Peter Grant(1)

Peter(1) Grant.

Peter(1), who was the second son of Charles and Janet Grant, was born in 1826. His son Peter(2) wrote of him in 1937:

My father, at best, was not a communicative man, but I got a deal of information from my mother. Peter when about 18 years of age came out to Sydney in a sailing ship. This would be about 1844. His job was carrying the hod for a bricklayer, for which he was paid fifteen shillings a week. As he could not live on that pay, he threw the job up, and went to look for another. He dropped across the carpenter of the sailing ship on which he had come out from Home. On relating his troubles, the carpenter said, “Man, Grant, they are wanting some firemen to join that big paddle steamer running up to China. You're a young strong lump of a fellow, why don't you try for it? The pay is good”.

Peter forthwith applied to the company for a job on the P.S. “Juno" and was successful. The "Juno” at that time was considered a sizeable boat - her paddle shaft was eighteen inches in diameter, four square boilers, steam pressure twenty-five pounds, when they could get it. He said frequently there would be no pressure showing on the gauge when the be running on a vacuum. The engines were two cylinders of the side lever type, with a jet condenser. There was a clutch on shaft between the two engines, so that each engine could be worked separately when the ship was being manoeuvred in harbour or going alongside the wharf. On these occasions, as they had no link motion or reversing gear, the slide valves had to be worked by hand. This is a somewhat tricky job. If the engine stopped on the centres, there was the devil to pay. Peter must have been a very short time on the firing part of it as when the ship was at Manila, he was second engineer, and assisted at the reboilering of it. The boilers had been sent out from Home by the ship's builders. However, as the "Juno" was not a paying proposition she was eventually laid up in Sydney, and Peter lost his job as a sea-going engineer. Thos. Russell and Sons, the owners of the “Juno", and the largest engineering firm in Sydney, offered Peter an apprenticeship, but as the pay was very small, he could not afford to take it on. Peter was given a testimonial for his work on the boat. It was dated 12th March, 1853.

Footnote: There is obviously a gap in the story here as the testimonial was given nine years after Peter left Scotland.

Peter noticed that many people in Sydney were, blind with sand blight. As his eyes were becoming affected he decided to leave. Seeing the advertisement of a ship sailing from Newcastle to Lyttelton, New Zealand, he went to Newcastle to book his passage. Before booking he went to look at the ship. There he found some men having great difficulty in loading cattle for New Zealand. Peter took off his coat and helped. So successful was he in handling the cattle,that the owner paid his fare and Peter looked after the cattle on the voyage to New Zealand. All that Peter told about the voyage was that someone went through his sea bag and stole ten half sovereigns and a valued meerschaum pipe. He also carried three hundred sovereigns sewn into a canvas bag round his waist for six weeks. He became very weary of this burden of six and a-half pounds, but later it proved most useful.

Peter probably arrived in New Zealand about the end of 1853. The Lyttleton Times records that the barque "Water Witch”, 260 tons, Captain Addams arrived in Lyttleton with a few passengers including Grant, and carrying a cargo of 800 sheep, 100 head cattle, 25,000 bricks and cedar boards. “Water Witch” was a regular trader between Sydney via Newcastle and Lyttleton. After landing at Lyttleton, he made his way over the hills to Christchurch. There he met one of the Deans Brothers, who advised him to go to the new Scottish settlement at Dunedin.

The Deans brothers died early in 1854, which establishes Peter's arrival date as 1853.

Acting on this advice, Peter, with two companions, set off on foot for Dunedin. As there were no tracks, they followed the sea coast all the way down, even going right round the Akaroa Peninsula. It must have been a very dry season, as, on one occasion, they went two days and three nights without water. One of the men caved in. When they found water four miles further on, Peter went back to his companion with a billyful. They camped at the water for some time, as they could procure food from the Maoris there. During the whole of the journey, they lived mostly on Maori food. They negotiated the Waitaki River, the only one that gave them any trouble,on mogis, a bunch of koradies tied together on which they straddled behind a Maori, who manipulated the craft with a paddle.

On the present site of Oamaru, there was only a shepherd's hut. Here Peter had to rest for three days with an attack of fever and ague. In after years if he got cold or wet, he frequently had a recurrence of this trouble. The journey to Dunedin took about a fortnight, and was one of the first, if not the first, done by a white man.

On arrival at Dunedin, he bought a bullock team and took up contracting work. One job he did was to plough from where  Cargill's monument now stands to the foot of the Southern Cemetery, for the formation of what is now the main street of Dunedin.

Another job he undertook was to plough and sow in wheat about forty acres of virgin land on the West bank of the Taieri River, just below where the Outram railway bridge later stood. This block of land was then owned by Alex Rennie, but was later absorbed into Shand's Abbotsford Farm. The story is told that Peter would walk into Dunedin after work, a distance of sixteen miles each way, to get the plough socks dressed. When the crop was ripe, Peter got the job of harvesting it. The crop yielded fifty bushels to the acre, and the price was ten shillings a bushel at Dunedin. It was shipped down the Taieri River and right round to Dunedin by sea. It was the success of this crop of Rennies which yielded one thousand pounds that induced Peter to take up the two sections that he called “Gowrie”, after his birthplace “Blairgowrie”, in Scotland.

It is difficult to find the date when Peter took possession of Gowrie. The initial payment was made in June, 1856, but he was probably in possession earlier. The original deeds that are held at the Lands and Deeds in Dunedin, are dated 1863, and signed by Sir George Grey. They were written by hand, and then sent to Auckland to be signed. As the Maori Wars were in progress, and Sir George Grey was more interested in Maori affairs than in the more prosaic tasks of government. No doubt a considerable time would lapse between taking possession of the property and the actual signing of the deeds. This matter had evidently been troubling the authorities, because in the “Otago Witness” of 25th November, 1856, we find a set of rules adopted by the Provincial Council for Applications for Land. Applications were to be lodged with the Provincial Surveyor and to be considered by the Superintendent and Executive, and the applicant to be informed within twenty one days. Rule 4 reads:

"Upon such intimation, a certificate will be issued authorising the party to enter into possession.” Copies of these certificates are housed in the  Provincial Archives in Wellington, but are very incomplete.

However, in the Electoral Roll of the Dunedin Country Dist. 29th June, 1857, appears the entry:

Peter Grant, Gowrie Farm, agriculturalist, freeholder, West Taieri (From the Provincial Gazette. 1857. in the Hocken Library). In the Provincial Gazette of 31st March, 1856, appears the qualifications for voters.

One of the qualifications is possession of a freehold estate “for at least six calendar months." It is therefore safe to assume that Peter was in possession of Gowrie when John and William came out in 1856.

(In these days of H.P.A. and time payment it is interesting to note that Macandrew & Co. in the 1850's advertised their willingness to advance the cost of the fares of nominated emigrants against the guarantee of the nominator who would of course, see to it that the emigrant was employed and that deductions were made from wages until the fare was repaid. Whilst there is nothing in the Grant stories to indicate this scheme applied to any of them, it is almost certain that Peter's encouragement brought his brothers to N.Z. and it may well be that there was an 1850's version of "Fly now - pay later”.)

