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

Thornbury

page 929

Thornbury.

Thornbury is the name of a rich agricultural district which surrounds the Thornbury Junction railway station, on the Invercar-gill-Orepuki line of railway, at the juncture of the branch lines to Otautau and Nightcaps. The railway station stands at an elevation of only fifteen feet above the level of the sea, and is twenty miles from Invercargill, six miles from Riverton, twenty - three from Orepuki, and twenty-five from Nightcaps. Thornbury is in the Aparima riding of the county of Wallace, and in the electorate of Wallace, and had a population of 262 at the census of 1901, with forty-four in the neighbourhood. The township is on the east bank of the Aparima river, which is spanned by a bridge which connects the district with the settlements beyond. There is a good deal of flat land, and some of an undulating character, in the immediate neighbourhood. Thornbury has two stores, an hotel, a railway refreshment room, a saddler's shop, a blacksmith's shop, Anglican and Presbyterian churches, and a public school. On the northern side of the township, the main road leads through Flint's Bush—where there is a public school—towards Limestone Plains and Drummond. There are good cycling roads to Waima-tuku on the one hand, and to Riverton, on the other; the main road between Riverton and Invercargill is not far away from the township. About twelve trains pass daily through the local railway station, and the business of the post office and telephone bureau is conducted at the station. There is also a public hall in the settlement, and services are held there periodically in connection with the Roman Catholic church. Thornbury is in high favour with anglers, as the river and neighbouring creeks are well stocked with trout.

The Thornbury Public School was established in 1880. The school building is of wood and iron, containing two class-rooms and a porch, and stands on an elevated site of an acre and a-quarter of ground overlooking the township. There is accommodation for ninety children, and in 1903 there were seventy names on the roll, and the average attendance was sixty-four. A play ground with a shelter-shed adjoins the school, and there is a seven-roomed residence for the teacher in charge.

Mr. James Soar , Headmaster of the Thornbury Public School, was born in 1869, in Nottingham, England. He was educated at Saltby College, Birmingham, and was trained as a teacher, taking the full English certificate. Mr Soar became assistant teacher at Burnley, Lancashire, and a year later was transferred to Omskirk, near Liverpool, where he taught for three years. In 1894, Mr Soar came to Port Chalmers by the s.s. “Rimutaka,” and entered the service of the Southland Education Board. He was teacher at Limestone Plains for eight years, and was appointed to his present position at Thornbury about the end of 1902. Mr Soar was a member of the 2nd Warwickshire Rifles for two years, and twice attended camp at Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth Castle. As a Freemason, he is attached to Lodge Aparima, Riverton. Mr Soar was married, in 1883, to a daughter of the late Mr Thomas Lancaster, of Bolton, England, and has one son and one daughter.

St. Leonard's Anglican Church, Thornbury , is a wood and iron structure, with accommodation for 100 persons. Services are held every Sunday evening, and there is a Sunday school, which is attended by about thirty children, in charge of three teachers. The parish is under the charge of the Rev. A. D. Beaven, vicar of Riverton.

Hall, Andrew , Farmer, of “Race-view,” Thornbury. Mr Hall was born in 1822, in County Antrim, Ireland, where he was brought up to farming. He arrived in Victoria in 1853, and resided there till 1865, when he came to Southland. Mr Hall bought 100 acres of land in the Thornbury district, of
Mr. A. Hall, Senr.

Mr. A. Hall, Senr.

The Late Mrs A. Hall

The Late Mrs A. Hall

which he was one of the original settlers. He named his farm “Raceview,” and afterwards increased its area to over 300 acres. Mr Hall was married, in 1849. to a daughter of the late Mr. J. Mabyon, of County Antrim, Ireland, and has two sons and five daughters. His wife died in August, 1900.

Hall, Andrew, Junior , Farmer, “Raceview,” Thornbury. Mr Hall is a son of Mr Andrew Hall, senior, and was born at Bendigo, Victoria, in October, 1856. He was educated at Flint's Bush, and was brought up to farming by his father, with whom he still works. Mr Hall, junior, is a member of the Western District Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has served on the committee for some time. He is also a member of the Southland branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. He was married, in September, 1890, to a daughter of Mr. Andrew Hannah, farmer, of Otautau, and has one son.

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Gerstenkorn, photo.Mr. And Mrs A. Hall And Son.

Gerstenkorn, photo.
Mr. And Mrs A. Hall And Son.

McLean, John Brown , “Brackenridge,” Thornbury. Mr McLean was born on the 12th of February, 1827, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to Port Chalmers by the ship “Ben Lomond,” in 1863, and after working for six months at Long-bush, settled at Thornbury, where he purchased 250 acres of land. The property was then covered with tussocks, and as there were no fences, ditches or roads in the district, Mr McLean had to endure many hardships, in common with the other early settlers. Mr McLean has since brought his property into a state of cultivation, and has acquired a further 470 acres in another part of the district. Before leaving Scotland he was a member of the 37th Lanarkshire Volunteers. In the early days he was a member of the Flint's Bush school committee. Mr MeLean was married, in 1863, to a daughter of the late Mr Gavin Fallow, of Lanarkshire. His wife died in June, 1893, leaving four sons and four daughters. Their eldest son had died in 1877.

Haywood, Charles , Farmer, Hill Farm. Thornbury. Mr Haywood was born in 1856, in Devonshire, England, where he was educated and brought up to farming. He came to the Bluff by the ship “Western Monarch,” in 1879, and was employed for seven years by Mr M. Fallow, at Riverton. He was afterwards in partnership with his brother. Mr. W. Haywood, and Mr F. J. Linscott, in an estate at Thorn-bury, which he actively farmed till 1891. when the partnership was dissolved. Mr Haywood then took over Hill Farm, which comprises 290 acres of freehold, and a Government reserve of forty acres; he afterwards bought another farm of 170 acres. Mr Haywood carries on mixed farming. He is a member of the Western District Agricultural and Pastornl Association, and was its vice-president in 1904. Mr Haywood was married, in December, 1891, to a daughter of Mr Robert Hitchcock, of Waimatuku, and has three sons and four daughters.

McLean Brothers (John Brown McLean, Junior, and James Brown McLean Farmers. “Lenandale,” Thornbury. Messrs McLean Brothers' property consists of 456 acres of freehold, and is worked as a mixed farm. Half of the land is now fully improved, and the proprietors have been successful exhibitors of stock at the Southland shows.

Mr. John Brown Mclean , Junior, who was president of the Western District Agricultural and Pastoral Association in 1904, was born at Thorn-bury in 1874, and is the eldest son of Mr J. B. McLean, an old settler in the district. He has farmed with his brother at Thornbury since 1893.

Mr. James Brown Mclean . Junior Partner in the firm, was born in 1877, and educated in the Thornbury district, where he was brought up to farming.