RHODES, GEORGE (1816-64), the fourth son of William Rhodes, of Epworth, and Balby, Yorkshire, spent his early years on his father's farm, and came to New Zealand in 1843, taking charge of the cattle station at Akaroa of W. B. Rhodes and Co. In 1847, with W. B. Rhodes (q.v.), he purchased Purau from the Greenwood brothers and made his home there until about 1850, when the three brothers in partnership took up numerous pastoral runs on Banks Peninsula and elsewhere in Canterbury. Applying for a licence for three runs in south Canterbury, they received the Governor's permission to occupy this country.

In 1851 Robert and George drove a mob of 5,000 sheep from the Peninsula runs southward. After considerable difficulty in crossing the rivers, they reached Timaru, and established the first sheep station in south Canterbury (which was then unoccupied by white people). In 1854 they were granted the first pastoral licences for runs outside the Canterbury block (numbers 1, 2, and 3), their country running from the Opihi river in the north to the Pareora in the south, and from the sea to the Snowy mountains, an area of about 150,000 acres. George managed the Timaru station, which was named the Levels. In 1858 they had 30,000 sheep on the run. It was from the Levels that James Mackenzie (q.v.) drove off a flock of 1,000 maiden ewes and took them through the mountains to the country afterwards known by his name. In 1851 the Government reserved an area for a township at Timaru (the position not being defined). In 1853 the Rhodes brothers bought 120 acres to the north of this reserve. Samuel Hewlings commenced to lay out the government town in 1856 and E. H. Lough laid out Rhodes Town, the two townships being divided by North street.

Rhodes took a keen interest in all stock, and also in the development of the town and district. He was a justice of the peace, and one of the first wardens of St Mary's Church, Timaru (for which the Rhodes brothers gave the land). He married (1854) Elizabeth, daughter of John Wood, of Retford, Nottinghamshire. His death occurred on 18 Jun 1864, and in the following year the Levels was sold to the Canterbury and Otago Land Association. (See JOSEPH, A. E. G., and R. H. RHODES)

Personal information from Mrs P. R. Woodhouse; Woodhouse; Andersen.

Reference: Volume 2, page 118

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