MR J. CAMPBELL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 21 (Supplement)

MR J. CAMPBELL

An old and respected settler of South Taranaki died at Auckland in 1923 in the person of Mr J. J. Campbell. Born in Scotland in 1843, the late Mt Campbell arrived in Dunedin in 184 S and settled at Kaupokonui just 50 years ago. In his early days in New Zealand he farmed at Dunedin and later undertook Government contracts for roads and bridges at Christchurch, Foxton and Onehunga. To this day' a swing bridge built by the late Mr Campbell over 50 years ago is still in service at Mataura. During the course of a successful farming career in South Taranaki Mr Campbell became identilicd with several .public movements. He drew the plans and built the Kaupokonui dairy factory and was chairman of that co-operative company for the first seven years of its existence. He was a member of the original directorate of the Fgniicnt Box 'Company and nvas a foundation member of the Patea Refrigerating Company. After his retirement fi;oni farming he lived in Hawera for two years, subsequently taking up residence in Auckland. Ills three sons are farming in South Tara-naki—-Messrs James and John Campbell are on the land in the Elthani distric-t and the eldest, Air A. L. Campbell (chairman of the Elthani 'County Council), is a well-known Fraser Road farmer.

and take them along to Williams’ or Cockburn’s smithy to be shod, handling by the farrier being about half the battle in subduing the anmials. Thus the breaker got all the credit, for which the smith should have had a share. A WILD NIGHT. ‘‘Attic'” remembers the first sports ; meeting held in Hawera. This was held in a paddock across the road from the - Loan Co.'s saleyurds, and some line ath- , lotus performed at this meeting. Here the famous William Minhiiuiiek (“Old ; mu"; made his debut, having been dis- ] covered by the late Thos. Mason, who i iiad seen nine running out at the Kete- ■ uitctea pa. Bui electrified the spectators by his prowess in running and jumping, practically cleaning up the p programme. Two other fine performers \ m George Broughton and the late c Kongo (of Manurahi) also competed, li The iate D. McL’Dowie was clerk of f the course, and Hr Mtevc Adamson t (senior) officiated as bellman. On the n same day Lloyd’s new notel was open- v ed, and the consequent celebration in t the evening very nearly precipitated a o riot around the scene of the festivities, p Far into the night they “fit an’ fit an’ n fit,” generally Maoris versus Europeans, and as the natives were numerically stronger then, the pakehas had to “gang warily,” preferably in groups. Our narrator remembers making one of a posse to waylay a band of Maoris returning to Taiporohcuui, and the bright lads cleaned up the enemy so effectively that their, ringleader, pursued by the police, had to leave the district until the affair blew over. In ISS2, our friend, tired of casual employment, selected 200 acres on the Fraser Road and proceeded to carve out a home. Although the rental was only 2/- per acre, he found it well-nigh impossible, in the state of the existing markets, to keep the home-fire (in a whan.-) burning. Riding in to town one day with the object of surrendering his lease lie luckily met. a benefactor in the

person of the late Air Joseph Pease, who advanced the necessary means to carry on. And there on liis original holding, and now in possession of its freehold title, he still resides, often thinking of the days when he and neighbour Bob Palmer had to depend on wild pigs and pigeons for the basis of their meals, or to chop a load or two of firewood and realise on same at 15/per cord, to obtain stores, or buy a necessary pair of “moleskins/’