William(Will) Grant

William(1) Grant

1836-1913

William Grant was born in September 1836 at Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, the third of eight children of Charles and Janet (Gellately) Grant. At 15, In 1851 he was living at Berry Hilloch Farm, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, as a Farmer Servant. With him were James, J, and A. Anderson, obviously the owner family, and also James Mitchell, Graal Hume, and John Annison.  At 20, in 1856, he emigrated with his brother John, from Scotland on the 450 ton "Strathmore", disembarking on 2 October at Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. They were welcomed onto his brother Peter's farm “Gowrie”  on the Taieri Plain where Peter was farming his 310 acres successfully and was happy to provide employment and experience for his younger brothers. In addition to a full range of agriculture this employment included driving Peter's teams of bullocks – outstanding teams in their time – freighting goods of all kinds to the diggings. After gold was discovered by Gabriel Read near Lawrence in 1861 and by Hartley and Reilly at the Dunstan the following year, large numbers of miners were attracted to these areas. The waggoneer's work was heavy and at times not without  excitement for bush-rangers and tough characters were not unknown. William's interests and thoughts, however, were linked with the land and in July 1864 he acquired by Crown Grant a holding of 105 acres at the south end of the Tokomairiro Plain, some four miles south of the present town of Milton and three-quarters of a mile east of the main south road of today. The district, then known as Southbridge, is now called Moneymore. In January 1870, another block of 105 acres on the opposite side of Moneymore Road was bought from John Graham. The farm was at the foot of the low hills between the Plain and Lovell's Flat, higher than the central part of the plain and therefore considerably drier. As the centre in those early days of settlement was covered with nigger heads, flax and toi-toi, it was avoided. On a gentle rise on the property, a wattle and daub house was built and to this home, in 1866, William brought his bride, Ellen Buchanan, second daughter of Thomas and Margaret Buchanan of “Clairinch,” West Taieri, whom he had met during his sojourn in the Taieri, and to whom he was married by the Rev. Wm. Gillies at the home of her parents. While William was employed by his brother in freighting goods to the diggings, he came to know well Walter Watson who was also so employed and it was through this friendship that William became acquainted with the Buchanan family for they and the Watsons had been fellow passengers on the “Philip Laing” in 1848 and settled near each other on the Taieri. The early friendship with Walter Watson was renewed when William Grant became his near neighbour after the latter's return to the Taieri and was cemented further by the marriage of his son Robert to Elizabeth Watson in January 1905. 

Ellen Grant had been through the full experiences of pioneering and was a wonderful help-mate through all the years of their married life. In the years before her marriage she knew what it was to walk to Dunedin, a distance of 15 miles over roadless country, and she used to relate an experience on one such occasion. On the return trip she was somewhat confused at one point in the area near North Taieri where two tracks crossed. There she met a man whom she asked for directions. “She'll keep on and she'll come when she'll see like she'll see a man but she'll not be a man she'll be a cabbage tree and she'll keep the footpath under she's foot” was the reply. Her Highland guide was Alan Boyd, a well known and respected settler in North Taieri.

During his years at Southbridge, William developed in his quiet way the qualities of citizenship, exemplified by his lifelong service to the Presbyterian Church and his support of education. It is on record that he was a member of the first School Committee which was elected in January 1871 and was re-elected for a second term. He was Chairman for a period in the Committee's first term and was retained as Chairman in the subsequent term 1875 - 1877 when he resigned as a result of his decision to return to the Taieri to take over “Clairinch”.

It is interesting to note that over the years there have been intermittent family contacts with the locality in which William Grant established his first home. His son, John Buchanan Grant, was Head Teacher at the Tokoiti School in his early teaching career, as was a granddaughter (Ellen Mary Keeley, nee Wyllie). His eldest grandson, William, was Headmaster of the Tokomairiro District High School, and another grandson, Thomas, today manages the Milton branch of the Bank of New Zealand and has had the pleasure of discovering in the Bank records, the signature of his grandfather who opened an account in 1868.

