Signor Federli's sub-tropical dreams
Signor Federli's sub-tropical dreams
Category: Other
| Title | Signor Federli's sub-tropical dreams |
|---|---|
| Author | Timespanner |
| Year | 2009 |
| Publication | Timespanner blog |
| Language | English |
| Geographic reference | Hokitika, Christchurch, Hokianga, Pordenone |
| Time reference | 1876-1892 |
| Online resource | YES |
| Topic | Mulberries, Silk, Olives, Wine, Olive oil, Giovanni Battista Federli, Agriculture, Early Immigrants, Horticulturalists, |
Blog post on Timespanner about Giovanni Battista Federli who came to New Zealand in 1876 to explore the agricultural and settlement possibilities in the country. He married Meta Theresa Willberg in Hokitika in 1880, and assured the NZ Government that year that that New Zealand could indeed grow olives, vines and mulberry trees and set out to work. Unfortunately Federli's plans didn't turn out well, by March 1892, he was across the Tasman, living in Rutherglen, Victoria. There, he ended his days making a name for himself as a viticulturalist.
The blog post also contains snippets from local newspapers (Auckland Star, 15 August 1884, Waikato Times, 22 March 1884, and New Zealand Tablet, 13 June 1884).
Federli died in 1931, you can find the announcement of his death here, it reads:
GIOVANNI B. FEDERLI. At the advanced age of 91 years, Mr. Giovanni Battista Federli, a former resident of Douglas-parade for over 20 years, died on Monday afternoon at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. M. Beshara, 151 McKean-street, Clifton Hill. Deceased was a native of Pordenone, Italy, and had been in the colony for 40 years. He was for many years in the Department of Agriculture. The funeral (private) took place on Tuesday afternoon, leaving his daughter's residence for the crematorium, Fawkner. Ernest W. Jackson was the undertaker. The Rev. J. Nichols (Anglican) held a house service and officiated at the cemetery.
More references about Federli can be found in the book Shifting Grounds: Deep Histories of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland by Lucy Mackintosh, pages 136, 137 and 140. A few extracts from the book can be viewed on Google Books by clicking here.
