Wikipedia

George Edgecumbe

Not to be confused with George Edgcumbe.

George Edgecumbe (4 January 1845 – 11 March 1930) was a New Zealand newspaper proprietor and businessman. He was born in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England on 4 January 1845.[1]

George Edgecumbe
13th Mayor of Hamilton
In office
1899–1901
Preceded byWilliam Dey
Succeeded byRobert William Dyer
Personal details
Born4 January 1845
Chippenham
Died11 March 1930
Remuera, Auckland
SpouseAnnie Hume m. 27 April 1871
OccupationPublisher

George's father was Henry Edgecumbe, a grocer,[2] or confectioner[3] and later a brewer and mason, who immigrated from Devon[4] with his sons, George, Frank[5] and John Sloper (b 1849),[6] on the John Duncan,[6] arriving in Auckland on 23 January 1864.[7] They moved to Ngāruawāhia and he died in 1885.[2]

Trader edit

In 1873 George took over Charles Bell's general store opposite the wharf[8] at Ngāruawāhia,[9][10] which he ran until 1876,[11] when he became an agent and accountant,[12] though he'd previously promoted his brother, John's, Karakariki mill.[13] He was probably helped with just remaining credit-worthy[14] by marrying the bank manager's sister.[15][6]

Newspapers edit

He was at the meeting which decided to form the Waikato Times[1] and joined its staff in Ngāruawāhia, moving with it to Hamilton in 1875.[16][17] George became manager in 1878[18][19] and took control of the paper in 1882.[20] The Times increased its Bank of New Zealand loan, until the bank leased it back to George. However, in 1896, the bank sold the masthead and property to the Waikato Advocate.[21] George's version of events was set out in the first issue of his Waikato Argus, when he said he'd arranged with the late F. A. Whitaker M.P. to be the proprietor.[22] George wished to retain a conservative[23] paper and started the Waikato Argus on 11 July 1896,[24] with Henry Holloway as editor. Henry had also been the first editor of the Waikato Times and was again editor when the lease was lost.[21] Although popular in Hamilton[25] and winning a case against BNZ,[26] George had opposition, as evidenced by an Auckland paper writing, "The B.N.Z. Estates Company 'chucked' George Edgecumbe out of the Times, and he has started the loathsome contemporary across the road, and is making things warm for the Bank and the Government generally."[27] When the Waikato Argus merged with the Waikato Times in 1914, George became chairman of the company for a few years.

Other interests edit

George was also chairman of Waikato Horticultural Society,[28] South Auckland Racing Club,[29] Auckland Education Board (1903-1914),[30] Grand Master of masonic Lodge Beta,[31] the first chairman Hamilton High School Board, a member of Waikato Hospital Board, a member of Hamilton Club, Hamilton Bowling Club, the Church of England,[16] president of Hamilton Football Club (rugby),[32] president of Hamilton Cricket Club[33] and on the Central Power Board.[34]

Civic duties edit

He was chairman of the Ngāruawāhia Town Board from 1875 to 1878,[35] a member of Hamilton Borough and City Council (1885-7, 1905-7) and mayor from 1899-01. Edgecumbe Street in Whitiora was renamed after him in 1923[36]