In June 1877, almost a year after his father-in-law's death, William Grant sold the Southbridge farm and returned to the Taieri to take up residence at “Clairinch”, first as sub-lessee for a few years and then as lessee up till the time of his death. In the Bruce Herald dated 26th June 1877 the following item of news was recorded: “The arrival of Mr. Wm. Grant, late of Southbridge, at his new quarters, “Clairinch Farm," West Taieri, was celebrated on Friday last when his new neighbours turned out to give him a day's ploughing. His old friends, by whom he was greatly respected, will be glad to learn that Mr. Grant is likely to be as greatly esteemed elsewhere as he was in Southbridge.” And so it proved to be. "Clairinch,” near where the Taieri River leaves its gorge and enters the plain, was the Rural allotment chosen by Thomas Buchanan who, with his wife and six of a family, left their home in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, and sailed in the first emigrant ship bound for Otago, the “Philip Laing”, arriving in Dunedin on April 15th, 1848. For a few years the family resided at Halfway Bush, where the youngest child, Mary, was born in 1853. After losing their home by fire, they moved to “Clairinch”, so named by virtue of the association of the Buchanans over several centuries of Scottish history with the small wooded island of that name in the waters of Loch Lomond. The Graham family also had an historical link with the Loch Lomond Clairinch and incidentally Mrs. Buchanan's maiden name was Margaret Graham which name was given to William Grant's only daughter, Margaret Graham Grant and her son David Graham Wyllie carries the link to the second generation of New Zealanders.

Quite close to the present Outram – Mosgiel road Thomas Buchanan built a house of wattle and daub, with thatched roof. For a few months until the school at West Taieri was opened in 1858, the Buchanan home; housed not only the family, but also the school master, Mr. Gardiner and his two sisters. When school was being held in the “ben”, the Misses Gardner had to go “but” with the Buchanans or go outside. Mid-day dinner was taken in the school play period, and school resumed following the clearing up after the meal. In this well built house church services were held and here William Grant and his family lived for a year or two until the present two-storeyed wooden house was built. Later it was utilised as a man's room, storeroom, workroom, and separator room well into the 20th Century and is well remembered by many of William's grandchildren although it is now no more. A well-stocked vegetable garden and large orchard were integral parts of living a healthy life off what the land produced and in this respect, “Clairinch”, right from early times, has been no exception. Adjacent to the “auld hoose”, Thomas Buchanan established a large vegetable garden the location of which has not been changed over the years. Along three sides were planted gooseberry bushes and currant bushes - black, red, and white, which provided ample luscious berries. Fruit trees also were planted by him, but the main orchard with its many varieties of apple trees and plum trees, adjoining the vegetable garden, was established by William Grant in the early 1890s. Long before this, however, some apple trees and a pear tree were planted on the west side of the present house and the roadway leading to it, while below the house grew pear trees which still bear prolifically, and a few cherry trees. In front of the then new house a flower garden was neatly laid out, the various beds being edged with the low growing box-hedge, so popular at that time. Before the verandah was added, a very large apricot tree was trained up the north-east corner of the house, its branches reaching to the spouting. To store the apples for winter use an addition known as the apple house, was built on to the dairy. 

The original surveyed road to Outram cut off to the left towards the bottom of "Clairinch” hill – where it passed quite close to a cottage and section occupied by Robert Buchanan - and carried on to cross the river at a point about half a mile down stream from the present bridge. The crossing was known as the Upper Taieri ferry and was part of the public highway with a boat manned by an official ferryman with a set rate of charges. After the bridge was built, complete with toll house, and the line of the road altered, the ford was still widely used in dry seasons, the toll keeper ruefully regarding the proceedings no doubt. The old ford is still doubtless “the ford” to Outram residents today as the over-the-river-bank terminus of Holyhead Street and the sons of William Grant frequently effected their crossings of the river on their journeys to and from school as passengers on the drays of the contracting firm of the Messrs Hannah who carted gravel over a lengthy period of years for the Taieri County Council. The cottage occupied by Robert Buchanan and known to all the Grant family as “Uncle Robert's cottage” was another of the wattle and daub construction and it too withstood the ravages of time in an unoccupied and roofless state until about 1920. The section of an acre on which it stood was enclosed by trees and hedges and Robert Buchanan, a keen and successful gardener, grew both flowers and vegetables in profusion. A prolific patch of blackberry is well remembered by many of William's grandchildren, as indeed is the cottage, which was to some of them a playhouse (and rabbiting headquarters) in the later years of disuse.

