Author(s): Philip Holden

NZ South Island | Secondhand | Farming, Animals & Agriculture

During the 1990's, Philip Holden published his best-selling Station Country trilogy. In this book, he travels throughout New Zealand fathering new material. Among the many stations he visits is Mataka in the Bay of Islands. It was here in 1814, that the Reverend Samuel Marsden was responsible for liberating cattle, horses and significantly, Merino sheep. He links up with colourful Molesworth stockmen as they muster cattle on the largest station in the land. Further south, he delves into the legend of the sheep stealer, James MacKenzie, and presents a strong case to sustantiate the often disputed theory that he did in fact steal sheep off the Levels Station in South Canterbuty in 1853 (two years before he was apprehended with sheep taken from the same station) and then did drive them across what became known as MacKenzie Country, over the Lindis Pass and then down through Otago and into Southland. Written in Philip Holden's inimitable style, and illustrated profusley with his own stunning colour photographs, Station Life is a fascinating insight, both past and present into heartland New Zealand.

Ex library.

g. ex library