GRIGG, JOHN (1828-1901) was born at Bodbrane, Duloe, Cornwall. He spent his youth on his father's farm, being educated privately and at the naval college at Stoke.

On his father's death (1853) he sold the farm and sailed for Australia in the Blackwall, reaching Melbourne early in 1854. Disappointed in his search for a suitable locality for farming, he crossed to New Zealand and took up land at Otahuhu, where he cultivated potatoes on a large scale for the Australian market. This proving unprofitable, he contracted with the Government for the supply of hay to the troops in the Maori war. The contract was cancelled, and he bought up all the available hay, which he sold to the troops at an enhanced price. Grigg married (on 7 Jun 1855) Martha Maria (d. 1884), daughter of Henry Vercoe, of Mangere (formerly of Egloshayle, Cornwall). Continuing sheep and cattle farming, he visited the South Island in the early sixties and bought land in Southland which he sold at a profit. In 1864 he purchased the first portion of what was afterwards Longbeach station and, in partnership with his brother-in-law (T. Russell, q.v.) he increased the area until the station in 1871 aggregated about 30,000 acres of freehold land, much of it almost impassable bog. His brother Joseph managed the property until 1866, when John moved to Canterbury. For some years the family occupied a house at Avonbank, Christchurch. Taking advantage of the demand on the West Coast he sent four or five hundred sheep twice a month and 60 or 70 cattle across the Alps. Grigg set to work systematically draining the bog lands, most of which he gradually brought in for pasturage. (During the years 1873-75 William Massey, q.v., was one of his station hands.) The economic depression of the late seventies affected the partners, and in 1882 Russell withdrew, the separation being the occasion of a historic clearing sale of stock. Grigg retained 12,500 acres, which he now commenced to develop intensively as an agricultural property. As the land was reclaimed from bog a number of the employees took up farms, of which they obtained the freehold. Grigg bred the best strains of cattle and sheep for the changing trade. He was one of the first to ship refrigerated mutton and lamb, which he railed to Dunedin; and he was a leading spirit in the formation of the Canterbury Freezing Co., which erected the Belfast works. He was a provisional director and subsequently chairman of the company until shortly before his death. Grigg was an active member of the Canterbury A. and P. association, being a member of the committee in 1886, vice-president in 1892 and president the following year. He took many prizes at this and other shows. As an agriculturist he excelled. Making full use of machinery, he cropped as much as 5,000 acres in 1899. The yield per acre in 1901 averaged 50 bushels of wheat, 50 to 99 of oats, and 47 of barley.

Grigg took a leading part in local government, being chairman of the Ashburton county council for some years and also of the Longbeach road board and the school committee. A strong churchman, he was a member of the third Anglican general synod. In Aug 1884 he was elected to represent Wakanui in Parliament (defeating Ivess by 454 votes to 400). He took an active part in the debates of that year, but was unable to devote time to the office and retired (Jun 1885). He died on 5 Nov 1901.

His eldest son, JOHN CHARLES NATILE GRIGG (1861-1926) farmed the homestead block until his death. He married Alice, daughter of Prof. F. W. Hutton (q.v.).

Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924; Col. Gent.; Cycl. NZ., iii; Philpott.

Reference: Volume 1, page 183

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