READ, GEORGE EDWARD (1816-78) was employed by W. B. Rhodes in his early activities in New Zealand. He engaged in whaling on the East Coast and resided at Te Mahia, near Tokomaru, but about 1845 he settled in Poverty Bay, and a few years later bought out an American trader. He erected a store on the banks of the Turanganui river and became the leader of the settlement, which gradually developed into Gisborne. Read ran a number of small vessels in the coastal trade and to Auckland, and took a prominent part in the days when settlers commenced to arrive in Poverty Bay. Many families he established on farms on deferred payments, for which he provided the money. At the time of Te Kooti's war he showed great spirit in defending the settlement and keeping open sea communications. When a wharf was required at Gisborne, he offered to erect one if permitted to collect dues to reimburse himself. The Auckland provincial government accepted the offer and the contract was carried out.

In 1876 Read was returned as M.H.R. for East Coast, but unseated on petition on the ground of irregularity. He died on 23 Feb 1878.

Appr. H.R., 1876; W. L. Williams; Cycl. N.Z., ii (p); N.Z. Herald, 25 Feb, 4 Mar 1878; Poverty Bay Herald, 5 Jan 1924.

Reference: Volume 2, page 105

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