"WORK FOR ALL."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 14

"WORK FOR ALL."

i CAPTAIN G. E, BEAD, An outstanding fißure in the early hia> tory of Poverty Hay is Captain G. E. Read, familiarly Itnown as the "King of Poverty Bay." Captain Read was a typical pioneer—ollo of the school of hardy, fearless, and self-reliant mon who, in tno earlier years of tlieir colonial life, were frequently called upon to face hardships and dangers which were a severe test, of the traditional British pluck with which t'hey were so well endowed. At th» time of the To Kooti massacre in 18G9, Captain Read played a part which raised him to the rank of a hero amongst hi» comrades. His courage and ingenuity during the anxious (lavs which followed tk« first onslaught of To Kooti's murderous band was undoubtedly a great factor ill the preservation of the lives of many of

the • settlers and their families. Captain, or "King," B«ad settled In. th« Gisborne district. a 9 early, as 1840, and can'ied on,an.extensive.coastal trade,for many years. In some 'of his . business undertakings he .was associated with the late 1 Hon. W. B. Rhodes." Ho acquired considerable areas of land from the Natives, and although he undoubtedly turned it to profitable _ account, _ yet he took a most unselfish > interest in the progress of the district, and probably did as much as any man to promote the early settlement of the district. He made it a rule, never to turn away any new arrival who