Family edit

He retired to Remuera, in about 1919,[37][38] where he died in 1930, leaving three sons and four daughters.[39] Another daughter had died in 1919[40] and his wife, Annie (née Hume,[1] married 1871),[41] had died on 28 May 1924.[42] His eldest son was also named George[43] and other sons were born in 1881[44] and 1886,[45] and daughters in 1873[46] and 1874.[47]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Downs, Jeff. "George Edgecumbe". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Hamilton East Cemetery one hour Heritage Walk" (PDF). Hamilton City Council.
  3. ^ "Circular To Bankers, Aug 27, 1840, p. 8". NewspaperArchive.com. 27 August 1840. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  4. ^ "OBITUARY. (New Zealand Herald, 1885-07-20)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  5. ^ "DEATH OF MR HENRY EDGECUMBE. (Waikato Times, 1885-06-27)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Hamilton". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  7. ^ "The John Duncan". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
  8. ^ "Page 4 Advertisements Column 4 (Waikato Times, 1872-05-09)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  9. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements (Waikato Times, 1873-09-23)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  10. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 1 (Waikato Times, 1873-11-15)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  11. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Waikato Times, 1876-02-01)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Page 3 Advertisements (Waikato Times, 1876-09-05)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  13. ^ "Page 1 Advertisements Column 1 (Waikato Times, 1872-07-09)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  14. ^ "Auckland Telegraph. (From our Special Correspondent.) Meeting of Edgecumbe's Creditors. (Waikato Times, 1875-07-10)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  15. ^ "NEWCASTLE (NGARUAWAHIA). (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) February 17. (Daily Southern Cross, 1865-02-22)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  16. ^ a b "OBITUARY. (Auckland Star, 1930-03-12)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  17. ^ "The Waikato Times. "OMNE SOLUM FORTI PATRIA." THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1875. (Waikato Times, 1875-01-28)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Waikato Times, 1878-04-04)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  19. ^ "GOLD-BEARING STONE AT NGARUAWAHIA. (Waikato Times, 1880-04-29)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Hamilton, May 13th, 1882. (Waikato Times, 1882-05-18)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  21. ^ a b "Newspapers | Explore | Waikato Argus". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 WAIKATO ARGUS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 July 1896. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  23. ^ "THE WAIKATO SEAT. (Auckland Star, 1891-09-23)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Waikato Argus, 1896-07-11)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  25. ^ "The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1896". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  26. ^ "BANK OF NEW ZEALAND ESTATES COMPANY {LIMITED) V. GEORGE EDGECUMBE. (Waikato Argus, 1896-09-19)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  27. ^ "A Quill for Everyone. (Observer, 1896-09-26)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  28. ^ "WAIKATO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. (Auckland Star, 1888-03-17)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  29. ^ "MEETINGS. (New Zealand Herald, 1890-09-08)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Auckland Star, 1914-08-06". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  31. ^ "MASONIC. Installation Ceremony and Ball, Lodge Beta, Hamilton. (Waikato Times, 1884-07-05)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  32. ^ "HAMILTON FOOTBALL CLUB. (Waikato Argus, 1900-10-08)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  33. ^ "HAMILTON CRICKET CLUB. (Waikato Times, 1892-09-17)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  34. ^ "LATE MR. GEORGE EDGECUMBE (Auckland Star, 1930-03-14)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  35. ^ Latta, A. M. (1980). Meeting of the Waters. Ngaruawahia Lions Club.
  36. ^ Lanum, John. "Edgecumbe Street". ketehamilton.peoplesnetworknz.info. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  37. ^ "PERSONAL (Waikato Times, 1919-09-26)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  38. ^ "LADIES' WORLD (Waikato Times, 1920-01-10)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  39. ^ "OBITUARY. (Waikato Independent, 1930-03-13)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  40. ^ "WAIKATO NEWS. (Auckland Star, 1919-08-13)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  41. ^ "PERSONAL ITEMS. (New Zealand Herald, 1896-04-28)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  42. ^ "DEATHS. (New Zealand Herald, 1924-05-30)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  43. ^ "COUNTRY NEWS. (New Zealand Herald, 1894-04-25)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  44. ^ "Birth. (Waikato Times, 1881-03-19)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  45. ^ "Birth. (Waikato Times, 1886-02-09)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  46. ^ "BIRTHS. (New Zealand Herald, 1873-05-21)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  47. ^ "Birth. (Waikato Times, 1884-01-24)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 1 September 2018.

Political offices
Preceded by

William Dey

Mayor of Hamilton 1899-1901 Succeeded by

Robert William Dyer

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