Another of the conditions for the purchase of land reads: "A Certificate of Occupation to be granted for Rural Lands on payment of ten shillings per acre the occupier to expend in money or labour for all improvements, including building and fences, within 4 years, a sum equal to 40 shillings per acre. Rural land to be not less than 10 acres, and of rectangular shape. The owner would not be entitled to the deeds until he had fulfilled the conditions 4 years later.

Gowrie Farm consisted of 310 acres, 3 roods, 8 poles. The deeds read “Lot 4, on 233A deeds plan. Sections 4 and 5 and parts of sections 3, 6 and 7. Reference number W 268.” It is situated on the road linking the present townships of Allanton and Outram.

So by the end of 1856, if not sooner, Peter was in possession of "Gowrie”. About this time he married Elizabeth Ritchings* of Kent, England, who was on a visit with friends, and apparently not an intending settler. They were married at the home of people called Buddicomb, and their first home was a wattle and daub cottage near the road. Here 5 of their children were born: Charles on 26th October, 1857; Peter on 12th February, 1859; Mary, the only daughter, on 26th April, 1862; William, then Ritchings, in 1864.

 * The spelling of this name varies. In the register where her children's births are filed, it appears as Rickens, while on her death certificate it is spelt Richens. Yet her son was apparently called Ritchings. We are assured that such variations were not unusual at that time.

“A neighbour, Mrs. Borrie assisted on some of these occasions," writes Peter's granddaughter, Mary Aitken, “and at least at the birth of Mary, my mother. She was very dark at birth, as were several of the other babies and indeed some of the great grandchildren, and Mrs. Borrie said to Grandfather, “Lord, Peter, where did you get the Maori?” In later years Mrs. Borrie's son Robert was drowned during a flood while trying to rescue neighbours. When news came to “Gowrie", Grandmother mounted her white horse and rode away through the flood waters to be with her friend.

By the time Ritchings, the fifth child, arrived in 1864, the cottage was very crowded, so the house was built, and the property laid out in a truly grand style. We are indebted to Mr. George Bathgate, of Dunedin, whose father took over the property in 1896, for a description of the house and gardens.

“The house was built of double bricks, burnt on the property. It was of two storeys with a roof of heavy 'Scotch' iron. In front was a wide hall with a stair leading up and there was a narrow stair at the back. There was a narrow stair at the back. There were 7 rooms upstairs, and 4 large rooms downstairs. In The cellar was a storage tank for water, about 10 feet square, and 5 feet high. There had originally been a pump but this was not used in the Bathgates time (The Bathgates bought the property some years after Peter sold out).There was a panelled dining room, a parlour and a kitchen with a baker's oven,At the back there were 2 rooms for 2 elderly men, for Peter's father Charles, and his uncle John Gellately, spent their declining years at 'Gowrie'. There was a scullery and bathroom at the back, but these may have been built later. In addition there was a large coolroom with wide shelves for the pans of milk and a men's dining room with a long table and forms at each side. The house is still in use and fortunate it is that the present owners Mr and Mrs Bathgate, appreciate the beautiful old building. The rooms though large are light and well proportioned, and have been tastefully furnished in a manner that fits in with the surroundings. The scullery has been made into a kitchenette with all modern conveniences.

Mr George Bathgate's story is continued:  The whole place was laid out on a very grand scale. Many trees were planted to make a setting for the house, the front door of which was reached by a circular carriage drive, both sides being bordered with flowers in beds 10 feet wide, with shrubs at the back. There was an orchard with at least 2 dozen apple trees, many plums and pears as well as gooseberries, currants and raspberries. There was a vegetable garden at least 2 chains square, in which there were always elderly men working. This was before the days of the old age pensions, and such men were glad to work for a very small wage. On one wall grew an apricot tree, up which the boys sometimes climbed to the rooms above.

The house has been roughcast in recent years, as the bricks were beginning to crumble a little. The garden has been reduced in size, and many of the trees have had to be cut, but sufficient are left to retain a dignified setting. The house and garden today show a skilful blending of the old and the new.

The outbuildings were of a size to correspond with the house. There was a draught horse stable with stalls for 9 horses, as well as about 9 looseboxes. The stable had a cobbled floor. There was a hack stable with 3 stalls and 2 looseboxes, and a byre to hold 16 cows. Above each stable was a hayloft, and there were barns capable of holding 1.000 bags of grain. There was a big piggery about 60 feet by 25 feet, with a race running up the centre. At the end of the loft was a shearing shed with a stand for 4 shearers  but this may have been added later. All these buildings are still standing and are in a remarkable state of preservation.

Buildings which have been demolished include a large shed for implements and drays, a buggy house for 2 buggies, and the living quarters for the men, which was called by the Scottish name of “bothy”. This consisted of a large room underneath, and two bedrooms above each about 12 feet square.

What a magnificent achievement for the lad who left Scotland without a penny! And what an exciting boyhood his sons must have enjoyed! Throughout  out all their childhood, the sound of hammering and sawing must been heard, and what wonderful games of hide and seek would be played in and out of the buildings, especially in the big barn with stairs going on one side and down the other. Always there would be busy movement around the home. In the smithy the clang of the anvil and the acrid smell of singeing hoof. The small bov might even be permitted to blow the bellows and make the flames leap high. If the father was strict with his family, there were plenty of places to dodge around, and plenty of friends to cover up small sins. There would always be someone to talk to in the garden, there were trees to climb, and fruit to eat in the orchard, baby pigs to visit, a horse to ride, dogs to play with and poultry to chase. There was a huge concrete water trough that would be ideal for sailing boats. Mrs. Bathgate has turned it into a fish pond with water-lilies growing in it.

And what of the man himself? Peter was a big man, six feet one, and very strong. He was generally referred to as “Gowrie” and an old resident of Outram, who used to go to Gowrie for the harvest, told Thomas Grant in later years, “Man, Tom, it was a great sight to see half a dozen men swinging their scythes, and 'Gowrie' always took the lead.” He was a domineering man and very strict with his children. Jessie Brodie told of a dark look from her Uncle “Gowrie” for daring to giggle on the way to church on the Sabbath. So domineering was he that the men in the morning got up and groomed their horses, but did not dare put on any harness until “Gowrie" appeared and gave them their orders. He did not give his sons sufficient responsibility, and they gradually left home.

Mary Aitken writes: “Affairs apparently prospered, as Grandfather often went to Dunedin on the arrival of ships to procure labour, both men and women. Often as a child, when my mother spoke to someone on the street, or we visited or had a visitor, I would ask who she was, and would be told ‘She worked at “Gowrie”.' I have talked with old men who said they worked there or perhaps they had their first job there. Grandfather also had trips to Sydney to purchase stock, mostly horses I think.

“During harvest, as many as 40 men would be employed, and they took much feeding. Bread was baked, and a sheep at a time could be cooked in the oven. There was an abundance of fruit of all kinds, marvellous black cherries, and apricots that grew on a sunny wall. There was poultry of all kinds, including turkeys, pigeons, peacocks and guinea fowl.”

