Page:Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury 1915.pdf/129

 Pass to Teddington, and again boated to Lyttelton. Mr. Birdling left a large family, and died at the age of seventy-nine years.

Malcolm McKinnon, Mrs. McKinnon, Mary Ann (now Mrs. T. H. Parkinson), Catherine (born May 3rd, 1842, first Scotch girl born in Canterbury), Grace (now Mrs. McPhail), John, Alexander (all 1840-50), and Jenny. Mr. McKinnon came from Sydney in the ship Elizabeth, and landed at Oashore, at the outlet of Lake Forsyth, on February 7th, 1840. He travelled from Oashore to Taumutu, from Taumutu to Southbridge, and thence to Riccarton with his wife and one child by bullock team and dray. He represented Messrs. Abercrombie and Co., who had bought Riccarton from the Maoris. This firm despatched another ship laden with stores, etc., and carrying agriculturists to work at Riccarton. She was lost with all hands, and, in consequence, Messrs. Abercrombie and Co. failed, and all who were already at Riccarton returned to Sydney. Mr. McKinnon, however, remained, determined to keep the place himself. The Maoris, realising that he was single-handed, burned the grass all round his house, and McKinnon, seeing the danger threatening