AGED PIONEER’S MEMORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 11

AGED PIONEER’S MEMORIES

TALK WITH GOVERNOR-GENERAL. Blenheim, Oct. 10. The Governor-General; Sir Charles Fergusson, sa'id lie was amazed, when he visited the Old People’s Home at Blenheim yesterday, to find himself talking to a man who has lived in New Zealand under all the Governors and Governorgenerals the Dominion has known. This whs Mr. Charles Whebby, who was born in Somerset, England, on June 11, 1840, and who arrived in New Zealand with his parents eight months later in the ship Clifton, which arrived on February 14, ;1841. When Mr. Whebby arrived Captain William Hobson was Liieutenant-Gpv-ernor of New Zealand, acting under Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South AVales. Three months later Captain Hobson became Governor of New Zealand. Mr. Whcbbcy was over.3o years of age when Sir James Fergusson, the father of the .present Governor-General, took office, and he remembers him well. Mr. Whcbbcy has never left New Zealand since his arrival. He became a miner and is well known in most parts of New Zealand, especially at Mahakipawa, seven miles from Havelock, where he Jived for many years. Mr. Whcbbcy told his Excellency yesterday that on two occasions last year, when visiting Wellington, he called at Government House, but was unable to find the Gov-ernor-General at home. Sir Charles expressed his deep regrets and said he was much interested in his talk with uhe old pioneer.