On retiring from active farming, Thomas Buchanan built a five roomed house on the foothill at the west end of “Clairinch” and leased the farm When he died a few months later, “Clairinch” was left to the youngest child, Mary, and the ownership remains in the Buchanan family to this day, in the persons of her two granddaughters.

Although five sons and their only daughter were born in Southbridge, “Clairinch” was the true home of William and Ellen Grant. Two sons were born there and the whole family grew up in happy harmony until in turn most of them hived off to make their respective ways in life. The youngest son, Thomas Buchanan Grant, who was born and spent practically all his life on the property, resided there until 1963 and his son George is the present lessee. This must be a most unique family connection. If the starting point is deemed to be the marriage of Ellen Buchanan and William Grant 1866, it is almost 100 years since the Grants and Buchanans were related by marriage, and only a slightly shorter period as lessor and lessee.

Clairinch” was always the “pigeon loft” to the daughter and sons William and Ellen Grant and even after the death of their parents in 1912 and 1913 respectively, members of the family returned on occasional visits to the home of their childhood and youth. This affection was something passed on to the grandchildren and many of them still regard a visit to the Taieri home of the grandparents as a “must” when visiting in the south. As a farm of 160 acres. “Clairinch” consists of a relatively narrow strip and on the hill side of the main Mosgiel - Outram road and the greater part on the lower side of the road running down to the bank of the Taieri River which sweeps back in a wide loop on its tortuous way across the plain after leaving the Gorge. The hill portion stops at the clay edge of the hill and the lower portion is good alluvial soil with an increasing percentage of sandy soil in a low lying corner of the farm at the South West boundary.  Cereal and root cropping, dairying, and grazing of sheep and cattle have all been carried on successfully in the history of “Clairinch”, and in some notes of his lifetime on the property, Thomas records interestingly the advent of progress. The combined properties of "Clairinch" and "Gladfield" to which a further 50 acres was added by purchase in 1960 made an excellent area for the training of his sons in both the practical work and the economics of farming. 

 At 75, on Thursday 7 November 1912, William died at "Clairinch" Farm, W. Taieri, Otago, New Zealand and was buried in the West Taieri Cemetery, Otago, New Zealand.

Reminiscences of “Clairinch” by Thomas Buchanan Grant.

“Clairinch”, where I was born over 80 years ago, has been my home for practically all my life. Because of the wonderful heritage we had in our God-fearing father and mother, our home was one of which their family have the fondest memories. With its fine background of bluegum and other trees, the two-storeyed house built about 1878 to take the place of the wattle and daub cottage, had a pleasing setting indeed. On the roadside boundary near which were, and still are, the barns and sheds, was a line of eight or ten gum trees and how lovely it was in those, my early, years when the gums were in blossom to see large numbers of tuis, attracted by the nectar, flying to and fro between the roadside trees and those behind the house. On a fine morning their deep-throated song filled the air. Alas, as the years passed this active and interesting group of our native population declined and finally disappeared. The plantation trees, too, in time reached maturity and had to be felled, cut into fencing posts, timber and firewood until there were not many left.

Before I reached school age it was natural that, with so many brothers about, I, the number eight of the family, often found my way out to the field to be with some of them. On one occasion, Robert was working in a field near the house gathering couch grass and carting it off with horse and tip-dray to tip it over the bank of a lagoon nearby. Going over to him when the full load was on, and “boy-like” asking for a ride, I was promptly hoisted to the top and off we went. The well-trained mare, Jean, knew her drill all too well and backed so quickly that the dray went over the bank, but fortunately kept on an even keel until a stout willow stopped what would have been a nasty accident. “Number eight” was rescued and everything righted but that was the last of the free rides. I remember clearly the penny farthing bicycles which Will and Jack each had. These machines had one big wheel and a much smaller one, and not only called for good balance but demanded skill in braking and navigating between potholes and bumps. The sudden application of the brake or poor navigation meant being bucked off suddenly and from quite a height.

