DEATH OF MR ROBERT GRAHAM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 117, 26 May 1885, Page 2

DEATH OF MR ROBERT GRAHAM.

It is with feelings of the most Bincsre ' regret that we have to record the demise of ; Mr Robert Graham, one of the earliest and i best-known of the pioneers of colonisation in thisland. The sad event, which took plaoe , athisrebidonce,EmiryPlace,at 8 o'clockthis morning, wus not altogothor unoxpocted. For somo yoars past the deceased gentleman had been suffering from the effects of it severe cold, and bronchitis yupervonod. Addod to this, for several months past his general health had not been good, he being subject to that terriblo malady, diabetes. As inontionod In our last issue, a consultation of iivo doctors was held yestorday, and they unanimously agreed that there was no hope of recovery, Thoro opinion was borno put by the facts us already Btutod. Tho doccacod was in bis sixty-fourth year, having been born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1820. His father was ono of tho hard-headed farmer class, whoso frugality and industry enabled him to riso considerably above the station in which ho was born. Mo became the owner of somo coal mines in Lanark, and it was at ono of liia father's coal pits that the subject of this notice first mot with a genuino advonturo. During a strike of tho colliers ho attomptod to descond the inino. Tho strands of the rope had beon cut by ono of tliodisafi'octcdomploye's.and MrGraham foil ovor 100 foot.boing miraculously saved from death. Ho, however, sustained injuries that incapacitated him for somo weeks. On his recovery ho ontorod a mercantile house in Glasgow, and Ihero remained for six years. At tho ago of 22 ho decided on emigrating to Now Zealand, and on tho 18th of June, 1812, loft Grconock in tho ship Duchoss of Argylo, tho first vossol to bring emigrants direct to Auckland. On arriving in Auckland on October 9th of that year, ho again turned his attontion to mercantile pursuits. Chartering a cutter, ho loaded it with goods for tho Bay of Islands. Having got as far as Mnngonui, through tho want of a proper chart lie decided to return to Auckland. In doing ho, lie run r|iiito by aocidont into tho LSay, where ho mot his brother David, who had conio to tho colony two or threo yoais before. Tho young men decided on entering into business together, and tho firm of K. and D. Graham was established. Mr U. Graham proceoded to Sydney, purchased stock,and opened a branch in Auckland.tho infant capital of tho colony. Mr Graham, through straight dealing with the Maori raco, acquired their conficlenco, and in 1815, when Hono Hoko was meditating a descent on Korerareka, bo was warned by that chief to gavo himself. Jao chartered a schooner, and removed his goods to Auckland, just in tiino to escape pillage. In 1850, tho brothors dissolved partnership, and Mr Robert Graham, chartering a vessel, took a cargo of potatoes to San Francisco. En rnvlr, the cargo was damaged, but tho vessol wont into Tahiti and was loaded with oranges, which sold well in 'Frisco. Tho veutureproved aprofitabloonc. After throo years' residonce in San Francisco, he returnod to Auckland, and having purchased somo land at Ellerslie, ongagod himself in brooding high-class stock. Ho subsequently purchased tho island of Motutapu und the lamb Hill estate, near Waiuku. So great was his onorgy that in ono year ho had 1,200 acres in Motutapu undor grass and stocked. About this time Mr Graham had another narrow e.-e.ipo from death. Whilst sailing from Mututdpu to Auckland in an open boat ;i j'ulo sprang up, and Mr Graham only succeeded in koeping tho waves from swamping the boat by holding his macintosh over the stern. Prior to his visit to California, ho had purchased the Waiwora property from u chief named To Honiara, but through a dofectivo title ho was compollcd to pay a second time. During tho panio occasioned by threats of tho Ngapuhi tribe to attack Auckland, tho man whom Mr Graham had placed in charge of Wuiwora buried tho furnituro and goods in tho sand and fled. When the ditliculty wimover, tho property was leased to Mr John Andorson for eight yours, and at the expiration of that time Mr Graham established tho nuclous of tho present hotel and baths. On tho granting of tho Constitution, Mr Graham, who had always takon a warm interest in public affairs, wasoloctod a member of tho first l'arliamont. He brought himself into notico by strong advocacy of tho appointment of a Native Advising Council composed of European* to advise tho Governor in matters affecting the nutivo race. Had this projoct boon carried into effect, many of tho'eerious subsequent difficulties that ai'OBQ botwoon natives and Europeans would probably have beon avoided. In 185G ho rosistod unsuccessfully tho land fund compact whioh inflicted so much injustice) for many yoars on this provincial district, and was ono of tho most strenuous oppononts of tho romoval of tho seat of Government from Auckland. Mr Graham had somo oxporionco of tho perils of the doop. Ho was on board the White Swan whon she was wrockod on her way to Wellington, and contributed largoly to tho roscuo of tho crow and passengers. Returning towards Auckland in the Lord Worsloy, the utoimor wont ashoro on tho rocks at Te Namu, then inhabited by bloodthirsty nativos. On landing, Mr Graham mot tho chiof Wiromu Kingi, who proved friondly. Tho captain of the vessol, having landod provisions and luggage, went to New Plymouth forsuccour.and the command of tho maroonersdovolveri upon MrGraham. on tho fifth day aftor tho stranding, tho untivos made the Europeans prisoners, and a Maori boy warned Mr Graham that it had boon rosolvod to murdor tho crow and passengers. Mr Graham at once summoned a mooting of tho natives, and assured them that their murder would bo avenged by Holdiorß and mon of war. Te Whiti, who was present, protested against tho proposed massacre, but tho other nativos wore apparently obdurato. Tho knowlodgo of tho danger was confided by Mr Graham to two other passongors, he foaring that a panic would prouipitato the murder. Next day, Mr Graham again met the natives, mid aftor conferring with thorn for two hours, porsuaded them to allow the Europeans to proceed to New Plymouth. One of the most fanatical of the Maoris rushed about flourishing his tomahawk, and swore ho would murder tho pakeha, and had to be ovorpowerod and bound by his own people. Whilo in thin condition he pretended ho had a vision from God. This vision, united with other superstitions, was the origin of the Hauhau religion. Next morning, tho Europeans having given up their arms, wero released, and proceeded on the way to Taranaki, the cargo, including £6,000 worth of gold duet, being of course loft behind. When ten miles on his journey, Mr Graham was overtaken by a native, who informed him that tho safe containing the gold had been pillaged. With exemplary courage, he returned to To Namu, found the gold in Wiremn Kingi'a wharo, and placing tho two boxes of treasure on his horse, galloped out of the settlement, utterly heedless of the threats of the chief, Mr Graham found his burden too heavy, and hid it in the fern. Two days later the party reached Now Plymouth in safety. Aftor a consultation with the Superintendent of Taranaki, Mr Graham, accompanied by a couple of natives, rotired to where the gold had boen hidden and recovered it. On his return to Now Plymouth with his precious burden, ho liad another narrow escape. A nativo who met him on the road flourished a tomahawk and remarked, "I have long wished to kill a pakeha." Mr Graham laughed and replied, '■ Your arm is not strong enough to kill mo. Why do you waste your time when you can get abundance of goods at the wreck?" The nativo then took his departure, and tho party rosumed their journey. South of tho Mokau, Mr Graham encountered Wiremu Kingi (not the chief of the same nnmo previously mentioned)- with forty of his followers. This nativo stole tho boy.cn whilo Mr flruham Blopt, and it was not until Mr Graham had exhausted his persuasive powers that Kingi was prevailed upon to return them. Without further adventuro ho reached Now Plymouth in safety, and his exploit won tho encomiums it deserved. Colonol Warre, thon commanding the forces in Taranaki, gave him a complimentary banquet. He also received numerous letters of thanke, and, what was more substantial, a testimonial of £1,000 was (presented to him by the insuranco companies who hold risks on the gold. On his return to Auckland he came out for the Superintendency of I tho province, which had just been rej signed by Mr John Williamson. Mr | Graham nnd Mr Williamson wero I political opponents, and when the latter i found that Graham was a candidate, ho changed his mind and contested tho election with him. The result was that Mr Graham was returned by a majority of 500 votes over his opponent. During the three ! years that Mr Graham held ofhee, ho car- ; ried out many important works, the i Supreme Court, Post Office, Asylum, and I Pivnmure Bridge being constructed during his regime. On the opening pf the Thames Goldfield he acquired the lease from the natives of a considerable urea of land, and founded thu township of Grahamstown, now a portion of the Borough of Thames. He j wiU partly instrumental in establishing the