Peter Grant, Junior, wrote in 1937:

"Father won a certificate for oats at the Dunedin Exhibition in 1865. My brother Charlie and I were at that exhibition. I think it must have been our first trip to Dunedin, as Charlie would be about 71/2 years old, and I, 6. Notwithstanding my youth, I can vividly remember some of the exhibits. At the entrance to the building there was erected a wooden obelisk covered with gold leaf showing the quantity of gold in volume won in Australasia up to that date. Then again there was a complete shell of a moa's egg in an elaborate case. I believe this exhibit is now in the British Museum. Another exhibit that was of interest to me in my later days was a beam engine. This engine was in use for many years in Findlay's Woodwork factory in Stuart Street, and eventually ended its days at the coal pit at Shag Point

Our means of conveyance to Dunedin was a spring trap. Father and Mother sat in front, Charlie and I on a board facing aft. After two days at Dunedin, we returned per dray driven by Uncle David, and hauled by two grey horses “Frisk” and “Gyp”, the dandiest pair on the road.

Delwyn Grant quotes his father Ritchings:

“As boys on 'Gowrie', we had interesting times, although we had to walk everywhere. I was one of the younger children of the first family and was the first child christened in the then new West Taieri Presbyterian Church. We had to work pretty hard at times, hoeing the “neeps' (turnips), harvesting, stooking and working on the tilter, an early form of reaper. Father was a very clever engineer, and could make anything in company with 'Auld Gow', the blacksmith employed on the place. (He was Gellately, Peter's uncle.) Father invented a binder, before the present flax tied sheaf, but, as it was tied with a twist of wire, this had to be snipped before it went through the threshing combine, and it caught in the machinery. Father imported the first portable or horse drawn steam engine in Otago, if not in New Zealand. Later he had traction engines, of which he was an expert driver. He also imported Clydesdale horses, of which he was a very early breeder, and showed these horses with great success.

“There were several men continually employed on the place, besides my elder brothers. Among them were Dan Brockett, an Englishman and Jimmy Scott, a quaint man from Scotland. He was a great favourite with us boys, full of fun and odd sayings. To Jimmy, who was a great ploughman, was entrusted the grooming and caring of the horses for the shows. The horses were very well kept, in fact they were always groomed as if for the show ring, with plaited manes and tails, and some with the high peaked Scottish collars.

"Jimmy Scott played the pipes and Father and Auld Gow on a turning lathe made a set of drones from laburnum wood, but the chanter was some other wood. Jimmy played these pipes until an injury to his fingers prevented further playing."

Peter Grant evidently made a trip to the gold diggings, more probably to sell supplies than to look for gold. The only record we have of this is a note pasted in a book “Early days in Central Otago," belonging to the late Peter Grant, Junior. This note was appended to the chapter on “Garrett the Bush Ranger.” It reads: "My father when returning from the Dunstan on horseback, and carrying three hundred pounds worth of gold, and escorting his bullock dray, came over the Maungatua hill. There he met Garrett, and recognising him as the bushranger, kept him talking until the bullock driver got well away. This was on the eventful day that Garrett and his gang waylaid diggers in two and threes, tied fifteen up in the scrub, and robbed them of a total of four hundred pounds. Garrett rode to Dunedin the same night and left for Australia on the first boat. He was arrested in Sydney, and brought back to Dunedin in irons. My father never told the bullock driver, or anyone else at the time, that the man he was talking to was Garrett. For some reason unknown, Garrett let Peter Grant and his dray pass unmolested.”

Reminiscences of Peter Grant, Junior, written 1937:

“The great events of the year for us Gowrie boys were the West Taieri Caledonian Society's Sports, then held on New Year's Day at Maungatua, and the Taieri Show, usually held at Christmas, alternately at Mosgiel and Outram. As to sports, none of us can claim any distinction in that line."

On one occasion Charles had charge of the pole vault event. As the height of the vaulting increased, the pins for holding the cross bar got out of his reach. As no box or anything suitable could be found for standing on, the event was held up for a time. Suddenly Charles seized a sizeable youngster round the thighs, and, holding him against the upright poles said, “Put that pin two holes higher and put the crossbar on it.” After the boy had done the same at the other end, the pole vaulting was continued. A wag in the crowd exclaimed, “Man, Young Gowrie you've got brains”. I think it was at the same meeting I was a competitor in the mile. I walked as hard as I could, but I could not walk fast enough to gain a place. All the same I had some fun out of it.”

"The Taieri Show was always a very interesting event to us youngsters as from Gowrie there was always a goodly number of entries, mostly in the Clydesdale horse classes. One year, if I remember rightly there 25 horses entered for the various classes. Of course, for some time prior to Show Day, great preparations had to be made, so that the animals looked their best on the eventful day. The one and two-year-olds had to be handled, taught to lead, and behave themselves generally. Some of the giddy young things had to be carefully handled. The older horses, also, had to receive a certain amount of attention – grooming, feeding up, etc. Up until 1874 I had to do my little bit in assisting with those preparations. After that year I went to Dunedin to serve a five year apprenticeship in mechanical engineering. The firm to which I was apprenticed usually closed up their works from Christmas until after New Year. As the Show was held about this time I was still able to go to it and assist in a small way.

At that time a man (Geordie Grant) was employed at Gowrie, principally looking after the entires. He was a really good horseman, a good judge of horses. He was excellent at preparing horses for a show, showing them in the ring, hiding their defects and displaying their good points; few men in those days were his equal. We, therefore, were able to get a good many tips from him as to showing horses. Unfortunately, Geordie had a weakness, he was too fond of the liquor, which latterly overshadowed his good qualities, and he was eventually dismissed.

“The showing of stock from "Gowrie' was not confined alone to Clydesdale horses. There was a thoroughbred mare ‘Ladybird' (a dandy mare she was) which was successfully shown with foal at foot. Shorthorn bulls also were shown on several occasions. The preparation of these animals was a source of a few amusing episodes. I came home to 'Gowrie' at Christmas 1876, when I found all hands busy making preparations for the Taieri Show. Of course I had to go round the different animals with Charles, and discuss their good and bad points.

“Don't you think she's a wee bit hollow in the back?" “But, Man, she's got grand legs.” "He's a bit slack in the breechin'" "My, but he's finely toppit.”

Such was our horse talk on going around. After doing the horses I came across a white Shorthorn buli tied up in a bail. He was in good condition, and to my mind looked all right. When I asked my father why he was not showing the bull, he replied, 'I haven't anyone to take him to the show', whereupon I volunteered for the job.

“ All right, I'll go and enter him in the two-year Shorthorn class.

“I at once started preparing that bull for the show. I washed his hips, groomed him down, washed and combed his tail, scraped and polished his horns, cleaned up his hoofs. The only things I didn't clean were his teeth as I hoped he'd keep his mouth shut.

As next day was Show Day, I got up bright and early, gave him a good feed and final brush down, and, on the suggestion of brother Charlie, mopped him all over with skim milk, to give his coat a gloss. You should have seen that bull, after I had finished beautifying him, he looked just like a wedding cake.

