SETTLEMENT AT BRIGHTWATER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 14 May 1909, Page 2

SETTLEMENT AT BRIGHTWATER

Mr 30 years past Mr Lightband had resided at Brightwater. During the first pof.iou of this period he carried on a fellmongery. He utilised the Wairoa river to secure power by con. s rueting a long race from the river to the tannery. Gradunally be became interested in fruitgrowing, and planted several a«res of orchard, and some years ago he gave up the fellmongery and devoted his whole time to fruit culture. He had a great idea of using the race ho had constructed in oonnea-t-ion with the launery for irrigation purposes, and we believe he was successful in getting the water on to his raspberry plantation, though whether the- practice was followed up. and the orchard generally irrigated, we canno'. for the moment say Mr Lightband has been a Justice of the Peace since 1863. and at the time of his death he was probably the oldest member on the Justices' roster. His servipes on the Bench and as Coroner had been always readily available im Ibe districts in which he lived, and his duties had ever been conscientiously discharged. For many years Mr Lightband was connected with the Waimea Rifles, and for some time was a Lieutenant in the aorps, He attended several Volunteer camps. Resigning his position as lieutenant, he wag later appointed Quarter-master Sergeant, but retired from service less than 10 years ago. It is of interest to mention that Ue late Mr Lightband prepared for ex port the first sheepskins sent to tni?land from New Zealand. Ho wont to Christchurch for the special purpose o: preparing the initial shipment of skins Sheep skins now form one of the most important export lines, skin? to the value of some hunndreds of thousands of pounds being sent away annually.