CHARLES GOULTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 February 1935, Page 10

CHARLES GOULTER

AN OUTSTANDING CAREER FULL LIFE OF SUCCESS AND SERVICE BOYHOOD DAYS IN NELSON REMARKABLE SUCCESS AS BREEDER As reported yesterday the dcatli occurred at Ids homestead at ilawkcsbury station, near Blenheim, early on Monday evening of Mr Charles Francis Joseph Coulter, pioneer Marlborough settler and the acknowledged doyen of New Zealand stud breeders. Born in the. Nelson district on 11th April, 1854, at Stafford Place, the late Mr Coulter, who was in his 81st year, came of distinguished Catholic parents. His father, the late Mr Cyrus Coulter, landed at Nelson in 1842 from the ship Fifeshire, and was prominently associated with public affairs in Marlborough in the early provincial days, being Speaker of the Provincial Council, Provincial Treasurer and Commissioner of Crown Lands. It was he who led the party which surveyed "the Wairau” in the very early days, and it was whilst completing that survey that he saw the grazing possibilities in this district, which caused him subsequently to acquire the Hawkesbury block of 9000 acres. The late Mr Coulter’s mother was Anne Redwood, a sister of the late Archbishop. When Mr Charles Coulter was three. years of age, his parents decided to transfer from Nelson to Uawkeslmry station. In tile year .1859 they sailed with retainers and servants from Nelson in. the Belle of Isles to the

mouth of llio Wairau river, and from there travelled in bullock drays to Hawkesbury. The only shelter available was a two-roomed mud hut, which is still standing to this day. The late Mr Coulter was sent back to Nelson for his education at Father Gariiis’s School. While still on the farm he had shown ail aptitude uncanny for one so young for pedigree stock mating and breeding (says the "Marlborough Express’ ). When he returned from school his father despatched him to Canterbury, through Jolly’s pass, to purchase purebred merino ewes on four occasions before he was 10 years of age. No fences had been erected at that time sheep had to be herded each night on the journey, which took many days. He was sent to South Australia, and Tasmania, where he acquired purebred merino rams from the late Mr John Mur™.y, Mt. Crawford, and ewes from Mr .1. Gibson, Bclvicw. This stock formed the beginning of the famous Hawkesbury, "Murray’’ and "Tasmanian” merino strains. Just after these purchases were made the Dominion experienced a very bad time in wool prices and Mr Coulter was forced to relinquish tho whole of his Murray stud, with the exception of 200 stud ewes. This stud was sold to the late Mr T. Carter, of Hillersden, on the understanding that Mr Coulter would never breed stud Murray merinos in Marlborough again, lie then, by crossing the "Tasmanian” and in-breeding the sheep, laid the found ition of the world-famous "Bulldog” merinos. Stock from this stud have at one time or another been used in practically every merino stud in the Dominion, and they are not infriquemly used abroad. Hawkesbury homestead is adorned with numerous diplomas and awards which have been won in open competition by the fleeces from these sheep and the animals themselves at every notable show and exhibition throughout the world. : After perfecting the merino to New i Zealand conditions, Mr Coulter turned his breeding prowess to Jersey cattle, and as early as 1870 purchased pedigree Jerseys from Mr P. H. Hill, of Canterbury. Shortly afterwards lie purchased the two famous imported Jersey bulls, r Dry Monopole” and “Monopoly.” These two animals were half-brothers, and the Hawkesbury stud, by the crossing and inbreeding of this blood, soon became prominent. In 1908 Mr Coulter purchased from Baron Rothschild, of irmg Park, England, tile dam “Soumise Lily.” and two years later lie made a trip to Jersey Island, securing the best animal lie could possibly secure. Tills bull, strangely enough, turned out .haifr brother of “Soumise Lily’’ ~~ koumise Majesty.” With this founelation blood to work on Mr Goulter produced numerous champion Jerseys, both in type and butterfat production. Among the more notable are “Soumise lorn, “Hawkesbury Emperor,” and “Soumise Duchess.”' Mr Goulter then became prodigal in his stock breeding activities. Every breed he touched re- j T°'Hled wonderfully to his selection. I S not xL , « I

