John Treweek

John and Honor were to have nine more children.
John first farmed at Omata before moving to Kai Iwi, Wanganui and then in 1861 moving south to Tuapeka, Otago.
"The beautiful estate of Kai-iwi, lying eight miles out of town towards the north, and consisting of 1500 acres of very good land, about half of which is fenced and laid down in grass, the other half, though not ploughed being well covered with a fine sward, has been sold by Mr Treweek to Mr James Alexander, of this place, for £6000, being at the rate of £4 per acre. Mr Alexander, we believe, also takes the stock belonging to Mr Treweek. The small farm of 32 acres, adjacent to the town reserve on the south bank of the river, with a good house standing on it, has been bought by Mr James Speed from Mr Joseph Jones for £550. The vicinity of this land to the town will render it valuable.
At the farewell to The Treweek family, sixty guests sat down to a very excellent dinner at the Wanganui Rutland - wine as well as the more substantial fare. It was stated: "Every one who visited Mr. Treweek's place nine years ago, and again saw it yesterday, will allow that he has been eminently successful in bringing the imperious sovereignty of so large a portion of this country under his control. Nature has there retired before art, and owned herself subdued. (Great cheers.) It appeared eight years ago as if the poor unfortunate man who built his house on such a place of desolation would be subject to nothing but the sport of fortune. I remember being out there, and, overgrown as the place was with flax and toe, cold and dreary, it seemed as if no one could make up his mind to the hard fight that was before him if he settled there. But the great industry and indomitable perseverance of our esteemed guest has made a wonderful change. And while some others of us were poring over the surveyor's plans, and hesitating and doubting what part of the district to choose for our portion, Mr. Treweek set himself down there, stuck his plough into the ground, and had soon broad acres of waving grain which were the admiration if not the envy of all his neighbours, and gave an impetus to agriculture in the district which has been most beneficial. I look with genuine admiration on the wonderful results of our friend's industry. (Cheers.) It may have been that there was some unseen power at the back that stimulated the efforts which have been so crowned with success. I believe we heard yesterday that Mr. Treweek has been greatly indebted to the presiding power within the house; and he had occasional help from those who knew his worth — that worth is now known to all, and he goes from this place with the cordial wishes of the whole district for his success in the golden South."
Otago Daily Times 18 July 1864: The Dunedin Stock Market: Mr Treweek's cattle, from Bellamy Station, deserve particular notice, being equal to any lot. yarded for some months past.

(Death on August 23rd 1896 - Bur: Waihi Military Cem. nr. Normanby, Hawera)

Hawera & Normanby Star, 28 August 1896: In Memoriam. THE LATE MR JOHN TREWEEK.

The whispers of gold at Wangapeka heard some time previous had told of prosperity for Nelson and in the early sixties loud-voiced rumor from far Otago told of the discovery by Gabriel Keid of almost inexhaustable wealth in the gravelling wash of Tuapeka and heralded the coming demand for stock to feed the hungry diggers. When men were wanted in advance of civilization the instincts of the pioneer would not be denied, and Mr Treweek embarked in the industry of shipping cattle in sailing vessels to the South Island, a laborious and risky undertaking. The cattle taken were mostly stores, or became so on the voyage, and were intended for fattening in Canterbury, and subsequently driven to the goldfields of the Dunstan and the Lakes. Then was the Rangitikei P A brand of Patterson and Alexander to be found on numerous runs between the Selwyn and and the Waitaki, and in Canterbury took grazing ground at the north of the Rakaia and fed his herd on the grassy swamps and rich alluvial land of Longbeach now spoken of as the great model farm of the world, the biggest agricultural success on earth. Ever in the advance of settlement Mr Treweek then bought from Newton Watt, some country on the Tekapo Lake in the newly occupied McKenzie country. His business transactions were now very extensive, what with the importation of store cattle and his grazing runs. His next venture was the purchase of an extensive station right in the heart of the goldflelds of Otago in the Tuapeka district, and another in the Manuherikia Valley, and his next after that, a plunge into the meshes of the law. He became involved in a law suit with his agents, and the man who had struggled successfully against the rugged forces of nature and held his own amid the keen traders and cattle dealers in honest competition succumbed to a combination of station agents and lawyers.

Poorer in pocket, richer in experience, he returned to the North Island, and with the assistance of Mr Parris, took possession of the 400 acres reserve at Waokena, near Hawera. He found it a fern-clad, unfenced moor, and when he handed it over to his son William, smiling fields alternated with verdant pastures, from which they were divided by substantial fences, was overlooked by a comfortable homestead. From this time Mr Treweek practically retired from business. He settled at Normanby with his wife, who had been a faithful and energetic helpmate to him all these years, and it was after she died, October 15th 1884, Mr Treweek found the pleasant village distasteful to him.
Of late years he has lived with his daughter, Mrs Walter Symes, and her husband at Waverley and Toko, and he was on a visit to his son Frederick at Kakariki when he died. It has been seen how the colonist did replenish the earth with things fruitful and plentiful, and to carry out the command to increase and multiply he was not unmindful. Sixty and six descendants respect the loved memories of honor and John Treweek. They had twelve children, 10 boys and 2 girls, and of these there are seven of the former and one of the latter all living. Mr Walter Symes married the only surviving daughter, and Mr Harry Gibson and Mr Charles Newsham two daughters of Mr John Treweek, jnr., the eldest son, who is now living at Opunake. One son, who was educated at Nelson College, is inspector on the railways in Southland, and another, Charles, holds an important appointment in the telegraphic service also in the South Island. Frederick is overseer on the line at Rangitikei, and William is in business at Palmerston North, whilst George is a well respected resident in the Ngaire district.
We have heard lately of songs in praise of " Deeds which won the Empire." Had not these deeds been supplemented by the actions of such men as the late Mr John Treweek, the Empire would not have been beneficially held when won, and the existence of such a class of men makes all the difference between the colonization operations of England and those of any other nation on earth. He has lived a long span of existence without making a permanent enemy, and it is to be believed without grave doubt that " After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." Treweek Children