TWICE MAYOR OF FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, 4 January 1894, Page 2

TWICE MAYOR OF FOXTON.

INTRODUCTORY,

The subject of our sketch is a pleasing illustration of the possibilities this colony afforded, and still affords, to the energetic and frugal to succeed in placing themselves in a comfortable and independent position.

Mr George Nye, twice Mayor of Foxton, was born in December, 1826, in Sussex, England. The old borough and markettown of Lewes, .situated on the river Ouse, was his birthplace, and the sturdy independence of its townspeople seems to have been inherited by the child. It was here that the confederated barons defeated the forces of King Henry 111 and concluded a treaty with him called " The Mise of Lewes. <r The famous Thomas Paine, author.of the " Eights of Man " in the earlier part of his life was an exciseman at Lewes. Evidently the old people in the neighbourhood had a way of looking at things and acting different y from the ordinary vim of countrymen. From such stock sprung some of our grandest oolonies, and still will.

The boy at the age of 13 found his surroundings too " cribb, cabin'd and confined" and being interested 'n the talk-

about the new laud over the seas which was then occupying much attention in England owing to the formation ot the New Zealand Land Company, made up his mind to leave his home and parents and accompany his uncle and aunt on their adventurous voyage to New Zealand. In September 1839 these pioneer* embarked in the good ship "Oriental" and met amongst her passengers many of the cilonists now " Old Identities."

fELLOW PABSE3CCJERK,

We do not purpose giving a list of passengers, bat a few interesting names i'ome to the t'l'ont wlllch we may fairly state. One of the passengers was Mr Thomas MeKenzie, Rangitikei's old settler, and now the father and grandfather of a very large number of children who are employed in reducing the wilderness and extracting the fruits from the soil. Au other passenger was Mr Alexander Grant of Turakina, a hardy old gentleman who though verging close on 83 years of age, left a few months ago on a trip to Australia to visit his relations there. Then there was Mr Kettle, the father of the present Judge Kettle, who as a surveyor made the first survey of this district in 1842 for the Company,' of thousands of acres of land which were purchased from the Natives in trade. Trouble arose and the Home Government despatched Mr Commissioner Spain to inquire into the deal, and ruthlessly cut down the Company's holding to 900 acres, for v^hich the three oUI blocks, Mr F. Robinson's 400 acres, Mr Kebbell's 400 acres and Mr Burr's 100 acres are the representatives. Mr Kettle subsequently went to Otago. Mr Shand, the father of one of the partners m Woods, Bhandtv. Co., was another passenger, as well as a Mr *Duppa, who built the first house in Oriental Bay, Wellington, the bay deriving its name from the ship which brought the immigrants out. Mr T. U. Cook, our old townsman, though not a fellow passenger, can be fairly mentioned as a fellow voyager, as he started in- the ship Adelaide' at the same time from England. ARRIVAL IN THE COLONY. On the 22nd January 1840, the Anniversary Day of the Wellington Province and the true founding of the Colony, Mr George Nye landed in Port Nicholson. For a year he stayed where he landed and then he joined Colonel Wakefield's party who went north to Taranaki to purchase and survey laud. Mr Nye witnessed the first purchase of land in that new Province and assisted in its survey, staying therefor some iwo and a half years. The first settlers in Turanaki had not a "rosy'" time, as owing to the Native fighting potatoes and other food was scarce, and many a timo a distinguished settler had to repair to the Ocean beach with a fish hook and a long line to feel for his breakfast or dinner. It is rumoured that a dead whale was worth something even in the shape of victuals, but this may be a slightjexnggeration. Loaving Colonel Wakeneld, and not beiug more than 17 years of age George Nye determined to reach' Wellington overlaud and walked the distance through little known country and through swarms of Natives, not a bad act for a mere lad, not loug away from his parents' care. There was a ferry at Wanganui which was worked by " OkUdt'iHitiw " of Wanganui, Messrs Taylor and Watt, who were not old but very now Identities then, having only just commenced business in that district. li<: got to Wellington safe and sound.

HIS VABIOVS OCCUPATIONS,

After a lime in Wellington he left it to lake charge of the ferry which was established at the mouth of Porirua Harbour in those clays, the traffic up ihe coast being then all along the beach. Iv his capacity as ferryman lit; hud the satisfaction of crossing the first lot of cattle taken overland up the coast, and they were the property of the late Mr Francis Robinson.

AIiRIVAf. IN' MANAWATU

In 18-ifi Mr George Nye arrived in Manawalu, and weut to work at rope- making at the stores rnu by Mr T. U. Cook on the south bank of the river at Piiiaka. Tin's point seems to have been selected by the first European settlers as a choice position, us immediately oppos-itc to Mr Cook's store were the ilour'and saw-mills of the Messrs Kebbol!. Matters went on smoothly litre until the great Itangiheatea's outbreak made the stlth'rs think it advisable to leave, and Mr Nye, being also of that opinion, finding that the bt-ach route had been stopped or •• tapu'd " he had to work his way from Paiaka to Horowhenua by the bush route, a toilsome journey which can be imagined by anyone knowing the character of the growth, and that there were no tracks of any sort marked through it.

