James Benjamin Poynter

https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22482833
Poynter, James Benjamin, 1842-1932
Farmed at Ngakaroa, Poverty Bay, from 1867, with Charles Evans. First president of the Poverty Bay A & P Association. Moved to Tasmania in the 1880s. Source of information: Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, N.I., N.Z. / by Joseph Angus Mackay (Gisborne, 1949) p 316. Married Kate Simpson in 1875. Children - James Meredith (1876-1964); Frank Middleton (1878-1944?); Zoe Esther (1880-1963); Lilia Theta Devon (1882/83-?).

Obituary - Gisborne Times, 27 June 1932,
Mr J. B. Poynter Snr, Deepest regret, will be felt by old residents of the district at the announcement of the death of Mr James Benjamin Poynter. father of Mr. James B. M. Poynter, of Gisborne, to whom sincere sympathy in his sad loss will be extended. The late Mr Poynter was one of the earliest pioneer settlers in the Poverty Bay district, leaving here in 1878 for Eltham where he spent many years, later going to South Africa for health reasons. His death occurred at Pretoria, South Africa, and he had attained the advanced age of 86.

Messrs Carlaw Smith & Co. offered yesterday a good selection of stock, the property of Mr J. B. Poynter, on the Bushmere estate. There was a fair attendance, but the bidding: was not so spirited as was anticipated, considering the excellence of the Stock on sale. The following are the prices realised for some of the leading lines :— Eight head cattle, at £4 5s each ; fat lambs, at 7s ; 50 pigs, at 10s 6d per head ; 1 mare, £50 ; 1 gelding, £27 ; 1 do., £2b ; 1 young mare, £32 ; 1 colt (unbroken), £19 ; unbroken filly, £22 ; do. yearling, £10 ; Parthenopeus colt, £25. The value of imports for the quarter ending September 30th was £7,443, and the amount of Customs duties collected for the same period was £2,381 3s 4d. For the corresponding period last year the duties amounted to £1,837 14s, the quarter just ended thus showing an increase of revenue of £643 9s 4d. Poverty Bay sheep averaged in Auckland yesterday 19s per head.
Source: Poverty Bay Herald, 18 November 1882

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20th, AT 12.30 P.M. MESSRS. CARLAW SMITH & CO. are instructed by Mr. J. B. Poynter, to sell, in conjunction with MESSRS. GRAHAM, PITT BENNETT, at Bushmere, All his HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &o. CONSISTING OF — DRAWING-ROOM SUITE. PIANO (Kirkman). DINING-ROOM FURNITURE. BEDROOM FURNITURE. PICTURES, BOOKS, &c, &c. PAIR OF ROAN CARRIAGE MA.RES, by Orlando. 1 ROAN COLT, by Parthenopceus out of La Bonne. WAGGONETTE. HARNESS, GENTLEMAN AND LADY'S SADDLES AND BRIDLES. FIVE ALPACAS. MOWING MACHINE. COMBINED REAPER AND MOWER. LUNCHEON PROVIDED.
Source: Poverty Bay Herald, 20 November 1882

COMMERCIAL.
Sale of MR. J. B. POYNTER'S EFFECTS. [Per Pigeon Express.] Bushmere, 3.20 p.m. There was on excellent attendance at the sale of furniture, both town and country being well represented, a number of ladies being also present. Lunch was spread on the verandah. Very few minutes after 1.80 Mr. M. H. Smith commenced the sale. There was a brisk demand throughout, very good prices being realised. Drawing-room suite, £15 10s ; piano and stool, £34 7s 6d ; carpets, £3 and £2 ; escritoire, £4 5s ; sewing machine, £2 2s 6d ; dining-room table, £2 2s 6d ; spring revolving chairs (2), &i 17s 6d ; cruet stand, £1 16s. At 2.30 p.m. • Mr. Pitt assumed the role of auctioneer, when the following prices were realised : — Ladies' saddle, £5 12s 6d; £6; Uonis set, £4 2s 6d ; waggonette £44 ; harness, £8 10a ; pair roan mares, £59 ; alpacas, 17s (id each ; heifer and calf, £5 17s 6d ; heifers, £4 17s [6d to £5 5s ; piano, £33 ; mowing machine, £11 10s ; reaping do, £6 ; chaff-cutter, £3
Source: Poverty Bay Herald, 4 January 1882

The settlers to the north of Waerenga-a-Hika received news of the raid from Arthur Kempthorne. Writing to his father at Auckland (12/11/1868), he said that, at 7 a.m., he set off on a visit to Turanganui. At Taureka he saw a number of people running about in an excited manner; he thought that they were trying to catch a swarm of bees. A native who had just reached the settlement then ran over to him and said: “You can't go any farther. The Hauhaus have broken into the bay and are killing everybody they can lay their hands upon. You had better get into Turanganui as quickly as you can by going round at the foot of the hills.”

Kempthorne galloped back to “Pukepapa” and he and his native boy went off to G. Scott's place to warn the people there. Scott, three workmen—D. Matthew, L. Farrell and J. Alexander —and two native women linked up with them, and they all went on to “Ngakaroa,” where J. B. Poynter, C. Evans and two carpenters—W. King and J. James—joined the party. Harawera, an old Hauhau chief, who, for some time, had been living very quietly in the locality, advised them to take a track which would lead them over a range into Turanganui. McDonald (Kempthorne's shepherd) was found not far along the road. On ascending the range what first attracted their attention was Dodd and Peppard's home in flames. It was quite dark when they got over the range and they camped for the night. Turanganui was reached early next morning.
Source -Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, N.I., N.Z.(:www.nzetc.org)

"Settlement in Poverty Bay received two serious setbacks—firstly, during the East Coast War (1865), and, then, on account of the Te Kooti revolt (1868). Crown Plan No. 1921 (red) in the Gisborne Survey Office shows most of the blocks that had been taken up by 1870. It is described as: “Plan of Surveys in the Poverty Bay District in the County of Stafford.” Omissions include the areas around Opou which were held under lease by Harris and Ferguson and Captain Read's scattered interests in and about Matawhero. Details in parentheses do not appear on the plan."

Lease "Ngakaroa: 12,360 acres—J. B. Poynter and C. Evans (1867).

James Benjamin Poynter served as chairman of the Poverty Bay Highways Board and was the first president of the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association. In the 1880's he went to Tasmania to engage in mining, but without success. Eventually he settled in South Africa. "