THE SEAFIELD ESTATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26692, 11 February 1948, Page 2

THE SEAFIELD ESTATES

Sir, —I should like to help you to make it clear to “ Clan Robertson ” that your correspondent in London thought the present owners were English. They are New Zealanders —in fact, the countess and her mother are from a Christchurch family. Camara folk will tell you that the then Earl of Reidhaven lived there when he had that title. His mother, the Countess Caroline, held the estate by will of her late husband, Earl Seafield.

One great day in Oamaru the earl became Earl of Seafield; he died early and his son was educated at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, friendly farmers of the district standing by while he was being educated there. He later married Miss Nina Townend, daughter of a Christchurch doctor. They had only a daughter, the present Countess of Seafield in her own right. She married a Mr Shedley Herbert, of England. Hence your London correspondent’s mistake in calling the estates English. They certainly are in “ Banff Moray and Moeruessshire,” as “ Clan Robertson ” says. The earl died in World War I. The other brother of Seafield is the Hon. Ogilvie Grant, and he has a son. His wife was the daughter of the Rev. Hardy Johnston, of All Saints Church, Dunedin. I hope this small account will assist your correspondent to understand that the Seafield estates are now in right hands and still in Scotland.—l am, etc., Student.