FARM EXPERT OF EARLY DAYS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24150, 8 January 1944, Page 3

FARM EXPERT OF EARLY DAYS

MR JAMES LINDSAY, WAIMATE Mr James Lindsay, for more than 50' years employed on “Te Waimate” station, and who died recently. at the age of .88 years, was an expert in the various farm operations before the machine age came into existence. Mr E. C. Studholme, of Waimate, writes that Mr Lindsay was the best man on a farm he could remember. He was born near Belfast, in the north of Ireland, in 1855, and he came to New Zealand when 28 years of age. Shortly after his arrival he took up a job on Waimate Station ("Te Waimate”). Here Mr Lindsay remained for more than 50 years, gradually improving his position until he became farm manager. There was nothing he could not do, and he was an expert at most things. A good man with the flail (Irish combine), sickle and scythe, an expert hand sower of grain and grass, he was also an expert at tilting and the hand tying of crops before the days of the reaper and binder. He was also a first class man with a reaper and binder, ridger, seed drill, etc., and a splendid ploughman with single, double, and three-furrow plough. Besides being an expert stacker and thatcher, drayman and waggoner, he was good with all classes of stock, being a shepherd for years, and a cattleman. He knew all about horses and pigs, and always had a good team of sheepdogs. Retiring from his job on “Te Waimate” after 50 years' service, he lived in Timaru a short time, and then went to his son’s place in the North Island and worked there up to the time of his last illness. His wife died many years ago, but there are seven surviving sons and daughters.