South Canterbury, South Island,
New Zealand

Try pot used at Weller Bros. Whaling Station situated near this place. 
(this pot use to sit just inside the upper entrance to Caroline Bay.) 
Iron try-pots were used by whalers in the boiling down of blubber to produce whale oil.
Queries 

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Who knows Timaru? The photo is taken at Bockaert's Garage. Was the garage in Cain's Terrace or in Barnard Street in Timaru?
Charles Stevenson (driver) and Emile "Bocky" Bockaert, 1911. Stevenson established a record for small cars driven by one man, by completing a non-stop run of 1064 miles from Invercargill to Christchurch and back to Timaru in 40 hours, driving a 14-16 horse-power Darracq on 7 March 1911. South Canterbury Museum photo. The photo is taken at Bockaert's Garage. Was the garage in Cain's Terrace or in Barnard Street in Timaru? Stevenson was accompanied by Mr W. Lamborn, engineer.

Francis C. Cowles at age 10 months arrived at Otago 17 March 1877 on the ship Wellington with his parents John Cowles, a farm labourer, age 29 and Sarah aged 32 and brother Richard aged 6 years. He was from Glamorgan.

Francis Charles Cowles died July 22nd 1954 aged 77. Wife Margaret died Dec. 31st 1960 aged 84.
Margaret Hastan Miller married Francis Charles Cowles in 1895. Children of Margaret Huston and Francis Charles Cowles:
1895 Cowles Richard John - from Upper Waitohi, a ploughman, served in WW1 (60907)
1897 Cowles Hugh
1898 Cowles Margaret
1900 Cowles Gladys Alice May
1903 Cowles Alexandra Renie
1912 Cowles Francis Charles
1910 Cowles Lily
1919 Cowles Vera

Richard John Cowles was born at Gloucester in England and died at Timaru 15th May 1917. He was a coal merchant. His wife Sarah Jane nee Hawkey died May 29th 1910 aged 65.
Sarah and Richard John Cowles children:
1880 Cowles George
1879 Cowles William Henry, a Timaru railway servant, married Elizabeth Ann Harris in 1899.

Richard John, (2) married, Mary Elizabeth Hessel in 1911. Son Nevile Raymond Cowles b. 1912. Richard John Cowles died May 15th 1917.

Children of William Henry and Elizabeth Ann Cowles:
1900 Cowles William James
1901 Cowles Wilfred Arthur
1902 Cowles Myrtle Alexandra
1903 Cowles John
1904 Cowles Gordon Harold
1905 Cowles George Raymond
1913 Cowles Alfred Edward
1914 Cowles Robert Henry
1916 Cowles Thomas David
1918 Cowles Dorothy Margaret
1920 Cowles Walter Herbert

Help identify these tent mates. Photo taken at Featherston camp in 1918. The man standing in the middle James Robert Washington. He was born 31 August 1885 in Temuka and died in Timaru 21 Dec 1957. He was called up for WW1 in 1918 and did his training but never got overseas because the war ended. Contact Stan if you have any information to share or would like information. Featherston camp had very rocky ground, and sometimes the soldiers fashioned murals out of the rocks to spell out their reinforcements draft. I would imagine they are not long in camp as they are in their army Demin�s (actually khaki in colour) . Photographers made their money by selling these souvenir photos back to the soldiers.

Almost certainly S. H. Andrew PHOTO. Stanley Herbert ANDREW (1880-1965).
1880: Born at Great Torrington, Devon, England (Son of Oliver Bray ANDREW & his wife Isabella Kate FULFORD)
1891: UK Census shows Stanley & his family (parents & siblings) living in Wales
1901: UK Census, Stanley was boarding in Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales, occupation = photographer
1911: NZ Electoral Roll, Timaru Electorate - Supplementary Roll, 25 Maori Hill, Timaru, photographer
1914: Enlisted 21 Oct 1914 at Blenheim to serve in WW1, Reg No 6/1232A. Occupation = Photographer (self-employed), Last NZ Address = Kaikoura, NOK = Mrs I K Andrew (mother), Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England. 6ft. 170lbs. Hair fair. Presbyterian.
5/10/1916 Boarded. Disability: 1. Chronic rheumatism. 2. Malaria. Finding. Return to NZ by Hospital Ship for discharge as permanently unfit.
1917: Returned to NZ by Tainui in late 1916 & was finally discharged on 22 Jan 1917 as "no longer fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service", Intended address = Taumarunui

A 1914 pre war territorial photo - 2nd South Canterbury territorials, Melville Raynham Smith 61055 of Ashburton, probably front and centre. The photo would have been taken at a camp near Timaru. Most pre war territorials went with the Main Body or early reinforcements, but Melville for some unknown reason didn�t sail to the 30th reinforcements

.

Musterer's Hut Two Thumb Range - 4000ft. Arthur Bray on left. Les __ldock on right.

Where is this taken?

Please help identify Mr B. Robertson, the gentleman in the top hat. This photo was taken in 1935. What do you think the occasion is?
What year is that car? What model? Probably a 1928 Essex Super Six.
Photo was taken on Sherwood Downs, Fairlie. Lily was born in 1884 at Waitohi Flat, South Canterbury and died in 1973 aged 90 at Timaru.
Thanks. Olwyn

Janet Hogan  6 Nov. 2015
SMITH
Thomas & Jane Smith, nee Aitken. They were born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, 1830 emigrated to New Zealand 1863. I cannot find any info on the ship that they sailed on. Children born in New Zealand were, John Skipper Smith born on 23 May 1867 in Skippers, Queenstown,1867, Annabella Pollock Smith, 1869 Invercargill, Jane Pollock Smith, 1871 Invercargill & Peter Smith alias Thomas Peter, 1882, born Invercargill. Anyone knowing of this family I would love to hear about it. Thomas & Jane Smith nee Aitken and their 2nd son Peter, (1st son died) born 16 March 1862, Calton, Glasgow also sailed on the ship out with them.

"Helenslee" 1863
From Glasgow to Bluff on ship HELENSLEE departed Glasgow 1st July 1863. Arrived Bluff 25th September 1863.
Smith Thomas
Smith Jane
Smith Peter

Family Search - Scotland Births and Baptisms  FHL microfilm 6,035,516
Peter Smith
Birth Date 16 March 1862
Birthplace Bridgeton, Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
Father's Name Thomas Smith
Mother's Name Jane Aitken

There is a Peter Smith buried 15 Oct. 1863 in the Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill but his mother's name was Agnes so not the s/o Thomas and Jane.

Jane Aitken married Thomas Smith s/o Peter SMITH and Jane POLLOCK, on 4 Dec 1853 in Scotland. Children born in NZ to Jane and Thomas SMITH:
1867 John Skippers Smith.  Annie SWAN married John Skipper Smith in 1893 in Dannevirke. JSS died 17 Dec 1936, Taihape at age 69.
1869 Annabella Smith married Rev. John CAWLEY on 14 Nov. 1898 in Invercargill. She died 23 July 1928, Dunrobin, Otago at age 59. He was a Home Missionary, Presbyterian Minister.
1871 Jane (Jeanie) Pollock Smith b. 1 July 1871 married Frederick Augustus Fredric (1868 -1934) in  12 Nov. 1895. Jane Pollock Fredric died in 25 August 1926 in Invercargill aged 54. Headstone photo online. Buried 27 Aug. 1926 Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill. Jeanie beloved wife of Fred Fredric.

Thomas SMITH born in 1831, Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Died: 26 June 1897, Waimate, NZ at age 66
Marriage: Jane AITKEN on 4 Dec. 1853 in Scotland. Jane was born on 27 Jun 1830 in Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland and died on 19 May 1910 in Waimera, Otago, and was buried in Clinton Cemetery, NZ.

A search for Robert SMITH born 1833 +/2 years finds two in the 1841 census, only one has a brother Thomas and he is 10 in 1841. Also bear in mind the transcript may have errors in and is itself a transcript of a transcript, the enumerator transcribed the household schedules onto the forms we have access to today and from which the transcripts are made. The following does not prove its family but suggests that it may be:

Timaru Herald, 29 June 1897, Page 2 DEATH.
Smith. On the 26th inst., at the residence of his brother, Mr R. P. Smith, Studholme street, Waimate, Thomas Smith, engineer, late of Invercargill; aged 66 years. [buried 30th June at Waimate, plot 13. No picture available for that grave. Perhaps there is no stone? The other graves around it have photos.] [Robert Pollock Smith is Thomas seniors brother] [On the death certificate for Thomas SMITH (1897) he had three children still living (1 male 28 years and 2 females aged 26 and 29 years).]

1873 Smith Elizabeth Margaret b. Lanarkshire. On her marriage lines 5 June, 1891 it gives her father as Robert Pollock Smith (bc.1832), Master shoemaker married to Esther Eliz. (Essy) Pollock (bc. 1842). By the census records there was a Robert Pollock Smith was still living in Lanarkshire, right up to 1901. a different generation. 

What ship did Robert Pollock Smith arrive in NZ in? The Mermaid did not sail in 1875 but in the 1860s. Gold rushes were in the 1860s. The Manaia was a coastal vessel. Can't find him arriving on the Parsee in September 1874 which left Gravesend June 1874. Or on the Pleiades which sailed London 29th August 1874 and arrived Lyttelton 16th December 1874. George Vogan came out in the Mermaid in 1862.

Robert Pollock Smith came to NZ into Port Chalmers on the SS Parsee [sic]. In a shipboard diary there is mentioned Robert Pollock Smith.  His name does not appear on the shipping list online. The ship left from Gravesend and arrived in Dunedin in Dec. 1874 [sic].  He was listed as single in the listing. 

Star 17 February 1913, Page 3
POLLOCK-SMITH - On Saturday, February 15, Janet, wife of Robert Pollock-Smith; aged seventy-one. God giveths His beloved sleep.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 11 July 1916, Page 2
SMITH. At the residence of Mr S. J. Vogan, Duvauchelle, on Sunday, July 9th, 1916, Robert Pollock Smith, aged 83 years.

Press, 22 February 1913, Page 11 MRS R. P. SMITH. (Janet Smith nee WARDS died aged 73) [Her father was Thomas Wards of Sanday, Scotlands]
On Saturday last there passed peace fully away at Duvauchelle Bay, Mrs Robert Pollock Smith, a fine old Scottish pioneer of Canterbury. For nearly thirty years she was engaged, with her husband in the Waimate district in the dairying and farming industry, and she was respected by all who knew her; not only for her kindness of heart, but for her steady devotion to duty. On leaving South Canterbury Mrs Smith took up her residence in Addington, where she resided nine years, and made many friends. The funeral took place at Duvauchelle's Bay last Monday, where Mr Smith had been staying with her daughter, Mrs S. J. Vogan. She leaves four sons and three daughters.

(daughter's marriage 9 July 1908 at St Andrew's in Christchurch to Samuel James VOGAN to Ellen Pollock SMITH b. 1876. Ellen died 3rd June 1926 aged 50. Children:
1909 Vogan William George
1911 Vogan James
1912 Vogan Donald
1915 Vogan Janet b. 26 Jan. 1915
1917 Vogan Margaret Jane

Note the date on the headstone is out by two years, should read 1913.

Star 14 July 1916, Page 6
Mr Robert Pollock-Smith, who died at Duvauchelle's Bay on Sunday, was a native of Airdrie, Scotland. When an young man he entered the Commissariat Department of the Indian Government, and remained there a number of years. He came to New Zealand over forty years ago, in the ship Manaia. Like many new arrivals in this country Mr Pollock-Smith sought fortune on the goldfields, but being unsuccessful, he settled down to farming pursuits at Waimate. On his removal about twelve years ago he lived a retired life at Addington and the Akaroa district. The funeral took place at Duvauchelle's Bay on Wednesday. [On the death certificate for Robert SMITH (1916) he had seven children still living (4 males aged 43, 39, 35 & 28 years and 3 females aged 41, 37 & 30 years)]

 
Duvauchelle Cemetery photos taken 14 Nov. 2015 by P. Bennett.  Database online. Ellen Vogan buried Sunday 6 June 1926. Plot # 172. A drapped urn.
[Vogan, George, Farmer, See All, Duvauchelle's Bay. Mr. Vogan was born in 1839, in County Cavan, Ireland, where he followed farming during his earlier years. He came to New Zealand in 1862, in the ship Mermaid. Died in 1922] Ref. The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District. Mrs S.J. Vogan died in 1926.]

