SIR J. CARROLL’S FATHER

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1926, Page 9

SIR J. CARROLL’S FATHER

THE FIRST WHEAT GROWER. INFLUENCE ON THE NATIVES. An outstanding pioneer in the early history of the W airoa district in Hawke’s Bay—which has just celebrated its jubilee—was the last Mr. Joseph Carroll, father of the late Sir James Carroll. Mr. Carroll, whose record, is referred to in the Napier Telegraph, came to New Zealand in the early ’thirties from Sydney, where he was a eervant of the Government. On arriving in the Wairoa district he made his home there and flung himself whole-heartedly into the work of assisting to develop the country. He imported horses and ploughs from Sydney, aiid took wheat into the district, and encouraged tho Maoris to take up farming. Considerable areas of land were acquired from the natives by Mr. Carroll, notably the Hurumoa property, which is still in the family. This fertile block he is reported to have traded from a prominent up-country chief in exchange for a store he built him up the Wairoa River. He was also a blacksmith and he engaged with success in whaling pursuits. He had quite a fleet of schensners in the coastal trade at the time, and was a large exporter of wheat. As colonisation progressed, Mr. Carroll turned his attention to sheep and cattle farming, in which pursuit he was ! materially assisted by prominent native chiefs, with whom he was directly connected through his marriage to Tapuke, a beautiful ehieftainess of high rank in the Wairoa district- As he prospered in life he became one of the most respected men in the community, and the. Maoris looked upon him as a father. Over the turbulent natives of the carles days Mr. Carroll exercised a great influence, and it was largely due to his judicious intervention and tactful handling that the sale of the present Wairoa town site was made to the Government. He acted also as advisor to Sir Donald McLean, superintendent of the Hawke’s Bay province, and many progressive developments can be traced to his influence in this direction. Mr. Carroll died at Awatere, Wairoa, on October 27, 1899, and now lies peacefully at rest in the Wairoa cemetery, where a simple headstone looks down from the hili to tho changed scene of bis early efforts.