THE DEATH OF AN EARLY SETTLER.

Kumara Times, Issue 1058, 20 February 1880, Page 2

THE DEATH OF AN EARLY SETTLER.

By the sudden death of Mr George Hampleman oh Friday last, at Akaroa* New Zealand loses one of her very earliest settlers. Mr Hampleman was born near Hamburg in 1799, and was* consequently in his eighty-first year. He came to New Zealand on a whaling cruise from Sydney in 1835, and finlly settled in Peraki, in 1136, being the first white resident on Banks’ Peninsula. Shortly afterwards he purchased from the Natives a block of laud on the Peninsula fifteen miles square for a small cutter and some blankets. This transaction gave rise to the celebrated Hampleman land claims which have been before successive Commissioners and Governments up to the present

'day. lii fact, th’e deceased was preparing to state his claims before the Native Commissioners, who are fexpected to sit shortly in Akaroa. During the latter years of his life he deVpted all his energies to the prosecution 'of his land claims, and Was by this faieans deduced to comparative Want. The deceased-was a keen lin'd intelligent inan, and could tell many a story Of bygOne days. A rather extraordinary 'thing was, that he had. through his long intercourse With English speaking people, forgotten his mother tongue— German. In his diary, Which wis regularly Written up for many years lifter his coming to, NeW - Zealand, many interesting accOunts o6clir Of the inrcUrsibns of Bloody Jack and the Native quarrels. His life in the hands of a competent bigographer Would form Utt interestingpUge in the early settlement of New Zealand.