1801-1889 - Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies (HBIG)

Hutt Valley Biographical Index and Genealogies website www.hbig.gen.nz
Wellington Independent 06 Nov 1871 Supposed Fatal Accident – Two men missing
There is reason to fear that the gale of Thursday last has proved fatal to two residents of the Hutt district, who had on that day started on a
fishing excursion. On that morning two brothers, named Judd, left their home at Wainui on a fishing expedition, and since that time they
have not been heard of. The fear is that their boat was upset, and that both have been drowned; two oars and a small sprit-sail identified as
belonging to the boat having been found near the lighthouse. Immediately on the occurrence of an accident being suspected, Constable
Butler, of the Hutt district, organized a volunteer search party, some of whom proceeded to search the beach from Lowry Bay to the
lighthouse, while others went along the Petoni beach to the mouth of the Hutt, but, so far as we were able to ascertain last evening, no
traces of the missing men had been obtained. Both men had just recently married – the elder of the two, to the eldest daughter, and the
younger to the youngest daughter of Mr Bassett, of Petoni.
Evening Post 16 May 1876 Resident Magistrate’s Court - Larceny
James Kay, who was acquitted last week on a charge of stealing a blanket, was brought up to answer to another charge of larceny. Richard
Petford, publican of the Hutt, stated that on Sunday last prisoner was stopping at his house; he went there on the previous day; on Monday
witness missed the three blankets produced; they were taken off the beds in prisoner’s and another room; witness gave information to the
police, and went with Constable Stuart to Mr Bassett’s, at Petoni, where the missing blankets were found; they then went back to the Hutt,
where witness saw prisoner, and gave him into custody for stealing the articles mentioned. William Bassett deposed that he kept a boarding
house at Petoni; yesterday morning, prisoner went to his house and offered to sell him three blankets; this was between 7 and 8 o’clock;
prisoner said he had been carrying the blankets for a long time, and wanted to get rid of them; witness bought two of the blankets from
prisoner for 8s, and another man in the house purchased the other for 4s; witness went to an hotel at the Hutt, and pointed out prisoner as
the man who sold him the blankets; witness did not consider 4s each a very low price for the blankets. Prisoner said he was under the
influence of liquor, and did not know what he was doing. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labor.
Evening Post 21 Feb 1877 Death and Funeral Notice
On the 20 th February, at Petone, Mary, the beloved wife of William Bassett, shoemaker, aged 62 years. The Friends of William Bassett,
Shoemaker, Petone, are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his late wife, Mary, which will leave his residence on Thursday, 22 nd
February, at 3.30 p.m. Henry Collett, Undertaker, Petone.
The Colonist (Nelson) 23 Apr 1883
The ss. British King, on her homeward trip (says the Wellington ‘Post) will take a somewhat notable passenger. We refer to Mr William
Bassett a Petone farmer, who arrived in Wellington on the 7 th February, 1840, and, who, having borne the burden and heat of the day as a
colonist, thinks he should like to pay a visit to the old Country. The worthy old pioneer, who is a native of Cornwall, is 85 years of age, but is
as hale, active, and cheerful as possible, and gaily announces his intention of coming out to New Zealand again after he has had a look at
his native country.
HBIG A-Z Bassett Last updated 31 January 2013 Page 2 of 3