INTERESTING CAREER

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6410, 3 November 1923, Page 5

INTERESTING CAREER

FROM “BLUEY” TO SUCCESS MR JOHN GORDON Mr John Gordon, of the Waikato, who has been appointed a member of the Revaluation Board, has had a most interesting career. The story of his life is an object lesson to the young New Zealanders starting on the land. It snows now a young man of grit and determination, coupled with hard work and honesty of purpose, can steadily step from the bottom of the ladder to the topmost rung. New Zealand has always offered opportunities to men of courage ability and energy, men who overcame difficulties as they arose. They were men who, in many cases began humbly, and winning out with credit gained high and responsible positions. Among those stalwarts can be placed Mr John Gordon, who holds to-day in the field of primary industries and knowledge of land a position equal to any of his contemporaries. He will bring to his new sphere of action an intensive- knowledge and sound judgment which must be to the interests of the soldiers on the land, and the good of the country. Born in Aberdeen, Mr Gordon came to New Zealand in 1880. He landed in Lyttelton on a Saturday eager to tackle any sort of farm work to get a footing in the country. On the following Monday he had, without aid, secured a job on a farm at Methven (Canterbury). He worked hard at his Methven job for some time, and became familiar with the conditions ,of the country. Then for a time tlie roving spirit for fresh fields and experiences possessed him. He “humped his bluey” to Totara (Oamaru) and took up shearing work. That step proved to be the crowning turn in his career, for his capabilities and hard' work were recognised by the late Mr Thomas Meek, who promptly placed Mr Gordon in charge of his large wheatgrowing areas at Hakataramea (North Otago). Later, after a period of a little over four years, Mr Gordon was offered, and accepted, the working control of “Newlands,” one of the properties of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company at Temuka. Subsequently he was selected from a large number of applicants to take charge of a property known as “Woodlands,” at Taupiri (Waikato), comprising 87,000 (acres. At the time he took over “Woodlands” the property was carrying, only 2000 head of cattle and about a similar number of sheep. In a very short time “Woodlands,” under Mr Gordon’s management, supported 42,000 sheep, 5000 head of cattle, and 200 or 300 horses. The property was later cut up, and the last to buy a piece was Mr R. M'Callum, ex-M.P. for Wairau. Whilst at “Woodlands” Mr Gordon acquired a farm at Eureka, between Hamilton and Morrinsville, which he worked for many years until it was cut up’ for close settlement. In 1909 he purchased a property near Hamilton, in which town he at present resides. Though actually engaged as a practical farmer all his life, and controlling big interests in land and stock, Mr Gordon, besides serving as a member of local bodies, was frequently engaged as a valuer of property both by banking institutions and by settlers. His knowledge in this direction will be equally valuable in the new position for which he has been selected. Two of the institutions for which he made valuations were the Union Bank of Australia and the Auckland Savings Bank. Mr Gordon was a member of the Kirikiriroa Road Board for over 20 years, and only gave up his active connection as chairman of the Board on leaving in 1910 on a visit to the Homeland for a year. He was a member of the Waikato County Council for ten years, during which period he acted as chairman. He also served as a member of school committess and on the Licensing Bench. Another outlet for his untiring energy was in serving as an assesor in the Assessment and Arbitration Court.

Altogether Mr Gordon has had a most successful career. “I have always had success,” remarked Mr Gordon a short time ago, “and this is a country in which a young man of perseverance and who is not afraid of hard work can succeed.”