AN EARLY COLONIST

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1929, Page 4

AN EARLY COLONIST

INTERESTING CHAT WITH GOVERN uR-GENERAL. BLENHEIM, Oct. 10. His Excellency tne Governor-General was amazed on his visit to the Old People's Home at Blenheim to find himself conversing with a man who has lived m New Zealand under all tlie Governors and Governors-General che Dominion has known. He is Mr Charles \vebbey, who was born in Somerset, England, on June 11th. 1840, and arrived in New Zealand with Ids' parents eight months later by the ship Clifton on February 14th. 1841. This was during the regime of Captain William. Hobson R.N., who was then v a mere Lieutenant-Governor, acting under Sir George uipps, the Governor of New South Wales. A few months later Captain Hobson, with his seat at the Buy of Islands, became the actual Governor of New Zealand.

Mr Webbey serves as a living link with the days which witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the day of Governors Shortland, Fitzrdy, Grey and all the others whose figures are even now' almost legendary. Mr Webbey was a grown man of 33 years when Sir James Fergusson, the father o the present Governor-Genera!, took office, and he remembers him well. Mr , Webbey has never left New Zealand in all the years which have intervened since his arrival. He followed mining pursuits and is well-known in most parts of New Zealand and especially in ; Mahakipawa, where he lived for many vears. i

Air Webbey complained to his Excellency yesterday that on two occasions last year when visiting Wellington, he called at Government House, but was unable to find his Excellency at home, and his' Excellency expressed deep regrets. He was much interested in his chat with the old man.