EARLY PAEROA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3105, 13 April 1942, Page 3

EARLY PAEROA

STRANGE OLD MAORI KNOCKED ABOUT. RIVER MARINER OF SOME SORT (By “Kairuri.”) I wonder how many people in Paeroa remember the rather strange old Maori known as “Pumpkin” who used to knock about the river in the old days. He possessed a large old boat that would carry about a couple of tons and spent most of his time cutting firewood. At many places along the rivers there was then considerable areas of high ti-tree. He would stop at one of these and cut a load for his boat and then paddle off to Paeroa and sell it.

He was finally found drowned just where the Thames road (Arney street) strikes the Ohinemuri river. The water was quite clear and he was discovered just sitting on the bottom of the river in about three feet of water. It was never known how he got into the river. There was another old. man who used to be about the river in a boat a good deal. A pakeha this time, an ancient mariner of some sort. He was known as Captain Turner but from his appearance was probably a boatswain or ship’s carpenter or something of that sort. He was very skillful at preparing boats. Often On The River He and his wife lived in a cottage across the river almost opposite Arney street. She was a little old bent dame with a bonnet and shawl very Scotch. She did a little nursing. I don’t know what exactly the old man did but he was often about the river in his boat. It was rumoured that he had spent many years cruising about the South Seas. They seemed very comfortable and always had an old-fashioned flower and vegetable garden. The old man himself was one of those people who never looked untidy and on state occasions used to come out in a very neat black suit bound with braid, a stiff white shirt with a turned down collar, a black bow tie, and a panama hat. The old lady used to refer to her husband as “My Turrrner.” She was a kindly old body and used to be thrilled with the sensational stories that ran through the Herald supplement.

They both died many years ago and there are probably only very few people left in Paeroa who still remember them.