- olietiand ponies, thoroughbred horses Clydesdale stock, English setter dogs and many varieties of English game fowl were among the breeds he experimented with, gradually bringing each one tc I perfection. i It has been well said that, had it not ' ; )con ‘°r the generous and kindly assistance of Mr Goulter, the Marlborough sheep-breeders would never have attained the reputation they have. He assisted tlie greater number witli the cullmg of their flocks and bred the rams °r their improvement. Right up to the end he made it a practice oillv to sell good stock at reasonable prices. In good times, as in bad, he always met the market thus building up a clientele, some ot w-hoin have been satisfied clients tor over 45 years. He was a versatile judge of ail classes of livestock, aiid for years was a prominent judge, officiating at shows all over the Dominion. He was a strong supporter of the Marlborough and Canterbury A. and P. Associations, and was well-known in the south as in ins home province. As a tutor and adviser in regard to lock establishment and improvement he had no peer, and his wise instruction and patience were qualities that assisted many young men embarking on a pastoral career. His property was tlie Mecca of farmer-visitors to Marlnorough, and his sage advice was a bv"'oi’tl ;ul d carried tremendous weight. Ino deceased in his lifetime owned many well-known pastoral properties m Marlborough, and at the time of il is . death controlled large estates. .Before his father’s death he was admitted into partnership in the con c.uct of the big liawkesbury station. Subsequently h e disposed of part of Ha\ykesbuiy to the Government but

.7 vexiimeiiL, uui ■ continued to farm the homestead t block and a further area, in all 1160 ' "V' 1 '*:!- lle 1,1011 purchased the Wrekin 1 of 1600 acres from the late Mr Felix s 'vard. but sold it later to his brother, 5 the late Mr R. F. Coulter. His next 1 purchase was in about 1898 of the 5 Brookby run of 1317 acres, and ho also . stocked two blocks of 1700 and 3200 ' acres of the Hundalee settlement which I were farmed successfully by his sons : Messrs H. 0. and B. R, Coulter. Tn 1800 he acquired tho Blairich run of 18 000 acres and after a year took tho • late Air Bernard Ward into junior parti nership. In 1908 Mr Coulter bought out Ins partner and continued to con- ■ duct the property Successfully. Ho next secured two sections in the Flaxbourne settlement, one of which was taken over by his son, Mr C. P. Coulter. and tlie other by Messrs Howard and 1 escliem,*;ker. T.atterlv be acquii’ed ihe Wet Ridge block of 1200 acres, the Barracks block of 1575 acres, and ’ the Brookby farm of 220 acres, consolidating

Ihcm into a single property adjacent to but not adjoining Hawkesburv. I’be late Mr Coulter was an excellent shot with both rifle and gun. He was also an vceomplisbed horseman, and observant lover of nature. He was of a shy and retiring disposition, and notwithstanding insistent requests to take up public positions, be steadfastly refused to do so, being content to live quietly at Hawkesburv and devote his life to his family and his animals. The deceased is survived by his widow and a family of four sons and seven daughters—Messrs C. P. Coulter, of Seddon, H. 0. Coulter, of Sevenoaks. Blenheim. E. It. Coulter, of Fail-lie, and S. J. Coulter, of Wellington, and Mesdames C. 11. Monro, Seddon. J W

Colley, 01 < 1 Hawkesbury. Blenheim, K. Sihetli, Taunton England, ,S>>,t v <:oid-tc-r, of Manchester, England. Sister Christopher, of St. .Mary’s. Wellington. Mother Coulter, of Tiinaru. and Miss M. til on I ter, of Hawkesbury. lie was predeceased just, over a year ago by his hm i bcr. Mr R. F. Coulter, of' Lake Tiniara, but is survived by two sisters— Mrs .Austin Ward, of Raglan. and the He.v. Mother do Sales, of the, llill street Convent, Wellington. Th o Iter. Mother )S at present dangerously ill.