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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts]

Charleston

Charleston.

Charleston is a small mining village eighteen miles south of Westport, and is a relic of the early days of the West Coast. In the end of the sixties about 10,000 men of all nationalities found their way to this remarkable locality, and in the gold hunting excitement of that time they presented as a community a most animated spectacle. The few hundred acres adjoining the beach, found to be rich in fine gold, were, however, soon thoroughly worked, and the miners made their way to other fields. Thereafter the population quickly dwindled to one thousand, and at the census of 1901, only 199 persons were returned as resident in the district. The settlement is in the Charleston riding of the county of Buller, in the electorate of Buller, and in the provincial district of Nelson. The riding of Charleston has a population of 459 persons. The township is on the beach at the mouth of the Waitukere river; a few miles to the north, is the mouth of the Totara river, while, to the southwards, is the small mining township of Brighton; and, back from the sea, are the well-known Paparoa Ranges. The buildings in the township include four hotels, a store, a post office, and postal residence, in addition to the private cottages and homes of the settlers. A considerable amount of sluicing is still carried on at Charleston, and there are two or three hydraulic elevating claims. Quarterly sittings of the Warden's and Magistrate's Court are held in the township, which is the domicile of Court Charleston, Ancient Order of Forresters, and Loyal Charleston Lodge, Manchester Unity, Independent Order of Oddfellows. Some farming is carried on in the neighbourhood. There is regular coach communication between Charleston and Westport, and a good cycling, though somewhat hilly, road.

Mr. L. Baigent , formerly headmaster of the Charleston school, was born at Wakefield, Nelson, and is the fourth son of the late Mr. Alfred Baigeat. He was educated at Nelson College, having won, at Wakefield, in 1887, the Waimea scholarship, which conveyed free tuition at the college. After page 238 two years' study, he took charge in 1893, of the Sandy Bay school, where he remained eighteen months. Mr. Baigent was next appointed to the Hope school, where he taught in 1896, when he was appointed to Charleston, whence he was appointed to the headmastership of the school at Dovedale. Whilst making general science and photography his special study, he also keeps in touch with the best interests of his pupils, and has completely won their affection and esteem. Mr. Baigent was the first cyclist to ride from Westport to Nelson in one day. He is married to a daughter of Mr. D. Wilkins, of Upper Moutere, Nelson.

The Loyal Charleston Lodge, Manchester Unity, Independent Order Of Oddfellows , was established in the year 1867. At the end of the year 1904 there was a membership of fortyseven persons, and the total funds amounted to £2,453. During the year sums amounting to £280 were disbursed, and the management expenses amounted to £134. The trustees are Messrs T. Lauder, R. J. Powell, J. H. Powell, and William Henry (treasurer), and G. F. Hurburgh (permanent secretary).

Mr. George Flinders Hurburgh , Permanent Secretary of the Loyal Charleston Lodge, is a contractor, undertaker, and mining speculator in Charleston. He was born in Flinders Island, Bass Strait, Tasmania, in the year 1844, and learned boatbuilding. In 1862, Mr. Hurburgh came to New Zealand, and landed at Lyttelton. He removed to the West Coast in 1866, and settled at Charleston. Mr. Hurburgh was engaged in mining for some time, also in bridge-building and contracting, and has a crushing claim at Addison's Flat. He has been secretary of the Charleston school committee, and, as a Freemason, been Worshipful Master of the Charleston Kilwinning Lodge.

Hartill, John George, Blacksmith, Mining Engineer, Wheelwright, and Coachbuilder, Charleston. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales. Established in 1886. Mr. Hartill was born near Birmingham, Staffordshire, England; he came out in the ship “Hotspur” to Australia in 1862, and worked at Bathurst, and in Queensland, at dam-making, and wellsinking. He settled at Charleston, in 1866, and engaged in mining, meeting with varied luck, until he began his present business. Mr. Hartill has also a blacksmith's shop at Addison's Flat, which is regularly visited. He re-arranged for the Venture Company its stamper battery, and also completed a large order for 3600 feet of piping, 14½ feet in diameter, for Messrs Powell and Co. Mr. Hartill is favourably known in social and athletic circles. In 1899, he was elected to represent Charleston riding, in the Buller County Council, and was also appointed a Justice of the Peace. He married a daughter of Mr. W. Bollard, of Westport, and has seven children.

J. M. Powell and Sons (John Morgan Powell, George Morgan Powell, Robert James Powell, and John Henry Powell), General Merchants, Butchers, Bakers, Farmers, and Miners, Charleston.

Mr. John Morgan Powell , J.P., Senior Partner of the firm of J. M. Powell and Sons, is one of the early settlers of the West Coast. He was born in Monmouthshire, England, in the year 1842, and brought up to farming. In 1864, Mr. Powell went to Australia, and in the year 1865 came to New Zealand and settled at Charleston on the West Coast. He afterwards established his present business, and, later, admitted his three sons into partnership. Mr. Powell has been chairman, secretary, and treasurer of the Brighton and Charleston school committees, and was a member of the Buller County Council. As an Oddfellow, he is Past Grand Master of Loyal Charleston Lodge, Manchester Unity. There is a farm of about 500 acres in connection with the business of J. M. Powell and Sons, and an elevating claim on the Nine Mile Beach, where the suction elevating principle was first successfully applied. Mr. Powell married, in 1866, and has three sons and one daughter.

Mr. George Morgan Powell , of the firm of J. M. Powell and Sons, is auditor of the Loyal Charleston Lodge of the Order of Oddfellows, and secretary of the local Court of Foresters.

Mr. John Henry Powell , of the firm of J. M. Powell and Sons, is a member of the Buller County Council for Charleston riding, and is chairman of the Charleston Hospital Committee, and treasurer of the Loyal Charleston Lodge, of the Order of Oddfellows.

Mr. Robert James Powell , the youngest member of the firm of J. M. Powell and Sons, devotes himself entirely to the firm's business.

Powell, George Morgan, General Storekeeper, Princes Street, Charleston. Bankers, Bank of New South Wales, Westport. This business was first established during the years of the gold “rush” by Messrs Hatch and Co., and was taken over by Mr. Powell in 1896. Mr. Powell deals in general provisions, employs two assistants, and sends his cart all over the district. He was born in 1868 at Brighton (once a flourishing mining town), ten miles south of Charleston. For some years he was engaged in mining pursuits till his father purchased an established butchering business in Charleston, at which he joined his father in partnership, and remained with him for four years, when he took over the present business. Mr. Powell is well and favourably known throughout the district and fills a number of offices. He is secretary to the Charleston Lodge of Foresters, No. 5026, was for eight years secretary to the Hospital Trustees until pressure of business in- page 239 duced him to resign, and was Grand Master of the North Westland district, Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity.