A PIONEER'S DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12406, 26 August 1918, Page 5

A PIONEER'S DEATH.

THE LATE MR C. H. TRELEAVEN. EARLY CHRISTCHURCH DAYS. The Heath occurred in Christchurch, on Wednesday, .of Mr George Henry Treleaven, at tho ago of seventy-six. Mr Treleaven was ono of the small band which now links the city of to-day with the times of its earliest settlement, having landed at Port Lyttelton on February IS, 1861. He was horn at Davenport, Devonshire, in 1842, and left England witli his parents in the Castle Eden towards the close of 1850. Tho Castle Eden was the next vessel to leave Home for New Zealand with emigrants chosen by the Canterbury Association after the departure of the 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 Hopo was reached trouble broke out amongst the crew which contained a hot-blooded foreign element. Tho trout la was caused by the indiscreet action of ono of the passengers' in supplying them with liquor, and it culminated in a mutiny. The placing of the ringleaders in irons was necessary before the mutiny was suppressed. There was ono very thrilling period when tho crow showed fight, and Captain Thornhill had to _ hold them off from the poop deck with a loaded revolver. Ultimately tho Castle Eden had to put into Capo Town, and after shipping a new crew, which meant a delay of a fortmght, 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 rpmuies. Among the other passengers /V?. S , Lord Montague, Bishop Jackson (Bishop-Designato of Lyttelton, who shortly afterwards returned to England), and a brother of Mr J. E. Fitzgerald, the first Superintendent of Canterbury During th e voyage outward bound, Bishop Jackson conducted tho services on shipboard.

iSf th^°^ tlo Ede « made Port Lyitelton, the Crossy, the Sir George Seymour, the Randolph and the CharSd 6 uTJT? Sti “ Wnfi ‘to Blrcm the s ,Vh+ „M Ca ?u r ? gers welcomed with ® f - e I f ttelton of .that day, whnU 1 emigration hamlets, few Mr heaven’s and nri ft A faraily , at the barracks ewiw ded OT6r - th , 6 hill to Chl'ist--5£ ch £ P r ®P ai ’e a homo there for t mm. He chose ate locality at the SteJ Pllgmi 8 . Corner - hich w« situated on a spot near the creek in W Pnli n °i’ cnovra as the South HagiTi b’, bet , w ? eu cricket ground l loi 'gb I?n corner at the West uelt. Here there were settled a number of the early settlers’ families, and their dwellings TwSfScut out of the bank of the creek and . thatched with raupo. The work the breadwinners of these families had to rely upon was in the Raccarton Bush, which then extended quarter of a mile past the p esent Deans Bush towards the city. For the right of cutting here a small loyalty had to be paid. There was some good timber, and as in those days there was very little money about, the sawyers and farewood cutters had to barter the results of their toil for the necessaries of life.

After Mr Treleaven, sen., had built Ins whare, he tramped back to Lyttelton to escort his family to a pioneer's homo, 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 fresli from the sea voyage, as the stay at the emigration barracks was not long, the journey \i as a trying one. The lad of eight was trudging along with his little burden, when John Robert Godley, also on his way from the port to Deans*, where ho was staying, caught up with the little party. He who played such a prominent part in the history 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, 1 at the river bend, there was the bakehouse of the Inwood Brothers. Hero the pioneers obtained their bread supply; but sometimes the staff of life was not obtainable there, and as at other times bread fresh from the oven did nolygo far among a hungry family, trips hiid to bo made to Lyttelton. When the 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-Ay nsley’s spur, up over the Bridle Path and down to Lyttelton. Mr Charles Treleaven, elder brother of the late Mr George 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 the store. Sometimes such a trip had, to be made two or three times a. week. 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 the location of the Papanui railway station to the North Hoad, near the school of to-day. The father .and the eldest son (who died some years ago) did the felling, and the other sons, Charles M ld George, carted the timber into Christchurch by bullock teamsThe City of the Plains was then a place ol wliares and V huts. The Papanui bush section having been cut out, Mr rreleaven, sen., took up the occupation of ieunnilling, and built the old Styx mill. The eldest son, James, was the assistant miller. Mr Charles Treleaven attended to the 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. A ear by the mill the father had a 300farm, on which the wheat for millmg was grown and general farm work followed. He also engaged in contracting work. Among his many contracts was ike formation and metalling of the uortli Road running through that part ° f I, 1 ? and in the construction 0 this main artery out of Christchurch' Mr George Treleaven had much t 0 do. cu,. •„ Treleaven, sen., sold the x fflfil to Mr Moir, he became licenf nf Peg Hotel, and .uessrs Charles and George Treleaven f. ar & of the Gloucester Street e, mu stores Subsequently the business 1 ,rno, T' ed the old Golden Fleece couiei, Armagh Street, and here a fire hivivl' b,v tlj o family were , toe. Sers ' The eraiu and produce Co S 5T' S « su , med iu P r «'in now reCt ,' vllere , Shaman’s shop ou stands, and on the dissolution of tesfy, Mr acorso Treleaven fco ely conducted the produce stores iatei 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. He 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-cast Ward on the City Council, but despite many later requests declined to engage further in municipal activities. Ho married Miss Triggs, who arrived in the colony from London by the Mermaid in 1867, ,and who survises him. There is a family of five daughters, Mrs Joseph Wallace (Christchurch), Mrs J. Henderson (Lumsden), Mrs W. Henderson (Waipukurau), Mrs Caerlyon-Bennetfc (Sydney), and Mien Madeline Treleaven, and three sons, Mr Gerald Treleaven (of Treleaven and Shirley, Durham Street), Mi Leonard Treleaven (of tho Hawkes Motor Company), and Mr Reginald Treleaven.