I have taken some extracts from the Hutt City Library site from the page
Lower Hutt Past and Present (1941)

I highly recommend a visit to their site for some wonderful info and photos of that district and the early settlers.

I am doing some short overviews from their database:

journal 1 - settlers of LOWER HUTT 1839 - 1941

journal 2 - the PILGRIM MOTHERS of the Hutt Valley

journal 3 - PETONE's first 100 years, - list of names

journal 4 - PETONE men who fell WWI - list of names

journal 5 - FREEMASONRY - Ulster Lodge No. 62

journal 6 - LOYAL PETONE LODGE - No, 6542

journal 7 - Ancient Order Of Foresters - COURT EPUNI, 7314

journal 8 - INDEPENANT ORDER OF RECHABITES

journal 9 - PETONE Branch - Hibernian Australasian Society 1910

journal 10 - PETONE PIONEER BRANCH - Oddfellows

journal 11 - HERETAUNGA LODGE & STAR of PETONE LODGE

journal 12 - PONEKE LODGE - Ancient Order of DRUIDS

journal 13 - PETONE Town Board - formed 1881

journal 14 - HUTT RIVER BOARD - formed 1879


(additions in italics or capitals are mine)
- (remember the article was written in 1941)



JOSEPH PERCY had a flour mill behind the site of the Woollen Mills. The mill was run by water-power from a huge water-wheel, which existed to quite recent times, and was ultimately used by the Woollen Company for the generation of the first electric light in the Hutt Valley.
Mr. Percy named his mill "Britannia," which was, of course, the name given to Petone by the early arrivals. The site of the mill and the water rights of the stream were leased by Mr. Percy from the Provincial Government at ?30 a year (approx $3,050 in 2011), payable quarterly.

Mr. Percy was extremely methodical, and files of his accounts are in existence to-day, giving the names of early Wellington and Hutt Valley persons and firms with whom he did business. Among a few of the Wellington names mentioned are:
* Mr. W. DORSET, for whom Mr. A. de B. BRANDON acted
* Mr. J. WOODWARD, Provincial Treasurer
* Mr. Hugh SINCLAIR
* Mr. W. TONKS
* Mr. GEORGE CRAWFORD
* G. H. LUXFORD & Co.,
* Mr. T. McKENZIE
*i W. and G. TURNBULL & Co.,
* E. W. MILLS
* JACOB JOSEPH & Co.,
* W. M. BANNATYNE & Co.,
* Mr. E. CATCHPOOL
* Mr. WILLIAM BARRETT
* Mr. T. W. PILCHER
* Mr. W. WARING-TAYLOR, Johnston & Co.,
* Mr. G. H. VENNELL
* Mr. A. FOLLETT HALCOMBE (Provincial Treasurer)

Hutt Valley names were:
William Read WELCH, Taita, who dealt in horses and did a carrying business,
Edwin Jackson, PetonE
THOMAS FRETHEY
JOHN LIVERTON
JOSEPH FRY
WILLIAM KNIGHT who supplied the mill with wheat
THOMAS BURT, Lower Hutt
WILLIAM WHITEWOOD, Lower Hutt
H. Collett, Petone (wheelwright)
William Robinson, Nelson Street, Petone
and EDWARD DOWNES, apparently dealing in timber
JAMES McEWEN, Petone, carrier.

This mill was later used by Mr. WOLLAND, Mr. Percy transferring operations to the land now known as the Percy Estate, opposite the Hutt Road ramp, where the mill building still stands.


WILLIAM RIDDLER came to New Zealand in 1841, having been born in Cheltenham, England. He was engaged by the Hon. Henry Petre to bring out a consignment of stock to New Zealand, and he, his wife and assistants sailed on the THOMAS SPARKS. When nearing Cape Town, the Thomas Sparks met with a mishap, and all the stock had to be taken ashore, and it was not until six months later that they continued their journey. On the way out a daughter was born, who afterwards became the wife of Samuel Death, who took up 100 acres in the Taita and farmed there for many years.
When they arrived at the Petone beach, the stock was sent to the Petre farm which was along the banks of the Hutt River, from the Petone beach up to the present Wakefield Street, a few years ago known as White's Line. After about two years, the Hon. Petre went back to England, having come into the title of Lord Petre. William Riddler took up a block along where the Hutt Road runs?this being high and not subject to the heavy floods. Petre's block was afterwards taken up by the BUICK family. One son, David Buick was member for Palmerston North for many years.
It was on the Hutt Road that Thomas Riddler and Elizabeth were born. Elizabeth was afterwards Mrs. S. R. JOHNSON. William Riddler gave the land on the Hutt Road to Elizabeth, on which was built the first store in Petone. While managing the Petre farm, he saved the life of HENRY PETRE, on one occasion, from drowning in the Hutt River, and twice when he was attacked by hostile Maori. When William Riddler died, the place was taken over by his son Thomas, and part of the original property is still held by the Riddler family.
In the year 1845, the home of WILLIAM RDDLER was raided by Maori and many valuable records and relics relating to their past and early arrival were stolen.
In 1875 THOMAS RIDDLER married MARY HIRST. Mary Hirst's father, SYDNEY HIRST, built the first houses in Sydney Street, Wellington, the street being named after him. He also built the old Taita Church, which was the first church in the Hutt Valley.