My school days over, I commenced my farming probation as the cowboy with promotion subsequently to the use and care of horses. One incident vividly comes to my mind. Father arranged for me to drive mother to visit a great friend. The harness horse, “Whisky” by name, was one Will had sent up from Southland where he was employed in a cheese factory. The name “Whisky” suggests that perhaps it was bred in the Hokonui district. All went well until on the homeward way, I rather carelessly allowed the reins to go slack. Feeling the tickling on his rump, “Whisky” gave a full circle swish of his bushy tail, collecting both reins under it, thereafter taking charge. When one foot came through the front board mother was kicked on the leg. It was fortunate in one way that this happened on Outram's main thoroughfare for two men came to the rescue, one of them giving me a lecture for driving with a slack rein. I expected a wigging from father, but not even “Well that coo's the cuddy," (in other words, That beats everything) – a delightful expression he occasionally used when some really out of the ordinary happening confronted him.

Tilling of the soil was a regular feature of farming operations and was carried out with a single furrow plough drawn by a pair of horses; this was a tough assignment for any ploughman. Ploughing matches, usually held in a winter month, were quite an event. It is interesting to note that the first match in Otago was held at Tokomairiro in April 1856, when both bullock and horse teams competed. I recall a famous champion whose name was Mathew Clydesdale but the competitor I remember was Mr. Chris Webinson, with whom father had become acquainted in his Moneymore days. Chris was a first class ploughman and he had as one of his competitive team father's fine horse “Bonnie Jean.” Later the double-furrow and single digger, the latter for deep ploughing, gradually took over and ploughing matches for them were held until two World Wars intervened. Now ploughing matches again create great interest, tractor-drawn ploughs being predominant, and the New Zealand champion ploughman has the opportunity to compete overseas. Father was fond of his horses and “Clairinch” buggy was well known on the roads, it being rather different from most buggies in that those in the back seat sat back to back with those in the front one. Every Sunday, regardless of weather conditions, unless a flood intervened, it was driven to West Taieri Presbyterian Church, a drive of several miles. In those days, a certain amount of rivalry existed among a few of the members as to whose horse and buggy would be first away from the church stables, some horses  being as keen as, if not keener than their owners to be in the lead on the road.

How well I remember the old method of sowing the grain seed by hand. I can still see father with the canvas sheet draped in front of him striding along on top of the furrows which in those days, by special cut of sock and coulter, were narrower than present day ones, broadcasting the seed with both hands in steady rhythm with his stride. The narrow edge yielded to the subsequent harrowing to provide a good covering for the seed. Father was in touch with progressive developments and a grain drill was acquired in due course. Cutting of grain by scythe was a method I can just recall. It was a fine sight to see a gang of five or six men swinging their scythes and laying the cut grain in swathes to be hand tied. These, when dry, were hulled by a flail and then winnowed. Back delivery was my first personal contact with grain cutting. It was a stout machine drawn by a pair of horses, with one man driving them and another handling the rake controlling the grain and leaving behind the cut grain in small heaps to be hand tied into sheaves by the man following. The sheaves then had to be stooked. An improvement on this machine was the “side-delivery", which one man could manage. The advent of the reaper and binder was next. It gathered cut grain into sheaves, bound them with twine, and rolled them off the machine to the ground. Leading in and stacking the sheaves were followed by threshing. So passed the busy days in summer heat. For some years now the machine age has taken over, header-harvesters, hay-balers, and other farm machines, doing away with much of the hard, time-consuming work. Gone, too, to a great extent are the fine Clydesdales and working horses, once the pride of Scottish farms. Mixed farming was Father's policy. Haymaking, dairying, growing of turnips and mangolds for winter feed and of potato crops provided continual activity. In my younger days father had a herd of between 20 to 30 cows, all to be milked by hand. Butter making from the cream skimmed from carefully strained milk set out in pans was the task of mother and sister Margaret. The auld clay hoose found a new tenant when a separator was purchased. Later on father bought a swing churn of oblong shape made in Canada. This is still in good repair and does duty holding grain for fowl feed as no rats or mice can get into it. As time rolled on, butter making was finally dropped and the milk taken to the creamery, for several years by ourselves and later by the company's lorry.