“After breakfast, and just prior to getting underway with the animal, my father said, You had better take Bill Gall with you, as he (the bull) might turn nasty on the way.” Bill was the engine driver at ‘Gowrie'. He didn't pretend to know anything about bulls or other animals, but knew all about engines, and a good man at that. On the three of us taking our departure, all hands turned out to see us off, and didn't they give us a barracking; two engineers with a bull was a huge joke to them. Even my father had a quiet dig at us.

“Well and all, we three meandered quietly along to the Show ground, a little past Outram, a distance of about two and a quarter miles. En route, we engineers were very careful that our charge was not unduly fatigued. We eventually reached the Show ground without a mishap, and all in good form, whereupon we gave the animal a look over and a little more toileting. In due course the time arrived for the two-year-old bulls to enter the ring. I talked kindly to him, told him to be on his best behaviour as the critical moment was about to arrive, and he responded like a sensible bull, and behaved beautifully. We entered and walked twice round that ring with as much swank as would a Lifeguardsman walking out his best girl. After doing a perambulation of the ring, we lined up in the centre, where I got him beautifully posed. Notwithstanding all my efforts, the blinkin' judges, when walking around the line-up, gave us only a casual glance, and when the tickets were handed out, there was nary a one for the Engineer's bull. A great disappointment to the engineers, but a further source of joking for the rest of the 'Gowrie' folk.

“I took part, in the aftermath only, in the following bull episode. I think it took place at the 1874 show which was also held at Outram. On this occasion the entry was an aged Shorthorn bull. The attendant was the cowman, Tommy Bishop, who hailed from London – a typical cockney. He made the usual preparations and led the animal to the Show ground and into the ring. Tommy, like myself, was unsuccessful in catching the eye of the judges with his bull, therefore no honours. After showing the animal, he was instructed to leave the ground early, so that he would reach ‘Gowrie' in good time to do the milking. On the way he had to pass the Outram Hotel. Well, Tommy, like many other Cockneys, was a past master at sinking long beers. To drown his disappointment, he must have sunk many. When overtaken later by some of the men with the horses, Tommy was astride the bull, waving his arms around and singing, 'E don't know where 'E is. But “E's hall right.' The aftermath, I had to assist at the milking that night.

"The 1877 Show was held at Mosgiel. This year the 'Gowrie' bull was a yearling, and the attendant hailed from the Emerald Isle. His name was Pat, and his strong point was pigs. He made them his personal friends and could converse with them in their own language. Bulls and cows were only a secondary consideration with Pat, but, on this occasion, he rose to the mark and had that year-old bull just in the pink on Show day. As Mosgiel is a considerable distance from 'Gowrie', Pat and the bull had to make an early start for the Showground. Pat was not long out from Ireland and consequently still retained his home country wearing apparel, a long tailed tweed homespun coat, a hard hitter hat and proper Irish brogues. His face was clean shaven, except underneath the jaws - a regular map of Ireland it was. On leaving Gowrie', the pair made a most picturesque show. In due course they reached the Show ground, and eventually the ring where Pat was successful. When he was presented with the first ticket, his face was a study in gratification. The next class to enter the ring was the two year olds. When they were being paraded, much to our amusement, we saw Pat, the ticket in his hand, parading his one-year-old bull with the two year olds. On drawing our father's attention, he called Pat out of the ring. When asked; what he was doing in there, he replied, 'Shure, Sur, I thought they might be giving himself (the bull) another ticket.' Not satisfied with having been called out of the ring, he persisted in parading amongst the spectators much to the amusement of all and sundry. On the way home he took the longer road, past the hotel. When asked by Father what kept him so late he replied, "Shure yir honour, himself and myself was very hot and dry. and we went around to the hotel for a sup.' Pat had supped at the bar, and ‘himself” at the horse trough. All the same, Pat was able to milk the cows that night.

A well known exhibitor at the Taieri Show failed to win a prize with his filly. After the Show, he approached the judge, who was an old friend of his.

“Aye John an' what was wrang wi' the bit beastie ye pit oot o' the ring." "Man, Jeems, I didna' ken ye had a beastie at the Show.”

"Hoots, John, did ye no see that wee beastie wi' the lang tail, and wi twa white hin' legs?"

I'm afeared, Jeems, y'r beastie was o'er wee." "Wee be domned, did ye no see the quality of the beastie?" “Come awa' o'er, Jeems, and change y'r breath." James and John changed their breaths, and remained the best of friends

"Once when I was just a nipper. I was deputed to handle, feed, groom and otherwise prepare a two-year-old filly for the Taieri Show. After paying the animal attention to the best of my ability for about two months, I eventually took her into the show ring looking very nice, as I thought but the blamed judges scarcely looked at my filly. I was a disappointed nipper. However a few years later, one of her progeny was led into the show ring by Charlie, and awarded first prize for a mare with foal at foot and the champion prize for the best mare on the ground. On being presented with the champion ticket, Charlie waved it round his head and shouted 'Hooray, a very unseemly demonstration in a show ring.

"Since those happy days. I have visited shows all over New Zealand and at Sydney, Melbourne, England and Scotland, but none of them gave me the thrill and enjoyment of the good old Taieri Shows.

In the Otago Daily Times of 30th November, 1877, we read that Peter Grant was a member of the committee of the Otago A and P Association. In the prize list appear the following award the Clydesdale section:

First Class entire: highly commended. Second Class entire: Earl of Gowrie, First.Sir Colin, entire: An imported animal, drew special mention from the judge. Mare in foal, or with foal at foot: Duchesse, First. Filly: Duchesse, first; Jenny Lind, third. Duchesse was imported, but Jenny Lind was bred on the place. Fifth class: Duchesse III, second. Pair of Mares: First. At the Taieri Show of 1875, the prize list in the Clydesdale Section reads: Entire Colt: First. Entire Colt, foaled since 1st August, 1874: Highly commended. Best Draught Filly or Gelding: Highly commended. Best Broodmare: First. Dry Mare: First. Filly or Gelding: First. Pair of Mares: Second.

There were five children when the family moved into the new house, and two more, Alfred and Edward, were born there. Then on New Year's Day, 1871, tragedy struck, and Elizabeth, the mother, and her new born babe died. Elizabeth was 42 years of age. Peter later married Mary Osborne, who may have been a governess to the boys. She arrived in New Zealand in 1867.

She was a kind stepmother to the children and was most hospitable in her ways. She was called “Ma”, and had three sons, Harry, Herbert and Ernest. The Osborne family came from Omagh in Northern Ireland - five sisters and a brother, but some of them were not strong. They may have emigrated in the hope that a milder climate would be beneficial. Annie died at Gowrie in 1876, at the age of 22. Amy, who was the first lady teacher at Kaitangata School, died at “Gowrie” in 1881, aged 24. Mary Aitken tells the story:

“William Osborne, Mary's brother, went to the gold diggings, and later took up land at Tuapeka West, where Fanny kept house for him. It became a happy holiday place for the children from "Gowrie'. Aunt Fanny was kindly and generous and dealt with a liberal hand. I've heard of her kindness from others quite outside the family, and of her sixteen egg sponges. Amy was full of Irish humour, and there was always much fun when in her company. There were sisters and brothers living in Ireland, and a correspondence was kept up through the years. Harry met his aunts during World War I and said their generosity reminded him of Aunt Fanny.

