COACH-DRIVER TO CATTLE KING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8545, 27 March 1908, Page 2

COACH-DRIVER TO CATTLE KING.

REMARKABLE CAREER OF AN EXNEW ZEALANDE-R. WELLINGTON, March 23. Among those who made a tempestuous voyago from Sydney to Wellington aboard the Maitai last week was Mr Daniel Kingslaiid, one-time coach driver in Otiigo and Southland, and now owner of line estates iu Hampshire. "Dan" Kingslaiid, as he was familiarly known to Nov.- Zcalaiiders in the late 60's and 70's, was bom at Croydon, Surrey,, in the year 1857, and his life story affords an admirable illustration of wliat a man endowed without any initial advantages in life's battlo may accomplish by sheer dint of personal effort, pluck and perseverance. Mr Kingsland's adventures really began when at the age of 13 he shipped aboard the lonia, bound for Nassau, in the British West Indies, this being in 1864, or at the time of the Civil War. On arrival at Nassau ho ran away from the lonia, and obtained a berth in tho Little Wattle, a steamer engaged in blockade running, which business she successfully accomplished three times after the fall of Fort Fisher, or poetically at the close of the American war. Mr ICingsliind rejoined the lonia and neturned to England. Ho then became bound as an apprentice to Banner Bros., who were running a lino of brigs and schooners to the West Coast of Africa, and after serving his time with them he made both a spring and a fall voyage to Quebec in the ship Orimea. Returning once again to England, he worked in a ship rigger's gang at Blackwall, and in the beginning of '68 he joined tho sailing ship Gertrude, chartered by Shaw, Savill and Co. to bring out to Wellington. Soon after his arrival in New Zealand Mr Kingsland went down to Invercargill, &nd, having remained there for four years, he made tracks for Duncdin.

It was then that, obtaining employment with Messrs Yccnd and Pope, be gained his first experience in the coach ing business, being placed on the road between Tuapeka and the Dunstan shortly after the time of tho Hartley and Riley rush. He became a contemporary whip with "Cabbage-tree Ned" (Ned Dcvine), Harry Ncttlefold, Hughio Craig, Jimmy Duncan, and other celebrities. Australia next attracted his attention, and, joining Cobb and Co. during the latter end of '73, his sturdy figure became a familiar one, first upon tho Tamworth and Armidalo road, and subsequently on the roads between Brisbane and Oxlcy Creek. Tho story of his adventures in Australia, and subsequently in the Argentine (where in turns he bocame cattle king and controller of vast refrigerating interests), _is of groat interest. On the freezing works he controlled being transferred to Swift and Co., of Chicago, a number of tho leading estancieros, headed by Lieutenant-Goneral Roca, President of tho Republic, decided that in view of the groat assistance the stock-raising industry had derived as a result of his enterprises, Mr Kingsland should be made tho recipient of a suitable presentation. This took tho form of a solid silver service comprising considerably over 200 pieces, together with a cheque for 10,000 dollars and a large parchment on which was a photograph of the La Plato works, bearing a suitable inscription. Questioned as to the prospects of a market being found in tho Argentine for New Zealand-bred stud sheep and cattle, Mr Kingsland said that as far as cattle wore concerned he did not think anything was to be done. It was pessible, however, that examples of our best dairying classes might bo introduced to the Argentine with mutual advantage. " The fact is, there are in South America seme of the finest herds of cattle to be found anywhore in the world." With sheep the case was entirely different, and he felt convinced that for the right typo af animals tho Argentine would in the near future provide an excellent market. For years past breeders in South America had been turning their attention almost solely to Lincolns. What was now wanted was a sheep that would produce better mutton and mature moro quickly. But for tho high prices obtained for coarse wool during recent years other than Lincoln rams would have been rnoro generally used long since. Hampshire, Shropshire, and Southdowns and Border Leicester- and Romney Marsh are the animals for which a big demand for crossing purposes is likely to be forthcoming in the Argontino, and seeing that Buenos Ayros is just aa accessible to New Zealand stockmasters as it is to brooders in England, and that the climatic conditions of the two countries aro so similar, a lucrative trade in these breeds between New Zealand ports and Buenos Ayros should eventually be established.

Mr Kingsland intends remaining two or three weeks in this country, and will make Christchurch his headquarters daring tho short time at his disposal. En route to England he proposes to : pend a month in tho Argentine with a iovv to inducing some of tho leading studm inters to import fresh blood from these islnids.