Wilfred Hall

Wilfred was running 1400 acres with his brother Godfrey. This run was part of Terrace Station, owned by their father Sir John Hall.

Wilfred married Millicent Potts in 1896. Godfrey returned to Terrace Station and Wilfred continued to run the property named "Farfield." The Halls lived in a cottage on the property, later known as Farfield cottage.

Biography

Lived at Gunyah, Glenroy, Canterbury, New Zealand

School: Christ's College
Keble College, Oxford

"His time is more given to Greek & Latin than I could wish, but the domestic regime at Keble is such a vast improvement on the older Colleges, that I have swallowed the Classics." John Hall (father) in a letter to William Rolleston (24 March 1884).

Wilfred was one of the first NewZealand scholars to undertake a degree in Britain and Hall made it clear to him that he carried a responsibility for establishing a creditable record.

"After he completed his degree, Wilfred realized his father's wish by spending time on the continent learning French and German." J Garner (1993).

In 1890, Wilfred became a master at Christ's College. Wilfred found that teaching did not suit him, and resigned some time later..

"I think I told you once that I decided to take up teaching not because I was particularly attracted to it so much as because I could not think of any other profession for which I was fitted. " Wilfred to JH, 7 March ~1891.

Wilfred became a cadet on a farm in the Manawatu and at the end of 1892 John Hall set aside part of his own station for him to run as a separate property which was known as Farfield.

Wilfred partnered with his brother, Godfrey, for a time running Farfield as a team. When Wilfred married Millicent Potts in early 1896, Godfrey returned to Terrace Station, John Hall's property. Millicent was the daughter of the conservationist, Thomas Potts, who was a neighbouring station owner. (J.Garner 1993)

After his father's death, Wilfred carried on with the 1,400 acres he had been responsible for. Wilfred eventually left the running of the property to a manager and adopted the role of a gentleman scholar. (J.Garner 1993)

Wilfred may have lived in Addington, Christchurch.

He lived at Sumner, Christchurch and moved to a house in Fendalton by March 2, 1906. He had been suffering from ill health and was thin, haggard and depressed since at least the time of the death of his infant daughter Mary in 1906. The house at Fendalton seemed to suit him better and his health improved.

He built Gunyah on the Farfield block, at Hororata, (Glenroy) around 1912-1913, and lived until his death.

He is buried at St John's Anglican Church, Hororata.

Sources

Garner, J., (1993), Sir John Hall, Pioneer, Pastoralist, and Politician, University of Canterbury.

John Hall Diaries (1901 - 1906) Held by the estate of John Hall

 Hall, John (Sir), 1824-1907 : Papers [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/23026384?search%5Bpath%5D=items&sear... (Held by National Library of New Zealand)]

Births, Deaths and Marriages Online NZ
Marriage certificate: 1896/4427
Death certificate: 1943/28120 79Y

Acknowledgements

Visit Wildred's colonial home: Gunyah