The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Taranaki, Hawke's Bay & Wellington Provincial Districts]
Hillsborough
Hillsborough.
Hillsborough is seven miles from New Plymouth and nine from Inglewood, and is a dairy-farming district. The local dairy factory is in the centre of the settlement, and the business of the post office is conducted at the house of the manager. Hillsborough is in the Paritutu survey district of the Taranaki land district, and forms part of the Moa riding of the county of Taranaki.
The Hillsborough Co-Operative Dairy Company, Limited, was established in the year 1897. The factory is situated on the Egmont road, seven miles from New Plymouth. Directors for 1906: Messrs C. Greenway (chairman), H. C. Sampson, N. W. Hill, C. Smellie, and W. Cheffings. Mr. R. Pepperell is secretary. The plant is driven by water power; it is up-to-date in every respect, and includes a refrigerator. The machinery and plant include a two-horse-power boiler, a half-ton Linde freezer, an Alpha de Laval separator and pasteuriser, an H. Brown and Company's churn and butter worker, and a Humble and Son's cream vat. There is also a manager's residence. The average output is over sixty tons. The company gained the silver cup and gold medal at the New Plymouth Exhibition for export butter, against all comers, and the Twenty-five Guinea Cup at the Taranaki Agricultural Show in 1905.
Mr. John Rutherford, Manager of the Hillsborough Co-operative Dairy Factory is also the local postmaster and mail contractor. He was born at Stenhouse Muir, near Falkirk, Scotland, in the year 1877, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1879, landing at Dunedin. He was educated at Kaitangata, and brought up on his father's farm. At sixteen years of age he entered the Inch Clutha Dairy Factory, where he served for two years. He then removed to Taranaki, and was for two years first assistant at the Cardiff Dairy Factory, and for two years at the Ngaire Dairy Factory. For three years subsequently Mr. Rutherford was manager of the Hurleyville Dairy Factory, and in 1903 received his present appointment. Mr. Rutherford has taken seven first and five second prizes for butter at the shows at Hawera, New Plymouth and Wanganui, and at the New Plymouth Exhibition. He has been a member and bugler of the Kaitangata Rifles, and was a member of the Hurleyville school committee. Mr. Rutherford married a daughter of Mr. A. Ruff, of Ngaire, and has two sons.
Collis photo.
Mr. C. Greenway.
Collis photo.
Mr. T. Smellie.