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point of time) Magistrate in Canterbury. Mrs. Watson was an exceedingly clever woman, and rendered great assistance to her husband in the discharge of his Bench duties. Mr. Watson, having followed the hounds in Ireland, was a skilful rider, and frequently kept a stallion for his equestrian exercises. He retired from the Bench in the latter “sixties” or early “seventies,” and returned to Ireland.
Captain George Hempelmann, Mrs. Hempelmann (No. 1), 1830-40, Mrs. Hempelmann (No. 2), one daughter by first wife. Captain Hempelmann was a German whaler, who had a whaling station in Piraki in 1835. His first wife, by whom he had one daughter, died here, and he married a second time, a Mrs. Welch, who also died soon afterwards. Mr. Hempelmann was at law with the Government until his death over land titles. He claimed to have fairly purchased from Maori chiefs either 15 square miles or 15,000 acres. The Government did not recognise his claim in its entirety, but made him an offer in compensation of 1,500 acres. This he foolishly repudiated, and, in consequence, was a very poor man when he died. He died in the Akaroa Hospital on 13th February, 1880, at the age of eighty-one years.