steam tramway from Grahametown to Tararu—tho earliopt railway in tho colony. In 1872h0 visited Scotland for tho purpowo of seeing his mother, but she died before ho reached the shores of tho Home country, lie returned to the colony in 1873. He sold a considerable portion of the Ellerslie Estato to the Auckland Racing Club, and laid out tho remainder on a cemetery. Tho bill for the purpose of establishing tho Cemetery passed through tho House of Representatives, but was lost in the Upper Houao, and the Cemetery site was cut into building lots and sold. In IS7B ho visited Rotorua, and wad instrumental in concluding a peace botweon two hostilo tribes at Makotn who wore thirrit-

ing for oach others' bluod in consequent) I of a land dispute. In gratitude lor bis efforts, tho chiefs presented to him a considorablo area of land noar Lake Taupo, and containing somn valuable hot springs. Prior to this ho had become possessor of some land at Ohinomutu, and established Lake House, one of the best known tourists' hotols in the Southern HemiHphcro. Of Into years Mr Graham has not takon an active part in politics but his knowledge of the native race, and his success in dealing with them frequently caused succe.ssivo Governments to nook his advieo in poriods of difficulty. Tho strongest points in tho character of the deceased gentloinun wore courage and enterprise, while his intolligoneo and administrative abilitios wore beyond question. A gontleman who was acquainted with Mr Graham has sont in tho following noto :—" Aa you will doubtlosa to-night give some account of tho lato Mr li. Graham, 1 think it only right to tell you that aftor about seven or eight years' close intorcour.-o in business matters, I have soon him under tho eoverost trials upon hia patience and tompor, but never once knew him to loeo his temper or hoard him say an angry word." Tho deceased gentleman leaves a largo number of relatives to mourn their boreavomont, and who will feel more than wo can adequately express tho loss of a man who endoarcd himself to the hearts of all with whom ho came in contact. Duiing his last illness ho was assiduously attended on by Kev. C. M. Nelson, and to that gentleman ho expressed a wish that his remains should bo interred in the cemetery of St. Mark'e, ltemuera. Tho funeral will take plane on Thursday afternoon, and it is in uccordanco with the deceusod's own wisli that the interment in to take placo at St. Mark's.