Re: Hodder family - Dorset/Devon
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In reply to:
Re: Hodder family - Dorset/Devon
4/27/00
hi Selwyn,
Long time, no see...since Tauranga reunion.
AWH went to Whangamomona because the govt was opening up the land for dairyfarming. (As you have been there you can understand how impractical that was....very hilly and steep.)
AWH had quite a bit of money when he came to NZ but lost it in a bad business decision. He then moved as the North Island main trunk line progressed, doing building and carpentry along the way for the Railways.
He took up the land in Whanga about 1897-99 with his sons and daughters and wife.
The govt cleared the first chain of bush but the settlers had to do the rest. The girls did the milking before school then again at night. The boys helped on the farm too, doing all the harder/heavier jobs.AWH used to joke about checking the cows...he used to tell the boys to look up the chimney and they would see the cows on the tops of the hills.
AWH eventually retired to Stratford, then moved to New Plymouth after his wife died. He lived with Bessie and her husband Ted till he died. (I think he may also have lived with Tom & Vi for a while too.)