I’m sure little George McIlraith paid little attention to the melting of the ice that had encased his older half sister Jane’s heart whenever John Deans had been in view or the subject of conversation. He would have been too far busy rumbling around Auchenflower farm to concern himself with foolish adult troubles. But George …
Jimmy Robinson Clough (1811 – 1874) Died of old age Place of Death: Alford Forest, Canterbury * One of the first Europeans to settle in Canterbury – namely Akaroa. * First European to travel up the Avon River. * Built the flagpole and was present at Green’s Point, Akaroa where the British Flag …
Retired Sheep Shearer, Bruce Leeming showing how its done to a group of tourist at Homebush. Second photo is the sheep shearing that happens in Homebush’s Wool Shed. *photo taken by Annette Bulovic*
Jimmy Robinson Clough was an British ex-convict, ex-whaler, farmer, boat and fence builder, a drunk, suspected bigamist and the first European to settle in Canterbury. In 1837, after spotting a beautiful Maori woman in Akaroa where his ship had dropped anchor, he deserted his post and married her. They had 5 children together. In 1840 …
‘Honest John’ Cordy was manager of Homebush for the Deans from 1854 to 1859. An Englishman, he arrived in Christchurch in 1851 and ran a small run near the Bridle Path where newly arrived hoof-stock could graze before moving on when their owners were ready. On the 1st May 1854, John took over Homebush and …
When one thinks of the Austen Deans – award winning artist, mountaineer, World War II survivor – and the interesting life he crammed into 95 years, one could understand why he was the centre of a ghostly occurrence at Riccarton House that no one can really explain – even today. On the 1st December 1915, …
Thomas Hanmer (1827-1892) is mostly known as the man which Hanmer Springs is named after – even though he never settled there. He was the first to survey the area in 1852. Named “Te Whakatakaka O Te O Ahi Tamatea” by the Maori, to the Europeans it was a good route to drive their cattle …
The news of finding coal at Homebush had been pretty exciting for the Deans and all concerned. James McIlraith – Jane Deans’ half brother and manager of Homebush – and Julius van Haast – the founder of the Canterbury Museum – had made the discovery in the late 1870’s. Just two years later, a coal …
Maybe it had been the tedious bumpy ROADLESS journey over the sea of tussock – from Hawkins (a stone’s throw from Darfield) to Rolleston – that made the farmhand lower the new plough down to harvesting position before he towed it back to Bangor in which he worked. He had been sent out hours before …
On the night of the 2nd October 1887, the jolly going-ons at the Lake Forsyth Arms Hotel was in full swing. The Hotel’s owner, Mr. Archibald McNae was leaving the area as his lease had expired. So he was surrounded with his family and friends at the piano, singing their favourite ditty’s at the top …
