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

Brown's

Brown's.

Brown's is the name of a farming district and small township on the Winton-Hedgehope branch line of railway. It is five miles from Winton, and has the district of Otapiri Gorge on the north, and North Forest Hill on the south. A good supply of limestone close to the railway station is industrially worked, and there are also brick and tile works in the neighbourhood. There is a local Presbyterian church, at which services are held fortnightly by the minister stationed at Winton. Brown's has a good hotel, a Caledonian Hall, erected by public subscription, a blacksmith's shop, and a general store, at which the business of the Post Office and Telephone Bureau is conducted. In the Hokonui district, to the north-east of Brown's, there are two or three sawmills at work, and the timber is taken by tramway to Brown's, the flag railway station at which is twenty-four miles from Invercargill, and stands at an altitude of 233 feet above the level of the sea. The settlement is in the electorate of Awarua, and forms part of the Winton riding of the county of Southland; and had a population of fifty-four at the census of 1901.

The Brown's Post And Telephone Office is conducted at the store of Messrs Hinde and Company, general merchants.

Mr. Charles Mundy Hinde , who acts as Postmaster at Brown's, is managing partner in the firm of Hinde and Co. (C. M. Hinde and John Reynolds). He was born at Leeds, England, in 1853, and educated at Christ's College and Birkenhead College. After leaving school, he entered the service of a large firm of cotton dealers, for whom he was salesman for some time before coming to New Zealand in 1879. Mr Hinde was employed as a book-keeper at Port Chalmers for a time. He started his business at Brown's in 1896, with Mr Reynolds. For some time before leaving home, Mr Hinde was an enthusiastic member of the Cheshire county cricket team, and he was also a fives and football player, and an amateur runner.

Walsh, William John , Blacksmith, Brown's. This business was established in May, 1903, and the smithy, which is 40 feet by 22 feet, possesses an up-to-date plant, including improved emery and drilling machines. The proprietor employs one assistant. Mr Walsh was born in 1881, at Forest Hill, where his father was one of the early settlers, and he learned the blacksmithing trade with Mr P. A. Blyth, of Winton. He then went to Mataura, and was for some time with Messrs J. and J. Galt, and afterwards with Messrs W. Gardiner and Co, before starting his present business at Brown's in 1903. Mr Walsh was a member of the Mataura Brass Band for about three years, and has competed successfully, as a runner, at sports held at Winton and Invercargill.