MAKERS OF CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19942, 31 May 1930, Page 13

MAKERS OF CANTERBURY.

PIONEERS OF THE PROVINCE. iSFECIALLT WRITTEM FOB THE I'KEUS.' [By Annalist, j XVJL ROBERT WILKIN, 1820-188(3. Robert Wilkin, a portly wellfavoured Scot, who was highly respected in the early days of the province, was born at Tinwald t)owns, Dumfriesshire, on January 14th, 1820, his father being a leading farmer in the shire, and his mother, Rachel Douglas Laurie, daughter of the parish minister at Tinwald.

Wilkin received the usual education of a Scots boy. Then he wont for seven years to Dumfries Academy, a wellmanaged school under the Town Council; and finally proceeded to Edinburgh University, where ho attended the lectures which ho considered would bo of service to him as a young fanner. At the age of 19 he sailed for Melbourne in the first direct ship, the Midlothian. Passing on to Sydney, he then went as far as the Nainoi river, and inspected the Liverpool llama. There ho spent some years as manager of several grazing stations belonging to George Hobler. Then he went to the Richmond river district, and witn two partners took up several stations on their joint nccount. From there Wilkin went farther north, eventually settling as a runholder in the Burnett district of Queensland. Apparently he moved south again before coming to New Zealand, for he was a magistrate for the Port Phillip district of New South Wales—afterwards Victoria. _ It was in 1858 that Wilkin made his way across to New Zealand, and he lost no time in purchasing for himself the Avon Park estate. In Canterbury, as In Australia, ho was uniformly successful in his choice and management of land; and at different times during the nest quarter of a centurv ho was interested in various important properties, sometimes alone, sometimes with Robert Heaton Rhodes, and sometimes with his wife's uncle, Arclnbald Thomson, with whom he took "P the laree area known as Marnnan Racecourse Hill, Carleton, and St. Leonard's (Amurh were some of the other places he held. About 1871 ne commenced business in Hereford street as a general merchant, and engaged in what is now known as stock and station agency. .. Throughout his life Wilkin took the greatest interest in importing .ana breeding purebred stock, especially horses. He was one of the founders of the Middle Park Stud Company, and shortlv before his death he imported on his own account the American trotting sire Berlin, who made his mark upon the trotting historv of the colonv. From the beginning Wilkin took a keen interest in aericultural shows. The first was held the year after his arrival in the colony, at Benjamin Moorhouse's Shepherd's Bush property at Rangitata. It was practically confined to merino sheep. Next jrear it was held where Ashburton now is. In 1862 a general show was held in Judge Gresson a paddock in Latimer square. Wilkin was president, and after this show he took steps to form a properlyorganised agricultural and pastoral association, of which he naturally became the first president. He was. in fact, its founder, and just before his death ho and George Gould were elected patrons of the Association. It was at nis suggestion that the Association's journal, tho "New Zealand Country Journal," was founded in 1877, and its pages Bhow constant evidence of hi/s interest; he contributed to its columns to the time of his _ death. When ho was about to leave in 1878 on a visit to the Old Country Wilkin was entertained by the people of Christchurch, who presented to him the fine portrait of himself (by Norman Mcßeth), which now hangs in the A. and P. Association's rooms. He promoted the publication of the Canterbury Herd Books and the New Zealand Draft Horses Stud Book. He presented to the Association some of its first paintings and a complete set of the transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland from 1612 to 1881. . Wilkin had not been long in New Zealand before he was led into public life, for which his high character fitted him better than any facility on the platform. Indeed, ho was a poor speaker, and avoided the limelight whenever ho could. In August, 1860. on the .resignation of G- D. Lockhart, he was elected member for Tiinaru in tho Provincial Council. Though he did not reside in the district, and though his views on the New Provinces Bill were at variance with thoso of the elec tors, they re-elected him in 1801. Fie was one of the strongest champions of the out-districts, and got many things done for Timaru at a time when the people of that district considered themselves altogether , neglected. ft was due to him that the district was divided into four electorates, and he was then elected for Waitangi (in 1864). Coming into the Council when Moorhouse was still gallantly fighting for the tunnel, Wilkin strongly supported him and was a member of his Executive for three years, first under Blakiston for a few months, and then as President of the Executive for two years. In 1862 he was for a while Deputy Superintendent, and when Moorhouse resigned at the beginning _of 1863 a requisition and deputation strongly urged him to stand for the vacant superihtendency. It was understood that FitzGerald, Moorhouse's opponent, would not oppose him, but Wilkin declined the honour. He had no such ambitions and was glad to see Bealey elected. Wilkin continued to serve under Bealey as President of the Executive, with Moorhouse as an occasional colleague. Though he retired from the Council in 1866. Wilkin served in several subsequent Executives (under Stewart in 1866 and in 1887-68, and under Jollie in 1866). He was also tor three years (1863-66) member of Parliament for Kaiapoi. Wilkiti was neither a pretentious speaker nor a brilliant Parliamentarian. Indeed, the "Lyttelton Times," in a character sketch from the opposite side of politics, pictures him as "a wealthy stockowner and a portly-built Scot getting into the sere leaf," who was chiefly to be found seconding the motions of his colleagues, and doing it with so much diffidence as scarcely to be audible; yet betraying the possession of brains in the few remarks he made "when tortured into utterance." He had a high sense of probity in business and justice in the relations of men, and Sir John Hall once remarked, "We might ask what public institution there is to which Mr Wilkin was not willing to lend a helping hand; what movement did not receive his cheerful aid." He was first president of the Timaru Mechanics' Institute and Public Library in 1862 and obtained a handsome grant for it from the Provincial Council. In 1874 he was one or the provisional directors of the Timaru Woollen Company. He was a staunch Presbyterian and a member of St. Andrew's congregation. Wilkin took a great interest in acclimatisation. Late in the sixties he presented to the Canterbury Society some black swan, and ,in 1881 he introduced a number of hedgehogs into South Canterbury. He visited England in 1867 and 1878. Wilkin died at his home. Holmwood, Fendalton, on June 20th, 1886.