PIONEER PASSES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 24 November 1925, Page 13

PIONEER PASSES.

MR DAVID GEBBIE; Mr David Gebbie, who died last week, aged 87 years, was born at Loudon, Ayrshire, Scotland. Araongtho passengers of the ship Aurora, commanded by Captain Deans, which arrived in "Wellington Harbour on January 2nd, 1840, were several families whose names are associated with the early history of Canterbury—the Mansous, Probblcs, and Ocbb*es. Mr Francis Gebbie remained with his wife and child in "Wellington until 1842, when they came to Canterbury, Janding at tho lleathcote, wliero Captain Deans was afterwards drowned. There were no houses, but the Maoris built them grass huts to live in. Mr Francis Gebbie worked for some time for Mr John Deans, building the first house at Biccarton, using wooden pegs for nails which had been left bphind in Wellington. The timber for the house was cut from the Kiccarton bush, and pit sawed. While engaged at this work the baby, David, was stolen by tho Maoris. Three months later Mr John Deans and Mr Man son recovered it. After arrival in New Zealand three more solis and two daughters were added to the family. One daughter became Mrs Murray, of Crecnpark, the other married Mr Williams, who was in the Lands Department at Christchurch. Willie, tho second son died young. John the third, was the father of J. C. C. Gebbie and William Deans Gebbic whose sons have the original Gebbie homestead .at Teddington. After working some time for Mr Deans, Francis Gebbie took un his Government occupation grant of 10.000 acres in what is now known as Gebb'es Valley, and which extended from Teddington down to Motukarnra. Mr Manson settled on thi Peninsula at the same time. Mr Francis Gebbie died when his eldest son David was 13 years old. There were no schools, and David educated himself from books lent bv the late Mr Blatchford. who used to help the boys at a kind of night school at his house. When he was -'-:> David built St. Peter's, the first church in the Vallev. and was afterwards churchwarden for many years. As settlers began to arrive, the Gebbie familv freeholded most of their land. David Gebbie was a constant exhibitor of purebred Shorthorns, winning the Champion Cup at the A. and P. Show at Lincoln, where the Shows were then held, in 1877. The station was subdivided between David. John, and W. D. Gebbie. David having the blockwith the homestead called Loudon, after the Scottish home. David played for New Zealand against the first English cricket team that visited New Zealand. In 1876 he married, and had a family 'of four sons and one daughter. Continuing to live at Teddington. he did a lot of tree-planting, and worked the propertv successfully till 1895, when he was ruined through the failure of a friend whose account he had guaranteed lor a large amount. While living at Teddington he did Ins part on public bodies, being at one time chairman of tho Port Victoria Road Board. On the loss of the property, the family was broken up. tho 'children going out working, while Mr G'eblue lived quietly with relatives, the last five years.at Hororata with his son David.