Benton, Thomas, Settler, Greytown. Born in London in 1829. Mr. Benton landed with his parents in Wellington on the 1st of May, 1842, and worked on his father's farm at Karori for some time after arriving in the Colony. The Benton family lived on their farm at Karori till 1886, when Mr. Benton, sent., retired and settled in Newtown, where he resided till his death in 1895. In 1852 the subject of this notice was married to a daughter of Mr. Cattell, of Wellington and after selling out at Karo[unclear: r]i in 1855, he took up land at Kaiwaiwai, Wairarapa. In 1891 he retired, handing the farm over to his sons. Mr. Benton's family consists of ten sons and two daughters, viz., William and George, who are bulders, Thomas, James, Timothy, Henry, Charles R., and John Arthur, Alfred and Joseph Leonard. His daughters are Mrs. Wakelin, of Moroa, and Mrs. J. Branigan, of Alfredton. Since retiring from his farm in 1891, Mr. Benton has lived in Kuratawhiti Road, Greytown. As a member of the Featherston Highway Board he has served the public, and in school matters he took a leading part at Kaiwaiwai. Mr. Benton was a member of the Featherston Rifles during the Waikato war, and saw active service in the Hutt militia in 1844.

Jackson, Henry Humphries, Settler, Stonestead, Greytown. Born in Shirley, Derbyshire, England, on February the 21st, 1817, the subject of this notice attended the village school, and afterwards worked on his father's farm till 1837, when he went to London, securing employment as a salesman in Covent Garden Market. Two years later Mr. Jackson engaged with the New Zealand Company as paymaster and storekeeper to the first survey party sent out under Captain Smith, to survey the town of Britannia (now Petone) in the new colony of New Zealand. The party landed in Port Nicholson in December, 1893, from the barque “Cuba,” 274 tons. Having come to an understanding on the voyage that only eight hours a day should be worked in this new land, this resolve was put into execution immediately they commenced work in 1810, Mr. Jackson's diplomacy proving most useful. The subject of this notice was present at the first great labour conference held in New Zealand, in October, 1840, which took place in front of German Brown's (now Barratt's) Hotel, Clay Point, Wellington, to consider whether the time worked in the settlement should be eight or ten hours a day. The meeting decided in favour of an eight hours day, and resolved that offenders would be ducked in the harbour. After the Hutt Valley flood a meeting of settlers convened to consider the matter, decided that the settlement should be removed to Lambton Harbour, where the survey party lived in tents for a time. Mr. Jackson afterwards bought from the natives the magnificent whare named Hokianga, a very large building for those days, for twelve red blankets and a gun of a single barrel. The building had been used as a meeting place by the Wesleyan and Episcopalian missionaries. When the Rev. Mr. Churton arrived from England, part of the place was cleaned up and screened off for a chapel, for which purpose it was used for a considerable time after the survey party had taken possession. While the services were being held in the same building with the men of the survey party, numerous inconveniences and humorous incidents occurred at times. The stories of what the cutting of the curtain string revealed, and the pasting of the pulpit with potatoes at another time, still give a hearty laugh to old settlers who have heard them. This whare became the chief post-office for Wellington, the first postmaster being the late Hon. Mr. Mantell, and it was also used as general government offices. After finishing the survey of Wellington, Mr. Jackson and the survey party were engaged cutting lines to Happy Valley, Karori, Kaiwarra, and other places. The Devil's Bridge on the Karori Road was so named by Mr. Jackson. Numerous difficulties with the Maoris, especially with the notorious Rangiatea were experienced about this time. Mr. Jackson left the New Zealand Company's service in May, 1811, settling for some years on a farm of 130 acres at Waiwetu. In 1847 he was married to Sarah, the daughter of Mr. William Saxby, of the Hutt. Seven years later Mr. Jackson, with Messrs. Tocker and Masters, representing the Small Farmers' Association, selected the sites of the townships of Masterton and Greytown, the Government having given 25,000 acres from which to select. The townships having been page 892 surveyed, each subscriber of £41 5s. was granted forty acres and a town acre. Twenty acres in each township were reserved for public purposes. Mr. Jackson with the late Mr. C. R. Carter, of Wellington, after whom Carterton was named, were appointed to manage the Trust. An Act of Parliament was subsequently passed giving the settlers in each township power to elect five trustees. Upon resigning the control of Greytown, Mr. Jackson handed over some £400 to the new trustees, which was applied to library purposes. In 1851 he came to live at Stonestead, his holding being 400 acres, since increased to 3000 acres. The land, which was heavy bush, is now nearly cleared, the present residence having been built in 1868. The farm is managed by three of Mr. Jackson's sons. The other two are engaged in sheepfarming at Stratford. Of seven daughters, five are at home and two are married—one to Mr. Heagerty, mayor of Greytown, and the other to Mr. Jno. Cotter, of Manawat. Some 5000 sheep, mostly crossbreds, thirty head of cattle, and six horses are kept on the farm. Four men are usually employed, the ploughing and harvesting being led by contract. Mr. Jackson owns several other properties in the Wairarapa district. As one of the first five members of the Greytown Road Board, he took great interest in the district, retaining a seat for twenty-five years. In the South Wairarapa County Council he acted as councillor for nine years. He took a leading part in the formation of rifle companies when the natives were threatening, becoming a lientenant under Captain Bunny in 1861. He was afterwards appointed captain of the Greytown Militia. Mr. Jackson, though in his 80th year, at the time of writing was hale and hearty, and is still keeping a diary commenced fifty years ago.

