ANDERSON, ARCHIBALD (1817-1910) was born at Stirling, the son of John Anderson, who owned fisheries. After getting a sound Scots education Archibald helped his father in the business. He had not turned 21 when the New Zealand Company's agents came to Scotland and, with the help of his father, he purchased orders for one town acre in Port Nicholson and 400 acres of rural land. When the Bengal Merchant sailed from the Clyde (30 Oct 1839) Anderson was just 22. He took with him a ploughman (Donald Drummond). Reaching Port Nicholson on 21 Feb 1840, the Scotsmen found that the land was not available; the surveyors were engaged elsewhere. Anderson allowed his married couple to take work while he erected a raupo store at Pipitea Point and invested his capital in a business which for a year or two thrived. In 1842, in partnership with Andrew Rowan, he erected a second store in Willis Street, but profits being low they invested in the purchase of 20 cows and 500 Southdown sheep, which they depastured on land near Terawhiti (leased from Dr Evans). During the disturbances in 1845 the graziers abandoned the place and Anderson left for Otago in the Scotia with John Jones to prospect the country. He had married (1844) Anna, daughter of Joseph Miller, a trader from Sydney (formerly of Bromley, Kent). Favourably impressed with Otago, he took up grazing land and chartered two schooners to convey his livestock-30 cows, two horses and 500 ewes-to their new range. Rowan remained in charge of the stock at Otago Heads for 18 months, bringing in some income by trafficking with whalers. When Anderson had wound up his affairs in Wellington the partnership was dissolved, each partner taking half of the stock. Rowan lost his life on a voyage to Sydney. Anderson's son, John Crawford (q.v.), was born at the Kaik two days before the arrival of the John Wickliffe. Anderson now moved to Blueskin, where he spent two years, but owing to trouble with native dogs moved his stock to the higher country about Roslyn, and then to Saddle Hill, where he spent eight years. During this time he had a store at Wise's corner and he acted as postmaster until 1849.

Having prospected south Otago before the new settlers arrived, Anderson took up land at Inch Clutha and Stirling, and in 1850 leased the Molyneux run of 30,000 acres, upon which he erected his homestead at Moir's Bush, Barnego Flat. When the land was required for settlement, he gave up the lease and purchased the freehold of 2,000 acres between Balclutha and Tuakitoto lake. He let small farms and himself farmed 200 acres on Inch Clutha. The Balmoral property he worked from 1858 until 1880. In his kitchen the first services in Inch Clutha were held by the Rev W. Bannerman (q.v.), and the first school. Anderson also held the Beaumont run till 1860. At Inch Clutha he operated a ferry for the benefit of the settlers; grew and ground his own wheat; he sledged his family and supplies all the way from Dunedin, and shipped produce in his own boat round the coast to Otago harbour. He was early prominent in public life. In the Provincial Council he represented the Southern District (1853-59). Generally he walked to Dunedin to attend the meetings. He was speaker of the Council in 1854 and a member of the executive (1854-55).

His wife having died in 1860, Anderson retired from public life, except for his interest in the Inch Clutha church, of which he was an elder and benefactor for many years. When it was first built he gave a site of 25 acres. In 1880 he went to live at the Hermitage, Inch Clutha, where he died on 13 Sep 1910.

Otago P.C. Proc.; Hocken, Otago; Beattie; Otago Witness, 9 Mar 1893; Scholefield in Otago Daily Times, 23 Aug 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 23

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