Ngaturi is a small settlement, eight miles from Pahiatua and 118 miles from Wellington. Most of the residents are engaged in sheepfarming. The nearest telegraph office is at Pahiatua. There is a public school, with an average attendance of about twelve. Mails for Ngaturi close daily at Wellington at 6 a.m., arriving at Ngaturi at 4 p.m. The return mail closes daily at Ngaturi at 10.45 a.m., arriving at Wellington at 10.5 p.m.

Bayley Bros. (W. H. and G. O. Bayley), Sheepfarmers, “Kohinui,” Ngaturi. Messrs. Bayley Bros. represent a class of settlers of which New Zealand possesses all too few. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated at Cirencester College, they came to this Colony via Australia about ten years ago, bringing with them the capital so much needed for the breaking in of new country. Though entire strangers to the hard, rough work of pioneering, they two years later purchased 4500 acres of bush country — at that time beyond almost every sign of civilisation, — and have now about half the area under grass. The accompanying picture of their homestead shows that a great change has been effected. On the flat surrounding the house the ploughman has found employment. This is almost the only level portion of the estate, being the old bed of the river, which here makes such a sweep round as almost to convert the flat into an island. It will soon be in a high state of cultivation, and the soil, being a rich alluvial deposit, is admirably adapted for either root or cereal crops. Though much of the run is decidedly hilly, it is by no means unsuitable for pasture lands. Upwards of 6000 sheep are maintained during the summer season, but the number is reduced to 5000 in the winter. They are of the Lincoln and Border-Leicester breeds. Though avoiding dairying, the Messrs. Bayley have a number of cattle, mostly of the shorthorn variety. These are kept for home use, and for meat markets. As far as their own neighbourhood is concerned, Messrs. Bayley Bros, are pioneers indeed, for they were the first to cross the Tiraumea River, and their country was as wild as any in the Colony. Their example has been followed already, and it is not unreasonable to expect that their success will tempt others of their class to these shores, and in that way give much-needed encouragement to the right kind of immigration. What the Messrs. Bayley Bros, have done may still be done by thousands, and that without in any way curtailing the profits of those already similarly engaged.

Breeds, James, Runholder, Ngaturi. Mr. Breeds belongs to the class of colonists much needed in New Zealand. Only a few years ago he was at College in Oxford, and he is now a sucessful pioneer in what was until recently as wild a part of the country as any in the island. The estate consists of 1600 acres originally dense bush, but when Mr. Breeds purchased in 1889 about 300 acres had been felled. With the exception of 400 acres of standing bush, the whole is cleared, fenced, and grassed. About 2000 sheep of the Romney-Lincoln variety and thirty head of cattle find good pasturage. The neat and stylish residence of seven rooms stands surrounded with trees, the grounds in the vicinity including an orchard of an acre in extent. Mr. Breeds is the youngest son of the late Mr. James Breeds, of Hastings, Sussex, England, and was born in 1861. He was educated at Dulwich and at Brazenose College, Oxford. After a year spent in Australia, gaining colonial experience, he came to this Colony in 1888, and twelve months later decided to settle in Ngaturi as above stated. Mr. Breeds is exceedingly popular throughout the Pahiatua district, and he has ever given valuable assistance to all kinds of field and other sports. He is a member of the Wellington and Woodville Agricultural and Pastoral Societies, of the Pahiatua Acclimatisation Society, and of the Pahiatua Racing Club. Mr. Breeds is married to a daughter of Mr. J. B. Way, of Christchurch.

Burgess, Frederick, Sheepfarmer, Ngaturi. A son of Mr. Thomas Burgess, of Hampden, Hawkes Bay, Mr. Burgess was born at Hampden in 1863, and was educated at the public school at Havelock, Hawkes Bay. Accustomed during childhood to hard work, Mr. Burgess at the age of eighteen was driving his own bullock teams as a general carrier between the Maraekakaho—the station of the late Sir Donald McLean—and the surrounding townships. In this enterprise Mr. Burgess was particularly fortunate, and when he sold to his successor in 1894, he had every reason to be well pleased with the success of his venture. Some ten years prior to the last-mentioned date he had taken up 600 acre of bush land at Ngaturi, adjoining the farm of Messrs. Milne and Son, and when he relinquished his carrying business, it was with the object of subduing and cultivating his estate. Already it is felled and grassed with the exception of a few acres of shelter, and stocked with 1500 crossbred sheep of the long-woolled varieties, besides about 100 head of cattle. Though Mr. Burgess manages his farm at Ngaturi and engages heartily in actual work upon it, his home is in Woodville, where he has about fifty acres of land on the Masterton Road. In 1882 Mr. Burgess was married to Miss Tyler, daughter of Mr. William Tyler, of Ashley-Clinton, Hawkes Bay, and their family consists of two daughters and a son.

