SOCIAL.

OTAGO CLUB COMPANY, LIMITED GRAND LODGE OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS

Mr. WILLIAM REID, Mr. CHARLES FREDERICK GREENSLADE.

NEW ZEALAND BOWLING ASSOCIATION. OTAGO GOLF CLUB

THE DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB Mr. JOHN STEPHENSON

Mr. JOHN CHARLES SHORT Mr. HUGH JOHNSTONE GOURLEY

Mr. ANDREW WALKER BREMNER Mr. EDWIN HOGG

THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION

OTAGO CLUB COMPANY, LIMITED. Officers: Messrs. Thomas Brown (chairman), James Edgar (hon. treasurer), and T. K. Harty (secretary). The premises leased by this company, which are used as the domicile of the Otago Club, were formerly known as the Exchange Hotel. The building—a three-story stone structure—contains about forty rooms, Including dining, reading, and billiard rooms, the whole being handsomely furnished. The company was Incorporated in 1887. and has about 200 shareholders, who are likewise members of the club, which Is one of the principal residential clubs in Otago.

GRAND LODGE OF THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS of New Zealand: established in 1863 The officers for the year 1897-8 are as follows:—Messrs. James T. Higgins. Grand Master; George Crichton. Deputy-Grand Master: Frederick A. Hancock. Grand Warden: William Reid. Grand Secretary: and James S. Alexander. Grand Treasurer. The grand lodge Is the governing body of the entire order In New Zealand, and numbers thirty-four lodges, with an aggregate membership of 2.135.

Mr. WILLIAM REID, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge. Independent Order of Oddfellows of New Zealand, hails from Ayr. Scotland, where he was born In 1845. He was educated at the Glasgow Collegiate school, and came to Port Chalmers In the ship “Arima,” of which he was purser. After a year in the office of Messrs. Cargill and Co.. he entered the employ of Messrs. Mills. Dick and Co.. and subsequently formed one of the party who published the “Otago Daily News” on co-operative principles. Returning lo Messrs. Mills, Dick and Co., he continued with them till establishing business on his own account as a land agent. In 1877 he was elected to the important office he still holds under the Grand Lodge. Mr. Reid was married in 1872 to a daughter of Mr. Charles Held, one of the earliest settlers, and has two sons and four daughters. He is further referred to in another part of this volume as an accountant, land and estate agent.

THE CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF OTAGO, which was established in 1862, and was incorporated under an Act of the Provincial Council of Otago in 1874, is a strong and progressive institution. The officers are :— Messrs. C. P. Greenslade (president) ; P. Miller and W. A. Sim (vice-presidents); W. Swan (lion, treasurer); and W. Reid (secretary). The Society possesses a fine sports ground and cycling track near Kensington— twelve and a half acres in extent, on which large sums of money have been spent from time to time. The annual sports take place on 1^st and 2^nd January, and are a great success, valuable prizes amounting to a considerable sum being given to the successful competitors. On the cycle track — one of the best in the Colony — a number of cycling fixtures take place, and these are equally successful with the annual gathering. The gross income of the society exceeds £1500 per annum, and includes about £600 in rents and over £700 from gate money and special prizes. The patron’s list contains the names of several of the former governors of New Zealand, and is headed by that of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. A number of prominent local clubs, who have leased portions of the society’s grounds for many years past, hold their meetings and matches periodically on the property.

Mr. CHARLES FREDERICK GREENSLADE. President of the Caledonian Society for a second term, Vice-President of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, and President of the Dunedin Model Yacht Club, has long been known in Otago ns one of the founders and proprietors of the large brewery trading under the style of J, Speight and Co.. Ltd. Mr. Greenslade was born in Thorverton. Devon, England, in 1843. and was educated partly in his native place and partly in Crediton. He was brought up as a maltster and brewer, and embarked for New Zealand at the age of twenty, per ship “Edward Thornhill.” which arrived at the Bluff in January. 1864. After about eighteen months, during which he was engaged in the carrying trade as a driver. Mr. Greenslade came to Dunedin. finding employment at various breweries. including those of Messrs. Wilson and Birch and Mr. M. Joel, until 1876. when he joined the late Mr. J. Speight and Mr. W. Dawson in the large and successful business in which he is still engaged. Mr. Greenslade has taken a keen interest in the Caledonian society, and generally in the recreation and amusement of the public for many years; for eight years in succession, he was president of the Caledonian bowling club, and has held ninny offices at various times in similar institutions. Mr. Greenslade was married in 1868 to a daughter of the late Mr. William Mason, formerly of Greenwich, and has five daughters and a son.

