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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Old Colonists

Old Colonists.

Mr. Matthew Batty , who was one of the pioneers of Nelson, and particularly of the West Coast, was born in Kirby, Lonsdale, Westmorland, England, in the year 1827, and spent most of his early days in the West Riding of Yorkshire and the several centres of the coalmining industry.
Mr. M. Batty.

Mr. M. Batty.

He arrived at Nelson, New Zealand, in 1857, and after undertaking a few minor contracts in that locality, he gave his attention to coalmining, and was the first to open up—in the year 1861—the noted Brunner mine. Mr. Batty brought the coal down to the port in canoes at first, but with an indomitable perseverance he soon had forty men employed, with barges carrying twenty-four tons, and horses to draw them up the river. However, as he possessed only a permit, and was not granted a lease, the mine was taken from him on a change in the Superintendency of the province, and a lease was granted to a company which proposed to make a railway to the port, and build wharves, etc., but failed to carry out this undertaking. Its lease was afterwards cancelled, and the mine was then worked successfully by the Nelson Provincial Council for some years. Mr. Batty also prospected Coal-brookdale and Mount Rochfort in the Buller district, and finally directed his attention to the Seven Mile or Port Elizabeth districts at the Grey. Mr. Batty discovered several seams there and at the Ten Mile; but wearying of his efforts to promote a company to work them, he retired to a life of farming, and continued to be so engaged until the time of his death.

Mr. Augustus Hildebrand , founder of the well-known firm of Hildebrand and Co., and one of the earliest settlers on the West Coast, was born in Germany, and brought up to the trade of a butcher. He emigrated to Australia in 1862, but almost immediately came to New Zealand, where he settled at Dunstan, Otago, and was present at the “rush” of 1863. Mr. Hildebrand removed to the West Coast in the year 1865, and opened a butchery at Stafford, a mining town six miles from Hokitika. After that he went to Greymouth, where he started the business which now bears his name. He was for many years connected with the Grey Racing Club, and was also a prominent Oddfellow. For over six years he was a member of the Greymouth Borough Council, to which he belonged at the time of his death, which took place on the 31st of December, 1894. Mr. Hildebrand's funeral was one of the largest that had ever taken place in Greymouth, and his fellow councillors acted as pall-bearers. His death was deeply regretted, and the local newspapers spoke highly of his many good qualities. Mr. Hildebrand's widow, who survives him, is a daughter of Mr. William Steer, of Greymouth, who is referred to in another article.

Mr. Thomas Jones is a well known settler in the Greymouth district. He is the second son of Mr. John Jones, Pentra, near Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, England, where he was born in the year 1855, and brought up to lead mining. In 1875, he came to New Zealand by the ship “Orpheus,” and landed at Port Chalmers. Mr. Jones, with his young wife, went to Kaitangata, where he took a contract for driving the main heading in the mine, and was afterwards employed at hydraulic sluicing at Kumara. Later, he was engaged in sinking the Coalpit Heath shaft, at Brunner, and took a contract for driving in the Brunner mine, and struck the coal in the dip. Mr. Jones subsequently contracted for sinking shafts and driving tunnels at Reefton. He worked out a claim at Barrytown, and exploited a large sluicing claim at Kumara, and one at Fife's Terrace. He then went to Greymouth, and bought the Post Office Hotel, which he rebuilt, and managed for twelve years. Mr. Jones was one of the partners who took up Republic Healey's Gully Sluicing claim, and floated it into a company under the name of Republic Healey's Gully Sluicing Company. This claim, which is about twenty miles from Greymouth, is still
Ring, photo.Mr. T. Jones.

Ring, photo.
Mr. T. Jones.

worked, and Mr. Jones is managing director. He is also a director of the Montgomery's Terrace Mining Company. Mr. Jones, in conjunction with partners, has an interest in a farm of 100 acres of freehold, and 600 acres of leasehold, and in a sawmill at Red Jack's. He was one of the first to start dredging on the West Coast, and is the patentee of Jones' Patent Gold Saving Table. Mr. Jones was one of the founders of the Greymouth Trotting Club, of which he is still a member; he served for ten years in the Greymouth Rifles, and was also a member of the Grey Rifle Club, of which he was a crack shot. As a Freemason, Mr. Jones is a member of the Greymouth Lodge. In 1875, when he was twenty-one years of age, he married a daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Jones, of Bryndwr, North Wales.
Mr. William McKechnie , who was for twenty-four years a member of the Grey County Council, was an old settler in the Maori Creek district, now known as Dunganville. He was born in the year 1832, in Dundee, Scotland, where he attended school. Mr. McKechnie went to sea at an early page 580 age, served for about seven years, and became second mate of a sailing vessel. In 1853, he went to Australia, and for nine years followed all the principal gold “rushes” in Victoria. Mr. McKechnie came to New Zealand in 1862, and worked for two years at the Shotover diggings. He removed to the West Coast in 1865, and worked in various places until he settled in Liverpool Gully, near Maori Creek. Mr. McKechnie then became manager of a business, including an hotel, a store, and a butchery, for six years, and subsequently acquired the business for himself. He became a member of the
Ring, photo.The late Mr. W. McKechnie.

