BEETHAM, GEORGE (1840-1915), a son of William Beetham (q.v.), was born at Horncastle, Lincolnshire, and emigrated to New Zealand in the William and Jane, which arrived in Wellington in 1855. With his brothers he settled on the Brancepeth estate, Wairarapa, and took an active part in the settlement of the district. He represented Wairarapa South in the Wellington Provincial Council (1873-75), and later sat for many years in the House of Representatives (for Wairarapa 1877-81, Wairarapa North 1881-87, and Masterton 1887-90). He was senior whip under the Atkinson ministry. Beetham was one of the founders of the Masterton hospital, and took an active interest in its administration. An alpinist of note, and a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Beetham saw the crater lake on Mount Ruapehu when, accompanied by J. P. Maxwell, he reached the top on his second ascent in 1879. His accounts of the previous unsuccessful attempt and that of 1878, are given in his book, The First Ascent of Mount Ruapehu, New Zealand. In 1892 he and his wife (who was a daughter of N. W. Levin) were members of a party which ascended Mount Ngauruhoe. In 1898 he settled in London, where his death occurred on 20 Aug 1915.

N.Z.P.D., 14 Sep 1915; Who's Who N.Z., 1908; Col. Gent; Hocken, Bibliog.; Cowan, Tongariro National Park, p. 70. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 43

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