Page 16 - J G Book

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Four months later, on 21 October 1897, Wilfred George Kenyon was born at
Kaponga.

It was around this time that James George
took up some road building contracts

Hawera & Normanby Star, 7 January 1897

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Hawera and Normanby Star 3 Feb 1897

Palmer Rd is in Kaponga, about 2km east
of the town.

Hawera and Normanby Star 12 April 1897
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Hawera and Normanby Star 10 May 1897
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John Wilson Kenyon recalls:
“About this time, the Maoris started cutting and threshing grass in the area.
To mention one incident: a girl’s hat blew off and a Maori wahine picked it up and
put it on her head. Mr. T. R. Exley, a butcher, saw it happen and immediately took it
off and handed it to the girl (Mary King by name) and told her to run away home.
Within minutes a large number of Maoris had gathered and there was a fearful row.
My sister and I saw the whole show and we never felt very safe after that.”

John would not have understood the sullen mood of many Maori in South Taranaki at
that time, still suffering intense grief over the recent confiscation of their lands.

Mildred and John at Kaponga School.
(Also Mary King)

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Hawera and Normanby Star 15 Nov 1898

12 graemekenyon@hotmail.com 4/11/16