George Winter, Snr

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COLONIST, 21 January 1919
Tākaka - Death of an Old Pioneer
A very old and respected resident of Takaka passed away quietlv last week in the person of Mr George Winter, snr. The deceased gentleman came out to New Zealand in the sailing ship Bolton in 1842, settling in the Maitai Valley, where he remained till 1864, in which year he crossed the bay and took up land in Clifton, the result of his labours being in evidence in the very fine farm now carried on by his son, Mr Hanson Winter. Mr Winter married a daughter.of Mr Donald Stewart, a very well known citizen of Nelson in the early days, a true old Highlander. Mrs Winter predeceased her husband by some four years. Mr Winter was a very fine type of the early colonist, a sturdy man of sterling honesty and straightforwardness, a hard worker, and of a particularly calm and genial nature —a good husband, a good parent, and a good neighbour—a man who would do one a good turn if he could but never a bad one. I don't suppose he made a single enemy in the whole course of his life of 82 years; if he did it was the other man's fault.

Mr Winter was a staunch supporter of the butter factory industry in the days when factories were looked askance at by a great many as likely to harm the farmer. One can hardly picture this aspect of the industry now, but the writer can assure his readers that this was so when the first butter factory was erected in Takaka. The deceased gentleman was for a long period one of the foremost suppliers, and although he had a rougher road and further to go than most of the suppliers he was invariably the first man in the mornings. About fourteen years ago the old gentleman found farming too strenuous for him, and made the property over to his sons, and came to live in the township, where he lived very quietly. For some years he was a very keen-bowler and was a well-known figure on the local green, but increasing years forced him to relinquish this pastime. He leaves a grown-up family of three daughters and two sons. One son was accidentally drowned -some years ago and one died in Sling Camp in England just before his draft went over to the battle zone. His oldest son, Mr George Winter Jnr has been a very prominent figure in local politics for a long period, having been chairman of the Takaka County Council for several years, and served on various local bodies with credit to himself and benefit to the district. The funeral, which took place on Tuesday last, was very largely attended, testifying to the esteem in which the deceased and family are held.