John Thomas Benge

Born in the paddock at Stonestead the home built by his grandfather David Benge. Foundation pupil at Te Marua school (so named meaning hollow as often confused with Mangaroa/Mungaroa) In 1911 Upper Hutt had 19 people on the telephone list and JT was one of them Opened one of the manin contry stores- on Main St (now Fergusson Dr) with a partner named Pratt JT founded Benge & Pratts store (predecessor of Hazelwoods) which burnt to the ground in approx. 1900 losing 7 lives (Upper Hutt the History)- the fire started on a Sat night.

After WW2 store was sold to its present owners and still operates under the name Hazelwoods. They also had the contract to supply bread to the Trentham, Military camp and consequently a second bakehouse was opened- the main fuel being manuka; deliver by horse & cart and later by Motel T ford vans. JT owned a dairy farm. a sheep farm and a flax plantation. He brought patent back from USA for Sealfast products (rubber sealants)

Info on photo:

'Who were Upper Hutt's leaders in World War 1? No better moment presented itself to judge them than to survey the membership of the town's Epidemic Committee. It was formed in 1918 to combat a deadly influenza which swept the upper valley, as it did the country, with terrifying loss of life.

From left, back row, the stalwarts are;
farmer L Russell, sawmiller George Campbell, blacksmith (and Town Board chairman, later mayor) Peter Robertson, Constables Cumming and Gurdon, farmer (and storekeeper) J T Benge, engine drivers W Greig and G H Guthrie, the former a Town Board commissioner, the latter elected later.

Seated are wood and coal merchant (later a Town Board commissioner) W G Goss, farmer, former Town Clerk and newly appointed Town Board Commissioner A J McCurdy, Army missionary and doctor Pettit, head master F W Connell, postmaster Ballantyne, livery stables proprietor W H Edwards.'

Photograph may have been taken outside Upper Hutt School.