Press, 10 July 1908, Page 7
At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon a marriage solemnised between Mr Samuel J. Vogan, the well-known farmer of Duvuchelles Bay, and Miss Nelly Smith, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs R. P. Smith, of Addington, who for the past five years has been sole mistress of the Duvauchelle Bay public school, and who has been for fourteen years engaged as a teacher under the North and South Canterbury Education Boards. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. John Pringle, M.A., of Akaroa, assisted by the Rev. J. Mackenzie, M.A. After the ceremony the bride's parents entertained the wedding guests at the Caledonian Society's rooms.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 14 July 1908, Page 2 WEDDING.
A marriage of interest to our Peninsula readers, as well as to a large circle of friends in different parts of Canterbury, was celebrated at St. Andrew's Church, Christchurch, last Thursday. The contracting parties were Mr Samuel James Vogan, second son of Mr George Vogan, and Miss Ellen Pollock-Smith, oldest daughter of Mr Robert Pollock-Smith, mechanical engineer. The officiating ministers were Rev. J. Pringle. M.A., of Akaroa, and J. Mackenzie, M.A., of St. Andrew's Church, Christchurch. The clerk of the weather would seem to have apprised that a wedding was afoot, for the heavy rains, which will cause last week to be long remembered, considerately held off, greatly to the comfort of the bridal party and guests. The bride was given away by her father, and was becomingly dressed in white silk in kimono style, with the orthodox wreath and orange blossoms. Her bouquet was of Christmas roses, and white chrysanthemums. Her bridesmaid was her sister, Miss Annie Pollock-Smith, who looked very well in her costume of cream cloth, with laced vest and sleeves, in kimono style, and with pink hat and pink bouquet. After the ceremony adjournment was made to the Caledonian Hall, Worcester street, where a large number sat down to a sumptuous spread. Afterwards the following toasts were duly honoured :"Bride and Bridegroom," proposed by Rev. J. Pringle, and acknowledged by Mr S. J. Vogan; "Bridesmaid and Best Man," proposed by Mr Bowden, and replied to by Mr R. Smith, junr.; "Parents of the Bride and Bridegroom," proposed, by Mr McCracken, and replied to by Mr R. Pollock-Smith. An enjoyable dance was held in the Caledonian Hall in the evening.

Press, 15 July 1916, Page 9
A resident of the Dominion for over forty years, in the person of Mr Robert Pollock Smith, passed away at Duvauchelle's Bay on Sunday [9th July] at the ripe age of 83. Mr Smith was a native of Airdrie, Scotland, and as a young man he entered the service of the Commissariat Department of the Indian Government, and remained in it for a number of years. After visiting Scotland Mr Smith came out to New Zealand, arriving about 1875 [sic] in the ship Mermaid [sic]. He tried his luck, like many others, on the goldfields, but not meeting with success, he settled down to farming pursuits in the Waimate district. He took a keen interest in politics, working consistently for the late Sir William Steward. During the past twelve years Mr Smith had lived in retirement, latterly with his son-in-law. Mr S. J. Vogan of Duvauchelle's Bay. Mr Smith leaves a grown-up family, one son being Private T. Pollock Smith, who is with the Australian forces somewhere in France.

R.P. Smith was in Canterbury and Otago in 1862 -1864.

Name Robert Smith  
Assisted Immigration to Canterbury by the ship Victoria. Original passenger list online
page 18 Single Men Age 29 Single  
Arrived  30 March 1862, Canterbury, NZ  
Nationality Lanarkshire; Occupation labourer  

There was also a Edward Smith, 23, on board the Victoria and wife Margaret, 19, from Lanarkshire,  Occupation labourer. No relation. 

Macdonald Dictionary. S 547 Smith Robert Pollock (1833 - 1916) was born at Airdrie, Scotland and entered the Commercial Dept. Indian Government. He came to New Zealand about 1875 in the Manaia. He tried the goldfields, with what luck is not known. He kept a dairy farm at Waimate from about 1870 to about 1900. They then retired to live first at Addington and finally at Duvauchelle's Bay. She died there at the home of her daughter Mrs S.J. Vogan 15 Feb. 1913. He died there 10 July 1916, buried in the Duvauchelle's Bay Cemetery. 4 sons. 3 daughters. Son Thomas Pollock served with Australian forces in France. 

 The first names recurred throughout the family.

Seven children:    
1876 Smith Ellen d. 1926 aged 50
1876 Smith Robert
1877 Smith James Pollock
1880 Smith Donald Brock d. 1955 aged 73
1881 Smith Jane b. Waimate, who also seems to be known as Jeanie Pollock Smith. Jean/Jane. Married Daniel Gideon Bimler
1884 Smith Annabella Pollock d. 1962 aged 78 in Featherston, a spinster.
1884 Smith Thomas Peter b. Waimate. Died 1953 NSW aged 69. 

In Scotland Jane and Jean are fully interchangeable and Jessie is used synonymously for Janet. Both Jessie and Janet have a number of variant spellings. 

Miss A. Pollock Smith aka Annie (1884-1962)
Annie kept in touch with her younger brother. Military records gave Pollock Smith's address as 22 Clifton Street, Addington. Clifton Street was renamed to Parlane Street in 1949. Many streets renamed that year as there were many duplicates. Usually the streets were not renumbered when they were renamed, i.e. 22 Parlane Street, there is an old house, built in 1910 (Google streetview 2012). Annie was a teacher at the Belfast side (Spencerville) school in 1911. She was at Carew for two years -1917 and 1918. She moved to Christchurch then onto the North Island. She was the first lady assistant at the Upper Hutt School in and in May 1924 appointed on staff of the Hamilton West School. In 1927 she was appointed the infant mistress at Upper Hutt. A teacher all her life, never married, holidayed with her nephews, involved with the Presbyterian church, played bridge, and left her property to her nieces. She shopped in the town, in Featherston, then walked out with her basket expecting her purchases to be delivered - and they were. She was a very strict lady. She walked as if she a had a broomstick up her back - ramrod straight!

Timaru Herald, 12 September 1914, Page 3
Miss A. Pollock Smith, Christchurch, is staying at the Hydro Grand, and would be pleased to see old friends.

Dominion, 28 February 1916, Page 7
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS - CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS OFFICIAL PASS LISTS
Pollock-Smith, Annabella, Christchurch.

Press, 10 December 1917, Page 3
The combined Orari, Scotsburn, and Rangitata Presbyterian soiree and concert, was held in the Howard Hall, Arundel, on Thursday evening. There was a large attendance from all the surrounding districts, and the catering for the visitors was ably carried out by the ladies of the respective congregations. The Rev. Lyons presided. The Temuka choir, under the leadership of Mr Proudlock, contributed several anthems, and the Arundel Sunday school scholars sang several sacred songs very sweetly, and in a manner reflecting credit on their teacher, Miss May Ashby, Solos were sung by Misses Shaw, McCaskie, Johnston, and Pollock-Smith, and Mrs Swiverton, while recitations were given by Miss Cissie Fairburn, Miss Pollock-Smith, and Mr Butler.

Did she have a problem with rodents or rabbits at the school house?

Ashburton Guardian, 20 April 1918, Page 1
A SOCIAL will be held in Mr Jaine's Shed, Carew, on April 26th at 7.30 p.m., to Welcome Home Signaller David Campbell. Opportunity will be taken to Farewell the Teacher, Miss Pollock-Smith, who has received another appointment. Ladies a Basket. Gentlemen, 2s 6d.

Press, 3 May 1924, Page 2
Miss Pollock-Smith, of Christchurch, who for the past year has been first lady assistant at the Upper Hutt School, has been appointed to a vacancy to the staff of the Hamilton West School.

New Zealand Herald, 24 August 1942, Page 5 INFANT MISTRESS RETIRES
WHANGAREI, Saturday After 12 years' service as infant mistress at the Whangarei Primary School, Miss A. Pollock Smith is retiring from educational service. The parents and staff assembled to make her presentations and to express appreciation for her outstanding services in training young children, both inside school and out. Miss Pollock Smith will reside near Auckland. 

1962/24688 Pollock-Smith Annabella 78Y.
Annabella Pollock-Smith's probate 1963 is online.  She didn't marry. Annabella named her property Airdire. She knew her family history. Robert Pollock SMITH (1833 - 1916) was born at Airdrie, Scotland. Residence: Featherson. I give my house property (Airdirie) in Revans St. Featherston, for a home as long as she needs it, to my niece, Elizabeth Jean Bimler, daughter of the late Mrs Jean Pollock Bimler of Featherston. The house with its own grounds is not to be sold as long as Betty needs a home. Janet Evelyn Barbara Pollock-Smith married Leonard William Alfred Andrews in 1945. She was living in Levin in 1963 and Annie Muriel Margaret Farmer of 26 Edmonton Rd, Onehunga are granted share each of the proceeds. [Annie Muriel Margaret Smith married Alfred James Farmer in 1941]

Was Pollock being used as a family first name or as an early attempt at a hyphenated surname Pollock-Smith? Annabella certainly ended up using the hyphenated surname.

Marriage information from the Christchurch City Library - Church Register cards
Only one entry for Bimler  [Gideon is spelled in many ways!]
Marriage: BIMLER Daniel Gideon to SMITH Jane Pollock
Date - 6 July 1915
Place 		: Residence of Mr. S VOGAN, Duvauchelles Bay
Age 		: 37 				: 36 [suggests yob 1878:1879]
Status 		: Divorced 			: Spinster [so he was married previously]
Occupation 	: Station Manager 		: Domestic Duties
Birthplace 	: Alford Forest 		: Waimate
Residence (present) - Duvauchelles Bay 		: Duvauchelles Bay
Residence(usual): Wairarapa 			: Duvauchelles Bay
Parents (groom) : Lars Christian, labourer; Elizabeth nee KNOCKS
Parents (bride) : Robert Pollock, Engineer; Janet nee WARD [confirms Janet's maiden name]
Witness 	: Daphne WILLIAMS, Robinson Bay
Witness 	: W. SMITH, Trainer, Lincoln Rd., Ch.CH.
Official 	: John William HAYWARD
Church 		: AKP [probably Akaroa Presbyterian Church]

Marriage 	: SMITH, Robert to HARPER, Jemima
Date 		: 28 Dec 1910
Place 		: St Johns Church, Leeston
Age 		: 34							:29 [suggests yob 1876:1881]
Status 		: Bachelor						: Spinster
Occupation 	: Striker in Government Railway Workshops 		: Domestic
Birthplace 	: Oamaru 						: Leeston
Residence (present): Leeston 						: Leeston
Residence (usual): Addington 						: Leeston
Parents (groom) : Robert Polock, engineer; Janet nee WARD
Parents (bride) : Robert, labourer; Grace nee FLAUS
Witness 	: Elizabeth G. HARPER, Domestic Duties, Leeston
Witness 	: Henry J. PRATTLEY, Christchurch, Labourer
Official 	: J. P. HEWLAND
Church		: LPD 

 It is interesting how most of the Pollock Smith children ended up in the North Island. 

[email protected]  10 March 2015
I am wanting to know more about the origin of my great-grandmother Mary Gurney, who married my great grandfather John Clements Burrell on 26 December 1863 at the Wadsworth residence, Orari.
    Mary Gurney was a servant who had lived at Orari for 3 months.  John Clements Burrell was a sawyer who had lived at Arowhenua for three years.  The age of Mary Gurney at the time she was married was either 16 or 19. Intention to Marry document says 19, other sources indicate an age of 16.

