the G Battery; and as an Oddfellow, he joined St. George's Lodge in the early days, has passed through all the chairs, and is a Past Deputy Grand Master of the Order. Mr McDermid was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1900, and has served on the Waianiwa school committee. He was married, in November, 1861, to a daughter of the late Mr Andrew Ronald, of Campbelltown, Argyleshire, and has two sons and eight daughters.
Mclean, Alexander , Farmer, Tulloch Farm, Spar Bush Block, Waianiwa. Mr McLean was born in 1854, in Ross-shire, Scotland, and was brought up to country pursuits near the residence of the late Sir Hector Macdonald, Mulbulie, with whom, as a lad, he used to play. Mr McLean landed at the Bluff, on the 27th of December, 1882, by the ship “Zealandia,” and after farming at Waimatuku with a partner, for seven years, removed to the Spar Bush Block, where he has since resided. His original holding consisted of 282 acres, but was increased to 479 acres in 1900, and is worked as a mixed farm. Before leaving Scotland, Mr McLean served in the Inverness-shire Volunteers. In 1897 he became a member of the Waianiwa school committee, and has been connected with the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral and Caledonian Societies. He is also a chieftain of the Highland Society. Mr McLean was married, in 1891, to a daughter of Mr James Young, of Waianiwa, and has three sons and three daughters.
Smith, James , Farmer, Waianiwa. Mr Smith was born in 1851, in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He arrived at the Bluff by the ship “Timaru,” in 1875, and was emploved for four years by Mr A. Beaven, when he commenced farming on his own account. His property consists of 166 acres of freehold, which is worked as a mixed farm. Mr Smith was married, in 1875, to a daughter of Mr William Ferguson, of County Tyrone, Ireland, and has had nine daughters and six sons, of whom two sons have died.
Weir, William , Farmer, Spar Bush Block, Waianiwa. Mr Weir was born on the 1st of April, 1851, at Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. He landed at the Bluff by the ship, “Sir William Eyre,” with his father, in 1863, and was brought up as a bootmaker in Invercargill. In 1888 he gave up his trade, which was injuring his health, and bought 282 acres of land at Waianiwa. The property was then in its natural state, but has since been brought almost entirely into cultivation. As an Oddfellow, Mr Weir is a member of the Shamrock, Rose and Thistle Lodge. In the early days he was a member of the first brass band in Invercargill, and he has been a member of the Waianiwa school committee, of which he was chairman for three years. Mr Weir was married, in 1879, to a daughter of Mr Willian Cruiek-shanks, twine manufacturer, Invercargill, and has, surviving, two sons and six daughters.
Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs. J. L. Wilson.
Mr. J. Young.
The Late Mr. J. Blue.
Mrs. J. Blue.
Mr. John Wilson , sometime of Waianiwa, was one of the earliest settlers in the district. He was born in 1825, in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was brought up as a marine engineer. In 1854 he arrived in Australia, and two years later removed to Southland, landing at the Bluff. Mr Wilson settled in the Waianiwa district, where he bought a section of land and subsequently increased his holding to 800 acres. In the early days he was a member of the Aparima Road Board. Mr Wilson was married, in 1853, to a daughter of Mr James Lindsay, of Renfrewshire, Scotland, and at his death, in 1899, left three sons and four daughters.