The house at “Gowrie” was a very open and hospitable one. Mary, the mother, nursed her two sick sisters there till the end. Elizabeth, a daughter of John Grant, of Waitepeka, was not well after an attack of measles. So to “Gowrie” she went, and stayed there two years and went to school. Peter's father, Charles, came out to “Gowrie”, where a room had been built for him, and another one for his brother-in-law, John Gellately. A cousin, Jimmy Gellately, who had lost a leg in the Crimea, also came out in 1861. What a thrill for Charles, coming from poverty in Scotland, to find his son so well established as a landed proprietor. Delwyn Grant tells the following story: "Charles Grant, Senior, was always very early astir, and used to see that the boys were all up early. They slept upstairs so Charles had a long manuka stick leaning against the wall. With this he would rattle against the window, calling, 'It's time to rise, lads."

And so Peter, for the first twenty years prospered beyond all expectations. The Eighteen Sixties were stimulated by the gold discoveries in the province. The sudden increase in population caused a great demand for food Peter sailed on the crest of the wave. In the seventies, there was revival in Europe after the Franco-Prussian War. This stimulated a rise in prices. In New Zealand, Vogel borrowed millions for public works and this encouraged a speculative outburst. In 1878, the boom reached its height, but the following year came the inevitable crash, and the next decade was known as the “Hungry Eighties." As Europe was now at peace, the people were able to grow more for themselves. In Russia and America, more wool and wheat were grown than the people needed. The spread of railways enabled these commodities to be transported to the coast, and thence shipped to England. This keen competition resulted in a fall of prices. Wool fell from two shillings to four pence, wheat slumped likewise. For over ten years. prices were low all over the world. In 1882, the “Dunedin” left Port Chalmers with the first cargo of frozen mutton. This was to prove a salvation to the farmers, but it was ten years before the trade was firmly established.

What effect did all this have on “Gowrie”? Peter farmed in a very lavish style. The best of horses (he once paid 600 guineas for a brood mare), stud cows and pedigree pigs, but his real love was for machinery. He had a wonderful gift for working with machinery. One tale that has been handed down was that when the first set of discs came into Dunedin, they were brought out to “Gowrie”, but would not work, as they always rose up at the ends. Peter, however, put on the cross bars with a seat on top, that became the standard pattern, and was soon working them. When new machinery came out, no doubt the agents were only too keen to take it out to Gowrie as the chances of a sale were very good. It is said that Peter would buy new machinery while the old was lying unused.

There was a fire, too, when valuable stacks were burnt, and a disastrous flood in harvest time when the crops were cut and stooked. The flood came up overnight, and all was ruined. In the warm Autumn days that followed there was the awful stench from drowned animals and rotting vegetation after the water had subsided.

Moreover, Peter was a very domineering man, the real Victorian father. He did not give his sons sufficient responsibility, and they gradually drifted away. His father Charles died in 1882, at the age of 82, and his uncle John Gellately, in 1883, at the age of 86. Then after a long illness his wife Mary  died in 1886, aged 41 years. Peter then married a young girl who was working on the place. This was far from acceptable to the family, and those who had not already done so, left home.

The final blow came when Peter. who had been so strong, broke down in health. With his family gone, he could not manage the running of the big property, and in 1890 it was put up for sale. In the “Otago Witness'' we read of the property to be put up for auction on 20th December, 1890. It was then 491 acres, and included “a house of 14 rooms, stable with 13 stalls and five loose boxes, 18 stall cowbyre, model piggery, granary, lofts mill and implement shed, wool shed, sheep yards, dip and workshop, orchard, lawns and shrubbery. The place was bought by a Mr Rankin, who sold it to John Bathgate in 1896, and the property has been in the Bathgate family ever since

The auction sale of stock and implements was held on the property on 27th January, 1891, at 11 a.m. Robert Grant, a nephew, remembers the sale. As Peter was ill, his brother, William, had to see about getting things ready. None of the men on the place knew what had to be done. Of the sons, only Ted came to assist. He did not stay at “Gowrie," but at Clairinch.

From the “Witness” comes the advertisement of the sale: 

10 pure bred Clydesdale brood mares. 

10 pure bred Clydesdale colts and fillies, by Pride of Scotland and Laird of Killbride. 

3 two-year-old colts and fillies, by Clansman and Hawarden. 

2 yearling Clydesdales by Clansman and one foal. 

12 light harness and saddle horses 

76 head well bred Shorthorns.

1 pure bred bull. 

16 cows. 

12 prime fat cattle.

 21 one and two-year-old steers and heifers. 

16 weaners. 

925 young crossbred sheep. 

42 purebred Berkshire pigs. 

Implements:

 1 8 h.p. traction engine and large grain truck. 

1 Clayton and Shuttleworth threshing mill with elevators.

 3 Walter Wood reapers and binders.

 2 Reid and Gray grain drills.

 2 Reid and Gray chaff-cutters (horse powered). 

3 back delivery reapers. 

1 potato digger. 

2 turnip sowers. 

3 double furrow ploughs. 

4 single furrow ploughs. 

2 drill ploughs. 

3 drill grubbers.

 2 grubbers 

6 sets harrows. 

2 sets six leaf harrows. 

1 set H. and B. harrows. 

7 drays and frames. 

1 sulky plough. 

1 grass seed scutcher. 

1 thatch making machine. 

1 hay rake.

1 cambridge roller. 

1 iron presser. 

1 grass seed sower. 

1 earth scoop. 

2 iron grain scoops.

4 straw rope twisters. 

6 large paddock watering troughs. 

1 buggy, single. 

1 waggonette 

1 double cheese press.

In addition was harness and "sundries too numerous to mention”. Wright Stephenson and Co. were the auctioneers, and the notice concluded with “Train leaves Dunedin at 9.10 a.m. on morning of sale for Shands siding, returning 6 p.m."

And so the glory passed for Peter. No longer would he be called “Gowrie”, for another had the right to that title. He bought a cottage in Outram, near the scene of his former glory, and there he lived with his young wife.

What did he think, this man who had been the laird of fertile acres. this man whose interests had been so wide; this man to whom a North Island buyer had offered one thousand guineas for a team of three magnificent young bay mares with which he was ploughing; this man who had whistled and sung to himself all day as he followed behind the slow moving bullocks?

A series of misadventures led to the selling of “Gowrie”: The depression of the eighties, the lavish spending, the alienation of his family and finally his own ill health. Had the father been more understanding of the young people, had the sons been more tolerant, had he avoided the last unfortunate marriage, the place could have been retained. The home had been such a hospitable one, and so many unfortunates had been comforted there, the two sick sister-in-laws were nursed there, the old father and uncle ended their days there, the ailing niece and the one-legged cousin were welcomed at “Gowrie”, and now “Gowrie" had to be sold. All his grief for the lost property was shown in the name he gave to the son which his young wife bore him, the name by which the father was no longer called, "Gowrie”.