Ring, photo.
The late Mr. W. McKechnie.

Grey County Council in 1883, and was chairman on two occasions. Mr. McKechnie was also a member of the Grey Harbour Board, and of the Charitable Aid Board. He was also School Commissioner for the Dunganville district. Mr. McKechnie was a widower, and had six children. He died at Greymouth on the 5th of November, 1905.
Mr. Denis Ryall , who was a member of the Grey County Council for nearly twenty consecutive years, was an old resident of Barrytown. He was born in County Kerry, Ireland, in December, 1838, and followed farm work till he reached his majority, when he embarked for Victoria, in the American vessel “Scurling,” chartered by the White Star Line. Mr. Ryall landed in Melbourne in 1860, and worked there till the close of the following year, when he went to Otago at the time of the “rush” to Gabriel's Gully. For five years he had the usual goldfields experience. He went to the West Coast in 1866, and eventually settled down in Barry-town, where he conducted savings bank and money order business for the Government for some time, and gave his services as local postmaster for about twenty-five years. He was appointed Warden's agent at Barrytown
The late Mr. D. Ryall.

The late Mr. D. Ryall.

in 1885, and held the position for many years. Till 1897, Mr. Ryall carried on the business of a general storekeeper, when he retired in favour of his son. He was a hard working member of the County Council, and did much to improve the district. Mr. Ryall was for a period chairman of the Council, and filled a similar position on the Charitable Aid Board. He was for some years one of the Governors of the Greymouth District High School (as representative of the Grey County Council), but on account of the great distance which he had to travel to attend meetings, he withdrew from the position. Mr. Ryall was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1886. He was a member of the local Hospital Committee, and was for over ten years continuously chairman of the school committee. Mr. Ryall died some time ago.
Mr. Philip Swingland , formerly Clerk in Charge of the Bond Stores at Greymouth, was born in East London, England, in the year 1838. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1862, and settled in Canterbury; but was on the diggings in Otago, and worked at Mount Ida and other places. Mr. Swingland removed to the West Coast in the year 1865, and joined the Customs Department in 1867. He takes a lively interest in charitable matters, and within the space of twelve years forwarded nearly £400 to Dr. Barnado's Homes in London, all gathered by private canvass during his leisure hours. Mr. Swingland is a devoted Oddfellow, and a Past Worthy Grand Master of the Order. He now (1906) lives in retirement at Wanganui.

Mr. William Steer was born in the year 1826, in Sussex, England, where he learned his trade. He emigrated to Tasmania in 1843, in the ship “King William,” and followed his occupation as a bootmaker there for over three years; then went to Geelong until 1849, when he again returned to Tasmania, where he remained until 1854. He then crossed over to New Zealand, and settled in Nelson at his trade. He was afterwards appointed district constable at Richmond, eight miles from Nelson, and held that situation for twelve years. In 1888, he removed to the West Coast, and established the business which is now conducted by one of his sons on his own account. Mr. Steer has six sons and five daughters, and one of his sons is managing partner in Messrs Hildebrand and Co., the largest butchering firm on the West Coast.

Mr. Hanwell Williams is a son of the late Dr. Williams, of Wareham, Dorsetshire, and was born in that town in 1835. Shortly after leaving school he was engaged as a dispensing assistant, first at Dorchester and afterwards at Netther Stowey, and finally he entered page 581 the noted West of England drug house of Holman and Hams, 187, Fore Street, Exeter, where he perfected himself as a pharmacist. Mr. Williams came out to Melbourne in 1857, on board Money Wigram's famous ship in those days—the “Kent.” Immediately on arrival, he was engaged by a namesake in Collingwood, as assistant, part of his duties being to dispense at the Melbourne Lying-in Hospital for Drs. Maund and Tracy. Early in 1863 Mr. Williams came over to New Zealand, and on arrival in Dunedin was engaged by Mr. Plumber to manage his shop which stood in the Octagon, and while there he found a purchaser for that business. Shortly afterwards Mr. Williams opened in George Street on his own account, but in 1865, attracted by the good news from the West Coast, he removed to Greymouth, and established the business which is now (1906) conducted by his sons, Messrs C. P. Williams and L. J. Williams.