NEW ZEALAND BOWLING ASSOCIATION. Officials. Messrs. James Hislop (president). K. C. Ashby (vice-president). T. Moodie (treasurer), and R. T. Wheeler, Junr. (secretary). This society was formed in 1886 and has nineteen affiliated clubs, with control over bowling tournaments in the South Island. These contests are held annually, and take place in Dunedin and Christchurch alternately, the meetings being largely attended and thoroughly successful. Mr. Wheeler has occupied the position of secretary since 1894.

OTAGO GOLF CLUB. Officials :-Dr. Brown (captain); Mr. R. T. Wheeler, Jnnr. (lion, secretary and treasurer); committee, Dr. Shand, Messrs. C. R. Howden, A. Michie, and F. J. Stilling. This club was established in 1892 and is fast growing in favour as a popular institution, the membership being over one hundred members, in addition to the roll of the ladies’ club. which numbers seventy. The links are situated at Maori Hill, near the city, and in point of accessibility and general character, are considered equal to any golf course in the Colonies.

THE DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB will be found fully referred to on page 17 of the section of this volume already issued, together with notice of the secretary, Mr. Sydney James.

Mr. JOHN STEPHENSON. one of the founders of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was for several years its president, and has been vice-president for many years—an office he still holds. He was born in 1830 at Ever-ton. Nottingham, England, educated at Nearfleld House academy, Bawtry, Yorkshire, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, his father being a landed proprietor and well known “sport.” The subject of this notice was remarkable as a youth for his love of fun, and inherited his father’s sporting characteristics. He engaged a good deal in hunting in his early days, and for two years was huntsman to the Sandhurst hounds. For a long time before leaving the Old Country, Mr. Stephenson was inspired by a desire to wander and see the world. He eventually entered into an engagement—as one of twenty picked men—to go out to Russia as a farm bailiff. He succeeded, however, in getting this arrangement cancelled, and came out to Melbourne in the ship “Flacon” in 1852. After two years’ experience at the Victorian gold diggings, he engaged in business as a stock denier rill 1861, in which year he crossed the Tasman Sea and settled in Dunedin, under employment with Messrs. Jones. Bird and Co.. stock and station agents, for about a year. Joining Messrs. Wright, Robertson and Co.. Mr. Stephenson became auctioneer to that firm in 1883, since which time has continuously held an auctioneer’s license in Dunedin. and he is at the time of writing the oldest “knight of the hammer” in Otago. Soon afterwards he became a partner in this well-known firm, the style of which was changed to Wright, Stephenson and Co. Mr. Stephenson has been actively interested in racing for the best part of fifty years, and since his arrival in the Colony has been an owner and breeder of racehorses. He was married in 1860, and has one son—also an auctioneer—and four daughters.

Mr. JOHN CHARLES SHORT, who is a Steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was born in 1854 in Melbourne, educated at the South Melbourne Grammar School, and brought up to the saddlery trade. After completing his term of apprenticeship he came to Dunedin in 1874. Mr. Short had charge of Mr. C. Moore’s factory in Dunedin for thirteen years, leaving in 1887 to commence business as proprietor of the Glasgow Hotel, better known as “The Shades.” After conducting this house for ten years, he took the Terminus Hotel, and subsequently retired from the business. Mr. Short’s father, an old Victorian who arrived in that Colony in 1841, was many years an hotel-keeper in Melbourne, and the subject of this sketch had considerable experience with horses, of which he took full advantage. He has been a member of the jockey club for about five years, and was a steward for three years. Mr. Short is a steward of the Tahuna Park trotting club, and belongs to the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, of which he is president. He is a member of the craft and a mark master, and is attached to Lodge Otago, No. 844, E.C.; he is also an unattached Oddfellow. He is considerably interested in gold-dredging, being a director of a number of successful dredging companies.

Mr. HUGH JOHNSTONE GOURLEY. Starter for the Dunedin Jockey Club, Starter and Handicapper for the Tapanui Jockey Club, Handicapper for the Beaumont Jockey Club, and Starter for the Waikouaiti Jockey Club, has been interested in racing since he was a lad of eleven, at which age he rode in n hack race. He has since ridden his own horses in various parts of the South Island, as well as in Tasmania and Melbourne. Mr. Gourley was born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1861, and accompanied his father. Mr. Hugh Gourley, J.P., to Dunedin in 1862, where he was educated and brought up to the business of a wool-classer. For many years he has assisted his father, who is a livery stable-keeper and undertaker. In 1894, Mr. Gourley was appointed Clerk of the Course for the Dunedin jockey club, and two years later became starter. He is a member of Court Enterprise. Ancient Order of Foresters. He is the sole manufacturer of the I.X.L, embrocation

