William Royse

Rachel’s parents William and Sarah Darwent were the freeholders and victuallers of the Rising Sun Public House on Thornhill Moor in the Peak District, Derbyshire.

A large grain speculation venture they supplied had failed and later ended up in the Supreme Court,[13] and on 25 November 1868, in Hokitika, William Royse filed notice of his inability to meet his creditors under the Bankruptcy Act.

On 15 December 1868, at Westland District Court, his last financial examination and application for discharge from bankruptcy was fixed for 5 January 1869, and Royse's lawyer applied for him to be excused, so he could depart for Adelaide.

Prior to his departure, he was wished God speed at an evening at the Grand Hotel, attended by a number of the leading citizens of Hokitika, where the wines flowed in abundance.

[21] Royse also invested in sheep farming in Hawkes Bay in the North Island, where he owned 23,479 acres of Kereru Station,[22] and established an award-winning merino stud with Mr John Anderson of Otago.

[29] Royse, now based back in Dunedin, set about developing a large landholding for sheep farming in Southland on the Mataura River down to Toetoes Bay, consisting of four properties, Birchwood, Thornhill, Ocean View and Springfield, totaling 8,568 acres.