Miller Bros. (Henry Holmes Miller and William Nicholson Miller), of “Tauroa,” Ngaturi, have an estate of about 1250 acres. It was all dense bush when they purchased in 1888, but is now all green with English grasses and well stocked with sheep and cattle. The pretty villa residence of nine rooms presents a snug appearance, and is surrounded by all the accessories of a comfortable homestead. The Messrs. Miller are the sons of the Hon. H. J. Miller, M.L.C., Speaker of the Legislative Council, whose picture and sketch appear on p. 96 of this volume. The elder brother, Mr. H. H. Miller, was born in Dunedin in 1866, and was educated at Christ's College, Canterbury. Prior to settling in Ngaturi he cadetted on several stations in the South Island. He was married on the 10th of April, 1895, to Miss Caroline Greville, daughter of Mr. J. H. Greville, of Pahiatua.

Milne and Son, Sheep and Cattle Farmers, Ngaturi, near Pahiatua. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Milne came to the Colony in 1860 from Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was born. He engaged for some time in farming at Rangiora, Canterbury, but as the low prices were against him he resolved to try his luck in the North Island, and took up a station in Hawkes Bay. After some years he sold out and came to Ngaturi, where he bought the present property of 900 acres. His son, Joseph Alexander, was born in Christchurch in 1861, and educated in Canterbury. He then entered into farming pursuits on his father's farm, and is now a partner in the firm. He has developed a talent for crayon and oil painting, and is considered a rising artist. In 1889 he took a trip to Europe, during the time of the Paris Exhibition, and, touring the different parts of the Continent, visited all the principal galleries, and gained considerable knowledge. Since returning to New Zealand he has received orders for the painting of pictures of Mr. J. Vile, of Pahiatua, and several others. In addition to his other talents he is a very fine scenic artist, and has painted the scenery for the new town hall at Ballance. He is a natural carpenter, and is not afraid to tackle work of any kind, several of the outbuildings at the farm being erected by his own hands. The garden surrounding the homestead is a perfect picture, everything being kept in excellent order. He is a member and secretary of the Ngaturi School Committee.

Ngaturi is a small settlement, eight miles from Pahiatua and 118 miles from Wellington. Most of the residents are engaged in sheepfarming. The nearest telegraph office is at Pahiatua. There is a public school, with an average attendance of about twelve. Mails for Ngaturi close daily at Wellington at 6 a.m., arriving at Ngaturi at 4 p.m. The return mail closes daily at Ngaturi at 10.45 a.m., arriving at Wellington at 10.5 p.m.

Bayley Bros. (W. H. and G. O. Bayley), Sheepfarmers, “Kohinui,” Ngaturi. Messrs. Bayley Bros. represent a class of settlers of which New Zealand possesses all too few. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and educated at Cirencester College, they came to this Colony via Australia about ten years ago, bringing with them the capital so much needed for the breaking in of new country. Though entire strangers to the hard, rough work of pioneering, they two years later purchased 4500 acres of bush country — at that time beyond almost every sign of civilisation, — and have now about half the area under grass. The accompanying picture of their homestead shows that a great change has been effected. On the flat surrounding the house the ploughman has found employment. This is almost the only level portion of the estate, being the old bed of the river, which here makes such a sweep round as almost to convert the flat into an island. It will soon be in a high state of cultivation, and the soil, being a rich alluvial deposit, is admirably adapted for either root or cereal crops. Though much of the run is decidedly hilly, it is by no means unsuitable for pasture lands. Upwards of 6000 sheep are maintained during the summer season, but the number is reduced to 5000 in the winter. They are of the Lincoln and Border-Leicester breeds. Though avoiding dairying, the Messrs. Bayley have a number of cattle, mostly of the shorthorn variety. These are kept for home use, and for meat markets. As far as their own neighbourhood is concerned, Messrs. Bayley Bros, are pioneers indeed, for they were the first to cross the Tiraumea River, and their country was as wild as any in the Colony. Their example has been followed already, and it is not unreasonable to expect that their success will tempt others of their class to these shores, and in that way give much-needed encouragement to the right kind of immigration. What the Messrs. Bayley Bros, have done may still be done by thousands, and that without in any way curtailing the profits of those already similarly engaged.

