From a post on the OTAKEHO War Memorial dated 14 April 2010, Elaine wanting to find her anscetors .. Otakeho from NZETC

Originally the name was Snelleksz in Poland but was anglasised by those arriving in New Zealand

Some of the Snellex found in New Zealand:

The Private N. Snellex of Otakeho who died of war wounds in France 27 July 1917 as mentioned in Elaine's post above has not been found at this time
* this Private Edward 'Ned' Bob Snellex served in WWI but returned on the 'Ayrshire in Sep 1919
* In his 1st service for NZ in January 1916, Ned has his Next Of Kin recorded as N. Snellex (brother), Kalim, Poong, Bengal, India which ties in with what Elaine says
* In his 2nd service for NZ in October 1917 Ned has his Next Of Kin recorded as A. Hunnibell (friend), High Street, Rangiora. This was Alfred Hunnibell, a son of Luke Hunnibell & Sarah Wenham, who arrived from Suffolk in 1864. Luke was the first bootmaker in Rangiora, Alfred took up that trade. The old shop is now a restaurant and the Hunnibell name is still above the window.
Ned married Gertrude Isabella SMITH in 1921. They farmed on Mt Thomas Rd, Fernside & moved to Rangiora

Other Hunnibell found:-
* 1870-1957 Arthur Hunnibell
He was pupil-teacher in Christchurch West School in 1885
Headmaster of Standards I & II at Rangiora School 1893
Headmaster of Elgin, Canterbury school in 1903
he and his family moved back to Christchurch
Schoolmaster of Opawa in 1916
* 1881-1951 Alfred George Hunnibell
- was in Standard II at Rangiora School in 1889
* 1897-1970 Athol George Hunnibell

Info found so far ...
the BIRTHS found in NZ for Snellex in Rangiora
* 1897 Edward Hunt Snellex
... 1900 Wilfred Hunt Snellex
... 1901 Victor Snellex
18-3-1922 Edward Harold Hart Snellex
... 1923 Alfred Snellex - son of Edward Harold Hunt Snellex
... 1924 Alfred George Snellex
20-9-1927 Mary Jane Snellex
20-7-1929 Eileen Gertruda Snellex
9-5-1935 Marjorie Helen Snellex
- ? - Ethel Katharine Isabell Snellex

the MARRIAGES found in NZ for Snellex
1921 - Edward Snellex married Gertrude Isabella SMITH
- they farmed on Mt Thomas Rd, Fernside & moved to Rangiora
1946 - Ethel Katharine Isabella Snellex married James Coventry HEPENSTALL in Rangiora
1947 - Edward Harold Hart Snellex married Marie PEACH in Rangiora
1948 - Mary Jane Snellex married Mervyn Leslie McILROY in Rangiora
- in 1983 she was in Christchurch where she married Laurie George BRENNAN
1950 - Eileen Gertrude Snellex married Harold Cuthbert SUTHERLAND in Rangiora
1956 - Marjorie Helen Sellex married Donald Tweedale ASHWORTH

the DEATHS found in NZ for Snellex are:
1924 Alfred George Snellex
- died aged 3 months
1968 Edward Hunt Snellex aged 71
- born 1897
- possibly the Edward that married Gertrude below
1983 Gertrude Isabella Snellex (nee Smith) aged 80
- born 11-8-1903

the DEATHS found in NZ for Snelleksz are:
1964 Victor aged 63
- born 1901
1977 Wilfred Frank aged 77
- born 9-3-1900
1984 Thelma Alice aged 82
- born 12-4-1902

From the ASHBURTON GUARDIAN 17 Dec 1912
ORPHAN IMMIGRANTS on way to New Zealand
General interest (says the Calcutta 'Statesman' of October 23) will be felt in the 12 little emigrants - six boys and six girls - who are due in Calcutta this morning, by the Darjeeling mail, en route for New Zealand. They will be accompanied by the Rev. J. A. Graham, D.D., C.I.E., hon. Superintendent of St Andrew's Colonial Homes, (Rev. Dr. John Anderson Graham) and by a lady from Kalimpong, who will escort them to their destination.
Their ages vary from 14 to 16; and their names are
William HALL
Robert OCHTERLONEY
Ernest Herbert HUGHES
Llewellyn Cattel JONES
Charles Eric STUART
Robert SNELLEKSZ
Evelyn B. FULLARTON
Rose COOPER
Mary OCHTERLONEY
Nellie SAVIGNY
Dorothy HIGGINS
Mary SINCLAIR
.. The children sailed from Calcutta on the 24th October in the British India Company's steamer SANGOLA; and at Melbourne they will tranship for Dunedin, where they will be met by he Rev. James Ponder and conducted to the situations that await them. The boys will be placed on farms, and the girls will become 'lady helps'. for domestic servants are almost unknown in New Zealand, and the 'lady help' is treated as one of the family. The expenses of the children - Rs 3600 - are being paid by 12 Calcutta firms and merchants, each contributing 300 rupees; and the money is a special fund raised for the purpose by Mr James Luke and the other members of the Executive Committee. Alreay five emigrants, four boys and one girl - have been sent to New Zealand; but this is the first large batch of children to leave Kalimpong for the Antipodes. The careers of the young emigrants will be watched here with keen interest, for the Kalimpong training of self-help and self-reliance is just what is wanted in the colonies, and the demand in Australia and New Zealand for suitable emigrants is unlimited at present. The children will be entertained at a social meeting in the United Free Church Hall in Wellesley Street. The Sheriff of Calcutta has kindly promised to preside, and the Rev. Dr. Graham and the Hon. Mr Madge will make speeches

If you have any further information or corrections that could be added to this family to help those searching for their ancestors your help would be greatly appreciated ..