MANSON, SAMUEL (1815-90) was born and educated at Caprington, Ayrshire. In 1842, with his wife and family, he came to New Zealand in the Thomas Harrison, intending to settle at Wellington. His brother (Dr David Manson) died on the voyage. Finding difficulty in getting land, Manson joined the Deans brothers and John Gebbie when they moved to Canterbury in Sinclair's schooner (Feb 1843). While the families remained at Port Levy in charge of Gebbie, the others went by whaleboat up the Avon to Riccarton, where Manson erected the first house on the Canterbury plains. He remained in Riccarton two years, and in 1845 settled with his family and the Gebbies at the head of the bay, where he established a dairy farm, 'Kainshill,' selling the produce to Wellington until the arrival of the Canterbury settlers. He died on 18 Apr 1890.

Cycl. N.Z., iii; The Press, 19 Apr 1890.

Reference: Volume 2, page 29

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