Breeds, James, Runholder, Ngaturi. Mr. Breeds belongs to the class of colonists much needed in New Zealand. Only a few years ago he was at College in Oxford, and he is now a sucessful pioneer in what was until recently as wild a part of the country as any in the island. The estate consists of 1600 acres originally dense bush, but when Mr. Breeds purchased in 1889 about 300 acres had been felled. With the exception of 400 acres of standing bush, the whole is cleared, fenced, and grassed. About 2000 sheep of the Romney-Lincoln variety and thirty head of cattle find good pasturage. The neat and stylish residence of seven rooms stands surrounded with trees, the grounds in the vicinity including an orchard of an acre in extent. Mr. Breeds is the youngest son of the late Mr. James Breeds, of Hastings, Sussex, England, and was born in 1861. He was educated at Dulwich and at Brazenose College, Oxford. After a year spent in Australia, gaining colonial experience, he came to this Colony in 1888, and twelve months later decided to settle in Ngaturi as above stated. Mr. Breeds is exceedingly popular throughout the Pahiatua district, and he has ever given valuable assistance to all kinds of field and other sports. He is a member of the Wellington and Woodville Agricultural and Pastoral Societies, of the Pahiatua Acclimatisation Society, and of the Pahiatua Racing Club. Mr. Breeds is married to a daughter of Mr. J. B. Way, of Christchurch.

Burgess, Frederick, Sheepfarmer, Ngaturi. A son of Mr. Thomas Burgess, of Hampden, Hawkes Bay, Mr. Burgess was born at Hampden in 1863, and was educated at the public school at Havelock, Hawkes Bay. Accustomed during childhood to hard work, Mr. Burgess at the age of eighteen was driving his own bullock teams as a general carrier between the Maraekakaho—the station of the late Sir Donald McLean—and the surrounding townships. In this enterprise Mr. Burgess was particularly fortunate, and when he sold to his successor in 1894, he had every reason to be well pleased with the success of his venture. Some ten years prior to the last-mentioned date he had taken up 600 acre of bush land at Ngaturi, adjoining the farm of Messrs. Milne and Son, and when he relinquished his carrying business, it was with the object of subduing and cultivating his estate. Already it is felled and grassed with the exception of a few acres of shelter, and stocked with 1500 crossbred sheep of the long-woolled varieties, besides about 100 head of cattle. Though Mr. Burgess manages his farm at Ngaturi and engages heartily in actual work upon it, his home is in Woodville, where he has about fifty acres of land on the Masterton Road. In 1882 Mr. Burgess was married to Miss Tyler, daughter of Mr. William Tyler, of Ashley-Clinton, Hawkes Bay, and their family consists of two daughters and a son.

Miller Bros. (Henry Holmes Miller and William Nicholson Miller), of “Tauroa,” Ngaturi, have an estate of about 1250 acres. It was all dense bush when they purchased in 1888, but is now all green with English grasses and well stocked with sheep and cattle. The pretty villa residence of nine rooms presents a snug appearance, and is surrounded by all the accessories of a comfortable homestead. The Messrs. Miller are the sons of the Hon. H. J. Miller, M.L.C., Speaker of the Legislative Council, whose picture and sketch appear on p. 96 of this volume. The elder brother, Mr. H. H. Miller, was born in Dunedin in 1866, and was educated at Christ's College, Canterbury. Prior to settling in Ngaturi he cadetted on several stations in the South Island. He was married on the 10th of April, 1895, to Miss Caroline Greville, daughter of Mr. J. H. Greville, of Pahiatua.

Milne and Son, Sheep and Cattle Farmers, Ngaturi, near Pahiatua. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. Mr. Milne came to the Colony in 1860 from Aberdeen, Scotland, where he was born. He engaged for some time in farming at Rangiora, Canterbury, but as the low prices were against him he resolved to try his luck in the North Island, and took up a station in Hawkes Bay. After some years he sold out and came to Ngaturi, where he bought the present property of 900 acres. His son, Joseph Alexander, was born in Christchurch in 1861, and educated in Canterbury. He then entered into farming pursuits on his father's farm, and is now a partner in the firm. He has developed a talent for crayon and oil painting, and is considered a rising artist. In 1889 he took a trip to Europe, during the time of the Paris Exhibition, and, touring the different parts of the Continent, visited all the principal galleries, and gained considerable knowledge. Since returning to New Zealand he has received orders for the painting of pictures of Mr. J. Vile, of Pahiatua, and several others. In addition to his other talents he is a very fine scenic artist, and has painted the scenery for the new town hall at Ballance. He is a natural carpenter, and is not afraid to tackle work of any kind, several of the outbuildings at the farm being erected by his own hands. The garden surrounding the homestead is a perfect picture, everything being kept in excellent order. He is a member and secretary of the Ngaturi School Committee.