Jan Cameron Timaru 30 Sept. 2014
Researching Thomas Hicks PALMER (my great grandfather) who arrived in Timaru some time between 1861 (last recorded in UK census) and 1870 (when he married Jane Johnstone in Timaru). Thomas Hicks Palmer came from Ashbury in Devon from a farm that appears to have been close by Ashbury House owned by John Morth Woolcombe, the uncle of Captain Belfield Woolcombe (they are on the same census page).Thomas Palmer was married at Mr Metherell's house in Woolcombe's Gully, in November 1870. The witnesses were Sarah Lukey and Ann Metherell. Ann's husband James Metherell also came from this part of Devon. I have no idea why Thomas Palmer came to NZ, or when, and am curious as to whether there was some kind of group or chain migration from the home area. Having recently purchase a property near Ashbury Park I am also intrigued about the likely geographic location of Mr Metherell's house. I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows more about the Metherell location - I think James Metherell relocated to Rangiora some time in the late 1880s. Can anyone suggest ships that this group of men might have come to NZ on, whether via Lyttelton or to Timaru? Is anyone else researching migrants from Ashbury in the 1860s?
    Also, as an aside, I note from your website that Herbert Belfield owned 88 acres in the Geraldine County. Is this by any chance the rural district known as Belfield (it borders the Orari railway line to the east and the Orari river to the south). And was Woodbury (near Geraldine) named for the family home of Captain Belfield's grandmother Lady Louis?
    Thank you for any help you can give.

 The photo was taken in 1937, Arthur Jackson Service Station, Seadown. There is an obituary for Arthur Jackson, d.17 June 1953 aged 67 yrs, in the Timaru Herald of 18th June 1953. Seadown garage on corner of SH1 and Hedley Rd on way to Temuka. It was a garage until a few years ago and is now the Blue Barn which sells fruit from the local Waipopo orchard. The Seadown Garage and the house next door to it were built in the early 1950s. Tom Stoddart made most of his living by issuing Warrant of Fitnesses. He spent the rest of his time with his racehorses.

John Shears 16 Jan. 2014
SHEARS. My name is John and I am the eldest son of Joseph (Jack) who was the last of 13 children born to Benjamin and Annie Shears. Here is some initial information of the first three Shears families that came out to the South Island, N.Z. The first Shears family from Surrey arrived in Auckland on the Waitangi in 1874 with twelve relatives. With exception of James who is thought to have died in England the other original Shears emigrants all stayed in NZ although some left South Canterbury. There are still a number of their descendants still living in South Canterbury. Photo Ben and Annie shears c. 1910.
1. Carrick Castle. Departed Gravesend 30th March 1871 - arriving Otago August 4th. Passenger in steerage: James Shears Age 24 Born Clapham Listed Unemployed
2. Westland: Sailed London via Plymouth and arrived Lyttelton 21st February 1880

Passengers on board included:-
Shears Benjamin 32 Brickmaker 	Surrey 
Annie ( Cooke)  28 		Yorkshire
Benjamin 	 5
James 		 3
Annie 		 1 

3. Waitangi, New Zealand Shipping Co. Sailed London, 8th August 1874, Auckland 20th November 1874. On board as assisted immigrants were twelve members of the extended Shears family. The total cost for the 12 family members was 145 Pounds Sterling provided they stayed in the colony for a specific time.

Shears 	Samuel 	50 Kent 	Labourer
	Hannah  48 " 		Wife (Stacey)
	Alfred 	20 Surrey 
	William 19 "
	Robert 	12 Kent 
	Henry 	24 Surrey
	Mary 	23 		Wife of Henry
	James 	 5 		child of of Henry & Mary
	Frances  3 		child of of Henry & Mary
	Samuel 	 5 months	child of of Henry & Mary	

Also on board with them were:-
Boyce, Frederick
Mary (Shears) Fredericks wife. Daughter of Samuel & Hannah.

4. S.S. British Queen, sailed Plymouth March 24th 1883 arrived Wgtn May 15th 1883 and onto Lyttelton May 17th 1883. Assisted Immigrants included:-

Cooper, Robert James 		39 Brickmaker 	Deptford, Kent 1840?
	Emma Matilda (Shears)   39 His wife Erith, Kent, Sept 1840 (Married 1860 Croydon)
(It would seem that they had both lowered their ages which were in fact 43 in 1883)
Also on board were their two daughters listed as single women. 
Emma Cooper 		 	23 Born 	Norwood, Surrey 1860
Mary Eliza Cooper	 	13 " 		Middlesex  	1870 January
(Listed as Eliza ) 

Weekly Mail 7 March 1908. Welsh newspapers Online
PARMENTER. Mrs. Elizabeth Dobbins, 18, Stanhope-street, Cheltenham, Gloucester- shire, seeks cousins, George Stephen, Joe, Charlie, Elizabeth Agnes, and Mary Ann Parmenter, left Cottland for Dunedin, New Zealand, 1874, Last heard of, one in Buchanan-street, Timaru, there.

Chris Dunn 22 Feb. 2013
FITZGERALD. I would like to contact anyone who has information about this Fitzgerald family, they all lived in Timaru except the gg-grandparents who remained in Ireland.
Ancestors of Katherine Frederika Fitzgerald (1940-1982)
Mother: Agnes Esther Fitzgerald (1902-1954)
Grandparents: William Dodds Fitzgerald (1865?-1858) and Bridget Coughlan (1875?-1923)
Great-grandparents: John Fitzgerald (1840-1931) and Hannah Dodds (1822?-1916)
Great-great-grandparents: Edward Fitzgerald (?-?) and Norah Riordan (?-?) Ireland

Arrival information. Two brothers, John (above) and William Fitzgerald came from Darragh, Cullen, County Cork. They sailed from London in September and disembarked at Timaru port on the 24th of December 1862. The ship was the Echunga. John's brother William had 11 children so there are many more descendants from his side of the tree. 

Donated to the Waimate Museum. Found in a shop in Wellington. It has been damaged as if someone tried to pry it off something. He was their only child.
WILKES, Pte. William Henry, 4924. 25th Bn. AIF 3rd/4th May, 1917 at Bullicourt. Age 28. Son of William Henry and Helen Wilkes, of Waimate. Attended Waimate District High School and became a wheelwright and was a volunteer in the Waimate Rifles. Memorial Panel: 106. Cemetery or Memorial Details: 26 Villers Bretonneux-France.
Letter written to the Red Cross by his mother. To Australian Branch of Red Cross, Victoria Street, England

Glen Eden Farm
Waimate
Feb. 5 1918
I don't know who to address but what I want to find out is if any one can tell me anything of my son Private William Henry Wilkes. He wrote to me from Codford Hospital 26 November saying he had been in the Hospital with pneumonia, I got a wire from the Hon. Allan saying he was killed in action. my last letter came back one with killed 15th may. Later one marked not known. I wonder if there might be some mistake that he might be a prisoner of war. I wrote to the Mr Pearce Minister of Defence. He said all they know at present but would advise me to write to the Red Cross. It seems very strange never to hear anything, but killed in action. I also wonder why he never got his letters after he went to France. I think the lest they could do was to delivered the letters to those poor boys. This is the address he sent me.
4924 Private W.H. Wilkes
C Coy 25 battalion
7th Infantry Brigade
Australian Imperial Force

I would be very glad if you could find out anything if any of his mates who were with him would write to me.
My address is Mrs H. Wilkes
Waimate South
Canterbury, N.Z.
yours truly,
H. Wilkes.

Mrs Wilkes wrote "I wrote over 40 letters and posted twice as many papers.  I want to know why they was never delivered. I can only find he received 6 all the time he was on Active service. He never got a letter all the time he was in Egypt - I registered one in February, I still have the ticket- as far as I can fin d out - he never got that there is some neglect. I think when the Boys are Giving their lives to the Country they ought get their mails when their parents pays the postage. The last advice I got from Australia I had to pay double rate so you might put a stamp on your side.
Yours truly
Mrs. Helen Wilkes
Waimate,
South Canterbury
N.Z.

Hon. Minister Defence
Australia
June 6 1917
Dear Sir,
I am writing to you to see if you can tell me the name of the English Chaplain to C. Coy 25 Battalion 7th Inf. Brigade Australian Imperial Force. I got a wire from Sir James Allen, N.Z. that my son William Henry Wilkes was killed in action may 3rd or 4th. Are you quite sure there was no mistake. I thought if I could find who was the Chaplain I might find who was out something.

An empty wallet was returned to Mrs Wilkes and she wanted his personal effects including a watch for a keepsake.

Regimental number 	4924 A.I.F.
Religion 		Church of England
Occupation 		Cane cutter
Address 		Lismore, New South Wales
Marital status 		Single
Age at embarkation 	28
Next of kin 		Mother, Mrs H Wilkes, Waimate, New Zealand
Enlistment date 	14 September 1915
Rank on enlistment 	Private
Unit name 		15th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement 
AWM Embarkation Roll 	No.23/32/2
Embarkation details 	Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on 28 March 1916
Unit from Nominal Roll 	25th Battalion
Fate 			Killed in Action 03-4 May 1917
Commemoration details 	Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France, about 15 km east of Amiens.
Memorial Panel	 	106  

Immediately below is a picture of Alexander Adams. He was born in Portsoy, Scotland in 1853, the eldest of seven children, and arrived in Oamaru in 1878. However I do not know where he landed or what ship he arrived on. A baker by trade, he married Annie Jane Alford in Timaru in 1878 and their son, Forrester, was born in Oamaru in 1879. They moved to Beaconsfield at some stage where another four offspring arrived but may have fallen upon hard times as a notice of Bankruptcy appeared in The Timaru Herald. A some stage the family moved to Pleasant Point where Alexander and Forrester now in adulthood, operated a bakery prior to selling it and moving to Albury where they bought another bakery producing bread which they delivered to Mount Nessing and Fairlie as well as locally. Alexander Adams died suddenly aged 59 and is buried in the Albury cemetery. His wife, Annie Jane Alford, who born in Exeter, England in 1863, died on May 22, 1899 and is buried in the Timaru cemetery. Information and photo courtesy of Joe Adams, (Kaiapoi)� Editor, NZ Family History Magazine. Alexander Adams is Joe's great-grandfather. Posted 26 Sept. 2012.

  
Mahan, Photo.

Joe Adams, (Kaiapoi) Editor, NZ Family History Magazine. 26 Sept. 2012.
WATTS - The Watts family, comprising Thomas Watts and his wife Emma Jane (nee Chesson) with their daughter Elizabeth Jane on her parents knee.
Thomas was born in Kent, England on May 22, 1854 and Emma Jane, born Kent in 1857.

They arrived in Timaru aboard the ship Staadt Haarlem in 1880 and landed by surfboat on what is now the Caroline Bay area. Not much is now known of them except they produced a family of six. Thomas seems to have been a keen bandsman. They lived in Browne Street, Timaru, somewhere close to the site of the present Warehouse. Around 1898-99 an outbreak of typhoid occurred which was later believed to have been caused by contaminated water supplies from domestic wells. Contamination possibly came from seepage from long-drop privys, which would make sense in Browne Street which is situated in a gully because a well was usually situated close to a house while a privy was situated well back from houses and sometimes up a rise. At any rate Thomas succumbed and soon died on May 22, 1899 aged 35. He is buried in the Timaru cemetery in a marked grave but without a headstone. With the family in dire straits Emma Jane also succumbed and died just a year later on June 2, 1890 and is buried in an unmarked pauper's grave.

Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth Jane, after almost a decade of hardship met and eventually married Forrester, Alexander Adams's eldest son, at Hunter, near Waimate on January 22, 1902 and together they continued in the bakery business until 1928 when they obtained a cookhouse contract on the Waitaki Hydro construction years, eventually retiring to 14 Butler street, Timaru. They are both buried in the Timaru cemetery. The house at 14 Butler Street, now the site of Mico Wakefield plumbing showroom. 

