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Meldrum homestead, with John Wingate and his family.
Alfredton, the school and the people, Edmunds, June (compiler), 1987
Mr John Wingate.
Mr John Wingate.
An old and highly respected resident of Masterton and one of Wairarapa's early pioneers, Mr John Wingate, died yesterday at his home in Casel Street.
Mr Wingate was born at Stirling, Scotland, in 1836, and educated at the Kincardine Parish School. He attended night classes after leaving school.
Coming out to North Canterbury in 1861, in the ship Evening Star, he returned to Scotland for one year in 1863. There he married Miss Jessie Thomas, of Stirling, in 1964, and returned to Wellington in the ship Mallard, which took six months on the voyage.
Proceeding to Alfredton, he took up the Springvale property, which he farmed for three years.
For the next eleven years he managed Manawa, the Waring-Taylors' station. He then bought the Meldrum property and farmed it for twenty-seven years.
In common with many of his neighbours, he was a member of the militia in the days of the Maori Wars.
When he retired from his farm of Meldrum, Mr Wingate came to live in Masterton, where he spent the last twenty years of his life and died at the ripe age of ninety-two.
He took a keen and active interest in public affairs and was a member of the Whareama Road Board, the Upper Taueru Road Board and the Wairarapa North County Council.
In the early days, Mr Wingate road in from Meldrum on horseback, along a track, to attend the meetings at Masterton.
He was also a Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Farmers' Union from its inception. He was an enthusiastic member of the Masterton Bowling Club and was honoured by his fellow bowlers two years ago when he won a medal, the prize of the handicap singles.
In the passing of Mr Wingate, the community has lost one of the early pioneers who endured privation and hardships of every description. He will be remembered in the community for his sterling character.
Reared in a typical Scottish home, he conducted his family worship in the old Scottish style. He carried his religion into his life and was always willing to take his share in the advancement of the cause of Christianity. He was a member of Knox Church from the time he came to live in Masterton, and a member of the Session for about twenty years.
He was always ready and willing to take his share of work and endeared himself to all his fellow members by his genial good fellowship.
Mr Wingate's wife predeceased him four years ago. He is survived by three daughters--Mrs David Speedy, of Tinui; Mrs Charles Weston, Mount Bruce; and Miss M.H. Wingate, of Casel Street, and one son, Mr John G. Wingate, of Opaki and Meldrum. The funeral will leave Mr Wingate's late residence, Casel Street, Masterton, to-morrow, at 2 p.m. for the Masterton Cemetery.
Four generations of Wingates, all named John.
Inset: John Andrew Wingate.
Left to right: John Wingate, d. 1923; John Gordon Wingate; John Duncan Wingate.
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
THE LATE MR. JOHN WINGATE.
THE LATE MR. JOHN WINGATE.
A memorial service to the late Mr John Wingate was conducted in Knox Church yesterday.
In the course of a striking address, the Rev. John Davie said that the service was in honour of one whose life was lived in the conscious presence of God.
Describing the early pioneering struggles of Mr Wingate and his wife, the preacher said that the loneliness and hardships of those early years, especially for the late Mrs Wingate, could only be imagined. She was five miles from her nearest neighbour, and five miles in those days was some distance. There were no roads, only bush tracks, and these often so muddy that a horse could scarcely pass over them.
There was no school. The children got their education from their parents. Later on, governesses were secured and then they finished in Wellington and Masterton.
The Post Office was thirteen miles away, also reached by bush tracks. The loneliness and hardships of their lot made these people realise more and more their dependence upon God. Right from the start, family worship was conducted by Mr Wingate and a Sunday School carried on by Mrs Wingate.
“It was a great day,” Mr Davie continued, "when services were started at Tinui. It was thirteen miles away, but it offered the opportunity of meeting with God’s people and it was with joy and gladness and praise they went up to the House of God. At first services were conducted in rotation by Anglican, Methodists and Presbyterians. Mr Wingate gladly showed the ministers round his district and extended hospitality whenever it was needed.
My first real encounter with Mr Wingate took place a few days after my induction, when he met me as one of the elders of Knox and asked me when I would be ready to go round to meet the members of his district.
When he retired to Masterton twenty years ago, he lived in High Street, but as the years went by the distance from bowls and church was too great, so he removed to Casel Street, where he quietly breathed his last on Monday afternoon.
During my ministry he had taken until quite recently his full share of the work, although he was always advocating that the younger men should take their part.
His was a happy care-free life. He had been blessed by God with an ideal helpmeet. He told me just before his wife died that after all those years they loved one another better than ever. Like Abraham and Sarah, they shared their joys and sorrows, hardships and fortunes, faiths and aspirations. And now, after long years of service; our brother elder has gone into the presence of his Master, to receive his reward, leaving behind a fragrant memory--a memory of a life sustained and sweetened by the benediction of the All Loving Saviour."
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