NILE RIVER
couples are now within reach of it, to walk arm in arm along its shaded way, or to arrange picnic parties by its creek side.
The land around Charleston was in “Square 137” of the Nelson Land District; that portion between the bridge and Drennan’s Creek being Sections 41 and 19, held originally by Messrs. Beckle & Marris, of the Nile Steam Sawmill. On 1st October, 1888, a Crown grant of No. 41 was made to Barclay Mouat, and on 16th August, 1880, a grant of No. 19 was made to T. G. Macarthy. The present owner is R. C. J. Powell. Beyond the creek were Sections No. 20 of 9 acres, No. 40 of 17 acres, No. 23 of 30 acres, and No. 31 of 106 acres. These, with Nos. 41 and 19, carried heavy timber, and when cleared of this were occupied as primitive cattle-runs or farms.
The first section to be brought under cultivation was No. 20, held originally by Absolom Brook; then followed Nos. 40 and 23.
The original owner of No. 31 was Edward Drennan; of No. 40, Coghlin, “The Irish Piper”; and of No. 23 Con. Cronin, later the discoverer of Croninville. These four sections (31, 40, 23 and 20) were eventually purchased by Drennan, who combined them into one farm, protected them from erosion by building groins in the river, and brought them into good bearing. Crown grants were made to him: Of No. 23 on 1st April, 1886, of No. 40 on 6th April, 1887, of No. 31 on 13th December, 1889, of No. 20 on 25th June, 1889. The present owners of these four sections are Messrs. James and George Morris.
On the south bank of the river, just above the confluence of Darkie’s Creek and the Nile, was Nile Farm, established by Thomas A. Poole about 1869, on Section No. 14, of 50 acres. It was subsequently acquired by Jonathan Harle and secured to him by Crown Grant on 1st October, 1883. Later occupants were Thomas Brougham, and William Hill, coach proprietor. It is now owned by R. C. J. Powell.
These farms on the Nile, together with John Warne’s behind St. Patrick’s School, were Charleston’s only local supplies of dairy and garden produce in its busy days, but in 1867 Mr. John Lewis, of the Pioneer Dairy, on Brighton Road, had a milk-depot “opposite the Camp”; and Messrs.
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