VERSATILE PIONEER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1941, Page 5

VERSATILE PIONEER

A NOTED SHEEP-BREEDER

A remarkable example of the type of men who, 100 years ago, laid the foundations of New- Zealand, is Mr. W. B. Allen, of Carterton, who has been visiting Lower Hutt on the occasion of its jubilee. Mr. Allen is 94 years of age, having been born at Pipitea Point, Wellington, in 1847, his father having arrived in New Zealand in 1837. More versatile probably than even the average of the pioneers, who had to be master of many trades, Mr. Allen could have made his mark in many occupations, but finally took up sheep breeding, choosing the Romney strain. His name is now a household word over sheep farms, not only in New Zealand but

in many parts of the world. There are this week on exhibition in. the Horticultural Hall, Lower Hutt, two diplomas and a medal won by > Mr. Allen for exhibits of wool in the Paris Exposition of 1889, one being for the best exhibit. Sheep on which Mr. Allen founded his strain in 1880 were bred by him in Wainui-o-mata. Until the age of 33 Mr. Allen was chiefly engaged in house and bridge building, tunnelling, and kindred occupations. Many houses in Lower Hutt, still in a perfect state of preservation, were built by him, and he was foreman in charge of the building of the fourth bridge (there have been six) over the Hutt River, the bridge known as Petherick's, which, with the possible exception of the fifth, had the longest life of any of the bridges. His last work before he removed to Wairarapa was the supervision of the Wellington waterworks tunnel through the Wainui hill. Mr. Allen has a large number of bridges to his credit in the Hutt district and in the Wairarapa. He has, however, other gifts. Several specimens of his early drawings and penmanship are also on exhibition at Lower Hutt. During his residence at Lower Hutt he had a remarkable athletic career, and was a member, and generally secretary, of most of the athletic sporting clubs. Mr. Allen attended the Thorndon School when it was conducted by Mr Mowbray. He was the first choir boy to .ioin St. Peter's Choir in Wellington, and he was also a chorister in St James's. Lower Hutt.