Charles Gray’s Early Life
Back l to r Andrew Gray, Christina jnr, Will Gray, front l to r Ellen Gray, Christina Gray snr, Charles Gray, Ann Gray. Photo Gray Family.
Charles Gray was the major figure in European development of Pukerua Bay. As well as sheep farmer, developer, sportsman and advocate he was also a promoter, businessman, inventor, and benefactor. But he also had a dark side. He held grudges, was vindictive, devious, disputatious, took Pukerua Bay locals to court and made a scandalous Supreme Court appearance in 1895.
Charles Gray was born on 15 April 1874 at Pāuatahanui, the youngest of James and Christina Gray’s eight children. Charles grew up fatherless: his father died just three months before he was born. (https://www.ancestry.com.au/) In February 1879 he was enrolled at Pāuatahanui School, but the register is quite sparse and has no record of when he left. Charles’ nephew the late Ken Gray said that Charles went to the West Coast carrying a swag in about 1886 when he was twelve. (Ken Gray, personal communication). He later returned to the family farm at Pāuatahanui where he was also a member of the Pāuatahanui Brass Band and played cornet to “championship class.”
Pahautanui Brass Band. Charles Gray back row 3rd from right. Photo Pātaka Art + Museum.
Brass band competitions were very popular events at this time with prize money and medals for both bands and soloists. The contests were advertised in newspapers for weeks beforehand and special trains were put on for out of towners to attend. In May 1898 C. Gray of Brunner was an entrant in the second Greymouth band competition. Gray came second of twelve entrants in the B♭ cornet solo section. (Grey River Argus, 20 April 1898, p4, West Coast Times, 12 May 1898 p2) Perhaps Gray returned to his old haunts to escape retribution from his scandalous 1895 court appearance. This saga is covered in detail further on.
In February 1899 C. Gray was one of twenty four entrants in the B♭ cornet solo section of the Palmerston North Band Contest. Although Gray did not gain a place the Judge, Mr J. H. Otto Schwartz of Wellington, said the playing in the B♭ cornet section was, “quite equal, if not better than that at the Dunedin contest. He expressed himself delighted with the efforts of each, as they all showed real merit.” (Wanganui Herald, 8 February 1899 p2, New Zealand Times, 25 February 1899, p6.)
The West Coast Band Contest was held annually from1897 to 1910 with several attempts to revive the event in later years. The 1899 Contest was held in May and was headlined as “A Great Success.” Charles was second in the solo soprano cornet class and received an engraved medal. (Inangahua Times 25 May 1899 p2.)
Charles’ father James Gray was a farmer who leased land in the Kakaho Valley and later purchased section 85 and part of section 86 in the Kakaho Valley. Charles’ mother bought three sections of the Pukerua No 2 Block in November 1892. (New Zealand Gazette, 1892 10 Nov 1892, p1504) This was the first association of the Gray family with Pukerua, later to be renamed Pukerua Bay.
