AFTER 43 YEARS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21985, 8 January 1937, Page 3

AFTER 43 YEARS

TEN MEMBERS OF FAMILY REUNITED GATHERING AT COLLINGWOOD HOMESTEAD (press association telegram.) NELSON, January 7. Six sons and four daughters, the complete family of the late Mr and Mrs George Hickmott, of Collingwood, were reunited at the homestead of Mr John Hickmott after a separation of 43 years. Several members of the family before this had not seen one another for periods ranging up to 30 years. Members of the original family are Messrs Thomas Hickmott (Motueka), George Hickmott (Feilding), John Hickmott (Collingwood), William Hickmott (Riwaka). Horace Hickmott (Hastings), Charles Hickmott (Collingwood), and Mesdames Ashley Brown (Auckland), L. Clear (Hamilton). J. Carter (Collingwood), and J. Moore (Tasmania), . • .. The youngest member of this family is 49. The children of members number 42. In addition, there are 42 grandchildren. An unusual feature is that there has not been a death among the members of the original family or their descendants at the dinner. The late Mr and Mrs George Hickmott, with their three sons, Thomas, George, and John, left London_ for New Zealand in 1874 in the saying ship Hannibal. After living for about 20 years in the Motueka district, where the other ■ seven members of the family were born, Mr Hickmott, sen., took up a stretch of virgin bush at Collingwood. This home was built of pit-sawn timber, and the bricks for the chimneys were carried on the backs of the menfolk for a considerable distance. The bush was duly cleared and the land was successfully farmed. In later years the sons also took up farms and were engaged in mixed farming. The homestead was demolished only a year ago', and a quantity of the timber was so sound that it was used in the construction of a modern house.