Accidental immigrants
By: John Ewan
Publisher: Chateau Publishing
Published: 2017
Place of publication: Nelson [New Zealand]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 164
ISBN-13: 9780473396589
Copyright date: 2017
Subjects: Genealogy; History; Immigrants; Pioneers; Biography
Description: When Thomas Powell and his family left Leeds, England, and sailed out to India in the early 1850s, they little realised that within a few years they would be living in New Zealand and facing different futures. By then a widower, Thomas would remarry and become a prominent businessman in Wanganui, his daughter would marry surveyor David Porter and raise a large family. Meanwhile son Wilmot went goldhunting, became a soldier, and then an auctioneer, businessman, newspaper correspondent, poet and borough councillor. The accidental immigrants - along with a growing family of young Powells born in their home town - played major roles in the formation of a New Zealand city.
Notes: "They sailed for India, but settled in New Zealand"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: A green and promised land; title: From England to the Empire; title: The trip to India; title: Calcutta interlude; title: Gold hunter; title: The family business; title: Bush rangers are gone; title: Wilmot and Wereroa; title: The Great Fire of '68; title: Thomas, the chairman for all occasions; title: Wilmot picks up the reins; title: Powells at play; title: High society in Wanganui; title: Wilmott sings; title: Trains and boats and votes; title: Political Wilmot; title: Wilmot the poet; title: Appendix!: The young Powells; title: Appendix 2: Wilmot and his lands.