PIONEER'S BIRTHDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 9

PIONEER'S BIRTHDAY.

MRS. ROBERT MARTIN

SEVENTY YEARS IN DOMINION. A story of homes and farms hewn from the bush, of raiding Maoris, of towris under military occupation, of hardship and privation, is the story of the early life of Mrs. Robert Martin, a pioneer of the Bombay district, who celebrated her 95th birthday yesterday at her home in Atkinson Avenue, Otahuhu. Born in 1840 in a village near Southampton. Mrs. Martin has lived for 70 years in New Zealand. In November, ISG4, soon after her marriage, Mrs. Martin sailed for New Zealand with her husband in the clipper ship Bombay. Running into a pale when only 10 days from Auckland, the ship lost her foremast and bowsprit in a heavy squall, and later her remaining masts were carried away. Sighted by the Constance, the helpless Bombay was towed to Three Kings, and thence to Auckland by H.M.S. Curacoa.

At Onehunga the immigrants were taken by cutters to Drury, where the womenfolk were left, as the town was under military occupation. The men went on to "the district they named Bombay, and began to fell the bush to establish their homes and farms, the land being divided into 10-acrc sections. The Provincial Government could only employ men for five days a month at 5/ a day, and Maori raids on the Waiuku and Pnkekohc settlements added to (he settlers' difficulties.

Leaving Bombay at the invitation of Mr. Martin's brother, he and his wife and child lived at Oamaru for three years, and then for a time in the Thames district. They lived for several more years at Oamaru". where Mr. Martin had a responsible post in the stone quarries. Coming north again the family farmed at Bombay for over 25 years" and since then Mrs. Martin has lived in retirement at Otahuhu. her husband and daughter having died several years ago. Until her eyesight failed only a few years ago Mrs. Martin enjoved full use of her faculties, and made, frequent visits to old friends in the province. She is still in comparatively good health and yesterday received presents and congratulations from many friends.