HEWETT, JAMES DUFF (1830-1865) was the son of Colonel W. Hewett, of the Rifle Brigade (a Waterloo veteran who died in 1891). He was educated at Bonn University in Germany, and was intended for a military life, but came to New Zealand in 1855 and settled on the Toi farm at Kai-iwi. In 1858 he married Ellen Baker. Living in a district which was constantly disputed by the disaffected Maori, Hewett had many escapes and was twice burned out. He was chairman of the road board; a justice of the peace (1862); ensign in the militia (Oct 1863) and captain (May 1864). In 1863 he was elected to represent Wanganui and Rangitikei in the Wellington Provincial Council. He favoured separation as a blow at provincialism, but early in 1864 changed his opinion. Hewett introduced Dr Featherston and J. C. Crawford to the disaffected chiefs when they discussed the Maori boundary, and thereafter was several times warned of impending attacks on his farm. Nevertheless he persisted in his military duties, declined to leave his farm and go to the stockade at night, and continued to employ Maori farm labour. He was murdered by Hauhau on 18 Feb 1865. His widow and family, after living for some years in England, settled in Wanganui.

Cycl. NZ, ii; Gudgeon; Ellen Hewett, Looking Back, 1925; Independent, 11 Feb 1865.

Reference: Volume 1, page 210

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