There were ups and downs in father's farming life as in the fortunes of the people subject to seasonal factors. The Taieri River did not always flow quietly between willowed banks. After a steady easterly rain, usually of two to three days' duration, swirling floods poured down the mountain slopes through which the Taieri flows. Since the West Taieri bridge was built in 1864 there have been, at intervals, major floods which have caused the structure to tremble under the impact of rushing waters which at times have been within inches of its carriageway and which on occasion spilt themselves across valuable acres of the plain, “Clairinch” being one such farm affected. In the devastating flood in February, 1868, the viaduct leading to the bridge was washed away as was most of the earliest township of Outram which was rebuilt on a safer site. My first experience of a major flood was the 1892 one. It came at a most unfortunate time, right in the harvest. It so happened that most of father's crops that year were down in the lower parts of the farm, worse still, most of the grain crop had been cut and stooked. Alas most of it was swept away or the sheaves were left against the fences. Wild ducks were plentiful that season and were in great condition when the shooting season opened. Sad to say, a man was drowned in a field nearby while trying to remove a mare and foal grazing there. The school children on our side of the river welcomed the diversion from school as four days went by before the flood waters receded sufficiently for us to reach the township. Brother John at the time was a pupil teacher at Outram School. A slave to duty, he reached the school by walking along the river bank on Buchanan and Carmichael property to the railway bridge, a foot planking over the centre of which enabled him to cross and so along  the railway line to the Allanton-Outram Road at Abbotsford siding.

Just recently I was interested to note the Taieri County Council has decided to replace the Taieri Bridge which has been so much the link between “Clairinch” and Outram and the West Taieri. The bridge I have known all my lifetime was built in Scotland in 1862 and was destined to go to India but was diverted to New Zealand and acquired by the Provincial Government under pressure from gold miners who had to cross the Taieri river at Outram en route to and from the goldfields.

In the days of my youth, the young men, in the limited time available, took a keen interest in sporting activities. Cricket was my first love. Arthur and I took part in some of the picnic games of cricket both at Outram and Wyllie's Crossing. A few enthusiasts used to meet on fine evenings in a field near the Crossing and occasionally a match was arranged with N. Taieri or E. Taieri. These picnic games were most enjoyable. The personnel were nearly all farmers and the ladies turned out with the host club in providing afternoon tea. Caledonian sports were a regular and popular feature in the Taieri and included quite a wide variety of items. While Robert and I were members of the West Taieri Band, it was on several occasions engaged to supply the music at the Outram games, a popular event usually held on Boxing Day. One season the Band was engaged þy the Waihola Sports Club on Christmas Day, Outram on Boxing Day, and Berwick Caledonian Sports on New Year's Day. For many years the Band held its annual picnic down at Taieri Mouth, transport from Henley to the Mouth being in McKegg's steamer. This was a very popular outing for other picnics as well as for that of the Band. The cultural interests were not neglected. In Outram a Mutual Improvement Society was formed in the 1890's and proved a great success. My sister and some of my brothers were keen members.

Edwin Grant writing in a reminiscent vein late in 1964 about “the days of his youth at Clairinch” reveals the real love of outdoor sporting activities associated with all William's sons. He too recalls the 1892 flood and the sad sight of the grain crop being washed away by the flood waters. At the same time, however, he remembers the portion of the farm known as "the Point” being completely surrounded by flood waters but accessible by boat and the shooting activities of his brother Charlie and a friend, called Millar, among the rabbits marooned on the island area in question. Duck shooting was a favourite seasonal sport and good opening day “bags” in those days were looked forward to with just as much keenness as rules today; there were a number of lagoons on and around “Clairinch”. He writes: ”Dad  did not take any part in such activities. He was always busy with farm work and did a good deal of carpentering and so on. Mother, too, was always busy, particularly at harvesting time with lots of “hands” (and mouths) to feed; sister Margaret was a great help and even after her marriage came to Outram to assist mother which made happy times for them both. Our only sister was deservedly popular and well liked. Dad was an Elder in Kirk and served on the Outram School Committee. “Clairinch” kitchen was a popular meeting place also for his fellow farmers round the district and it is my regret that I cannot recall the great tales exchanged about their early pioneering days in the Taieri and surrounding districts.” Edwin does recall however the story of Garrett, the bushranger, and his Uncle Peter of “Gowrie” as related elsewhere.

