KNEW MUCH OF WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 6

KNEW MUCH OF WANGANUI

LATE MR. GEO. SMITH

WELL-SINKING AND EARLY MOTORING DAYS

The death of Mr. George Smith, at the age of 76 years, removes one whose life was closely connected with the development of Wanganui. He died suddenly at his home, “Puaroa,” Upper Aramoho. Mr. Smith was a well sinker and his ability and thorough knowledge of the strata on which Wanganui is founded was availed of over a long period, for more than 44 years in fact, and it is safe to say that nobody in the city and district knew more about soil and subsoil characteristics. Nearly ail the artesian wells in the Wanganui district, particularly in the city and Wangaehu and Twrakina Valleys, were sunk by him. Mr. Smith was born at Upper Riccarton and part of the land his father farmed afterwards became Wigram aerodrome. He went to Australia later.

Pveturning to New Zealand, Mr. Smith began work for the Christchurch firm of J. Osborne and Coy. and operated one of the first reaper and binders to be used in New Zealand. This was in Central Otago. Well boring for Messrs. Osborne and Coy. was continued in and about Christchurch, but later Mr. Smith and his brother came to the North Island, Mr. Smith eventually removing to Wanganui from the East Coast. The First Wells Sunk Among the first wells he sank in Wanganui were those for the Borough Council, one in Campbell Street, another in Liverpool Street and others in Keith and Harrison Streets. Pure artesian water was obtained and horse troughs were established. Other local bodies, including the Hospital and Harbour Boards, the Girls’ College and the Wanganui Jockey Club, employed Mr. Smith to sink wells for i them. He explored the bed of the Wanganui River on a number of occasions and from information he obtained reports were compiled for submission to firms in England at the time the Wanganui Harbour Board was negotiating for a new dredge and eventually purchased the Kaione. Private people also availed themselves of his services and the most outstanding well he sank was one for the late Mr. J. T. Walker, the water from which reticulated a big portion of Aramoho and, so it is said, does. Public and school baths in Wanganui were established from wells which were sunk by Mr. Smith, notably the Technical College baths (formerly the Collegiate School baths). Girls' College, Gonville, and Wanganui. Marsh (Tas Discovered While .Mr. Smith's efforts wore being directed to obtaining artesian water, he also found gas. 'Phis proved of value to the owners of properties, notably at Castlecliff for Mr. .1. Rhodes in 1914, the supply there being sufficient to provide the house with a thoroughly efficient gas service. When it was suggested that oil was likely to be found in the Wanganui region. Mr. Smith scouted the idea that We gas found in certain localities was evidence that oil existed. Marsh gases only were released, he declared. On one occasion gas escaping through the waters of the Wanganui just off shore from Putiki caught fire. There was a blaze of light over the water and the older Maoris declared that the evil spirits of the river had become restless at the constant probing and were breathing fire and destruction to those responsible. When the Dublin Street Bridge contract was begun, Ihe driving of wooden piles proved a failure and Mr. Smith’s plant was used to lay charges applied to blow the partially-driven piles out. He was engaged on this work when Guy Fawke’s Day came round and the blowing-up of the piles became rather appropriate. The illfated vessel Charles Edward was well remembered by Mr. Smith. When she was wrecked on the north mole and was afterwards takdn over by the late Mr. W. R. Tuck, Mr. Smith's boiler and plant were used to remove the coal from the holds and in general salvaging. Worked for Museum One of Ihe hardest workers for the Wanganui Museum, Mr. Smith’s association with that institution dated back to the days when it was founded by the late Mr. S. H. Drew. Mr. Smith was one of those who co-oper-ated with Mr. Drew in the raising of funds for the housing and care of the museum collection. Bulb shows were a popular means to that end and Mr. Smith was both a keen member and successful exhibitor. Of later years his activity for the museum increased and he and the present curator. Mr. G. Shepherd, were closely associated with one another. It was interesting to hear the two of them discuss the fossils and bones which came down into the curator’s department for identification ar.\ restoration. This was particularly so when the present collection of moas was in the course of preparation by Mr. Shepherd. Mr. Smith has been connected with the museum upwards of 40 years. He had a great love for his garden and, apart from his service to the museum in assisting the promotion of bulb shows, he joined the Wanganui Horticultural Society and was one of its keenest workers and exhibitors. For a long period he was a trustee of the Wanganui Library in the days before it was taken over by the municipality. For many years he was chief steward of the home industries and produce department of the Wanganui A. and P. Show and was a vice-presi-dent also. Old Motor Buggy To many people in the days of transition between horse drawn and ■ motor traffic Mr. Smith became widely known, to the public of Wanganui as he drove about in a motor buggy, with almost straight steering shaft and solid rubber tyres. He and Mr. Charley Chavannes were unconscious i rivals in those days for the capture of public imagination as they ventured out on the highways with conveyances which, while they resembled horse drawn vehicles, looked remarkably strange and quickly became out of date.

To him could be well applied the term “grand old man." He belonged to that old school of self-reliant people who did much to found the city and develop the district. He was always active, and, as the saying goes,

died in harness. He leaves a widow, and two sons, Messrs. T. H. and F. E. Smith, both of Wanganui, and a son by a former marriage, Mr. D. G. Smitlx Canterbury. There are also two brothers and two sisters living in Christchurch, Messrs. J. and T. Smith. Mrs. H. Vicary and Mrs. W, Woodfield.