[2] In 1873 George took over Charles Bell's general store opposite the wharf[8] at Ngāruawāhia,[9][10] which he ran until 1876,[11] when he became an agent and accountant,[12] though he'd previously promoted his brother, John's, Karakariki mill.

[22] George wished to retain a conservative[23] paper and started the Waikato Argus on 11 July 1896,[24] with Henry Holloway as editor.

[21] Although popular in Hamilton[25] and winning a case against BNZ,[26] George had opposition, as evidenced by an Auckland paper writing, "The B.N.Z.

Estates Company 'chucked' George Edgecumbe out of the Times, and he has started the loathsome contemporary across the road, and is making things warm for the Bank and the Government generally.

Edgecumbe Street in Whitiora was renamed after him in 1923[36] He retired to Remuera, in about 1919,[37][38] where he died in 1930, leaving three sons and four daughters.