WAITE, REUBEN (?-?) came to New Zealand from Victoria and opened a store in Nelson. In 1860, while he was working on the Collingwood goldfields, some Maoris gave him a parcel of gold which they claimed came from the Buller district. In spite of the local scepticism about the "mad Victorian," Reuben managed to collect a crew for the Jane, which he chartered to take him from Nelson to Buller. In July 1864 he landed a quantity of merchandise from the steamer Nelson at the river beach and forthwith founded the settlement of Greymouth by opening a store. In 1866 he bought from the Nelson Provincial Council a run at Inangahua, where he continued his digging.

Harrop, Westland; Preshaw; Reid, 70, 83.

Reference: Volume 2, page 222

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