Marilyn, Western Australia, 19 July 2009
WATSON and JACKSON: Robert Watson came from Dumfries Scotland while his wife Helen Jackson was the daughter of Ambrose Jackson and Janet Boyd from Waimate. I have a lot of information on the Jackson's but not Helen's side. They married 13th August 1892 at the Registrar's Office Timaru Robert was 24 and Helen 23. Robert has his occupation down as shepherd. Helen died in 1934 while Robert died in 1945. He was 80 years old. His occupation is down as drover. They had 6 children. I have taken photos of the gravestones at Temuka. Robert's grandmother's grave Jane Watson is one of the oldest in the cemetery. She died 1879. She had come out from Dumfries four years previously with her daughter Mary Wilson nee Watson and her husband Robert Wilson. Jane Watson joined her other daughter Jane McCallum and her husband Oswald McCallum who was managing Arowhenua Station. They had come to NZ in 1861.
My Robert Watson came to New Zealand after his mother died in Scotland c1878. He was only 11 when he came with his sister Maggie Little Watson. He also went to stay with the Oswald McCallum's. Anything that anyone can tell me about the Watson's would be welcome. They lived in Thomas St. Temuka for 42 years.

Malcom Walker  27 June 2009
WALKER: I'm researching the descendants of William and Margaret Colbourne Walker (nee Webster) William was a blacksmith at Orari and operated Bill Walkers smithy opposite the school. A photo of this can be seen in the school centennial book. William Died in 1946 Margaret died in 1905. Their children were Emily Catherine Walker, (married Aubrey De Vere Alderdice) Florence Colbourne Walker (married Frederick Griffin of Waimate 1949) Eric William James Walker and Edith Walker (who married Jim Henderson of Geraldine.) Edith and Jim operated a threshing business in Geraldine for many years and had five children. William Walker is my Great Grandfather and until recently I knew nothing of this side of the family. My father was born outside of marriage and was fostered out to Rachael and Bob Webb of Woodbury shortly after his birth. We knew nothing of his side of our family until the last year. I'm looking for any information at all about this family including photos etc.

Who was Mrs Patrick O'Brien? 24 June 2009
Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, 1 April 1919, Page 3
Mrs PATRICK O'BRIEN
There passed away at the Crown Hotel, Otautau on Friday an old and respected lady in the person of Mrs Patrick O'Brien, at the age of 68 years. Mrs O'Brien arrived at Lyttelton in the "Blue Jacket" 51 years ago, add took residence along with her sister at Temuka. It was here that she met and married her husband. When 37 years ago they came to live at Wairio until some six years ago. Mr and Mrs O'Brien then came to live with three members of the family who posses the Crown Hotel in Otautau. Mrs O'Brien is survived by her husband and the members of her family, who are residing as under: Michael, Mary and Delia at the Crown Hotel; Mrs W. Burke, Otautau; Mrs O. Gallagher, Wairio, James at Kauana, Thomas at Tewaewae, Patrick in Hawkes Bay; and John and Martin are still on active service. The funeral took place at Wreys Bush cemetery, the Rev. Father Lynch performing the funeral rites.

The lady was a Bridget O'Brien on the 1867 Blue Jacket passenger list. Married in 1868 and named Bridget O'Bryan on the marriage CD. The name Bridget from the 1919 Death Fiche, death registered at Otautau. Date of Death 28 Mar 1919. Age 68.
Known Details Headstone: In memory of Stephen son of Patrick and Bridget OBRIEN who died 10 May 1898 age 27 years also Patrick OBRIEN died 15 Sep. 1925 age 82 years also Bridget OBRIEN died 28 March 1919 age 68 years. Mary O'Brien was her sister.
Bridget's parents were Stephen O'Brien and Julia Keneally their family being John, Mary, Tom, Nell, Bridget and Pat.
John married a widow and lived in Ireland.
Mary, Mrs Kyne, was married in Ireland, after her son Patsy was born, she and her husband, Michael, decided to come to New Zealand on the Rhea Sylvia - Bristol (14 Jan 1861) to Lyttelton (2 May 1861) leaving the young son with her mother, Julia. After settling in New Zealand she was anxious to have her son with her. So her sister at the age of 17 (age 20 on the passenger list), Bridget, accompanied the seven year old boy to Canterbury, New Zealand. They travelled on the Blue Jacket arriving Lyttelton 1867. Mrs Kyne, after being widowed later became Mrs Nolan, lived in Temuka all her life.
Tom married in New Zealand lived in Christchurch, his wife and family all died young.
Nell, Mrs Birmingham lived in Ireland.
Bridget married Patrick O'Brien, in Temuka.
Pat died unmarried in New Zealand.
This information was obtained from David L Cavanagh who obtained it from C. O'Brien of Te Wae Wae,  Southland and W. Watson of Invercargill and prior to 28 February 1994.

Carolyn Ford 6 June 2009
Pierson/Pearson: James and Sarah

Migration : County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Sarah, James' wife came on the 'David G Fleming' in 1863 with four of her sons. William, Joseph, Jacob and Isaac. James her husband must have been here already with three sons (James?, Thomas and John) and possibly a daughter Sarah. Unable to find their immigration details (ship or landing info).
James owned Kilmore Farm in Geraldine. Sarah inherited the place on his death in 1872. At some stage she moved to Christchurch and owned three more properties there. She died in 1896 at Holly Road, St. Albans, CHCH and the farm in Geraldine was auctioned one month later.

NB: The family had an annoying habit of using both spellings of their name which has made research interesting!

The headstone was photographed July 2014. by Bev. E. at the Avonside cemetery, Christchurch.
Sacred to the memory of John Pierson late of Kilmore Farm, Geraldine who departed this life Sept. 25th 1877 aged 31 years. Deeply regretted. Gone to heaven to rest.
Also of Sarah Pierson mother of the above who died at St. Alban's June 10th 1896 aged 87.
Also Isaac Pierson died April 10th 1928 aged 74. 

David L Cavanagh, Adelaide, 31 May 2009
I am looking for anything on David William Melville Webster (1899 - 1981) and his wife Myra nee Blacklock (1904 - 1957), they may have had two children David and Dorothy. David William may also have been the mayor of Waimate at some stage. His mother Catherine Collins Webster nee Cavanagh (1871 - 1953) was buried with David at Waimate Cemetery, his father David Johnson Webster (1870 - 1924) and only sister, Mary Ellen Webster (1903 - 1921) are both buried at Featherston Cemetery. I would be grateful for any information on this family at all.

Russell Thorne 24 May 2009
I am researching Robert Wakely from Musbury, Devonshire, England who arrived with his second wife Ann Eliza Thorne on the Mary Shepherd at Lyttelton on 20 Aug 1973 from London. He married four times, the last two in Christchurch to Susan Older (1877) and Kate Cookson (1894). There were no known children from the last two marriages. From 1893 he was involved in the wool industry as a fellmonger in the Winchester, Temuka and Geraldine areas until his death and burial in Geraldine in 1908. I do not know what happened to his last wife Kate Cookson.

Obituary:
Robert Wakeley (1839-1908)

The remains of the late Robert Wakeley were interred in the Geraldine cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, the Rev A B Todd officiating at the graveside, while many brethren of the Masonic Order were present to pay their last tribute. Deceased, who was well known among the farming community by whom he was highly respected for his upright dealing, was a native of Devonshire and he came to New Zealand in 1868 (see Note 1) and went to Rangiora and was engaged in the wool business until 1882, when he came to Orari, where he stayed for 11 years. He shifted to other parts of South Canterbury and finally settled in Geraldine. He had always been a very active man and was pursuing his business as a wool broken (see Note 2) until a fortnight before his death. He was twice (see Note 3) married, and leaves by his first (see Note 4) wife two sons and a daughter.

Note 1 Robert Wakely (or Wakeley) arrived in Lyttelton with his first wife Ann Eliza Thorne and three children on 20 August 1873 aboard the "Mary Shepherd."
Note 2 Should read "broker"
Note 3 Robert Wakely was married four times
Note 4 should read second
Marriages:
    Mary Ann Meech 1860 Devonshire, UK
    Ann Eliza Thorne 1866 Gloucestershire, UK
    Susan Older 1877 Christchurch
    Kate Cookson 1894 Christchurch

Russell Thorne      July 19 2001
WAKELY: I am searching for any contact with descendents of Robert Wakely. Born 1839 Devon, UK and died in Geraldine on 1 Aug 1908. He was married to Kate Cookson on 19 Jul 1894 and settled near Geraldine. Immigrated in 1873 on the 'Mary Shepherd' with his first wife Ann Eliza Thorne and three children.

Ian Brown  8  Feb. 2008
Query - any information on George Brown, arrived in Waimate in 1867 and died ??, aged 79. Lived (& had a farm) at Deep Creek. Obituary was in local paper (date unknown). Emigrated from Kildare, Ireland

Russell Dickson 6 Jan. 2008
I am looking for information on the Neilson family that lived in Timaru, going by the Timaru elect Rolls they lived at 1 North St 1935-1938, I have been told that this may have been a Hospital. The Names that I am looking for is Robert, Walter, William, Ellen, Janet Neilson was there mother as far as I know, at the time Janet died in 1939 she had 3 sons and 4 daughters, 1 daughter married a J Duncan, 1 married Samuel Edward Dickson my grandfather, can any one help me as I have come to a stand still on this family.

Ron Payne 17 Nov. 2007
I am trying to find any information on a Brien family who emigrated from Ireland to Canterbury between 1869 and 1880. A James and Margaret Brien were married in County Kerry in 1869. A daughter, Mary was born at Hilton/Kakahu, near Fairlie in March 1881. In the late 1800s the family had adopted the surname as O'Brien.

Heather Large 11 Nov. 2007
MACINTOSH - MORTON. I am looking for details of John Macintosh b. 1823, died 2 March 1882, Timaru. Married to Margaret Morton born 1842 died 27 Oct.1909 in Timaru. They were the grandparents of my grandmother Rita Tui Macintosh born Timaru 11 Dec.1892.

Malcolm Motion 6 July 2007
BURGESS: I am searching for further information on the Burgess Family. Specifically James Burgess of Opihi Gorge District. He may be a brother to John Burgess who was a Hotellier/Postmaster at Burkes Creek.

Suzanne Wilson 6 June 2007
CUNNINHAM : David Cunningham and wife Mary Stewart (think Stewart was a christian name) Cunningham's daughter, Jeanne was born in Waihi, Geraldine, South Canterbury in 1868. David was a sawyer / bushman, who by 1872, according to electoral roll records is residing in Waimate Bush. Jeanne married John Wilson (Irish) in 1887 and settled in Waimate. All the above are buried in the Waimate Cemetery. I'd be grateful for any relevant information about the Cunningham family, to help with my family history research.

Joan Hicks 25 May,2007
I am researching the CUMMING family in Waimate.
George and Mary Ann nee Anderson arrived in Lyttelton on the Apelles in 1874 with sons Alfred Edwin, d:1883, Clement,-m-Ngaire Pinnell, Edgar, Arthur-m-Eliza Anne Lewis and Ernest-m-Emily Maud Wheeler. I know that Edgar returned to the UK and married there and have some info on the other sons. If anyone has any info on Ernests' son, Walter Ernest, who married Mary G.V. Petrie of Invercargill or of Ernest's daughters Kathleen Maude Cumming - m - Raymond James Dunkley 1936 and Muriel Mary Cumming-m-David Mark Lane 1936. I am also interested in any info on the CLARIDGE family in Waimate i.e.: Thomas and Emily nee Bradley. There dau. Etta -m- H.E.Cumming,1924 Wte. Any info would be most welcome. Thanks.

George Stonehouse 30 April 2007
STONEHOUSE: I am researching the Stonehouse family. My great grandfather William Thomas Osborne Stonehouse (b. 1837) apparently jumped ship at Lyttelton or Akaroa 1859? Possibly with Robert John Taylor. He eventually ended up in Waihi Bush / Geraldine and in 1869 married Mary McKee (b. 1849 Belfast, Ireland) at St Marys Church, Geraldine. Robert and Susan Taylor were the witnesses. He was in the Geraldine Rifles, owned a section in Geraldine, possibly worked making tarpaulins (had been a sailmaker), and belonged to Oddfellows Lodge. I believe that he was born in England. May have been with the Royal Navy. I would like any information about where he was born and what ship he came to NZ on, and also any information about Mary McKee who died at the age of 40, having had seven children.

