Documents Referring to Francis Hicks

William Watson
Barque: 430 tons
Captain: C Macfarlane
Sailed London October 21st 1858 – arrived Auckland February 6th 1859

This passenger list was kindly given to us by John Offord. Initially the names and ages are from the Daily Southern Cross of October 16th 1874 and have been verified against the original in National Archives, Wellington.

Name Age County Occupation

Single Men and/or Women
Burlinson H
Campbell F A
Cromarty D
Crombie D
Dowson T W
Hutchinson J G
Lye T
Miller J S
Norris E F
Ogle H
Robinson T J
Smith J E
Smithyman J B
Streeter E
Sutcliffe B

Single Men
Ashton George
Barnaby Thomas
Beddock Thomas
Bottomley Samuel
Brewer George
Burden John
Cheeseman Robert
Clayton Charles
Cowen James
Davis James W H
Harley Thomas
Hicks Francis
Hobbs William
Hodges Frederick

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Robert Wellwood – 1920 letter:

Hicks Francis Farmer, Pukekura. This old colonist was born in Cornwall, England in 1839 and was engaged in farming with his father. Mr Hicks came to New Zealand per ship “William Watson” in 1860, and after looking around for a few months decided to settle in Hawkes [Hawke’s] Bay. He foundered [founded] the township of Hastings in that province in 1868 and gave sites for the railway station, public hall etc. He then came to the Waikato & purchased “Trelawney” (now in possession of Mr. T.W. Hicks) and some time afterwards he purchased his present farm, which consists of 900 acres, mostly down in grass and stocked with cattle. Mr Hicks is always active in local matters, and has been connected with the local school committee and road board for many years.

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Miss Hicks (Cambridge daughter of the late Mr F. Hicks), who was present in a brief address said that fifty years ago her father had handed this property to the Raiway Department in order to further the town of Hastings. Thirteen years ago her father had visited Hastings and had expressed himself as very dissatisfied with the class of buildings erected thereon. He considered the whole block was an eyesore, and a blot on the town. Her father had intended returning to Hastings to move in this matter, but, unfortunately, his death intervened. She asked that the Government be urged to erect suitable premises on the sites, and so help on the prosperity of the town, as her father intended should be done.

In his reply the Hon. Mr Coates said he could not subscribe to the principle that when the Department derived an

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The annual meeting of householders of Cambridge West School District was held in the school-room on the 24th ultimo. There were twelve present. In the absence of the chairman (Mr Francis Hicks), Mr William Reynolds was voted to the chair. The Secretary was requested to read the report, also statement of receipts and expenditure. As the school was only opened

 

Page 3 Advertisements Column 2
Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1408, 12 July 1881, Page 3
AT the annual meeting of Ratepayers of above district, held in the Pukerimu School on Friday, 8th July, 1881, the following elections were made: –

Trustees :
Mr Edward Lake,
Mr John Grice,
Mr Wm. Scott,
Mr Robt. Fisher,
Mr Edward Allen, junr.

Auditors :
Mr Samuel Fleming,
Mr Francis Hicks.

Fence Viewers :
Mr Wm. Tucker,
Mr H Kusab.

 

For your street names – George Ebbett wrote (no date of this note):

In the Deeds of Transfer of the station site land, the area is stated as being in the town of Hicksville but the name does not seem ever become current. Since changing of Hicks Street to Mayfair Avenue in 1938 there is no name left in Hastings to commemorate its founder.