.jpg)
The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Robson, Alexander
Robson, Alexander , Farmer, Opio Downs, Aparima. Mr Robson was born on the 16th of May, 1852, in County Down, Ireland, where he was brought up to dairy-farming by his father. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Christian McCausland,” in 1871, and was employed for some years by the late Mr James Mackintosh, sometime member of Parliament. Mr Robson afterwards purchased a farm at Drummond, but sold out in 1880, and removed to Aparima where he bought a portion of the Opio Downs, and subsequently increased his holding to 400 acres. The greater portion of the land was then in tussocks, and raupu swamp, and the draining has proved a most expensive undertaking. Mr Robson estimates that draining and laying down the property in grass cost fully £8 per acre, but this outlay has been fully recouped by the excellent crops obtained from the land. A crop of turnips was followed by two crops of Tuscan wheat, and these not only recouped the cost of improvements, but also the original cost of the land. Mr Robson is a director of the Southland Farmers Co-operative Society, chairman of the Aparima branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and an elder of the Wairio Presbyterian church. He was married, in 1880, to a daughter of the late Mr William Warnock, of North Invercargill, and has three sons and four daughters. The eldest daughter is married to Mr R. G. James, of Aparima.
.jpg)
Mr. And Mrs A. Robson.