George Stonehouse September 29, 2008
Update: I am still looking for information about William Thomas Osborn Stonehouse. He arrived at Lyttelton on 16 Nov 1859 as a crew member of the Zealandia and jumped ship with Robert Taylor. He eventually settled in Geraldine where he ran a ten-making / tarpaulin business.

Barry Pinnell 14 April 2007
PINNELL: My great grandfather (Elisha Pinnell), was a resident in Waimate, from 1875-1919. He married Amelia Maberley in 1879. I know most on the Pinnell family he and Amelia raised but I do not have any knowledge on the ship that Elisha arrived on into New Zealand. There was a "suggestion" that he arrived at Moeraki (North Otago). From his marriage certificate, that he had been in Waimate for four years before his marriage (1879). But as to where he had been to beforehand, I just have no idea! They are buried in Waimate's old cemetery. Elisha was 68 years old when he died 21 July 1919.  Born 23 Feb. 1853. Can any one assist me in anyway at all please, regarding Elisha's "possible" arrival port, many thanks for anything you able to suggest or inform me of anywhere else that "may" be able to help? I did not find his name on the 1871 census for England but he is on the 1861 census in Wiltshire.

Mary Garden, March 25 2007
GARDEN: My grandfather GARDEN, Robert and his two daughters, Rose and May, sailed to N.Z. from Scotland in 1914, just before the outbreak of WWII. Robert and daughters settled in Timaru where Robert built an Mineral Waters (Cordial) Factory. He died in 1925.

Then I have my grandmother Rebecca GARDEN (she had separated from Robert 1912) coming to NZ in 1921. During the war they had lived in Manchester. Don't know which port in England/Scotland they left from. Rebecca brought out her two youngest children: (my father) Oscar and Violet. All I have is them arriving on the SS Ormonde at Melbourne in May 1921. Do not know which ship they then caught to NZ, but they first lived in Dunedin.

Malcom Walker  22 March 2007
WALKER: I am researching William Walker of Orari. William Walker was born in London around 1868 and migrated to Southbridge near Christchurch. He was a blacksmith by trade. He married Margaret Webster of Leeston in 1890. Sometime after 1893 the family moved to Orari where Margaret died in 1905. She is buried at Timaru Cemetery. William died in 1946, aged 78, and is buried along with Margaret in Timaru. The only two children that I am aware of were Emily Catherine Walker, and Florence Colbourne Walker. In the latter part of her life Florence lived in Barnard Street in Timaru. I do not know where they are buried.

As far as I am aware Florence never married. She had a son Clarence Walter Walker who was placed under foster care with Bob and Rachael Webb of Woodbury. I would appreciate any information on any of the people named above. Also if any one knows anything about William Stuart.

Kayte Saunders 1st Dec. 2006
SAUNDERS: I am looking for my ancestors who lived all their life in Pleasant Point as I did. My Grandfather George Saunders arrived on the ship Orari at Lyttelton on 14th May 1880. Also my grandmother arrived Lyttelton with her father David, Anderson, 28th Dec. 1851 on the ship Fatima. She was Mary Ann Cameron Anderson. My father was Ainslie George Saunders.

Kristian Baxter Posted 7 Nov. 2006
CATLOW: Looking for Catlow's from 1863 - present
I am researching William Catlow, his wife Martha and their son Blackburn Catlow who arrived in Timaru 13th October 1863 after 115 days at sea on the Victory. William Catlow was born in Colne, Lancashire, 1834 and died in Timaru in 1910. His son Blackburns details are below;
Blackburn CATLOW, born 26th November 1861, 1 Morpeth Street, Habergham Eaves, Burnley, Lancashire, England

Father, William CATLOW
Occupation of father, Coal Miner
Mother, Martha CATLOW (formerly SAGER)

Blackburn Catlow died June 1899 and is buried at Timaru cemetery. Blackburn had at least one son who was killed in WW1
CATLOW, Thomas Segar, Private of the Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F. 2nd Bn.
Died 14th June 1917 - Son of Clara Nicholls (formerly Catlow), of 66, Cole St., Masterton, Wellington, and the late Blackburn Catlow.

I also believe this is another descendent but I have yet to prove this.
CATLOW  Harold Norman Catlow, Private, New Zealand Infantry, 23rd Bn. Died 15th July 1942 - Son of George Catlow and of Mary Emma Catlow (nee Black), of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand; husband of Beatrice Aroah Ruby Margaret Catlow, of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Bronwyn Laird 9 August  2006
MAWHINNEY-McWHINNEY  - I am researching my grandmother's family. Her father William Mawhinney (also spelt McWhinney) arrived in New Zealand from Leitrim in Ireland circa 1876 and married Ellen OGDEN, the daughter of Richard & Isabella Ogden (nee TAYLOR) in Timaru in 1884. Their three eldest children were born in Winchester - George, Richard & May. They were followed by Bella, William & Lucy. William (Snr) died in 1895. In 1897 Ellen married a widower Charles Sydney WATERS and had a further 6 children - Mary Ann, Gladys, Sydney Charles, Charles, an un-named infant & Arthur before she died in 1904. I would be very interested in learning more about this families history and hearing from any descendants. I have learned that Bella Mawhinney was married to Ellis EAGLESTONE, Lucy McWhinney to Ernest JENKINS, Mary Ann Waters to Robert McCONNOCHIE and Gladys Waters to Albert GRAY, George McWhinney enlisted with the AIF & was killed in action in 1917, but I have been unable to locate any information on the other sons. My own grandmother May McWhinney married Albert WELCH. If any of these names are familiar I would love to hear from you.

Lisa Bullock  30 June  2006
BARKER  SHERRAT -  I'm trying to find out if there is a connection between My Henry Barker who lived in Buchanans Paddock from the 1870s until he died in 1887 and a another Barker, Elizabeth, who was married to Alfred Sherrat and also living in Buchanans paddock around the later part of that time but certainly in 1889. I would like to hear from anyone researching their Sherrat connections who may be able to give me the answer.

Fred Murray 24 May  2006
THOMPSON - I am interested in the music/piano business of Milner & Thompson in Stafford St, Timaru about 1916. The business was started in Christchurch by Robert Henry Thompson, my great great grandfather.  I have just seen a reference to the Timaru business on your website. Never heard of it in Timaru before, so I'm really curious.

Karen Curtis 7 May 2006
WELLS - I am looking for information on my Great Grandparents Charles and Sarah Wells {nee Major} Sarah Major arrived at Timaru aboard the Victory in 1863 but efforts to find Charles entry have been fruitless. They were married at Geraldine in 1868. Any information on these people would be very helpfull. They are both buried at the Timaru cemetery. Charles died in 1901 with the apparent age at 67 but this is not known for certain. His death cert. states he was a carpenter. Many thanks for any advise or help in my search.

Timaru Herald - Marriage
January 18, 1868, at Geraldine, by the Rev. J. B. Richardson, Charles Wells, to Sarah Major.

Patrick Cunningham 6 Oct.  2005
CUNNINGHAM - I am seeking information on my grandfather, also Patrick Cunningham (1857  1934). He was born in Broomfield, Co. Monaghan, Ireland and emigrated to NZ about 1873. I have searched in the National Archives in Wellington, but not been able to find a record of his passage or arrival. Family tradition says that he worked on the railway, suffered a leg injury and received compensation (or a pension). He certainly had a limp in later life. In 1876 he bought land (lot 42) at the auction of the Kingsdown estate. He paid 6-10-0 per acre. On 30 June 1887 he bought 159 acres (section 1106) from Sir Edward Stafford (former PM of NZ) at Hallswell, Landsdowne. This land fronts on to Leadleys, Taitapu and McDrurys roads today. He is recorded there as farmer in the NZ Directory for 1885/6 and 1887/8. He is also recorded as winning prizes for horses at Canterbury Show in 1886 and 1887. Patrick returned to Ireland in 1889 and sold his NZ land at some later date. He married in Ireland in 1891.

Elizabeth Evans-Rennett  13th September 2005
RENNETT / ROBERTSON
I am trying to trace back to any of the RENNETT line. Especially those who are descended from
* Henry (Harry) RENNETT born of Essex England 1864 and his wife -
* Florence Amelda (or Almeda) Teresa RENNETT (nee Secord) born of Riccarton NZ 30 January 1862 died in Waipawa 1929.

* Thomas RENNETT - Killed in Gallipoli 25/4/1915. He is listed as having a wife -
* Mrs T RENNETT C/- Mrs W Murray, Telegraph Office, Timaru, Canterbury.

Also
* David ROBERTSON of Ayreshire Scotland -left 1856 for 3 years in Australia then on to NZ. and his wife -
* Maria Fairbrother ORCHARD of Polesworth England who arrived on the Joseph Fletcher (London to Lyttelton 1856). They lived in Kaiapoi, Canterbury.

As the RENNETT name is fairly uncommon it is most likely they are all connected, so please contact me if you have any information or require any also.
Thanks
Liz,
Napier, Hawkes Bay.

TAYLOR Mrs Sonya Gatfield Sydney, Australia  28 July 2005
I am researching the Taylor family. Mr Robert John Taylor was born in December 1837 in Westminster, London. He died in Geraldine on 5th October 1925 aged 88 years. Robert Taylor arrived at Lyttelton on "Zealandia" on November 12th, 1859. He married Susan Harriet Barwell in Christchurch on 18th February 1861. Mr Taylor settled in Geraldine shortly after his marriage and built its first hotel. He also bought a team of bullocks at the first show held in Timaru  he used his bullock team to freight supplies to the Mackenzie Country. He established successful sawmilling and storekeeping businesses at Woodbury and Peel Forest. He acquired property after the Waihi Bush was cut out and farmed on the NW slope of the Geraldine Downs. He lived in retirement at Raukapuka.
I am his great granddaughter.

AVERIS Carole Smith June 26 2005
The family immigrated to Kingsdown, just south of Timaru, from Oxfordshire. Their surname Averis was spelt EAVERIES on the "Ballochmyle"  passenger list. Daniel and Emma Averis and the Nind families went to Timaru on the Comerang, a coastal vessel, from Lyttelton in June 1874. Quite a few of the families went on to Waimate such as the Chamberlain and Bird families and they were friends of the family. Carole has donated copies of her book Averis: from Oxfordshire to Kingsdown and Beyond (1991) to the Timaru Library and the museum a couple of years ago.

CLARKSON     Yvonne Lynskey  14 June 2005
I am seeking any information on the CLARKSON family who lived in the Fairlie area. In particular I am looking for descendents of Frederick William CLARKSON and Mary Rachel CLARKSON (nee MILLER) who were married in 1905. I believe they had a large family and they may have had the following children: George Herbert, Ivy Rachel, Robert, Andrew Arthur, Harry, Leila Georgina, Dora Evelyn, Reta Elizabeth, Alexander Aaron and Elizabeth June. I would love to hear from anyone who had a connection to any of these people so I can find a link to my relatives or eliminate names from my search.

PIERCE    Jan Cameron     May 19 2005
I am tracing the descendents of John PIERCE & Eliza Ann (nee Bushell) and William PIERCE and his wife Catherine (nee Aiano), brothers who came to Lyttelton in 1855 and 1859 respectively. I have approx 500 living descendents. If you think you might be a descendent I'd love to hear from you. I am also looking for descendents of Stephen PIERCE & Helen (nee Roche) who lived at Kakahu in late 1880s-1940s.  John Pierce came to Lyttelton on the "Cashmere" arriving 23 Oct. 1855. William Pierce came on the "Victory" arriving 14 May 1859. They came from Kent. There were two Pierce families in South Canterbury  one my lot and the other came from Ireland, no relation.