Before the year was out, Peter died. On October 16th, 1891, he passed away, aged sixty-five years. The little Gowrie did not long survive him, as he died the following April, aged one year and nine months.

In the “Otago Witness” appeared the following obituary:

“He early settled on a piece of land in West Taieri of exceptional fertility. The crops which he reaped were truly golden. As a farmer he was enterprising, investing in the newest machinery. In fact it has been said of him that his only weakness as a cultivator was his too great readiness to employ costly machinery. He reared a large family on his farm, and as a settler was helpful and hospitable. He took an intelligent interest in all public affairs, and was a member of various local bodies, and an earnest supporter of church and school. Like many of our farmers, he made money, and lost it, but, till laid aside by illness, he worked with the hope and heart of youth to retrieve the losses of other years. But this was not to be. The deceased, who was thrice married, leaves a widow and a large family, mostly grown up. The news of his death will be learnt with regret throughout the Taieri and the whole colony.” 

In the Taieri Advocate, 7th November, appeared the following tribute, signed by “Willow”, but identified as his friend and trustee William Snow. The newspapers of the period show that Mr. Snow took a very prominent part in local body affairs. The tribute reads:

“Having known the late Mr Peter Grant intimately for over 30 years, I feel that it may not be out of place for me to put on record a few lines in his favour, just to point out to those not so well acquainted with his career as I am, the active part he took in promoting the welfare of the West Taieri district in its early days. In the days to which I refer, we had no Road Boards. Those settlers who wished for roads had to band together and help themselves, with their own labour and out of their own purses. Mr. Grant was one of those early pioneers who assisted in making the road through to Woodside, and was also one of the few who took an active share in erecting the first river embankment. He not only worked himself, but sent horses, drays and men to assist in the work, and did this entirely free of charge. It was to him, and the late James Shand, James Allan, J. Dow and D. Borrie that the settlers of West Taieri are indebted for the present embankment.

As soon as a Road Board was created, Mr. Grant was elected a member, and retained his seat until his death. Year after year, he was elected chairman.

In other local bodies he likewise took an active part. He was chairman of the Outram School Committee, and in that capacity was a great favourite with the little ones of the district, who will miss his kindly face and genial manner at their next picnic, at which he was always a regular attender, and always endeavoured to amuse and please the children. Mr Grant was one of those who first invited those of the settlers in the East Taieri who were interested in the subject, to have their land brought under the jurisdiction of the River Board Act. He pointed out to the settlers of East Taieri what would be the result of the embankment upon the West side of the river, if those on the East side did not join in the scheme. A public meeting  was called at Outram to discuss the question, and after considerable discussion, the settlers on the East side declined to join in the project for embanking the river. Many of the West side settlers were anxious that the East side would join in the scheme, because they foresaw that, unless the river was embanked on both sides, some injury was sure to be inflicted upon the settlers on the East side, as the land upon the unprotected side would merely act as a reservoir in times of flood. As the East Taieri settlers would not join in the scheme, they had to go ahead with the scheme without them.

Over this large undertaking, Mr Grant acted as Inspector of Works, and it is largely owing to his assiduity that the settlers are now indebted for the existing embankment, which will long serve as a monument to his memory.

He occupied a seat on the Taieri County Council but had to resign owing to failing health. He was not given to verbosity but when he did speak it was with soberness and truth. As a good neighbour missed. He was courteous and generous to all, and was ever ready to come to a friend in need.

He leaves behind him to mourn his loss a widow, nine daughters and a host of friends.

If ever there should be another Diogenes in search of an honest man let me call upon him, and I shall show him where one lies buried.

May those whom Mr. Grant has left behind him follow in his steps. He was honest and just in all his dealings, let them be the same and when the day comes that they shall be called away, the only epitomise that they shall require will be “There lies an honest man."

THE CHILDREN OF “GOWRIE”

 Peter, in true Victorian manner, became the father of a large family – twelve in all, ten of whom, nine sons and a daughter, lived to grow up. Peter was very strict with his family, the typical Victorian father of the period. Perhaps with a large family of growing boys, a busy homestead, and later, a stepmother who was ailing for many years, strict discipline was necessary. His fault probably lay in refusing to recognise when they had reached maturity. He was a keen churchman, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church at West Taieri, a parish that was established in 1860. In later years it was quite a sight to see the pew filled with stalwart Grant boys standing, with arms folded, during the prayers.

The education of the children posed quite a problem. At first there was governesses and for a time the children wrote letters to Mrs. Kilkland of Elm Grove who corrected the letters for them - a surprisingly modern method of teaching. Later Charles and Peter went to Allanton School, crossing the Taieri River by rowing boat. Then, with Mary and some younger ones, they attended Outram School.

The rise leading out of Outram and known as the Buckeye was lined with hotels in those days, as it was a day's journey from Dunedin for waggoners on their way to the goldfields with provisions. The children coming home from school would also see the gold coach passing with the escort galloping alongside with pistols cocked.

When Peter married Mary Osborne the older ones were sent to Oamaru to school, Peter, Charles, Mary. Mr. Fitzgerald was in charge of the school. Miss Fitzgerald, his sister. looked after the girls, and their part was known as  the Nunnery, while the boys lived at the Rectory. They travelled by boat from Port Chalmers to Oamaru, and were taken ashore in surf boats.

Peter Junior, writing in 1937, does not mention his schooling but writes “Charles and I went to Otago Boys' High School for two or three terms about 1871. (The Old Boys' Register records Peter and Charles in the 1871 entrances). Stuart Hawthorne was the Rector and was tutor at the Rectory which had just been opened so we were among the first boarders there. If I remember correctly about 30 when it started. I do not think either of us benefited much from our attendance at the school. Our primary education had been very intermittent and was not far advanced enough for entry into High School. We were hustled into higher mathematics, Latin and such like without a sufficient knowledge of the basic subjects. The result was it got us nowhere, only muddle. All the same, Charlie was a member of the Rectory Rugby Football team, and played in the first fifteen, so that was something. I believe the Rugby football inaugurated by G. M. Thomson was about the first played in New Zealand."

Charles became a farmer, and took up land at Oamaru. He married Mary Carmichael, and had one daughter and four sons, all of whom are farmers. Three sons served in World War 1.

In 1874, Peter at the age of eighteen, was apprenticed to a mechanical engineering firm in Dunedin. He and another apprentice lodged with a family of Wilson's, who lived in Rosses Buildings, a four storied edifice in the Octagon. Here he had a most terrifying experience, when fire broke out. From the “Otago Witness”, 13th September, 1879:

“One of the most exciting experiences was that of two young men, Peter Grant, son of Mr. Grant of “Gowrie”, and Edward Jenkinson. Grant was awakened by a cry of "Fire", and roused Jenkinson. They lit a candle, and found the room full of smoke. Looking out of the window, they saw flames coming out of the café windows on the ground floor. At the same time, two men evidently attracted by their light, called out, 'For God's sake show us an outlet.' Grant opened the door, and the room filled with heat and smoke, he and Jenkinson made for the passage. Neither thought of his watch underneath the pillow, nor did Jenkinson remember a purse on the table with about £6 in it. Grant was fortunate enough to pick up a pair of trousers with £2 in the pocket. He also picked up another pair of trousers and his volunteer carbine and cutlass. They told the men to follow ...

