OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 10, 13 January 1931, Page 8

OBITUARY.

MR. P. E. CHEAL

VETERAN SURVEYOR

An old resident of New Zealand, and one who has performed. much pu.'lie work in an honorary capacity, Mr. I. E. Clical, died at his home in Lochiel Road, Remuera, yesterday, aged bo years. He was one of the oldest surveyors in the Dominion, and had been connected with the original surveys of the Waikato and Taranaki districts. Fof very many years he.had lived in Auckland, and'he* was for a long period an enthusiastic member of the Railway League, of which he wa<> a chairman. Mr. C'heal was born in London, and arrived in Auckland in 1864. His first job was that of a clerk in the commissariat department for the Imperial Forcco, .with headquarters at Alb Tl Barracks. He next went into a sawmill venture about four miles and a. half from Pirongia, where he cut boards for the erection of dwellings for the military settlers at the termination of the war in the Waikato. There was an clement of risk in the work, as from his camp Mr. Chcal could see the wal'jls fires of the Maoris across the Punui River. At that time the 40th Foot were stationed at Te Awannitu. Later Mr. C'heal entered the survey office in Auckland, when the eeat of Government was moved to Wellington. Mr. Cheal carried on his practice as a private draughtsman preparing Crown grants to the military settlers.

In 1807, when the Thames .gdldflelcl was opened, Mr. Cheal went there, and remained for some years, but had j:<; hick as a digger. From 1870 to- 187-4 he carried en his profession of surveying on the field, and he then .joined the Survey Department of the Tarauaki Provincial Government. On one occasion he was for five weeks in the dense bueli in Tarauaki during the middle of winter, and scarcely saw the sun in that time. When the provinces were abolished, Mr. Cheal remained in the service of the Xew Zealand Government and surveyed the Waiinate Plains railway, and also land around Mount Egmoirt

In 1579 Mr. Cheal was in charge of a survey party laying out lands oil ,Lho Waimatc Plains. The native owm.rs, finding that the surveyors had notbeei. instructed to provide reserves for thciii; and acting under instructions fi'oni their leaders, To Whiti and Tohu, had Mr. Cheal and hi, staff placed in carts .ukl removed from the plain?. Thereupon- 800 men of the Armed Constabulary wi>«: sent to the district, and under cover oii their rifles and with camps* protected by rifle-pits, the surveyors resumed work. The Maoris then started to plough "up the eettlers' land. As the Grey Government took no prompt action, the >ettl '•■. ■• armed themselves, and formed wliat was known the "Mawera Republic.'"' They gave notice to the Government that if it did not shift the Mao; is they would do so. They had several scuiYiewith the natives. As Mr. Cheal was ;it that time a member of the Hawern Cavalry he took an active part in all these proceedings. Finally a foreo of constabulary was sent to the scene a::.-! 130 natives were arrested and sentcii', - t" to terms of imprisonment. The mvi year they were released by the Fail Government. This trouble was the prelude to the disturbance by the nath"-,.v at Parihaka, in ISBI. which was ended by an expedition of constabulary :uv\ volunteers attended by the Native Minister, the Hon. John Bryce, which arrested Te Whiti and Tohu as .ringleaders of the movement. Mr. Cheal returned to Tfliames in ]SSO to take charge of the local survey olliee. but resigned six years later, and since lived in Auckland. He is survived by Mr.?. Cheal, two sons, two datughtirs. and six grandchildren.

MRS. GRACE BALLANTYNE. One of the oldest residents of Auckland, Mrs. Grace Ballantyne, of Hepburn Street, has died at the ape of SS years. She arrived in Xew Zealand with her parents when a child a few months old. The family came from East Kilbiide, Scotland, and landed at Auckland in 1842. The deceased -was married in 1860 to Mr. James Ballantyne, who died 15 years ago. She and her husband farmed for six years at Papakura, and then returned to Auckland. The following children survive: Mr. R. Ballantvne, Ponsonby, Mesdames A. Steele (Ponsonby), B. E. McKinney (Mount Eden), W. "Willbigg (Mount Eden), A. J. Bates (Epsom), E. Appleby (Pukekohe) and V. G. Robinson (Bombay).

MR. F. P.. HARRIS. One of the early residents of Gisborne, Mr. Francis Robert Harris, died there at the age of 73 years. He was a gandsou of Captain John William Harris, who was the first pakeha trader to settle in Poverty Bay, and was identified with, the district as far back as 1831. Mr. F. R. Harris was born in Napier. His parents moved to Gisborne, but three years afterwards went to Gabriel's Gully goldfielcl. They returned to Gisbomc in 1573, where Mr. Harris kept a hotel up till three years ago. He had been president of the Gisborne Bowling Association, and was a strong supporter of the Liberal party in politics. Mrs. Harris survives her husband.

MRS. KITTY DAVIS. An old resident of Auckland, Mrs. Kitty Davis, died on January 12. She was the widow of Mr. John Davidson Davis, who very many years ago was accountant of the "Auckland Star."' Mrs. Davis for a long time contributed to the juvenile section of the '"Xew Zealand Fanner." The funeral is to take place to-morrow afternoon at Waikumete.

MR. C. T. HARRIS. ' 0 A well-known resident of Mount Edin Mr. Charles Thomas Harris, of Rise, died recently. He was born Monmouthshire on January 31, IB4g Two elder sons came to New Zealand' and they were followed, in 1901, by H r | Harris, his wife and a younger son. Mr! Harris retired from business 18 years ago. He was an ardent church worker and also a temperance advocate. F some years lie was president of the Auckland Prohibition League, and for a considerable time a member of the vestry of St. Barnabas' Anglican Church He also served on the Mount Eden school committee. He is survived by Harris and the following children: aj,. C. W. Harris, of Sandringham > Mr' Alex. Harris, M.P. for Waitemata, and Mr. H. R. Harris, of Takapuha. There are also 13 grandchildren and two "ieatgrandchildren.