CRONIN / DALY  [email protected]     11 April 2005
I am looking for any information on Matthew Daly m. to Nora Cronin and the rest of the family. Specifically Nora's grandparents and father back. Nora is the sister of my Great-grandfather, William Cronin. Son of Patrick and Johanna Fitzgerald. I know that William, Nora and their brother Timothy migrated to New Zealand, and Willie bought the Temuka Hotel, but returned to Ireland in 1906. William married his wife, Mary Murphy, and had six children; one of them, a son, named Patrick Cronin. He migrated from Ireland to the USA in approx. 1927 and then married Hazel Scott. They had seven children. If anyone has any extra information, it would be appreciated.

McINNES   Beverley McInnes     23 Feb. 2005
Migration route: Glasgow to New Zealand
Vessel: "Wild Deer" wrecked on the coast of Ireland (January 1883)
"Caroline" from Rothesay Scotland February 1883
Arrival port & year: Port Chalmers - May 1883
Settled in Milton Otago

John McInnes was married to Mary McCallum in 1861 and took four children with them to NZ. They were accompanied by John's brother Neil McInnes on the voyage. John lived all his life in Milton and worked as a labourer. One of John's prized horses "Dexter" was requisitioned to go to South Africa during the Boer War. After 29 years in NZ he died in 1929 and was buried in the Milton Fairfax Cemetery. His wife Mary died in 1918 at Milton after several years of illness. She is also buried in the Fairfax cemetery along with Neil who died in 1891.

Sons, Malcolm, Daniel and John all moved away from the area initially however Christina (Teenie) married James Meek and remained in the Milton area until her death in 1930. John became an expert wool classer working in the Wool Scouring works at Winchester. Eventually after the death of the owner McCaskill, John purchased the works which he ran until his death in 1919.

Malcolm worked at both the Winchester Wool Scouring works and later at the Bruce Woollen mills shortly after its establishment where he was employed for more than 25 years. After working in the drying room of the Mills, he became extremely dehydrated and died from illness incurred in 1923.

Daniel married Lucy Harriet Benbow of Ladymore Farm in Waitohi, in 1891, the Benbow's being another pioneer family in the district. Daniel owned a timber and joinery business and was a well known builder in the area and managed such constructions as the Dominion Theatre and shops, The Salvation Army halls, the Catholic school, Bank of Australasia, Presbyterian Sunday School, the Empire Hotel, and many other buildings in Temuka, Timaru, Fairlie, Waimate, Pleasant Point and the Geraldine districts. His finest house was a two storey brick and wood Adross House which was between Geraldine and Winchester. Daniel was Mayor of Temuka between 1907 and 1912 but was a Councillor for 24 years serving extensive terms as member of Chairman of such organisations as the South Canterbury Hospital Board. Daniel died in 1932 at his residence in Denmark St and is buried in the Temuka Cemetery. Lucy and Daniel had four children and she died at the home of one of her sons in Auckland in 1955 at the age of 86.

Julie 18 Oct. 2004
ESPLIN, John McDavid b. 1867 Dunedin m. Ethel Felton Pepper b. 1879 in Kent, England. They settled in Mt. Cook Road, Fairlie about 1909. John initially worked on the Cobb & Co. coaches delivering mail to Mount Cook and its surrounds, then Canterbury Farmers. They left the area about the 1930s and eventually died in Christchurch in the 1960s. Children: Edward George ESPLIN b. 1918 ( my father) and his sister Mavis Ethel ESPLIN b.1915 were both born in Fairlie. My father Edward (Ted) attended the local school and worked as a roustabout on a number of large sheep stations in and around the MacKenzie Country. Mavis married George Clarkson, who was a Hydatids Inspector for the area and although widowed for sometime, still resides in Ayr Street, Fairlie.
My contact address: [email protected]
Or 292 State Highway 16, R.D. 2, Kumeu 1250, Auckland

Pauline Millward 14 June 2004
EDDINGTON & COSGROVE: I am researching both families in Waimate and Timaru areas: My greatgrandfather John Eddington came to Port Chalmers with wife Mary (Hughes) and baby daughter Jean 1874. Other children born
were: Henry, Alexander, James, Margaret, Mary, Johanna, Jessie, Harold. 
John was a butcher died 1827 in Waimate he was a butcher. Any ancestors might still be in the area.

Michael Cosgrove b. Tipperary came to NZ from Limerick possibly 1870s. Married Maryann (Hoare) in Timaru in 1883 and their spent remaining years in Timaru. My grandfather was William. His siblings were Edward Thomas, John, Dan, Michael, Mae, and Eileen.

Kevin Morris 8 June 2004
MORRIS: I am seeking any information on the MORRIS family who arrived at Lyttelton in Sept. 1879 on the Waitangi and then settled in Te Muka. The family was Isaac and Mary Anna (nee JOLLIFFE) MORRIS and their 8 children. Arthur, Augusta, Roland, Dudley, Ernest, Frederick, Isaac, Sydney. 

Lynne Hyde 14 Jan. 2004.
THEW:  I am researching Thew in the South Canterbury area. Robert Thew married Susan Harris c.1874 and farmed in Orari Gorge from 1870s then retired to Geraldine. John Thew married Ethel Lang and farmed at Peel Forest from c.1900 to 1958 when he died and is buried in Arundel Cemetery. John and Ethel had four daughters, and a son Terrence who settled in Hawkes Bay.  Herbert Thew married Mary Heney and lived in the Gapes Valley area and possibly other areas around Geraldine. They had a son named Cedric. Am interested in hearing from any of their descendants. Marion Thew married D. Livingstone. After his death married E. O'Donahue. Herbert Edward Thew married Mary Heney. The names connected with the Thew family are Ashby, Heney, Robertson.

Michael Browne 9 Jan. 2004
ROBERTS: I'm doing a research on my grandfather.  I have come to a stand still on the name of his father and mother. The information I have is as follows.... My grandfather name is Frank Davis Percy Roberts, born Waimate 10 Oct. 1900 his sister Edith Kathleen Roberts was born at The Hook, Waimate on 5th April 1898. Their father (need name) died when Frank was about three  years old their mother Amelia Roberts remarried to Mr ? James.  What would be appreciated is the full names of Frank and Edith's father, mother and possibly Mr ? James. 

Carlene  15 December 2003 
DOMINION Hotel, Timaru. I believe the first proprietor of the Dominion was J REILLY. Would like to know where this Reilly fits in to our family. Our line was John REILLY master of the first Anglican school in Timaru. Our REILLY family arrived 1859 on the "Cresswell" from England. 

Lisa Bullock  18 Oct. 2003
BARKER / CROMIE: Henry Barker (b abt 1840 in Leicestershire) and his wife Mary Grace (nee STACEY) came to Timaru from Lyttelton around 1878 -1880.  I know of 11 definite children 
1. Mary Louisa b 1866 Lyttelton married 11 Dec 1883 in Chch to Jonas Arsh Perrson (both were living in Ashburton at the time) but may have moved to Timaru
2. John Daniel Henry b 1869 Lyttelton
3. George Alfred b 1871 Lyttelton
4. Samuel Eneas b 1873 Lyttelton
5. William Joseph b 1875 Lyttelton
6. Harriet Emma b 1876 Lyttelton
7. Ernest Edward b 1880 Timaru married Emily Loisa Beere their children: 
            Henry Robert b 26 Jun 1900
            Lily Maude b 23 May 1903 m Charles Gosney 1921
            Ernest Cecil b 21 Jul 1907
            Muriel Emily b 12 Jun 1910
            Leslie Walter b 8 Mar 1913 died 19 June 1981 bd Tim Cem with son Les who d 28 Jul 1968 age 28. Lesley Walters wife called Doris, Mamie Phyllis b 18 Jul 1914
8. Lily Maud b 1882 Timaru died 1903 Timaru? bd Timaru
9. Herbert b 1884 Timaru d 1966 bd Timaru married Margaret Jane (possibly Winters)
10. Cecil Stacey b 1885 Timaru
11. Henry b 1887 Timaru my gr-grandfather d 1972 married Mary Grindell of Geraldine

Mary Grace Stacey-Barker married again to John Cromie of Kingsdown, Timaru on 10 Oct 1892 John died 1902 or 3. Mary, Henry and John are all buried in the Timaru Cemetery. I would love to contact some Living Barker relatives!

Carlene  15 Oct. 2003
BUCK and BURNETT
Looking for Buck family possibly Rangitata Island after 1881.
Thomas Burnett married Eliza Ellen Buck
Any info would be great,  thank you, Carlene.

Peter and Kirsty May    3 Sept. 2003
CONSTABLE: I am looking for any information about my husband's great-grandmother and her family. Her name was Mary Constable and she was born at Kakahu Hills in 1877. She married an Irish man, John Blaney Taggart. Their third child was born in Balclutha in 1907. That is all I know.

[email protected]  1 Sept. 2003
ESPLIN - John McDavid Esplin moved to the Fairlie area between 1909 - 1915. It is believed he worked on the Cobb & Co. coaches between Fairlie and Mount Cook. His wife was Ethel Felton (nee Pepper). Their daughter, Mavis Clarkson (nee Esplin) still lives in Fairlie. Their son, Edward George Esplin also lived in this area from 1918 until the 1920's. He worked on a number of sheep stations during this time. Any information on any family members would be most appreciated.

G. Mosley 14 Nov. 2002
MOSLEY: I am interested in any information relevant to my grandfather George Ernald Montaque Mosley's family history. Grandfather was born in Fairlie Creek in 1885. See the Canadian Army attestation certificate dated 1916.  I do not have any information other than a possible connection to a New Zealand writer, Montaque Mosley. Any direction or links would be greatly appreciated.    

Alison de Caen   1 Nov. 1 2002
CLARKSON / BALLANTYNE Looking for information on Ada Clarkson born 1871 at Ashwick Flat and married in 1899 at Silverstream to James A. Ballantyne. She died in 1903 leaving behind two little girls who were brought up by their uncle Ninian Ballantyne and his wife Jeanne.

Meryle Hawkins  23 September 2002 
DEPREE: I am looking for the information on the Depree family who came to NZ on the ship "Apelles" in January 1874 from England. Arrived Lyttelton 5 May.  They have lived in South Canterbury all their lives except my mother's father who came to Auckland from Wellington. There must be some descendants still living in the area and I would love some information. One of my mother's uncles married a Caroline Frame. 

Eliz Fox    14 Apr 2001 BRADDING: Looking for info on John Bradding and his wife Elizabeth (nee Geary), who arrived on the "Apelles" on 5/5/1874 at Lyttelton, accompanied by their three year old daughter Phoebe. They lived at Sandytown, went on to have a further eight or so children who all attended Wamataitai School. Any info would be appreciated. Sandie Town was a suburban area of Timaru.

Pauline 8 April 2002
OMELVENA: My great Grandfather and Grandmother, arrived in Timaru in 1914 having sailed from Larne on the RMS Rotorua. They brought six children with them and the youngest was born in Timaru. My great grandfather's name was William Omelvena, he was born in Drumcrow, Ireland in 1874, married Catherine nee McMullen in Broughshane 1897. William died Timaru Hospital 27 November 1961 and Catherine died Timaru Hospital 5 January 1953. The children were Agnes, James, John, Herbert, David, Henry and William. My Grandfather was John he married Myrtle McKenzie in 1926. The O'Melvena family arrived on the Rotorua in Wellington on the 7th January 1914. Reference: Archives New Zealand 

Lorraine James 7 March 2002
WARD - Eliza Ann nee' Wooding later married Spencer - Matthew after her 1st husband J Ward died - don't know ship they arrived on.  Lived in Christchurch / Ashburton & Geraldine area 1862 - 1920 

IRVINE - Sarah nee' Wooding married to John Irvine.  Publican at Orari 1866 - 1868 then Ashburton Arms 1868.  Sarah later married Charles Bishop of Winchester and died at Timaru in old peoples home 1916

 

WOODING - John married Elizabeth Wadsworth 1869 at Geraldine and died 1877.  Publican of Orari Hotel 1866 to 1876.  He could have burnt that Hotel down. 

