George Wales Lightband (1804 – 22 October 1891) was a pioneer settler in

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

, New Zealand.

Biography

Lightband was born in

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Englan ...

, England, in 1804. He married Mary Ann on 11 June 1824. They received medical advice that his wife would live for just two or three more years if they remained in England and consequently, they emigrated on the '' Thomas Harrison'', which arrived in Nelson on 25 October 1842. Lightband had learned the

tannery Tanning may refer to: *Tanning (leather), treating animal skins to produce leather *Sun tanning, using the sun to darken pale skin **Indoor tanning, the use of artificial light in place of the sun **Sunless tanning, application of a stain or dye t ...

trade and continued this occupation in New Zealand. He was inventive and pioneered many processing in the leather industry. He was the first person in the colony who produced

parchment Parchment is a writing material made from specially prepared untanned skins of animals—primarily sheep, calves, and goats. It has been used as a writing medium for over two millennia. Vellum is a finer quality parchment made from the skins of ...

. He was part of the group of Nelson settlers eager to set up a newspaper in opposition to the ''

Nelson Examiner Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

'' that was influenced in its editorial policy by large landowners. Lightband travelled to

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, obtained a printing press and engaged the printer William Nation to come to Nelson with his family. The first issue of ''The Colonist'' appeared on 23 October 1857. Lightband selected a section on Nile Street near the Maitai River and the family camped on the land the day after their arrival. He was given some gooseberry plants by William Fox and for many decades, the family celebrated each anniversary of their arrival in Nelson by making the first gooseberry pudding of the season for that day. A devout Methodist all his life, their first home was called "Bethel". His later house, "Wainui", still stands. Lightband's wife died on 25 August 1890 aged 88. He died at their home on 22 October 1891.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lightband, George Wales 1804 births 1891 deaths Tanners Settlers of Nelson, New Zealand