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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Te Puke

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Te Puke.

Te Puke occupies a pleasant north-easterly aspect on a gentle slope. From the upper part of the settlement an extensive panoramic view of the Bay of Plenty is obtainéd, with White Island in the distance. Te Puke was originally established as a “Special Settlement” by Mr G. V. Stewart, under arrangement with the New Zealand Government. The first batch of settlers landed at Tauranga on the 4th of January, 1881, having arrived by the ship “Lady Jocelyn,” which was the first vessel to reach that port direct from Great Britain. As a settlement Te Puke has been a success in every sense of the word. Many of the original settlers still occupy their selections, which have been converted from tutu and fern to smiling homesteads. It is as a grazing district that Te Puke claims distinction, its fat bullocks being much in demand for the Thames and Auckland markets; large mobs of prime cattle are regularly sent away, and over 3000 were sent during the year 1900. The cattle sales held in the township are the most important of the kind in the Bay of Plenty. The cheese factory, recently taken over by the settlers on the co-operative principle, has given such promise of prosperity under its present management that the directors contemplate the extension of the buildings. Te Puke is the centre of a very large district, which extends about twenty miles to the eastward, and Tauranga is to the north, some eighteen miles distant. Most of the land from the township to the beach, about five miles, in a direct line, is swamp, but in several instances draining has been commenced with most promising results, so that many may see the present flax and raupo flats rich in verdant pasture within the present decade. The Te Puke goldfields have acquired more than local fame. Capital, however, is necessary to erect the requisite plant to extract the ore, and an effort is now (August, 1901) being made in this direction. A number of men are now working one of the claims, of which there are several. The township of Te Puke has a first-class hotel, post and telegraph office, four large general stores, three blacksmiths' and wheel wrights' shops, two butchers' shops, a timber yard, etc. It has also a fine school, with an average attendance of ninety children, a commodious public hall, a mission hall, and police station. St. John the Baptist Church, a neat edifice, has recently been erected on a good site near the township, at a cost of £500. This building belongs to the Church of England. The road board controls local public affairs. Maize is largely grown at Te Puke, and the turnip crops are of excellent quality. There is a large scattered native population, who at present find remunerative employment at the flax mills, two of which are working in the district. Rotorua railway station is about forty miles from Te Puke. Mails from Auckland, Rotorua, Tauranga, Thames, and the East Coast arrive and depart on three days a week.

The Te Puke School serves a rising settlement near Tauranga. It is a wooden building with accommodation for 120 scholars. There are 110 names on the roll, and the average attendance is ninety-seven. Mr. Charles Bishoprick has been headmaster since January, 1898.

Mr. Charles Bishoprick was appointed to the charge of the Te Puke school in 1897. He was born in Yorkshire in 1862 and was educated at the Beverley Grammar School, where he also served a term as pupil-teacher. For over two years, Mr. Bishoprick was assistant master at the Westminster Abbey Choir School. He came to New Zealand per ship “Tainui,” landing at Auckland in 1886, and very shortly after was appointed second assistant at the Beresford Street school, Auckland, where he remained for four years, then took charge of the Waimate North school, whence he was appointed to Te Puke. All matters of interest in cricket, football, and athletics generally find in Mr. Bishoprick a warm supporter.

Galbraith, John Cameron, General Storekeeper, Te Puke. Mr. Galbraith was born at Singapore in 1860, was educated in Glasgow, and brought up to the grain trade. He came to New Zealand in 1881, per ship “Lady Jocelyn,” and established the first store in Te Puke, styling it “The Pioneer.” Since his arrival in the district, Mr. Galbraith has identified himself largely with the development of gold mining, in which he places great faith as a factor of progress. He takes a fairly active part in public matters, and was chairman of the Te Puke Drainage Board, which he was instrumental in establishing. He has also a seat on the licensing committee, and was placed on the commission of the peace in 1894.

Boucher, Ernest, Settler, “Kempsey,” Te Puke. Mr. Boucher's farm contains 350
Mr. E. Boucher.