As they reached the top of the stairs, a tongue of flame was roaring along the passage. How they reached the bottom floor, neither knows, but after getting outside and having a breath of air, the subject of what had become of the two men and the Wilson children was broached. The two agreed to go upstairs again, and although they described the heat as something fearful, especially in the second storey, they did get up, Grant leading the way. Just on the landing, Grant found Louisa Wilson whom he took in his arms. It was impossible to go further, and another scramble downstairs succeeded. Both stated when they turned to go back they despaired of reaching the bottom again. However they did so, both getting burned on the hands and also on the face slightly with the addition of a good deal of singeing about the hair. The young men escaped with nothing but coat and trousers, and Grant handed over the extra pair of trousers to an unfortunate fellow he found down stairs without any. About ten lives were lost in the fire. All of the Wilson family, except Louisa and her sister were among the dead.”

Peter became a marine engineer, and was at sea for many years. He then became an Inspector of Machinery and Surveyor of Ships.

Mary, the only daughter, and the Lass of Gowrie, should have been the gayest girl on the Taieri Plains, but she suffered from shyness, a common failing of the Grants. When Mary was about seven the children had a governess, Miss Hughes, who was leaving and returning to England. It was decided to send Mary with her. Why the little girl was sent is a mystery. Whether Elizabeth had relatives in Kent, whether her family had broken off with her when she married, and she hoped the child would heal the breach is speculation. The fact is that Mary lived for two years with Miss Hughes' family, but did not visit any relatives. Then the news came that her mother was dead. Miss Hughes then brought her back to Gowrie, in fact it was whispered that Miss Hughes hoped to become the mistress of Gowrie. In that she was disappointed, for, by the time she returned, Peter had married Mary Osbourne.

All Mary remembered of her trip was seeing an iceberg as they sailed round the Horn, seeing the Crystal Palace in London, and learning to spell RHUBARB, from seeing it written in a shop window.

On her return, Mary was sent with her brothers to school at Oamaru. Later she attended Otago Girl's High School, but did not like it, owing probably to insufficient grounding.

So Mary returned to Gowrie, and remained there until her marriage. There was much work to be done, and many sick people to be nursed. Mary took her share, and was with her Grandfather, Charles, when he passed away. Her early acquaintance with sadness gave her a kindliness and sympathy, and where there was trouble, there was Mary Carruthers, as she became. On her Father's third marriage, she left home. She then married Robert Carruthers, and had two daughters and a son who served in the First World War, and rose to the rank of captain.

William was a farmer in the Taranaki Province. He had three sons and one daughter.

Edward, too, was a farmer. He managed Gladbrook at Middlemarch, before going to Taranaki.

Alfred, who was a blacksmith. went to the North Island. He had two daughters.

Ritchings was a teacher. He was the first pupil teacher at the Taieri School. After attending the Otago University, he taught at North East Valley, then Tinkers, near Clyde. He then went to the North Island where his brother William was farming. He taught at the Wanganui Boys School, and married while there. He later became Principal of the Timaru Technical School, and finally Inspector Supervisor of Manual Training with headquarters in Christchurch. He had two sons.

Herbert was an engineer, and worked for many years at the Mosgiel Woollen Factory. He had one daughter.

Harry went to the Klondyke Gold Rush in 1897, when about 19. After some years he joined the Forest Rangers in Northern Canada. He enlisted in World War I, and attained the rank of Sergeant. He was killed in action in France in 1916, and is buried in the Canadian Cemetery, Nancy. Peter Grant Junior visited his grave in 1926.

Ernest was an engineer, and worked in the Sydney Graving Dock. He was unmarried.

This is the Peter Grant Family Tree

The Generation of PETER GRANT, of Gowrie, son of Charles.

Peter married (1) Elizabeth Ritchings. 

Children of Peter and Elizabeth Grant: 

1. Charles, born 26/10/1857; died 1928. 

2. Peter, born 12/2/1859; died 1942. 

3. Mary, born 26/4/1862. 

4. William Brooks. 

5. Ritchings, born 1864; died 1937. 

6. Alfred Hughes. 

7. Edward Percy.

Peter married (2) Mary Osborne. 

8. Harry Osborne, born 1878; unmarried; killed in action in France, 1916. 

9. Herbert George. 

10. Ernest; unmarried.

Peter married (3) 

11. Gowrie, born 1890; died in infancy.

The Generation of CHARLES GRANT, son of Peter.

Charles married Mary Carmichael and farmed near Oamaru. 

Children of Charles and Mary Grant: 

1. Eunice, unmarried. 

2. Peter 

3. Malcolm, unmarried. 

4. Osborne, deceased. 

5. John, unmarried.

The Generation of PETER GRANT, son of Charles.

Peter married Jessie Paterson. 

Children of Peter and Jessie Grant: 

1. Malcolm John. 

2. Douglas.

The Generation of PETER GRANT, son of Peter.

Peter married (1) Mary Ryan.

No family.

Peter married (2) Bertha Joyce.

No family.

The Generation of MARY GRANT, daughter of Peter.

Mary married Robert Carruthers. 

Children of Mary and Robert Carruthers: 

1. Jane Wilson, born 1893. 

2. David Robert, born 1896. 

3. Mary Elizabeth Ritchings, 1904.

The Generation of JANE WILSON CARRUTHERS, daughter of Mary Carruthers(nee Grant).

Jane married Adam Harris, of Green Island. 

Child of Jane and Adam Harris:

Alvan Stuart, born 1920, unmarried.

The Generation of DAVID ROBERT CARRUTHERS, son of Mary Carruthers (nee Grant), 

David married Mary Ruby Rose Evans. 

Children of David and Mary Carruthers, of Papatoetoe: 

1. Alan Robert Carruthers, born 1921. 

2. Peter Osborne Carruthers, born 1927.

The Generation of ALAN ROBERT CARRUTHERS, son of David.

Alan married Mavis Watt. 

Children of Alan and Mavis Carruthers, of Hamilton: 

1. Colin Robert Carruthers, born 1945. 

2. David Carruthers 

3. Janet Carruthers (twins) born 1947. 

4. Robyn, born 1961.

The Generation of PETER OSBORNE CARRUTHERS, son of David.

Peter married Judy Field. 

Children of Peter and Judy Carruthers, now resident in England: 

1. Anthony David, born 1958. 

2. Letitia Ann, born 1960. 

3. Sarah Jane, born 1963.

The Generation of MARY ELIZABETH RITCHINGS CARRUTHERS,

daughter of Mary Carruthers (nee Grant). 

Mary married James Smeaton Downie Aitken. 

Children of James and Mary Aitken, of Lyttelton: 

1. Thomas Aitken, born 1932. 

2. Mary Grant Aitken, born 1935. 

3. Robert Carruthers Aitken, born 1937. 

4. James Downie Aitken, born 1940; died 1957.

The Generation of THOMAS AITKEN. son of Mary E. R. Aitken (nee Carruthers)

Thomas married Patricia Gail Woodworth. 