 

WADSWORTH - Thomas 1858 - 1888 immigrated with 2nd wife Harriet Wooding and children to 1st marriage.

MaryAnn Wadsworth married Charles Bishop

  "              William died 15yrs old

  "              Alfred John married Alice Johnson

  "              Elizabeth married John Wooding

  "              Emma died 22yrs at Nelson in 1877

Thomas was Licencee of Accommodation House at Tekapo 1863 and Orari 1866 - 1876

Would like any information I can get on these families

Wendy Smith      23 Feb. 2002
SMITH: David and Maria married in Dunedin, Otago, NZ on 09 Oct 1856 and they moved to Waimate soon after this. The had two children. David (1858) and Jane (1861). Maria died in 1869 and David SMITH remarried Sarah SOLE nee BASON 21 Jun 1873. Sarah and David had one son together Robert David SMITH born 05 Jul 1872. David SMITH (Jnr b1858) moved to Southland, NZ and married Ellen O'BRIEN and became my Great Grandfather. The had nine children. Jane Smith (1861) married Alfred William Pollard and they also moved south and have twelve children. Robert stayed in South Canterbury and married Mary (Maude) KENT in 1904. The had four children.  know that David (c1833) was alive in 1873 to marry Sarah and when she died in 1896 if her death certificate is correct it said David had predeceased her.  I have searched and searched for a death of David SMITH in those years but without any linking information I have been unable to say exactly where he died and therefore I am still unaware of where we hail from.  I did find 15 David Smith that died 'normally' in that period and with so little information we can't say for sure. The joys of having a special name. There is a copy of the family tree book I wrote in Jun 1996 at the Waimate Museum.

Joseph Hart BESWARICK m. and Florence Violet Furby in 1899. Children:
1900 Beswarick Charles Hart m. Charlotte Lillas in 1929
1902 Beswarick Joseph Walter m. Mabel Rosa GRANDI in 1938
1904 Beswarick George Albert m. Margaret Freda FISHER in 1934
1905 Beswarick Alice Helena m. Owen BURNIE in 1928
1907 Beswarick Myrtle Irene
1910 Beswarick Walter Thomas m. Elma Georgina CONE in 1939
1912 Beswarick Florence Rita

Mr. William Henry Hunt, born in 1854, in Devonshire, England. He was apprenticed as a bricklayer, and worked at his trade until coming to Lyttelton in the ship St. Lawrence, in 1874. He went to Timaru on his arrival, and has been a settler in the district ever since. Mr. Hunt was married, in 1874, to a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Beswarick, of Cornwall, and has five sons and three daughters surviving. Ref. Cyclopedia of New Zealand 1903

Sarah Beswarick married Frederick James Brasell Timaru Herald 12/12/1907
Edward John married Rita Florence Beswarick in 1940 Timaru Herald 20 April 1940

Russell Dickson      July 18 2001
NEILSON: I am researching the Neilson family from Timaru, William married Janet Binn in Scotland and come to New Zealand with their children, lived at 1 North Street in 1938, their was Robert, Walter, William, Ellen.  One daughter Christina married Samuel Edward Dickson (my grandfather) in 1918 in Oamaru, Christina born 1889 Scotland. In 1928 Janet lived at 5 Cross St, 1925 lived at 13 Oxford St with Robert, Christina and Samuel lived at 1 North St. The name Duncan comes into the family some where. Can any one help as I would like to find more information so I can continue on with this family. 

John Carswell  Taree, NSW   July 8 2001
STEVENSON: I am researching a family of Stevenson's who emigrated from Renfrewshire, Scotland in 1863 and were at "Carswell Levels". The father William died in 1922 aged 77. There were 3 sons and 2 daughters Margaret & Mary who were at the "Levels" in 1923. 

Beverly Rice    June 24 2001
DIX / TRAVES: I am researching the family of Arthur Percival Dix, b about 1860 and his wife Alice Ann Traves, b. 1868. They lived in St Andrews, Otaio and Timaru.  Dix and Traves were m. 1886; children Percy, b 1887; George, b. 1888; William Ernest, b. 1889; Eva, b. 1893; Lucy, b. 1895; Gerald, b.1897; Edward Martin, b. 1900; Gilbert, b. 1902; Charles, b. 1903.

M. Iversen      April 7, 2001
FOSTER: I am looking for name of the ship my Great grandmother and G. grandfather came on and whether they came out as a married couple. Their names were:
Joseph Foster b late 1840 in Ireland? Died 16.2.1895 in Timaru. Was a wood & coal merchant in Timaru. We think he came from County Armagh in Ireland.  My Great grandmothers name was Sarah Jane Foster (nee McLelland or McClelland) The info we had was they came out on the "Carisbrook Castle" but we cannot find a record of it visiting the region. 

Russell Thorne    1 Dec. 2000
DRURY:  Looking for any information about Maurice Drury who worked at the Sables Brewery in Timaru in the 1870's. I am interested to know if anyone knows anything about one of the early breweries in Timaru called Sables? A family member called Maurice Drury was employed in the brewery shortly after he arrived from Ireland. Any info?

Vicky Hornbrook    AUS    23 Oct. 2000
HORNBROOK: I am researching the arrival of my ancestors Alfred & William Hornbrook. I believe Alfred arrived on the ORIENTIAL in 1840 via Wellington, (the Hornbrook name appears on the Pioneers Memorial on Petone Beach, Wellington) followed by his brother William (to whom I am related) on the TOBAGO via Wellington > Lyttleton in 1842. His wife Margaret Hornbrook nee Smith may have arrived in 1854 on the DESPATCH. A sister Louise Augusta Hornbrook (m. Parkerson) arrived in Timaru in 1853 or 54 on the KAKA. The Hornbrook's settled at Arowhenua Homestead at the Levels, Sth Canterbury where the 1st migrant child, Richards William, was born on 17/11/1854 to William. I am looking for shipping and passenger records for any of the above, although I have found a Mr & Mrs Hornbrook & children arrived in Lyttleton on the COLUMBUS on 24 Jan 1852. My father is Girvan Ross Hornbrook one of 7. Born in Dunedin raised in Timaru, his father being Ernest Edward Hornbrook 1891 - 1940, son of Edward Alexander 1857 - 1923, 2nd son of William. If anyone can help me with any type of information regarding the early Hornbrook Family it would be greatly received. I can be contacted on  [email protected]  or  [email protected]

"In 1853 Major Hornbrook took up Arowhenua run of 30,00 acres. His brother William managed this for him and Mrs. Wm. Hornbrook was the first white women to settle in South Canterbury." Daybreak in Geraldine County pg. 35

"14. A. Hornbrook (name of applicant) 3 July 1851 Timaru. Northward, the river Oapi [Orari]; eastward, the native reserve at Horowenua; southward, the river Opihi; westward the back range of hill" Gillespie, Oliver A. South Canterbury A Record of Settlement. pg 446

"No. 30 William Hornbrook, of Mount Pleasant, 22,500 acres. Bounded on the north by the Orangitairi, on the east by run (No. 27) granted to Richard Westenra, on the south by the river Opihi and westerly between the Orangitairi, and the Opihi. Licence fee paid on 16 oct. 1854 and stocked with 1,000 sheep by Dec." Gillespie, Oliver A. South Canterbury A Record of Settlement. pg 446

Kevin O'Donnell     AUS     27 Aug 2000
WALLIS / COOKE:  Looking for my ancestors Benjarmin WALLIS married Esther or Hariet COOKE. Marriage and arrival details in New Zealand unknown. Had a son James Frederick WALLIS 25 Jan.1874 at TIMARU.

Patricia Brown    NSW, AUS     21 Aug 2000
BELLAMY / WELLS: I am looking for information about the descendants of Robert Alfred WELLS who married Eliza Carter BELLAMY c1900 ( I have not yet found a marriage record) and lived at Pleasant Point. Eliza died 1934 and Robert in 1950 and both were buried at Pleasant Point. They had daughters Elsie and Poppy one of whom was possibly Ivy Adelaide and all born in the 1900s - there was also a son William Bellamy WELLS born also in the 1900s and who married Audrey (she died in 1973 at Temuka/Pleasant Point). Any additional information would be gratefully received. I would dearly like to correspond to any descendants as they are the only missing people from my written history of the BELLAMYs in Australia and New Zealand.

Kathleen Grant     10 Aug 2000
HEWLINGS: Hewlings, Samuel. Arrived: Auckland in 'Antilla' -- originally with Canterbury surveyor Cass in 'Prince Rupert' 1841and 'Bernicia' 1848
In South Canterbury: middle 1850s, government surveyor 1854; lived in Timaru 1860s -- first mayor of Timaru; surveyed Temuka, named after birthplace Wallington in England. Died Christchurch 1896, buried Timaru cemetery. Interested in all background history of Samuel (my g.g.uncle) and if anything known of his origins.

Glen Pulley     AUS  9 Jan 2000
PULLEY / APPLEBY: Searching Charles and Anne, arrived 1884 to Lyttelton on the Ionic. Moved to Geraldine and had a son named William John. Possibly a daughter later who became an Appleby.

Philip Ellery    Cornwall, UK.     8 Dec 1999
ELLERY: My name is Phil Ellery from Cornwall in England. I would like to get in touch with any of the the descendents of William Brewer ELLERY. He was born at St. Columb Minor, Cornwall and went to South Canterbury.  That was nearly 100 years ago.   I know there are descendents still there. I would be interested to contact any ELLERY families in that area. My webpage  contains info on ELLERY & Cornish genealogy.

Neil Anderson      27 Sept. 1999   
LUCK:  I am in the process of tracing the Luck side of our family.   My great grandfather Johann Georg.  John George and his off spring settled in Waimate, 1862 died, 1896 buried, Waimate.  Would be very pleased  if the Lucks in the South Canterbury area can be located to help with  my project.  My dad and his sister are the grand children of Helena Christina Luck and John Brown Anderson.   Married 30th April1879 in Waimate. Any information would be very grateful.   Fax 03 215 7503       

Kathleen Speedie     CAN     14 Aug 1999   20 May 2002
James O'NEILL arrived on ship "Columbus" -1873?, settled in Cricklewood on O'Neill Road. Was from Ardcanaught townland, Keel Parish, near Castlemaine in County Kerry.  Need info about other two O' Neills, William and Patrick who bought land adjacent to his at Cricklewood in the 1870s. Would like to contact any other families who descended from Keel Parish people also.

Helen     29 Jul 1999
GOSLING, O'BRIEN, McDONALD : I am looking for information on the William Gosling family. They arrived in NZ 1850 on the 'Randolph'   and moved to Timaru-Temuka area 1874 approx.   Maria McDonald married Charles Gosling 1877.  The Alex McDonald's arrived 1879 and settled in Temuka.  Also William & Mary (nee O'Connor) O'Brien who were hotelkeepers at the Arrowhenua Hotel 1900-1912.

William GOSLING married Lucy WATRETT Macclesfield, Cheshire
They came to NZ 1850 on the "RANDOLPH" They had nine children
Charles (married Emma FORWARD 1872, Maria Margret McDonald1877)
Mary (married John REID 1867)
Elizabeth (married Alexander Macpherson 1873)
William B. 1847 .d. 1879 age 32
Clementina (married Charles Michael SMITH)
(Muriel Margaret SMITH married Harold Desmond BAILEY 1914)
(children Charles Desmond BAILEY
Arthur Wellesly BAILEY)
Agnes (married Thomas S DUNN 1874)
Helen ( married Gains CLARKE 1882)
Ada Maria (married Alfred Edwards SAUNDERS 1892)
Alice Maud B. 1863 Unmarried

Timaru Herald 16 Dec. 1872 Marriage
December 7th, at St. Saviour's Church, by the Rev. James Preston, Mr Charles GOSLING, of Triple-stream, Ohapi, to Emma, second daughter of Mr H. FORWARD of Temuka.