Mr. E. Boucher.

page 941 acres in all, but is mostly sub-let to other farmers in the neighbourhood. Mr. Boucher retains one section for his own residence, and also holds several properties in the township. He was born in Staffordshire in 1862, was educated at Uppingham College, and was intended for the legal profession. However, after studying for the Bar for some time, a desire for a freer life led him to New Zealand, whither he came by the ship “Hormione” in 1881. His father purchased a farm from Mr. Vesey Stewart, and to this he devoted his attention, after serving six months as a cadet. Mr. Boucher carries on general farming operations, and is successful in fattening a large number of stock annually for the Waihi market. A fine hydraulic ram on his farm supplies the four adjacent farms with abundant water. His land is very productive, and has yielded as much as eighty-seven bushels of maize to the acre. Mr. Boucher was a member of the Te Puke Road Board for about seven years, and took an active interest in the Agricultural and Pastoral Society and Tauranga Jockey Club. He married Miss Vercoe, daughter of Mr. H. W. Vercoe, one of the best known settlers in Te Puke, and has a family of three sons. Laterly he has resided at Remuera, Auckland.

Mr. Joseph Hetherington, sometime of Te Puke, was a much-respected settler of that district, in which he resided for sixteen years prior to his death. He was born in Northumberland in 1835, and was trained for the life of a farmer. His thoroughness of character gained for him in his adopted country the respect and esteem of his fellow-settlers. Though his health was not good, he took a great interest in local church matters up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1896, and was mourned by a wide circle of friends, and a widow, three sons and one daughter.

The late Mr. J. Hetherington.

The late Mr. J. Hetherington.

Kenealy, M. V. , Farmer, Te Puke. Mr. Kenealy is a native of County Cork, Ireland, and was born in 1868. He was educated at Newmarket, Ireland, and was for some time on the farms of his father, the late Mr. D. Kenealy, at Knockduff and Glenlara, Ireland. Mr. Kenealy came to New Zealand in May, 1882, per ship “Hermione,” and landed at Auckland. He took possession of the Star Hotel, Tauranga, in 1887, and conducted it successfully for several years. Mr. Kenealy takes an active interest in public matters, and is well known for his geniality.

Mr. M. V. Kenealy.

Mr. M. V. Kenealy.

Mr. Robert King, J.P., of Te Puke, was born at Dunoon, Argyleshire, Scotland, and educated at the Dunoon parish school. About five years prior to coming to New Zealand he removed to Helensburgh, where he was in the employment of Messrs Waddle and Jack. On the 4th of January, 1881, Mr. King arrived at Tauranga by the ship “Lady Jocelyn,” the first vessel to arrive direct from the Old Country at Tauranga. Soon after his arrival Mr. King secured a situation in one of Mr. William Kelly's stores at Rotorua, where he remained for fully ten years. While at Rotorua Mr. King took an active part in public matters, and in sport generally, and, was correspondent for the “Auckland Herald” and other newspapers. In 1894 he removed to Opotiki, shortly after the death of his uncle, the late Mr. Robert King, and there he became secretary of the Opotiki Agricultural and Pastoral Association, chairman of the Opotiki school committee, and Waioeka Domain Board, member of the Bay of Plenty licensing committee, and a representative of the Whakatane county of the Bay of Plenty Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. In 1898 Mr. King entered into business as a general merchant, shipping and commission agent at Maketu, and shortly afterwards he extended his business to Te Puke, where he has a store and bakery, both of which he is carrying on in conjunction with his Maketu business. Mr. King is a member of the Tauranga County Council, and as a Freemason he is Past Master of Lodge Opotiki, 1930, E.C. In 1894 he married the eldest daughter of the Hon. William Kelly, M.L.C., and has one son and one daughter. Mr. Kelly represented the Bay of Plenty in the House of Representatives for many years prior to being called to the Legislative Council in February, 1897.

Mr. and Mrs R. King.

Mr. and Mrs R. King.

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Witherow, Joseph, “Riverside,” Te Puke. This well-known colonist has been a resident of Te Puke for some years, and in the early days had some rough and stirring experiences as a gold digger. He was born in Londonderry in 1834, and came to Victoria, per ship “Guiding Star,” at the age of eighteen, in quest of gold. He was at Bendigo first, and in 1853 he went to the Goulburn “rush,” and thence to Ballarat, where he was in 1854, when the miners resisted the military force sent to compel them to comply with the obnoxious gold-license regulations of the time. He engaged with success in mining till the year 1879, when he crossed to New Zealand and settled for awhile at Tauranga. He was among the first settlers to take up land in the Te Puke district, where he now owns several properties. Nine years ago Mr. Witherow was elected to represent the Maketu riding on the Tauranga County Council, and Charitable Aid Board, and has proved a valuable member of that body. He has also been prominent for a long time in connection with the local road boards and school committees. Mr. Witherow has a family of six sons and two daughters.

Mr. J. Witherow.

Mr. J. Witherow.