GLADFIELD 

Some ten years after coming to “Clairinch”, William acquired a property about one and a half miles nearer Mosgiel on the same main Outram Mosgiel road. “Gladfield” was taken up by Alexander Leith in the early 1850's. In 1860 he leased it to John Nisbet who, in partnership with Jas. Riddle, a local carrier and blacksmith, built on the lower side of the road an accommodation house, the “White Horse Inn” of some twelve rooms. Later he sub-let it to John Smith, another picturesque figure who earned for himself the name of “Night and Day Smith.” On the top side of the road, where the present farm buildings are now, was an eight-stalled stable with thatched roof. In the gully further up whence flows the little stream that runs through the property stood an old two-roomed clay house which probably housed the original owner.

“Gladfield” was a typical Taieri perimeter holding in that the property was situated on both sides of the road from which it sloped upwards to the hill boundary and downwards to what was at the time a swamp. In general its topography was very similar to that of “Clairinch” except that the lower portion had no river boundary and was serviced by a road which ran at right angles to the main road down to Gladfield railway siding, the railway line opened in 1877, forming the boundary.

Robert Grant, the baby of the family at the time of the move from Tokomairiro to “Clairinch” was a “resident son” on Gladfield, succeeding his brother Charles in that title, and writing from Christchurch shortly after celebrating his 87th birthday in July, 1963, he records that the state of the land and the building was a real challenge to the incoming owner. Wheat had been grown without a break on some portions for almost 20 years and wild oats and wild turnips reigned supreme. William Grant, however, accepted the challenge. “Gladfield” was well on the way to justification of his vision of a smiling homestead, tall trees, crops and grass in abundance before he handed on the torch. Robert recounts there was toil and sweat aplenty before fulfilment came. Neighbours contributed a warm welcome to the new owner by assembling in force with teams and ploughs to give a day's ploughing. In the initial stages of farm improvements the battle rage between the wild and sown turnips with the thinning hoe and much hard manual labour from the Grant lads finally winning out under the determined leadership of their father — field by field good husbandry created the vision. The lower part of the farm demanded tougher work than the fight against wild turnips. Tree stumps in the swampy portions had to be dug out and horse and man power performed by hard and prolonged graft, which the modern bulldozer would accomplish in a few hours. Robert pays tribute to the strength and intelligence of one fine well-trained horse that saved the men much hard work in digging out these stumps. He recalls, too, being sent flying on one occasion when the plough he was guiding struck one of these roots. Implements were limited in range and the personal initiative of the user was important. The Outram blacksmith, Mr. Rutherford, whose daughter and one of William's sons subsequently married, built an implement for shaking out couch grass which he called a Norwegian harrow. It had three rollers about four feet wide, fitted with spikes. Robert recalls that the one purchased by his father tore the couch apart and shook the soil out properly and proved very successful in eliminating the offending couch grass from a field being prepared as a seed bed.

Before the turn of the century a house was built on the top side of the road, some fifty yards back therefrom, with a fine view across to the coastal hills, of which Saddle Hill is the dominant feature. “When Saddle Hill puts on its cap The Taieri lads will hae a drap’’. was a weather forecast couplet of early Taieri days probably soundly founded on accurate observations. Here Charles, the eldest of the family, took his bride. A small corner area of the farm was leased to the Taieri and Peninsula Milk Co. Ltd, which erected a creamery thereon which operated for many years and which at one stage was managed by Charles.

Robert concludes his recollections with these words: “It is with some pride that I had, along with my brothers, a share in developing Gladfield. I would pay a tribute also to father, mother and my sister for all they did. We truly had a wonderful heritage.”

