Ani Jane Lipsey and Alexander Watson Edwards

Abstract

Ani Lipsey, the eldest daughter of George and Ema, was well educated. Her Scottish husband, who settled in Te Aroha in the 1880s, had been apprenticed as a draper, an occupation he followed in both Australia and then New Zealand. In addition, for a couple of decades he owned dairy farms in the Te Aroha district. He was a successful merchant with a steadily expanding and profitable business. Ani received a good income for a while from goldfields revenue, and put the land she inherited to profitable use. In the early twentieth century she convinced officials that she should be permitted to sell land within the township because the proceeds went to assist her husband’s business and because, over time, the government had decided to acquire all the Maori interests in Te Aroha. To assist in selling her land, in 1911 she had it declared European land, she herself being regarded as ‘practically a European’. Both were active in the social life of the township, Ani being a competent pianist, and participated in sporting activities. Both owned racehorses, and Edwards assisted in organizing many race meetings. As part of his efforts to assist the community, for a while he was a member of the borough council. Both were popular, and were fondly remembered.