Judd, John, Settler, Greytown. The son of a Kentish farmer, Mr. Judd was born in 1833, and came to Wellington with his parents and two brothers in 1840 in the ship “Martha Ridgway.” When twenty-three years of age, the subject of this notice married, and bought forty acres in Greytown, where he settled. Mr. Judd, who engages in mixed farming, and has increased his holding to three hundred and fifty acres, now leaves the active management to one of his sons. He is a good colonist, his family numbering five daughters and nine sons, three daughters and three sons being married. As a volunteer, Mr. Judd was a member of the Greytown Rifles, and in local politics he has held seats on the Featherston Highway and Waiohine River Boards. Mr. Judd's father, who died in 1886, took part in the fight with the Maoris at the Hutt in the early days. His family consisted of five sons and three daughters, Mr. John Judd being the eldest son.

Mr. J. Judd.

Jury, Charles Joseph, Farmer, Glendower, Greytown East. The youngest son of Mr. John Wilson Jury, one of the earliest settlers in the district, who came to the Colony in 1837, Mr. Charles Joseph Jury was born in the Wairarapa on the 24th of July, 1850, and was brought up at Jury Island. His property consists of about seven thousand acres, chiefly devoted to sheep-farming and cattle breeding. Mr. Jury is a married man and has eight children. In local politics he shows his interest in the Ponatahi School Committee, of which he is chairman. As a member of the Masonic fraternity, he is attached to the Greytown Lodge, in which he has held office as Junior Warden, and is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter. Mr. Jury took part in military matters as long ago as 1863, when he joined the militia. He was afterwards captain of the Papawai Native Contingent. As a member of the Carterton Rifle Club, he took an active part for nearly twenty years.

Mr. C. J. Jury.

Oates, Joseph, Farmer, Taumatu, Greytown East. Mr. Oates, who was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1817, is the third son of the late Mr. Samuel Oates, a Derbyshire farmer. Mr. Oates, page 893 senr., left his native land for Victoria in 1852, and after trying his fortune at the Ballarat and Bendigo diggings, where he had only indifferent success, he decided to try New Zealand. He landed in Wellington in 1856, and soon afterwards removed to the Wairarapa district. Mr. Oates, senr., who died in 1894, accomplished the feat of conveying the first mail to the Wairarapa, which crossed the Rimuaka Range by a narrow track, the vehicle being a wheelbarrow. Mr. Joseph Oates's farm, which has an area of some 600 acres, is considered one of the best properties in the Wairarapa valley. Mr. Oates married Miss Jury, daughter of Mr. John Milsom Jury, of Glendower, and has a family of two sons and two daughters. An enthusiastic volunteer, he is one of the best rifle shots in the district, having won quite a number of medals and cups. He has been the district representative at rifle meetings on several occasions, and fills the office of captain in the Carterton Rifle Corps.

Williams, William Osborn, Farmer, Main Street, Greytown; principal station, Kahautara. Bankers, Bank of Australasia. Mr. Williams was born in Cornwall, England, in 1828, and came to New Zealand with his parents by the ship “Duke of Roxburgh,” in 1810. Twelve years later he tried goldmining at Bendigo and Ballarat, Victoria, with a fair amount of success; and a nugget pendant to his watchchain is still kept in commemoration of his experiences on those fields. Mr. Williams was at Bendigo when the Eureka Stockade was built, and Peter Lalor taken prisoner. After three years he returned to Maoriland, and soon afterwards settled in the Wairarapa. As a pastoralist, Mr. Williams owns some good farms, the most important being the Bleak House Farm, Kaiwaiwai, of 1000 acres, which is his homestead, and Kahautara Station of 2,000 acres, on which he engages largely in breeding sheep, cattle, and horses. An ardent sportsman, Mr. Williams has owned some of the finest horses in the land, among them being Derringer, Barbarian, Voltigeur, Remington, and Danebury, from the last of which he has a hoof mounted in silver as an inkstand, turned out by Mr. Ludwig, of Wellington. As an importer of thoroughbreds, he received from England, in 1896, the stallions Gold Reef, by Bend Or, and Marshal Sault, by St. Simon, two of the finest bred horses in the mother country.

Mr. W. Williams.