Timaru Herald September 1877
GOSLING - MACDONALD - August 30th, at the Catholic Chapel, Christchurch, by the Rev. Father Ginnity, Charles Gosling, of Timaru, to Maria, third daughter of A. W. Macdonald, Esq., late of Compass, Inverness, Scotland

Tanya Chapman         Victoria,  AUS  24 June 1999
CHAPMAN: I have recently been advised by a long lost relative that my grandfather was born in Timaru, NZ. As such I would dearly love to know my family history and ancestors. The details of my grandfather are as follows:
George Edward Chapman
Born Timaru NZ
Died 5 September 1947 Aged 79
Approximate year of birth 1868

Son of Thomas Chapman nmn "no middle name"  (shipping overseer) and Anne Eliza Beckingham. I have no other details. Your assistance in providing any information would be greatly appreciated.

Dave Emery    18 June 1999
EMERY: George Thomas & Rachel (nee Anderson). George Thomas is my Great Grandfather and lived in St. Andrews from around 1880 till the time of his death in 1924. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who may know something of the EMERY name or names associated with the Emery's e.g. HARRIS, O'NEIL, THOMAS, WATSON and McGINNESS.
George Thomas was associated for a long time with St. Andrews Church. He was on the vestry and a bell ringer.  He also acted as buggy driver for the Rev. Brady during his term at this church. Any enquires or information gratefully received and will be replied to.

Barry F. Buckley     4 June 1999
HUNT - I have researched the Hunt family of Timaru. They were William Henry Hunt who married Emma Beswarick. He arrived in NZ in May 1874.  Built the first stone house in Timaru.  Any interested researchers can contact me.

Brian Richardson    AUS    20 May 1999
RICHARDSON/McLEAN: After many years away from South Canterbury I am now trying to get involved in some genealogical research. Seeking information in relation to the Richardson family, of North Street Timaru and the McLean family of Mill Road, Waimate.   My father/s name was David Alexander Richardson (born 1908) and mother's name was Eurus Stella McLean (born 1910?) Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

L & P Gleeson      19 May 1999
DALY/CRONIN - Matthew Daly (John Daly-Margaret Murphy) who married Honora Cronin (Patrick Cronin-Johannah Fitzgerald) in Geraldine 2 Feb 1897. Matthew and Honora were both born on Cork, IRL but I don't know when they arrived in New Zealand.  I believe the whole Cronin family came out and maybe the Fitzgerald's as there is one on their marriage certificate.

GOODWIN/MOORE - Thomas Goodwin (Thomas Goodwin-Bridget Fahey) born in Woodbury 1869 and married Elizabeth Moore (John Moore-Mary Hoare) born 1872 in either Kerrytown or Levels Plains. Married in Timaru 1893.

BEZZANT/HOWARD - William George Bezzant (Henry Montague Bezzant-Honore Welch) born Timaru 1889 and his wife married 1914 in Geraldine. Her name was Harriet Alice Howard (Henry Rogers Howard-Eliza Hannah Kirby) born 1888 in Geraldine. Eliza Hannah Kirby (Michael Kirby also known as Michel Courville and his wife Sarah Wright) lived in Timaru for a lot of her life and Michael Kirby was a blacksmith at Geraldine.

Jenny Papa      17 May 1999
DUTTON, Henry William married Elizabeth Rose Wixon, in Waimate 14 Oct 1863. His occupation given as barman. Henry John was born 17 Dec 1879, Waimate. Any information regarding the DUTTON family would be most welcome.

Jenny Daly      13 May 1999
SPRING - Looking for surname Spring. Found John Spring had sailed on the Victory we thought he head come on the Mermaid. Was paying passenger.  All information gratefully received.

Mary Brady      20 Apr. 1999. Updated Feb 2002
LOGAN /LYONS -   James Logan came out to NZ with his brother Arthur Logan, and settled in the Rangitata River area.  Their home town in Belfast, Ireland had been called Clandeboye.   James married an Anna Maria Clarke from Cookstown, Ireland (nee Baxter) June 13 1883 at the Presbyterian Church, Southbridge. She died 11 March 1897 of typhoid fever after being in the hospital for five weeks and is buried at the Hinds Cemetery.  James then moved with his five children to Masterton.  Joseph the oldest who was born March 15 1884 in Southbridge later married a Ethel Mary Lyons.  Mary Lyons (her mother was a McIver) was in the Timaru area 14 days before her marriage, 6th March 1880, to a Thomas Adian Lyons, an overseer of a sheep station and later a shepherd.  He was in the area for 3 days and stayed at the house of a Mr. Alexander Spence.  Their first son Joseph James Lyons was born at Burkes Pass 18th May 1881. The next child Esther was born 1883 in Opiki, Timaru.  They also ended up going to Masterton around 1884. Mary Lyons had a son Melville who was secretary of the Canterbury A & P Association.  Mary Lyons' husband went back to Australia sometime after the last child was born, but after that there is no trace of him.

Arthur Logan is listed as a witness on James's marriage certificate, residence listed as Southbridge.  The other witness is listed as a Lizzie Brown Logan, a sister to James,  also of Southbridge.  Lizzie had come to NZ with a sister Grace earlier in that same year 1883. Anyway Arthur had a son named Toby, he had a son John.  They farmed in the Fairlie area for awhile then bought a farm outside of Timaru where they farmed until they sold it some time ago. Contact Mary if you have any further information.

Don V. Weston     29 Jan. 99
MEYER / POINDESTRE - The Meyer's had interests in the Redcliff/Waimate areas, and there is a Meyer's Rd east of Studholme Junction possibly named after the said family. Just north of Meyer Rd running parallel toward the coast is Poingdestre Rd.  I would be interested in any information concerning the family this road was named after.

Malcolm Airs    AUS       18 Dec. 98
WOOD - First Names: William, Ellen Rhoda and Hannah
Left Plymounth, England: 16 July 1873
Disembarked Lyttelton: 17 August  1873
Ship: Adamant
Previously lived in Stroud Gloucestershire.  Settled in Waimate 1873 or 74 until pre 1888.

Donal Valpy Weston       15 Nov 98 
PIKE - I'm looking for information concerning Samuel Pike & Bayly Pike who had land holdings in the Elephant Hill/Waihao Downs area c. 1853.

David Blyth      25 Sept. 98  Broken link
AUSTIN/BLYTH - Looking for any information regarding either the Austin's or the Blyth's who lived around Temuka, Timaru, Geraldine last century, early this century.

Mike Lack is also researching the Blyth-Austin family line.

Karen Rogers    23 Sept. 98
MANDER/RUTTER - I'm looking for any information about my great-grandmother and great-grandfather.  Annie Mander arrived in Timaru from Litchfield, England in the 1870's. She married Frank Rutter (who was already living in Timaru) and my grandmother Lorna Mary Rutter was born 2nd November 1881. A son, Frank Eric Rutter, was born about two years later. Annie left NZ with the children about 1884, but it's not known whether Frank stayed behind or accompanied them.

Darryl Nolan     22 Apr. 98
NOLAN - Seeking information relating to the Nolan family; residents of Claremont, Winchester, Temuka and Timaru.

Catherine West     14 Mar. 98  Broken link
MAHONEY/GOOD/THOMPSON/HUSBAND  - I am currently checking out the MAHONEY family who lived in Ashburton from approximately 1875 to the late 1950s, the GOOD family who lived at Mayfield (?) around 1878, the THOMPSON family who farmed at Lyndhurst (Anthony and George - they arrived on the William Miles in 1860, Anthony died in 1893) and any of the HUSBAND family who came from Ireland on the Hydaspes, September 1869.  My great uncle George Good was employed at Mount Peel and was drowned in the Wilberforce River on January 29, 1923, so I would be interested in information about Mount Peel also.

To Catherine West,
Please email Aaron Clark. Aaron can help with your query. Posted 28 Aug. 2006

Ann Facey      21 Feb. 98
GREEN/MUNRO - Researching for descendants of Edward GREEN born about 1838 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.  Arrived Lyttelton, New Zealand 23 November 1858 on the ship 'Indiana'.  Occupation carpenter. Married Elizabeth MUNRO on 24 Oct 1865 at St Lukes Church, Christchurch.  Moved to Timaru, South Canterbury about 1870.

The Indiana, a fine large barque of nearly 900 tons, built on Quebec in 1856, arrived in Canterbury on the 23rd Nov., 109 days from Gravesend. 6 births and 7 deaths. Otago Witness. Dec. 18 1858 page 5

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Memories of my Great-Grandmother
BY CAROLE COWAN

Caroline Wasley  (nee Peters) 1850 - 1944
 

I remember my great-grandmother, Caroline PETERS, as a very old, small and frail lady, for at this stage in her life she was in her nineties. I called her "Pretty Nana". She lived at 71 Rhodes Street, Waimate, with my Uncle Jim (James HUNT), a brother of my grandfather. I remember going for holidays with my Nana, Caroline Peters' daughter Lylie, from Christchurch to Studholme Junction on the steam train, and then transferring to a bus at Studholme and travelling on to Waimate, where the bus stopped outside the Savoy Tearooms in Queen Street, Waimate. We would stay at the little four-roomed, wooden cottage with the front verandah, behind a high hedge and arched gateway at 71 Rhodes Street where Caroline and Uncle Jim lived. The house was very old even in those days, the 1940s. The sitting room, the first on the left as you entered the front door, as I remember it, was typically Victorian, its walls covered with big pictures and photos in large wooden frames, a table with many photos set out on it and a large succulent plant with pink flowers. I have a cutting from that same plant in my home now - over 60 years later. I don't remember anyone ever using the sitting room (I think it would have been called "the parlour" in those days) but I often walked around it, admiring and fascinated by all the bric a brac and photographs. As I write this, I would dearly love to see those photographs again, and wonder where they all went.

The bedrooms were furnished with iron bedsteads with feather or kapok mattresses. There was no electricity, no plumbing inside the house. Instead, to wash yourself, to wash the dishes, etc, there were some bowls on an unpainted, wooden shelf attached to the outside wall of the house near the back door, a tap nearby. Each time we visited, my Nana would wash all the kitchen dishes, cups and saucers,  which were displayed on open shelves in the kitchen and had gathered dust since her last visit. Among the crockery were cups especially for men with moustaches. Uncle Jim had a moustache, as did many men of that era. A coal range provided heating and cooking facilities in the kitchen. When darkness fell, a kerosene lamp and candles lit up the house. I loved going to Waimate with Nana, for even when I was young I was used to an inside toilet, hot water and electrical appliances.
The front garden was colourful and closely planted with flowers. It was the back garden I loved best though. It contained a cherry tree, gooseberry bushes, red, white and black currant bushes, which were all ripe when I visited in the January school holidays. I can also remember playing knuckle-bones on the front verandah with Josie CREBA, who lived in a house over the back fence. I have never seen Josie since, and wonder if she remembers that.

During my visits to Waimate Uncle Jim would take me to the homemade lolly shop, and the Salvation Army service on a Sunday, and would take me raspberry picking with with him. Uncle Jim never married or had any children of his own, but he was a favourite great-uncle of mine because he had a ready smile and was a very kind, handsome, gentle man. I can still see my great-grandmother sitting in her favourite chair in the kitchen, with my Nana lovingly brushing her mother's long, silvered hair and securing it in a bun at the back of her head. I now have that little wooden, fold-up chair in my house. There are many photos of her sitting in that very chair, as she grew older. I do not recall her speaking to me, but have no doubt that she would have spoken in the very distinctive Cornish brogue, which is a delight to listen to. She was the one who taught my Nana to make the huge, delicious, authentic Cornish pasties, which became a treat for all who were fortunate enough to be offered one.  I did not know when I was so young, of the hard life that my great-grandmother had had. She had immigrated to New Zealand in 1872 with her husband and three children (one of the children dying on the voyage); she had had 12 children altogether, bringing them up in the rugged gold towns of Ross and Kumara on the West Coast of New Zealand. It was only as I grew older that I began to appreciate the many hardships that she had suffered during her lifetime.

Carole Cowan   2007 /2014

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