AN EARLY SETTLER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11661, 27 October 1923, Page 7

AN EARLY SETTLER

SOME STIRRING TIMES BOTH ARMS LOPPED OFF BY NATIVES. A VETERAN AT CARTERTON. Just before leaving Carterton yesterday the “Times” special reporter had a feiv minutes interesting chat with Mr Collingwood Goodin, who figures amongst the earliest of the early settlers in “Wellington and the Wnirarapa. Born at AVyndham, Norfolk, in May, 1835, he is 88 years of age, and has lived under four sovereigns. He is ono of a family of six—three sons and three daughters—who came to New Zealand in 1840 with their parents in fcho sailing ship Martha Edgeway. and they landed in the creek at Pipitea Point. THE SOLE SURVIVOR. He is the last of the eight to survive, for his last surviving brother died a few months ago, shortly after paying a visit to Australia. So much has Wellington changed since then that when Mr Goodin conies to town and goes up on the Terrace, or to Cuba street, especially at night, he iinds it difficult to recog nise what, part of the city he is in He well remembers such places as Phmmer’s ark, the old Customs building, and old Lainbton quay, as well as the fire which destroyed such a lot of property in those days. He retains vivid recollections of the way in which the German, Von Tempskv, lost liis life through being shot by a Maori while rip a tree. He turned in time to see Von Tempsky fail from the tree, and they had just time to get him into the redoubt before he diedTHE MASSACRES. Several massacres of white people by the Maoris took place near the Hutt He has forgotten the day when one of the brothel's Balmer gave the alarm on his buglo before he was seized by the Maoris, who cut off bis arm to prevent him blowing the bugle again. Undaunted, he seized the bugle in his other hand and gave another blast before he was again secured, upon which the .Maoris chopped off his othei arm, and later hacked his body to pieces. He was in a small boat in the harbour when another member of the Balmer family was attacked and killed by a shark. The women Maoris used to act as decoys to get the officers and men to enter their pahs, where they were fallen on and killed by the Maori warriors. There was no l>ush nor trees on T© Aro at that time except for a few ngaio trees, the nearest bush being where Wellington terrace is now, and where one or two of the old gardens still retain portions. AT ORIENTAL BAY.

Mr Goodin, was the first Iboy to walk from Wellington to the black bridge at Hutt, when he was accompanied by his father, who wished to look at 6ome land, found it overrun with kia kia, a very strong-growing vine. He recalled the first house, erected at Oriental Bay, being one that was brought from England in sections, and was then occupied by Mr Duppa. He personally knew Mr George Hunter, who was for some time Mayor of Wellington. Those who had to work for others did not get very big wages, 2s a day being about the average for labourers, but Mr Goodin succeeded in getting a job at Karori at Us pc'C day, although he had) to take a stiff walk every day to get there. It was not many of the early settlers who were without plenty of capital who were able to make good, although their families may have done so. At one time Mr Goodin was captain of a small coastal vessel running to Oamaru, and after that tried to gain independence as a fisherman. FISHER, AND GOLD MINER, The fishing business did not come up to expectations, so he gave that up and went to Otagp to see if (he could make his fortune in the gold diggings. While not amassing wealth, he contrived to make it pay him enough to purchase a nice little farm of 150 acres in the Wairarapa, which he carried on for 25 years before disposing of it. The purchaser was Mr Purdue, and the farm is now the site of the Native Agricultural College at Clareville. Other business enterprises did not prove too successful, including an orchard, and after losing his wife, his own health began to fail. Acting on medical advioe, he decided on retirement with the means Ih© had, and he finds the time go pleasantly enough in the district in which he has lived for 66 years.