Robyn Parkes
The Sparrow family emigrated in 1857, arriving in New Zealand on board the John Masterman. Father, George James, and mother, Harriet, along with sons Eric, Arthur and Frederick lived for a short time in Nelson where George offered his service as a veterinary surgeon in Washington Valley and later at Richmond.
He then left Nelson for Waitapu via a schooner for the Collingwood gold fields.
On arrival, with no wharf they and their belongings were put on the beach where they spent the night, rescued by John Haldane the following day.
Their first home was a small pit sawn totara slab house, built by George. Being complete novices in pioneer life the family struggled, but were very fortunate in having the assistance of some well-meaning men who got alongside them and taught them many new skills.
Within several years a better house was built and the family concentrated on taming the land for crops and farming, eventually owning over 600 acres. As land was cleared, sheep were bought in from Riwaka with George building up to have a sizeable flock.
George, like many settlers, took a serious interest in the district. In 1866 he was appointed both a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Inspector under the Nelson Scab Act. He later became a member of the Road Board, the Motupipi and Takaka Association and held a seat in the Nelson Provincial Council.
George passed away at age 70 on 20 December 1884 and was buried in East Tākaka Cemetery. Harriet lived for another six years, passing in February 1890 and was buried beside her husband.
Of the children, eldest son Eric married Lucy Mary Hailes, eldest daughter of George Hailes of Upper Tākaka in 1868. The couple settled on a property which they named ‘Hillcrest’ and Eric became a successful sheep farmer. He was very active in the community, holding several positions. Eric appears to have enjoyed debating and was a frequent writer to the newspapers where he aired his opinions on multiple topics.
Lucy, who was said to be one of life’s gentlewoman died at her home in March 1935. She was a very social lady and loved to talk about the old days of riding through rough bush tracks with mud up to the girths, of baking in a camp oven and churning butter by hand. Eric passed away two years later in March 1937 and was buried in East Tākaka Cemetery.
Arthur, the second son of George and Harriet, was killed in an accident at age 24 on 8 November 1869. He was last seen on the 8th leaving home around 1pm. His father found him in the evening about half a mile from the house with the guard iron of the dray lying across his neck due to the dray capsizing.
The youngest of the sons, Frederick, also ran a successful farm at Tākaka following many years of hard work and energy. His homestead, ‘Fairleigh’ was well known and many travellers stopped there in the early days. Unlike his father and brother, he took no part in public life, his interest being birds and botany.
Frederick married Charlotte Barnett in April 1883 in Tākaka. Both lived a long life, Frederick passing in August 1937 aged 87, and Charlotte in 1941 aged 78.
