Parents

Home

Alice May Downey

Was named Emil after a Dutch student, friend of his father, (Emil van de Zyphen at Bonn University). He was 2 years old when his father William died. When mother remarried she lost interest in her children. His education at boarding schools, Waitaki Boys Oamaru, was paid for by his Aunt Christian Shirres in Scotland.Joined army aged 17, fought in First World War and was gassed..

Suffered ill health after being gassed. "Rifleman L.E.Shirres of Kurow, gassed on France, met his sister, Miss Cissy Shirres after a separation of 7 years, in London. Miss Shirres is also on active service having joined the M.T.A.S.C." (see photo above)

Visited Europe in early 1950 with sister Christian Selina (see photo of them at BuckinghamPalace) and enjoyed the British countryside, Braemar Games, Dublin Horse Show, but was happiest at the Oval and at Lords watching cricket and touring indefatigably the Battlefields of Europe where he had fought in 1917 and 1918

Notes from Grandson Greg Blackstock - July 1997

"He took up Riverside station in 1921. Riverside was originally in 4 blocks - two blocks consisting of just over 1700 acres that belonged to a Mrs Bain (Soldier Husband must have died). Middle Block - Smiths around 1200 acres and far away block. Carmichaels - also c 1200 acres. Bains has 670 acres of flat lands bordering the Ahuriri River where the present homestead is located. The balance is 1/2 mile further up road on a very steep, unstable and very cold country especially in winter. The 3 main hill blocks are built on a glacial moraine that had at one time been forced up then dumped on its side. The farm blocks were originally allocated in 1918. However the first returned soldiers walked off because the blocks were not big enough (only stone chimneys and fruit trees, willow and elms survive today). The run (farm) was originally part of Benmore station, which at one time must have been around 1/2 million acres. The run is located at the intersection of the Waitaki valley and the McKenzie country. McKenzie country is named in "honour" of James McKenzie an infamous rustler who had a clever collie dog that drove away mobs of sheep while McKenzie was inside having dinner with the landowner.

I believe Les Shirres looked after the farm that his mother (now Mrs Warrick) had shifted to after selling the farm at Georgetown. The new farm being located on the outskirts of Kurow. It was here he met my grandmother - May Downey. The riverside "homestead" at this time was little more than a three or four room musterer's hut.

The largest problems encountered (and still are today) were rabbits, Rose Hip Briar Thistles, Barley Grass, native Matagouri (very sharply spiked shrub) and then the elements. Les Shirres was a pioneer with regard to rabbit control in New Zealand. He was the first chairman of the Benmore Rabbit board and the first to introduce large scale rabbit proof fencing. Riverside at one time was completely surrounded with netting - much of which still survives today and is still serviceable. In the early days Les employed full time rabbiters and was the greatest exponent of getting rid of the bounty on rabbits (stopped farmers farming the pests) after World War Two. Les was one of the first to introduce aerial poisoning methods into the region and properly organised control boards.

Les Shirres was very much highly regarded in the Omarama,North Otago District. He had a great rapport with all the Musterers, Shearers, Rabbiters and looked after his men extremely well. Making sure that the men were well fed and watered is a tradition that still exists today. I believe that Les's concerns stem from his extremely tough, sparse, Scottish and somewhat abused childhood coupled with the comaderie built up in the trenches during World War 1 (Les was gassed in the trenches).

Les helped many people out during the great depression giving away meat and vegetables and strawberries (in season). His sole source of steady income at this point came from Dairy Cows. His early experience at Georgetown ensured that he supplied much of the district with milk and the cream was sold "Down Country". Rabbit skins and wool were only other income.

With the wool boom of the 1950s he put in an electric generating plant which gave enough power to charge light bulbs & radio so he could listen to cricket. He also extended the house."