Children of Thomas and Patricia Aikten, of Northcote. 

1. Scott Thomas Aitken, born 1955. 

2. Grant Michael Aitken, born 1957. 

3. Rory Patrick James Aitken, born 1959.

 4. Jacqueline Fiona Aitken, born 1961. 

5. Anthony Aitken, born 1964.

The generation of MARY GRANT AITKEN.

daughter of Mary E. R. Aitken ( nee Carruthers).

Mary married John Small Downie. 

Children of John and Mary Downie, of Lyttelton: 

1. Brodie Grant Downie, born 1959. 

2. John Smail Downie, born 1960,

The Generation of ROBERT CARRUTHERS AITKEN,

son of Mary E. R. Aitken (nee Carruthers).

Robert married Marie Wassell. 

Children of Robert and Marie Aitken, of Lyttelton: 

1. Wendy Lynn Aitken, born 1962. 

2.Deborah Marie Aitken, born 1964.

The Generation of WILLIAM BROOKS GRANT, son of Peter.

William married Emily Agnes Bosley, who died in 1964, at the age of 96. 

Children of William and Emily Grant: 

1. Isabella Agnes (Ella), born 1896. 

2. Harry William. 

3. David Ritchings (unmarried). 

4. Edwin Ivo.

The Generation of ELLA GRANT, daughter of William B.

Ella married Donald Kemp, of Warrington. 

Children of Donald and Ella Kemp. 

1. Colin Angus, born 1923.

 2. Douglas Grant, born 1924. 

3. Mavis Katherine, born 1927.

 4. Alma Isabella, born 1928. 

5. Ngaire Agnes, born 1931. 

6. Neville Brooks, born 1932 (unmarried). 

7. Valerie Sylvia, born 1937.

The Generation of COLIN ANGUS KEMP, son of Ella Kemp (nee Grant).

Colin married Olive Marshall, of Eketahuna. 

Children of Colin and Olive Kemp: 

1. Stuart Kemp, born 1955. 

2. Ian Kemp, born 1961.

The Generation of DOUGLAS GRANT KEMP, son of Ella Kemp (nee Grant).

Douglas married Joyce Donaldson, Green Valley, Palmerston. 

Children of Douglas and Joyce Kemp: 

1. Grant Kemp, born 1953. 

2. Donald Kemp, born 1956. 

3. John Kemp, born 1957.

The Generation of MAVIS KATHERINE KEMP, daughter of Ella Kemp (nee Grant).

Mavis married Lindsay Hellyer, of Seaward Downs.

 Children of Lindsay and Mavis Hellyer: 

1. Sylvia Hellyer, born 1951. 

2. Valmai Hellyer, born 1953. 

3. Neil Hellyer, born 1956.

The Generation of ALMA ISABELLA KEMP, daughter of Ella Kemp (nee Grant).

Alma married James Donaldson, Waverley, Dunedin. 

Children of James and Alma Donaldson: 

1. Heather Donaldson, born 1954. 

2. Lynette Donaldson, born 1956. 

3. Christine Donaldson, born 1962.

The Generation of NGAIRE AGNES KEMP, daughter of Ella Kemp (nee Grant)

Ngaire married Graham Thompson of Dovedale, Wakefield, Nelson. Children of Graham and Ngaire Thompson: 

1. Robin, born 1956. 

2. Chris, born 1961. 

3. Jennifer, born 1955.

The Generation of VALERIE SYLVIA KEMP, daughter of Ella Kemp (nee Grant).

Valerie married Richard Mitchell, of Wanganui. 

Child of Richard and Valerie Mitchell:

Ken Donald, born 1963.

The Generation of HARRY WILLIAM GRANT, son of William B. Grant, Wellington.

Harry married ????

Child of Harry Grant:

Esma.

The Generation of ESMA GRANT, daughter of Harry William Grant.

Esma married Jack McSweeney. 

Children of Jack and Esma McSweeney: 

1. Morna, born 1953. 

2. Lee, born 1954.

The Generation of EDWIN IVO GRANT, son of William B. Grant,

Vogeltown, New Plymouth. Ivo married - ???

Child of Ivo: 

1. Ellen.

The Generation of RITCHINGS GRANT, son of Peter.

Ritchings married Helen McFarlane. 

Children of Ritchings and Helen Grant: 

1. Ritchings Delwyn McFarlane Grant. 

2. David Leslie Grant.

The Generation of RITCHINGS DELWYN MCFARLANE GRANT, of Christchurch, son of Ritchings. 

Delwyn married Murray Douglas, no family.

The Generation of DAVID LESLIE GRANT, son of Ritchings.

David Leslie married Grace Flanagan.

Child of David and Grace Grant, of Christchurch: 

1. Ritchings David McFarlane Grant.

The Generation of RITCHINGS DAVID MCFARLANE GRANT,

of Christchurch, son of David Leslie. 

Ritchings married Patricia Warnock.

The Generation of ALFRED HUGHES GRANT, son of Peter.

Alfred married Elizabeth Cunnington Wallace. 

Children of Alfred and Elizabeth Grant: 

1. Mary Elizabeth (deceased). 

2. Margaret Jessie.

The Generation of MARGARET JESSIE GRANT, daughter of Alfred Hughes Grant.

Margaret married John William Feek, of Taita, Wellington. 

Child of John and Margaret Feek: 

1. Jeffrey Grant.

The Generation of JEFFREY GRANT FEEK, son of Margaret Jessie Feek (nee Grant).

Jeffrey Grant married Helen Margaret Bainden. 

Children of Jeffrey and Margaret Feek: 

1. Jennifer Helen. 

2. Diana Margaret. 

3. Jane Monica.

The Generation of EDWARD PERCY GRANT, son of Peter. Edward P. married (1) Agnes Glenn (deceased, no family), (2) Lavina Emily Walker.

Children of Edward and Lavina Grant. 

1. Jean Mears.

2. Lavina Muriel.

The Generation of JEAN MEARS GRANT, daughter of Edward P.

Jean married Cyril James Franklin, of Hastings. 

Children of Cyril and Jean Franklin: 

1. Beverley Jeanette. 

2. Heather Jillane. 

3. James Grant.

The Generation of LAVINA MURIEL GRANT, daughter of Edward, Hawera.

Muriel married Thomas Keith Cambie. 

Children of Thomas and Lavina Cambie: 

1. Heather. 

2. Maetel. 

3. David Grant. 

4. Alan Grant.

The Generation of HERBERT GEORGE GRANT, son of Peter.

Herbert married Julianna Townsend. 

Child of Herbert and Julianna Grant: 

1. Mary Lucy (Maisie).

The Generation of MARY LUCY GRANT, daughter of Herbert.

Maisie married George Walter Cuthill, of Christchurch. Child of George and Maisie Cuthill: 

1. Rhona Julianna.

The Generation of RHONA JULIANNA CUTHILL,

daughter of Mary Lucy (Maisie) Cuthill (nee Grant).

Rhona married Bruce Davies, of Johnsonville. 

Children of Bruce and Rhona Davies: 

1. Alaistar. 

2. Lester George.