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Part of Ned's Room in the Mens Quarters at Totara Estate
"Ned The Shiner" was an Irish Swagman well known in the area.
His real name was Edmond Slattery. He was born in County Clare and first went to Australia with his family. He came to New Zealand in 1873 and despite being well educated he preferred life on the road. He timed many of his visits to Totara to coincide with the Caledonian Society's Sports Day held on New Years Day and always demonstrated his proficiency in the Irish Jig which was on the program along with piping and athletics. He was known as a benevolent joker, with a liking for whisky. He was considered an honest man and liked by all he came in contact with.
He dressed as well as he could and was a striking figure over 6 feet tall. He must have had a great constitution because in spite of his hard life on the road in the lower part of the South Island he died aged 87 in 1927.