Antipodean empire : the New Zealand and Australian Land Company in New Zealand / Noel Crawford.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 394-418) and index.

Getting started in New Zealand: James Morton, the beginning ; Early Associations and the Land Company ; The New Zealand and Otago Agricultural and Land Investment Association ; The Canterbury and Otago Association ; The Davidsons ; The financier's finances -- Working the land: Aspects of management ; Freeholding ; Land development ; Profit from sheep -- James Morton and the City of Glasgow Bank collapse -- William S. Davidson: Frozen meat, dairying and land sales: Frozen meat, the beginning ; Frozen meat, building a trade ; Dairying at Edendale ; Land sales and valuations -- The estates: The coastal estates of Canterbury: Acton, the Levels and Pareora ; Hakataramea ; The high country runs: Kurow, Deep Dell and Kawarau ; The North Otago runs: Ardgowan, Totara and Moeraki ; Down South -- Out of New Zealand: Two sales and a purchase: Ardgowan, Pareora and Hakataramea Downs ; Selling the Levels ; Selling Edendale, Acton, Totara and Clydevale ; The big Australian ; The Land Company's later years.

"Antipodean Empire describes the purchase of the large properties in South Island New Zealand this Scottish company made, and how the extensive borrowings from Scottish banks to do this by the company founder, James Morton, led to the collapse of the City of Glasgow Bank in 1878, one of the worst bank collapses in 19th century Britain. Following Morton, the new General Manager, William Davidson, led the company to establish New Zealand's frozen meat and export dairy industries, and by developing the vast areas the company owned, made the Land Company into New Zealand's, and also Australia's, largest farming operations by the late 19th century. A history is given of each of the company's properties, also a detailed account of how each was eventually divided and sold to farmer settlers. ""Antipodean Empire"" is illustrated with many historic photos and maps and a colour photo section."--Publisher's description.