Alfred (Turi) Thomas Carroll

Alfred (Turi) Thomas Carroll was born at Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, in 1890 of Ngati Kahungunu and Irish descent. he was the nephew of Eastern Māori Member of Parliament Sir James Carroll. He became known as Turi after his ancestor Turipareta, and was educated at Wanganui Collegiate, Te Aute College and Canterbury Agricultural College (1910-1912).

Alfred Thomas Carroll was an outstanding student of his time to Lincoln from Wanganui Collegiate and Te Aute College. After his course at Lincoln he followed in the tradition of his distinguished Maori family and served his people and the nation in a wide range of activity. He died on 11 November, 1975, at the age of 85, at his residence Huranua, Wairoa. Turi Carroll entered into student life with enthusiasm; had a good scholastic record and among his athletic attainments he was one of the people who as a student, gained rugby representation for the Canterbury provincial team. He farmed the Wairoa properties very creditably in partnership with his brother - a model property of 1200 acres, easy hills and river flats, very heavily stocked. He served overseas in the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War 1 from 1917-1919 and on his return became increasingly involved in local body and sporting club service and outstanding leadership within the Maori community. He was awarded the O.B.E. and in 1940 was recipient of the Bledisloe Medal. In later years his most notable activity, among many others, was as president of the Maori Council 1962-67 and president of the Maori Education Foundation. He was Knighted (KBE) in 1962. Source: 1976 Lincoln College Magazine

Chief Judge launches Carroll commemorative lecture series

Sir Turi Carroll Lecture Series

Fellowship Gift by Maoris

Bledisloe Medal Award. Won by Mr. T. A. Carroll, Hurumua Station, Wairoa, Hawkes Bay.

The Gold Medal donated by Lord Bledisloe in 1939 for the Old Student doing the greatest service to agriculture, has been won for the first time by a member of the Maori race. This year' winner is Mr T. A. Carroll, of Hurumua Station, Wairoa. Mr. Carroll is an outstanding farmer and his property compares more than favourably with the best on the East Coast. But it is not for his farming ability alone that Mr Carroll's nomination has been put forward.

Mr. Carroll is an outstanding personality. His multifarious activities give ample evidence of his energetic and versatile nature. Born Aug. 24th, 1890, and educated at Wanganui and Te Aute Colleges he came to Lincoln in 1910 and gained his Diploma in 1912. He was a good student and exceedingly popular with his fellows. He represented the College at cricket and football and was a Canterbury rugby representative. The next three years were spent working at Hurumua, and in 1916 he went overseas with the Maori battalion, not to return till March, 1919, when he found Hurumua had of necessity been neglected, so that rushes and second growth had taken a firm hold. Assisted by his brother Joseph, he set out to make this farm of 1260 acres, easy hills, and 900 acres of river flats into a model property. He now carries over 4000 sheep, 211 milking cows, 250 Aberdeen Angus beef cattle and 220 pigs. In addition to grass for hay and oats for silage, he grows pumpkins, maize, sugar beet, potatoes, and chou moellier. In various holdings 5000 acres are farmed.

Few men have given the time and ability-and Mr. Carroll has exceptional ability for organisation-to the welfare of the community, coming within their sphere of influence. But good wine needs no bush; these are the offices held at present:-

Chairman since foundation of Farmers' Union Provincial Executive.

Chairman since foundation of East Coast Pig Council.

Chairman for three years Wairoa County Council.

Chairman for 11 years Wairoa Co-operative Dairy Co.

Chairman of the recently constituted District Council of Primary Production.

Patron since inception of the Wairoa Young Farmers' Club. The biggest club in New Zealand.

In addition Mr. Carroll has been President of the Wairoa Racing Club, a member' of the Wairoa Power Board, the Wairoa Hospital Board and the Harbour Board.

Towards the end of his life, Sir James Carroll, recognising his nephew's ability as a leader of his people, gradually handed over much of his authority and the Native land development schemes started by Sir Apirana Ngata, owed their success in the Wairoa and surrounding districts largely to Mr. Carroll's activities and support. When he was Maori welfare officer he devoted a great deal of time to the settlers, built up their enthusiasm and supplied both agricultural and financial assistance. His own life is an outstanding example to the native farming community, his advice is frequently sought and always available, in fact the progress of the very considerable native farming population of the Hawkes Bay and Poverty Bay is his first consideration. At Hurumua, Maori boys are employed and not only do they get a thorough training in up-to-date methods, but Mr. and Mrs. Carroll assist the boys in every way. Their training completed the boys are keenly sought after by farmers in the district.

The question that one cannot help asking is "How can one man do all this?” The answer is "Perfect Planning." At daylight every morning, Mr. Carroll's horse is saddled and he makes his inspection of the farm and deals with the multitudinous affairs connected with farming a large property on which many kinds of husbandry are carried out. When he returns for breakfast at 9.30 a.m. his only daughter has his correspondence and farm accounts arranged for his inspection. She has also arranged a list of her father's appointments and programme for the day.

But this is not the full tale of Mr. Carroll's activities for he is a keen sportsman. Patron of the Wairoa Collie Club, he has won many trophies with his dogs. During the war he played many games in England for the Maori Battalion XV and is now patron of the Wairoa rugby sub-union. He plays a good game of tennis and is President of the local Golf Club although his handicap, it is understood, is his one concession to the mellowing influence of middle age.

The beautiful grounds and smoothly run household are a tribute to the genius of Mrs Carroll. Visitors to Hurumua are warmly welcomed and efficiently cared for. The station is justly famed, even amongst a people traditionally hospitable.

Source: P89 1941 November Canterbury Agricultural College Magazine

Alfred Thomas Carroll who in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours was made a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) was a Maori student at the College, 1910-12.

Born in 1890, a nephew of Sir James Carroll he had his secondary education at Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay, before entering on the Diploma Course at Lincoln, for which he qualified in 1912. He enjoyed his years at Lincoln and acquitted himself well. He was in the Rugby XV for three years,

1910-1912. Throughout 1911 he played for Canterbury in all that season's representative matches, being a front row forward of quality. Also secretary of golf, he played on a low handicap and in addition he aided student interests by administering the student library.

He started to farm at Wairoa with his brother who had preceded him at Lincoln but soon after went overseas and served throughout World War I.

After the war he farmed near Wairoa and steadily advanced as a leader of the Maori people, specifically the Ngati-kahunguna tribe. In 1940 he was awarded the Bledisloe medal for his farm development work, itself a great example to his own people. He also took a prominent part in the post-war rehabilitation of Maori servicemen and in local government administration on the East Coast.

In 1949 he stood for the Eastern Maori Parliamentary seat in the interests of the National Party but was not successful. Lady Carroll was Miss Polly Shrimpton, of Wairoa, and they have one child, Mrs R. S. Paku. source: P85, 1962 Lincoln College Magazine.