CARTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 March 1940, Page 7

CARTERTON

PIONEER’S ARRIVAL LATE MR THOMAS KEMPTON. ("Times-Age” Special.) Yesterday marked the anniversary of the day when the late Mr Thomas Kempton arrived in New Zealand by the sailing ship “Adelaide.” He was the first child to land at Wellington proper in 1840. Others who had landed in New Zealand had all done so at Petone. When Mr Kempton arrived at the age of 3 years it was with his parents, Mr and Mrs Thomas Kempton Senr. Mr Kempton Junr.. it is claimed, was the first person to reach Greytown by way of the Rimutaka Mountain. He was then about 17 years of age. After his landing the late Mr Kempton and other members of the family lived in the Hutt Valley. It was in 1854 that this worthy old pioneer crossed the Rimutaka Mountain in quest of the fertile land of the Wairarapa. and it was on March 23 of that year he had the honour of turning the first sod to start the township of Greytown. Yesterday the “Times-Age” Carterton representative had a pleasant hour at Mr and Mrs A. T. Hawke’s home at Clareville and listened to early history story-telling with a good deal of interest. Many stirring reminiscences were related by Mrs Hawke (nee Alice Mary Kempton) a daughter of the late Mr Thos. Kempton. She has very vivid recollections of early pioneering days and troublesome times with the natives. Mrs Hawke related how she had first cooked meals in an old camp oven and many times in an oil drum, then in a colonial oven and a range until today she has the pleasure of electrical appliances. Coming back to the early times of Mr Kempton's journey across the hills io Wairarapa, your correspondent was given permission to use the following: in 1901 Mr Ben Keys, writing from the Registrar General’s office, on Febru- ; ary 1, seeking information, wrote as follows: “Thos. Kempton Esq., Greytown North: Dear Sir, —1 am desirous of finding out the date at which the load to the Wairarapa was constructed over the Rimutaka Mountains. Mr T. : W. McKenzie, whom you doubtless ; know, has referred me to you as being , the person with the most accurate local •Knowledge. Would you be so kind as • to give me any information you can • as to the date of construction, the dif- • ficulties to be overcome, and who ] bore the expense? I should be deep- • ly obliged for any trouble you may go ; to. I am a grandson of Mr Chas. W. ; Keys, who came out in the ‘Cuba.’ ] Yours faithfully, Ben Keys.” j

The reply that was given by the late Mr Kempton to this request was: “Elm Grove, Greytown North, April 25. 1901. Mr Ben Keys, Dear Sir,—Yours .February 1, 1901 to hand re road to the VZairarapa over Rimutaka Mountains. When I came to the Wairarapa on March 23, 1854. the start of Grey town, I turned the first sod at Greytown on that date. There was a cart road to the Summit of Rimutakas, thence to Featherston only a bridle track, very narrow in places with high rocks above and below and thousands of dead trees hanging over the road, which were very dangerous in windy weather which was of frequent occurrence. On January 22, 1855, a big earthquake broke the road away altogether in places and in other places the hill came down and blocked the road altogether, so that it was difficult to find the road at all. It was blocked for some weeks before one could get a pack horse over again. On July 7, 1856, I drove four bullocks and a dray with a ton of goods to Featherston, this being the first load of goods brought over the Rimutaka. It was a risky undertaking, for in places the road was very narrow. It was two to three weeks after that before any other person was game to attempt it. The next to cross the mountain with a cart was Charles Cundy or Charles White. I am not quite sure, but I believe it was Cundy first, White following with two horses and a cart loaded with about half a ton of goods each. We had to wade all rivers there being no bridges. Gangs of men from Greytown opened this side of the hill. There was Hawke and party, Walter Terry and party, and Thomas and party at work, also Webb and party, not of Grey town). Tne expense of the undertaking was borne by the Provincial Government with Dr. Featherston as superintendent. I have been trying to get more information on the subject, but I cannot find any person who can help me. If you could come and see me, I could tell you all I can remember about the settlers and the roughing we had to do. I came to New Zealand in the good ship 'Adelaide,’ Mr T. W. McKenzie came out in the same ship in the year 1840. Yours truly. Thus. Kempton.”

LEG INJURY

MR VAUGHAN SLIPS IN SHOP. Mr W. Vaughan, butcher, Carterton, met with a painful accident at his business premises yesterday. He was at the rear of the shop when a call car*.' from the shop. He turned sharply to answer the call and slipped and fell heavily, v/i'.h the result that he caught his leg upon some jagged concrete and in doing so, received a nasty cut on his shin. A doctor was called and Mr z *Vaughan was taken to Croydon, where rhe wound was attended to. several stitches being inserted. Mr Vaughan is now laid aside at his home Greytown’s First Children. The “Times-Age’’ representative, during an interesting conversation with Mr and Mrs A. T. Hawke, of Clareville, elicited the claim that the first male child born in Greytown was one named Nopps and the first female one named Waterson. Rising Sun Hotel. Yesterday the “Times-Age” representative was shown a picture of the Rising Sun Hotel as it was when it was

first erected in Greytown. It was of very primative construction and in the background are the Tararua ranges and dense bush. There was also shown a Bible, well bound in leather, but of course showing signs of its age, for it is well over 100 years old and was printed in England, Trip to Exhibition. Pupils of standard four of the Carterton District High School were taken to the Centennial Exhibition in the school bus this morning. They left at 9.15 a.m. and will return late tonight. The party is in charge of teachers. Official Opening. The official opening of the newly altered picture theatre in. Carterton will take place on Tuesday, March 19. The Mayor, Mr D. L. Taverner will preside at the opening. When completed the Carterton theatre will rank among the best country ones in New Zealand and will be a credit to the town. Tennis. The following team will represent the Carferton Lawn Tennis Club in Ihe B grade match against Masterton to be played on the Carterton courts tomorrow:—Messrs C. K Goodin. R. Barrett. C. Jensen, R. Harrington, V. Inaer, R. Andrews. Mrs Hindley, Misses E. Bedford, M. Beaven, M. Pauling, R. Hopkins and M. Dunn. Any member unable to compete is requested to notify the secretary immediately. Personal. The many friends of Mr A. H. Krabagen will be pleased to hear that he has sufficiently recovered from his illness to return to his home. School Excursion. A fairly heavily laden school excursion train from Mangatainoka, Eketahuna and southern stations picking up children at Cross Creek for the Centennial Exhibition, passed through Carterton at 9 o’clock this morning. Church Services. Church of England service will be held at Gladstone at 11 a.m. and at Parkvale at 2 p.m. Services in connection with St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church will be held at Carterton at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.. and at West Taratahi at 2.45 p.m.