MR. PETER ROBERTSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 181, 2 August 1929, Page 3

MR. PETER ROBERTSON.

AN AUCKLAND PIONEER.

BORN HERE 83 YEARS AGO,

A resident of Auckland ever since lie was born lier.e S3 years ago, Mr. Peter Robertson died last evening at his home, Avondale. He was esteemed by all who knew liim. During the war three sons went on active service, and two daughters also served as nurses. All five children returned from the war, three of them having married while away. One son, Mr. Gordon Robertson, was .•> prisoner in Germany for 18 months. Mr. Robertson is survived by his wife, formerly a Miss Maxwell, also by four sons and four daughters. The following brothers and sisters of Mr. Peter Robertson also survive him: —Mr. Henry S. Robertson, of Takapuna; Mr. James Robertson, of the firm of Robertson Brothers; Mrs. Clark, of Sydney; and Miss Robertson, now on a visit to , Britain. There are fourteen grandchildren. The father of deceased was also named Peter Robertson. He came out to Auckland in 1843, and married a Miss Somervell, who arrived by the Duchess of Argyle in 1842. The father carried on a baker's business, his shop being on the

site now occupied by Sliarland's Pharmacy in Shortland Street. The bakehouse he erected has just been pulled down to make room for the new block of buildings to be erected fronting Vulcan Lane and High Street. The corner below, on which Hutchinson's buildings were recently built, was bought at the Government land sale in 1842 by the father of Mrs. Peter Robertson, who was Mr. Hendry S. Somervell. Mr. Peter Robertson was educated first at a school in Lorne Street kept by Mr. Gorrie, and then went to the Wesley College in Upper Queen Street, the master at the time being the father of the Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, of Beresford Street Congregational Church. Mr. Robertson worked first for Mr. Nathan Close in his grocery establishment in Queen Street, and eight years later with his brother founded the firm of Robertson Brothers, which is still carried on by Mr. James Robertson in Quay Street. Over 25 years ago Mr. Peter Robertson retired from the business, and has since lived at Avondale. He was for a time a member of the Avondale Road Board, and last year was one of the committee for the Whau regatta, which was held on the river fronting his property. Mr. Robertson was also one of the founders of St. David's Presbyterian Church, when it was in a building in Symonds Street. He also belonged to the Masonic fraternity.