Land having proved a rather unsafe position Mr Nye joined a whaling party at Kapiti with Robert Jillett, a well known hand, and of which the late well known Hector Macdonald, of Horowhenua, was the chief " headsman." The work lasted some lime and their proceedings were fairly remunerative.

After whaling Mr Nye took a hand at road- work and was engaged in the formation of the main trunk road, in Horikiwi Valley. Maori labour was employed with European overseers. Pay was different in the " good old days " to what it is now, then the Maories received two shillings and sixpence and the overseers three shillings and sixpence. As another instance of low pay we may mention that Mr Comption, who resided on the bank of the Manawatu river, was engaged in laying out part of this main road, had to act as paymaster, and had to oversee two hundred men, and received in exchange, tho princely salary of six shillings a day ! We may further mention that station-hands received seven shillings a week and their " tucker," and station overseers obtained £30 a year and their maintenance.

The Native troubles being over Mr Nye returned to Paiaka and rope-making at" which he continued for three or four years, when he turned his attention to shipbuilding and turned out two schooners for Mr T. U. Cook, the " Mary Jane " and the " Hannah." These boats plied on their trips to Wellington and back for many years. He then settled down to carpentering and housebuilding, a trade he had learnt under his uncle. The Presbyterian Church and Mr Duncan's house are two buildings erected by Mr Nye. FAMILY TIES. In 1856 Mr Nye wisely entered into the married state, and was united by the Rev James Duncan to the widow of Mr Staff. He then leased land from Mr T. U. Cook at Wirokino and worked upon it. Every., one in the district, nearly, knows Mrs Nye who presides in her kindly manner at the very comfortable home they now possess. There were only four children, two boys and two girls, all married ; George and Thomas, and Mrs Honore and Mrs E. Osborne. THE NEW HOME. At the Government sale of the Awahou block Mr Nye purchased about 100 acres of the rich swamp land, bounded by the main road to Wirokino. In those days the main drain was not cut, and the swamp was one { actually and not in name. On this be laid out much money and in Ir -*i> built the house he at present occupies, which is most prettily situated on a knoll from

which a fine view i# attain able. Here he has formed his splendid orchard, cut out of the standing bush for shelter, which comprises a large variety of apples, P 1 ""™' "reengages, filberts, walnuts ana cnesinuts, *o. Here also are the numerous vineries the produce from which equal a ton and a half saleable at from one shilling to one shilling aud si pence a pouna. xne vines we have before described and neea only repeat that they are a sight worm seeing as they near ripening,- and a sigui Mr Nye will most cheerfully #**&***» asked. To be accurate as to dates we may as well state that the vinenessWwsie not started till 1886 and have each yea* been made larger, aud now they present WJW superficial feet of glass. POBLIC AFFAIRS. From about the year 1870, the time when Sir Julius Vogel'a schemes were carnert out Mr Nye secured an important position as Inspector of Works m the Public Works Department, stationed chiefly at Foxton under the Ui«trict "Engineer, J. T. Stewart, but travelling towards the latter years far and wide, his duties having taken him up to New Plymouth on the West Coast and to Napier and Gisborne on the East Coast. The number of years he remained under the Government prove that he succeeded in giving the Department every satisfaction.

i>URLIC MAN

Mr Nye has never flinched from taking his share of the responsibilities as a settler. In the early days he was a member of the qlcl l-'oxton Highway Board, this being about 1868, and this board opened up many of the roads in its small district, under the chairmanship of the late Mr F. Robinson, in very much the same state they are now in. He was a member of the School committee in the days when householders had to pay a direct tax for education

In 1887 Mr Jsye was elected to. the new Foxton Borough Council and has practically been continuously connected with it, though not always as a member, as he retired once but more to assist in securing the carrying out of needed works. 4 n tm * way he superintended very carefully the building of the new punt, and the building of the cu'vevt at the Awahon stream, besides many other works. In 1891 Mr Nye had the "honor of being elected Mayor without opposition, and" in' 1802 he was re-elpirted after an election.

PKRBONAL.

Mr Nye belongs to the Presbyterian Church, in which, during the last twentysix years he has been an office-bearer. The farm like his other possessions has increased and multiplied exceedingly and now runs up to 263 acres with a fair lot of eaU'e and 700 sheep despaturing thereon. The history of this man's life is an object lesson to those who read it aright.

.SOME OLD SETTLERS,

Mr Nye recalls many old settlers who were on "the coast when he came up, some alas gone, amongst whom we regret to number Mr F. Robinson, the Messrs Kebbell, H. Kymons, Tom Scott and Barnett, : amongst those still living we find the Rev. James Duncan, Messrs T. Ij. Cook and A. Burr.