Mr. ANDREW WALKER BREMNER, Clerk of Scales of the Dunedin Jockey Club, hails from Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1848. He was educated partly in his native land and at the old stone school in lower High Street. Dunedin, having arrived at Tort Chalmers per ship “Palmyra,” in February, 1858. with his parents. He has had a varied experience as a draper, carpenter, and farmer. He spent ten years in the timber trade in the employ of Messrs. Guthrie and Larnach, the first two years of which he was manager of the firm’s large saw mill at Catlins River. He joined Messrs. Thomson and Co., cordial manufacturers, in 1884 as traveller, and has since continued in the employ of the firm in that capacity. Mr. Bremner has long been interested in sporting: he was for two years a member of the Taieri amateur turf club, and for about six years of the Tahuna Park trotting club. He became a member of the Dunedin jockey club in 1887, and has satisfactorily performed the duties of clerk of scales since 1891.

Mr. EDWIN HOGG, Honorary Timekeeper of the Dunedin Jockey Club, who is a colonist of forty years’ standing, was born in Edinburgh in 1852, and arrived with his parents at Port Chalmers in the ship “Gloucester” In 1858. He was educated at the Middle District school in Dunedin, apprenticed to the late Mr. J. T. Telfer, jeweller, was afterwards employed by Mr. John Hislop for fourteen years, and commenced business on his own account as a manufacturing jeweller in 1889 (See “Watchmakers and Jewellers.”) Mr. Hogg has held the position of honorary timekeeper for the Dunedin jockey club for ten years, and for fifteen years has filled a similar office in connection with the Caledonian society. In local politics, he was a member of the South Dunedin borough council and licensing committee for three years, and of the Macandrew Road school committee for eight years. He is attached to Lodge Enterprise, U.A.O.D., South Dunedin, and has graduated through all the chairs. Mr. Hogg was married in 1876 to a daughter of Mr. W. Rutherford, of Dunedin, and has three sons and three daughters.

THE OTAGO AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ASSOCIATION is extensively dealt with on page 19 of the section already published. The president of this flourishing society, Mr. James Shiel, and the energetic secretary, Mr. E. P. Duthie, are also noticed fully therein.

Mr. ANDREW TODD, Vice-President of the Dunedin Agricultural and Pastoral Society, is well known as the manager and one of the auctioneers of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company’s Dunedin branch. Mr. Todd was born in Scotland in 1854, and was educated at St. Andrews. He was brought up to mercantile life, and came out to the Colonies per ship “Loch Tay,” landing at Melbourne in 1879. Soon afterwards, Mr. Todd came to Wellington, where he entered the service of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company in 1880, as a general clerk. In the following year, he was transferred to Auckland, then the head office, and two years later to Dunedin, as assistant accountant. Mr. Todd became manager of the Wellington branch in 1885, and continued there for over five years, till transferred to Dunedin in 1890 to fill the office he still holds. During his residence in the “Empire City,” Mr. Todd was one of the promoters of the Agricultural and Pastoral Society, and was a member of the committee of that body. He was for some years a director of the Wellington Meat Export Co. Mr. Todd has been a member of the Dunedin Agricultural and Pastoral Society for eight years, before being elected vice-president. He takes great interest in golfing, and is a member of the Otago golf club. Mr. Todd was married in 1877 to a daughter of the late Mr. David King, of Roseneath, Scotland, and has two sons and two daughters.

Mr. WILLIAM PATRICK, Ex-President of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association and one of the promoters of the Agricultural Hall, hails from Stirlingshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1839. He was educated at Kileyth and brought up to agricultural and pastoral pursuits. He arrived at Port Chalmers in 1862 per ship “Lady Egedia,” and for some time was engaged in driving to the goldfields. Mr. Patrick was subsequently farming in the Tokomairiro district, and afterwards on the New Zealand and Australian Land Company’s estate. Commencing business as a butcher in Dunedin in 1870, he has since continued to conduct a large and successful trade. In 1880, he acquired 414 acres of good land at Outram, West Taieri, on which he carried on mixed farming, and for which he gained in 1897 the model farm prize. Mr. Patrick has been on the committee of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association for twenty years, besides sometime filling the office of its president. He was married in 1868 to a daughter of Mr. William Simpson, of Otago, and late of Aberdeen, and has three sons and four daughters.

SOCIAL.

Copyright © 2007 Colonial CD Books Last modified: 11/15/07

Copyright © 2007 Colonial CD Books
Last modified: 11/15/07