The combined properties of “Clairinch” and “Gladfield” to which a further 50 acres was added by purchase in 1960 made an excellent area for the training of William's sons in both the practical work and the economics of farming. After his death, the two properties were still run for a time as a joint farming unit with Arthur and Thomas as Grant Bros. “Gladfield" s now owned and farmed by two of Arthur's sons, Douglas and Jim carrying on the name of Grant in the Taieri where it was once said that with Grants in “Gowrie”, “Granton”, “Cray” and “Clairinch” and the Town Clerk of Outram also of that surname, it was fairly safe to greet the chance met traveller on the road with a “Good day, Mr. Grant,” and be correct.

William was a firm but kindly father. Restiveness on the part of his lively family was the subject of the friendly comment that "you are like a hen on a hot girdle.” His love of his own fireside occasionally evoked the cryptic comment as the elements howled outside, “They're het at hame that gang oot on a nicht like this.” Stories that show his sense of quiet humour are recalled by some of the older grandchildren. On a business visit to Dunedin he had occasion to visit a boot shop to buy several pairs of boots of assorted sizes for his growing lads. The politely interested assistant commented “You must have a fairly large family, Mr. Grant.” “Oh aye,” said the father of the family. “I have seven sons and every one of them has a sister.” "Fourteen! What a family!” was the astonished comment. Another story handed down relates to the arrival of his daughter's first child, William's second grandson. That day, when he returned home from the township where he had called at her home and learned the news, he innocently announced to his wife and visiting daughter-in-law, “A stranger has arrived at Maggie's and he won't tell his name or where he belongs," which elicited the joyful (to him) remark from his daughter-in-law, “He must be mad.”

Shortly after his daughter took up residence at “Balmoral” another story was born. “Balmoral” lay on the route between “Clairinch” and the township and was of course passed by William on his comings and goings between the two places. Arriving home one day, when a good drying breeze prevailed, the “Clairinch” household was temporarily mystified by William's cryptic utterance “The Queen has her washing out today.”

A loveable character indeed. His staunch support of the Presbyterian Church in West Taieri including being a member of session for very many years right up to the time when failing health precluded his attendance at services and meetings. William and Ellen spend their last long rest in the West Taieri cemetery. Across the road is the church they served so faithfully and the quiet of the countryside in which they spent their lives is their benediction.

William Grant left to his sons – with one exception – the legacy of his own interest in the land or in vocations linked to farming. As will be shown John elected to be a teacher and was a real success; Charles, Arthur and Thomas all followed farming, Edwin successfully entered the commercial side of dairying and William was a very early pioneer of dairying techniques as an officer of the Dairy Division – Department of Agriculture.

The following generation to a very wide extent still serve the land, but the occupational fields have widened and William’s grandchildren – some of them now retired from their chosen activity – have followed to a quite considerable degree, teaching, nursing and banking. In these occupations the family wings have spread far from the quiet Taieri countryside but the South Ísland is still “home” to the majority.

Between 1939 and 1945 several – both men and women — served with the New Zealand Forces abroad. By common consent all pay tribute to their outstanding cousin, Donald Gordon Grant, grandson of the original William and son of William.

OBITUARY

Donald Gordon Grant. While the information for this book was being collected, the highly respected younger son of William(2) and Martha Grant, Donald Grant, died suddenly in Invercargill on 20th April, 1963.

Born in Wellington in 1908 he was educated at New Plymouth Boys' High School and Canterbury University where he completed the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce. He was appointed Assistant Master at Gore High School in 1931 and was on the staff of the Christchurch West High School from 1936 - 1950 in which year he was appointed as Rector of the Southland Boys' High School. A keen Rugby player, he represented Canterbury in 1928, Taranaki in 1929, North Otago in 1930 and Southland from 1931 - 33. In addition to Rugby he was proficient in many other fields of sport, notably cricket.

He saw service in World War II with the 23rd Battalion, rose to the nk of Lieutenant Colonel and the position of Commander of this Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross and the American Silver Star.

Don was an active member of Heritage and the Crippled Children organisations, a member of the Invercargill Rotary Club and a former member of the Chamber of Commerce.