A PIONEER'S DEATH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17878, 26 August 1918, Page 6

A PIONEER'S DEATH.

THE LATE MR G. H. TRELEAVEN. EARLY CHRISTCHURCH DAYS. The death occurred in Christchurch, on Wednesday, .of Mr Georgo Henry Treleaven, at the age of seventy-six. Mr Treleaven was ono of the small band which now links tho city of to-day with' the times of its earliest settlement, having landed at Port Lyttelton on February 18, 1851. He was bom at. Devonport, Devonshire, in 1842, and left England with his parents in tho Castle Eden towards tho close of 1850. Tho Castlo Eden was the next vessel to leave Home for New Zealand with emigrants chosen by the Canterbury Association after the departure of tho historic first four ships, and but for exciting happenings on the voyage her arrival at Port Lyttelton would have been much earlier. Before the Cape of Good Hope was reached trouble broke out amongst the crow which contained a lie ilooded foreign clement, owing, it is related, to the indiscreet action of one) of tho passengers in supplying them with liquor, and it culminated in a mutiny. The placing of the ringleaders in irons was necessary before tho mutiny w.as suppressed. There was ono very thrilling period, when tho crew showed light, and Captain J'bornhill had to mold them off from the poop deck with a loaded revolver. Ultimately tho Castlo Eden had to put into Cape Town, and after shipping a new crew, which meant a. delay of a fortnight, resumed tho voyage to New Zealand. The Castle Eden was a larger vessel than any of the preceding four ships, and carried a large number of emigrant families. Among tho other passengers was Lord Montague, Bishop Jackson (Bishop-Desiguato Vof Lyttelton, who shortly afterwards returned to England), and a brother of Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, tho first Superintendent of Canterbury. During the voyage outward bound. Bishop Jackson conducted the services On shipboard.

When the Castle Eden made Port Lyttelton, the Cressy, tho Sir George Seymour, the Randolph and the Charlotto Jano were still lying in tho stream and the sea-weary voyagers welcomed the sight of the- Lyttelton of that day, with its emigration barracks, few whares and shanties. Mr Treleaven's father left his family at tho barracks and proceeded over the hill to Christchurch to prepare a home there for them. He chose its locality at the ori<dnal Pilgrim's Corner, which was situated on a spot near tho; creek in what is now known as the South Hagley Park, between the cricket ground and the Plough Inn corner at tho West Belt. Here there were settled a number of the early settlers' families, and their dwellings were cut out of tho bank of tho creek and thatched with raupo. Tho work the breadwinners of these families had to rely upon was in the Riccarton Bush, which then' extended for about a quarter of a mile past tho present Deans' Bush towards the city. For the right of cutting here a small royalty had to be paid. There was some good timber, and as in those days there was very little money about, the sawyers and firewood cutters had to barter the results of their toil for the necessaries of lifo.

After Mr Treleaven, sen., had built his wharc, he tramped back to Lyttelton to escort his family to a pioneer's home. That first trip over the Port Hills ever lingered in Mr G. A. Treleaven's memory by reason of one notable incident. Each member of the family had to carry a portion of' the goods and chattels, and fresh from the sea voyage, as the stay at the emigration barracks was not long, the journey was a trying one. The Jad of eight was trudging with his little burden, when John Robert Godley, also on his way from tho port to Deans', where ho was staying, caught up with the little party. He who played such a prominent part in the liistory of Canterbury took the lad's load, and hand in hand they completed the remainder of the tramp together. Two grocery stores were the main source of provisioning the inhabitants of Christchurch in those times, and near the little settlement at Pilgrims' Corner at the river bend, there was the bakehouse of the Inwood Brothers. Here the pioneers obtained their bread supply, but sometimes the staff of life was not obtainable there, and as at other times bread fresh from tho oven did not go far among a hungry ramny, trips had to be made to Lyttelton. When tho father was unable to do so, the sons, aged then twelve, ten and eight years respectively, had to undertake the "message." The route of their journey was over Murray-Ayns-ley's spur, up over the Bridle Path and down to Lyttelton. Mr Charles Treleaven, an elder brother of the late MiGeorge Treleaven, and who is still hale and hearty, asked a " Lyttelton Times " reporter what the children of to-day would think of such an errand to tho store. Sometimes such a trip had to be made two or three times a ween. After the Riccarton Bush had been cut out, the Treleaven family removed to Papanui, where the father had bought six acres of standing bush, running from tho location of the Papanui railway station to the North Road, near the school of to-day. Tho rather and the eldest son (who died some years ago) did the felling, and the other sons, Charles and George, carted the timber into Christchurch by bullock teamsThe. City of tho Plains was then a place of whares and V huts. The Papanui bush section having been cut out, Mr Treleaven, sen., took up the occupation of flourmillinpj, and built the old Styx mill. The eldest son, James, was the assistant miller. Mr Charles Treleaven attended to tho carting, and the late Mr George Treleaven managed the business of the grain and flour stores in Gloucester Street, which was situated right opposite the Rink Stables. Near by the mill the father had a 800acre farm, on which tho wheat for milling was grown and general farm work followed. He also engaged in contracting work. Among his many contracts was the formation and metalling of the North Road running through that part of the district, and in the construction of this main artery out of Christchurch Mr George Treleaven had much to doWhen Mr Treleaven, sen., sold the Styx mill to Mr Moir, ho became licensee of the Seven-Mile Peg Hotel, and Messrs Charles and George Treleaven took charge of the Gloucester Street grain stores. Subsequently the business was removed to the old Uolden Fleece corner, Armagh Street, and here a lire occurred, by which the family were heavy losers. Tho grain and produce business was resumed in premises in Colombo Street where Sharman's shop now stands, and on the'dissolution of tho partnership Mr George Treleaven solely conducted tho produce stores, later removing to Armagh Street, where he continued as a grain merchant until ten years ago. The late Mr Treleaven became a member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry at its formation. Ho was a gentleman of a very retiring; disposition, and took little part in public affairs. In 1883 he was elected the representative for tho North-east Ward on the City Council, but despite many later requests declined to engage further in municipal activities. He married Miss Triggs who arrived in tho colony from London bv the Mermaid in 1867, and who survises him. There is a family of five daughters. Mrs Joseph Wallace (Christchurch), Mrs J. Henderson (Lumsden), Mrs AV. Henderson (AVaipukurau), Mrs Caorlyon-Bonnett (Sydney), and Miss Madeline Treleaven, and three sons, Mr Gerald Treleaven (of Treleaven and Shirley, JHai Street), Mt Leonard Treleaven (of the Hawkos Motor Company), and Mr Reginald Tleleaven.