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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Newman

Newman.

The Wellington Special Settlement No. 1 is generally known as Newman. It is about two miles up the line from Eketahuna, the Makakahi River being crossed by both rail and road. The railway bridge is an exceedingly fine structure. The township is perfectly level, though the hills on the west and the river on the east are less than half a mile apart.

The town consists of 840 acres, made up of 109 town acres and 114 suburban sections, averaging about four acres each, besides roads and several reserves. There are two recreation reserves, one of seventeen acres and the other about half that area; the cemetery reserve is nine acres, and the waterworks reserve is fourteen acres. This last is among the hills, but it is not likely that any use will be made of it for many years, as splendid water is to be found at a depth of about five feet, and this notwith-standing that the river has worn a course for itself not less than seventy feet below the level of the town, or sixty-five feet below the line at which water is invariably reached. Within a few feet of the river bank the water is still obtainable at a depth of five or six feet. This very great advantage is accounted for by the fact that at that depth the papa foundation is struck, and the superstratum of gravel and alluvial soil acts as a perennial filter.

In 1886, the site of Newman, with its surrounding hills, was dense bush, but the ringing blows of the axeman have been heard to some purpose, and are now followed by the cow-boy's whistle and the ploughman's cheery call. It is true that most of the land is still unstumped, but there are several smiling paddocks and gardens which would seem to deny all recent connection with the primeval forest.

The township is by no means large, being composed of the post-office and telephone bureau, the school and school-house, a blacksmith's shop, a general store, a public hall, and a number of neat cottages and villa residences. There are about fifty bonâ fidè settlers in the district. They are, in the main, doing fairly well, and may now reasonably expect to reap the reward of past toil.

Newman forms a part of No. 1 ward of the Eketahuna Road Board, represented by Messrs. Bourke and Mowbray. A good deal of road making has been accomplished, the greater part of it being done by co-operative labour. The rates are light, and property is rising rapidly in value.

The Post-Office, Newman, is at the private house of Mr. F. W. M. Dowsett, and is furnished with a telephone. Telegrams received there are telephoned to Eketahuna and then dispatched by wire in the ordinary way. The mail for Wellington is made up daily at noon, and the mail from the head office arrives at 1.55p.m.

Mr. Frederick William Mead Dowsett, the Postmaster, Telegraphist and Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for Newman, was for many years well known in Wellington. Mr. Dowsett was born in Herefordshire, England, on the 26th of February, 1841, and was educated in Essex and Surrey. He landed in Wellington on the 15th of May, 1857, and immediately found employment with Mr. Walter Freeman, baker. In 1860 he joined the man-of-war “Victoria” as steward. Three years later he was again in Wellington after an experience in several parts of the South Island. For ten years Mr. Dowsett was in the employ of Mr. G. H. Vennell, auctioneer, and then started as a baker in Tinakori Road. It was during this time that Mr. Dowsett held the position of chairman of the Karori-Makara Road Board, and took so active a part in the Terawhiti goldfields. He built a store at Terawhiti with the idea of being first on the spot; but the venture was ill-considered and Mr. Dowsett lost over a thousand pounds from his hard-earned savings. In 1888 he cast in his lot with Special Settlement No. 1, and has no cause to regret his decision. He has sold off his rural sections and bought up town acres. His holding now consists of thirty acres extending from the main road to the page 1005 river. It is all in grass with the exception of some four acres surrounding the house, which is in a high state of cultivation. He has a splendid vinery, 33 feet by 12 feet, and a tomato house 120 feet long. He has water laid on to his house and grounds, the supply being from an elevated tank filled from a spring in his grounds, which works a hydraulic ram. His orchard and garden are well laid out and carefully kept. A few hives of bees, about a dozen cows, and several varieties of poultry are kept. Mr. Dowsett was married in 1863 to Miss Harris, daughter of Mr. Luke Harris, of Wellington, and of their ten children three boys and two girls survive.

The Newman Public School consists of two fairly large and very comfortable rooms, furnished liberally with all school requisites. The school was started in 1892 with nineteen scholars. There are seventy children on the roll, and the average attendance is fifty. All the standards from I. to VII. are taught, and the headmistress, Mrs. Nelson, is assisted by Miss Robinson.

Mrs. Kate M. Nelson, the Headmistress of the Newman Public School, was born and educated in County Cork, Ireland, and came to the Colony as Miss Sullivan in 1883. After a few months at the Mount Cook Infants' School under Mrs. Francis, she was appointed assistant teacher at Mauriceville, where she remained some six or seven years. Removing thence to Eketahuna for a year, Mrs. Nelson, who was married during her residence in Mauriceville, was in 1892 transferred to Newman on account of her husband having taken up land in that neighbourhood.

Hobman, James Robert, Shoeing and General Blacksmith, Newman. Mr. Hobman is a native of the Wairarapa, having been born in 1863 at Greytown, where his father, the late Mr. Luke Hobman, carried on the business of a bootmaker. Mr. Hobman was apprenticed with Mr. Richard Bright, and before establishing himself as above he had a sawmilling experience of some six or seven years. His premises in Newman are freehold, and his business is improving with the advance of the district. His smithy is well kept and well provided with all the tools needful for a good general business. When in Greytown, Mr. Hobman was a cricketer of some note, and represented the district as a footballer. In 1891 Mr. Hobman was married to Miss Tom, daughter of Mr. William Tom, of Dalefleld, near Carterton.

Crook, Mrs. M. E., General Storekeeper, Newman. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand, Eketahuna. This is the only general store in Newman, and a good trade is done, goods being delivered in all directions for several miles. Mrs. Crook is agent for the London, Liverpool and Globe Insurance Company.

Baillie, James, Sawmiller, Newman. The mills are fitted with the latest machinery, and a large quantity of timber is turned out. About twenty men find regular employment in cutting and preparing timber. Mr. Baillie came to the Colony in 1860, landing at Dunedin, and tried his luck for some time at gold-digging, but was not successful. Returning to Dunedin, he worked there for a while, and then removed to Wellington, subsequently settling in Greytown.

Price, Thomas, Proprietor, Albion Sawmill, Newman; Timber Yards at Petone. Mr. Price's mill, which is the largest in the Fourty-mile Bush district, is supplied with logs which are drawn by a locomotive along a steel tramway over five miles long. The sawmill is fitted with two travelling benches and twin saws, a ripping bench, breast bench, and planing machine, which are driven by a twenty-five horse-power engine. The principal timbers used are totara, rimu, matai, white pine, and rata. Mr. Price was born in Liverpool in 1838, and came to Nelson when four years old in the ship “Olympus” with his parents. After a residence of about thirty years in Wakefield, in the Province of Nelson, where he worked with his family, Mr. Price married and came to Wellington some five years later. Removing to Carterton he commenced business as a general storekeeper, which he carried on successfully for about five years, when he sold out and started business as a sawmiller at the south of Carterton, and subsequently erected a mill at Dalefield, which he worked for twenty years before removing to Newman. In Carterton Mr. Price took an active interest in church matters as a vestryman of St. Mark's, and in military affairs as a volunteer. A Freemason and Oddfellow of long standing, he is also an enthusiastic cricketer. Mr. Price has one son and one daughter.

Mr. Thos. Price.

Mr. Thos. Price.