Dargaville Joseph Mc Mullen 1837 1871

edmondsallan . hello - I always wondered , along with many other kiwis , how " Dargaville " Northland . NZ got its name . I always had an inkling it was something to do with South africa , with that " Ville ' at the end . I was entirely wrong in every way . I think we need to take a look at this lovely smallish town and see how it developed .
Joseph McMullen Dargaville, the son of Anderson Dargaville, a physician, and his wife, Eliza McMullen, was born in Cork, County Cork, Ireland, and baptised there on 27 June 1837. His paternal ancestors were Huguenots who had fled to Ireland to escape persecution. Joseph attended Fermoy College, an institution noted for its liberal education.
As a young man Joseph Dargaville emigrated with his brothers to Victoria, Australia. In February 1859 he moved to Sydney, where he was employed as a clerk by the Union Bank of Australia at a salary of £100 per annum. From 1860 to 1866 he worked in several branches of the bank in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. By 1866 regular promotions and salary increments reflected the bank's confidence in his abilities. On 20 April 1865 at Portland, Victoria, Dargaville married Anne Must. The couple were to have at least six children.In July 1867, probably because of his banking experience during the goldrush in Victoria, he was appointed inspector of the Union Bank's agencies on the West Coast of New Zealand at a salary of £500. The discovery of gold there in 1864 had brought a large increase in population. Dargaville arrived at Hokitika in August. He was promoted to acting manager of the Auckland branch in 1868, but a projected transfer to Nelson was evidently not acceptable and in July 1869 he resigned. He joined the Melbourne firm of Must and Company as their Auckland agent and opened a business as a wholesale merchant in Hobson's Buildings, Shortland Street.In 1871 he visited the Northern Wairoa River on the northern most arm of the Kaipara Harbour. Recognising the trade potential of the relatively undeveloped resources of kauri timber and gum, he leased from Parore Te Awha four acres on the adjacent Kaihu River.In 1871 he visited the Northern Wairoa River on the northern most arm of the Kaipara Harbour. Recognising the trade potential of the relatively undeveloped resources of kauri timber and gum, he leased from Parore Te Awha four acres on the adjacent Kaihu River.
'" Dargaville " is starting to appear as a very wise wheeler / dealer . I wonder if that is way he went ? Till we meet again -Regards -edmondsallan