FRETHEY’S ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 53, 26 November 1929, Page 13

FRETHEY’S ISLAND

Sir, —In your issue of November 16 n correspondent asks: “Was Gear's Island previously known as I'Tethey’s Island?” The Hutt races were advertised to be held on January 2!) and 30, 1857. on the new course near Frcthey’s Island.” Tn reply to this inquiry I might state that Gear’s Island and Frcthey’s Island are not identical, although not half a mile apart. When my father, the late Thomas Frethey, of Waiwetu. Lower Hutt, purchased land near Wellington harbour fropi the New Zealand Land Company, or Government (I believe in 1840), a small island, separated from this land at high tide by salt water, became known as his island. During the early years of the colony (about 1855 or before! severe earthquakes raised the land in this locality several fe6t. and the “island” became part of the mainland. Its position was until recently marked by the highest part of the land near the centre of the old Wellington racecourse; and a

considerable part of the present racing track was in the early days covered by salt water. The Wellington Jockey Club of those days purchased about ten acres of the lower part of my father’s farm to complete the course. The balance of the farm (about 50 acres) ray father sold to the lr e Mr. Henry Eglinton. about 1882. and it was retained, I believe, by the Eglinton family until the. Government purchased it about .four years ago for railway extension and close settlement purposes. This farm, therefore, unlike many others in our country of frequent changing ownerships, had for nearly 00 years been in the ownership of only two families. —I am, etc., FRED. W. FRETHEY. New Plymouth, November 21.