PIONEER’S DEATH

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24237, 20 April 1944, Page 4

PIONEER’S DEATH

MR RICHARD EVANS

LAST SURVIVING PASSENGER

OF SHIP CRESSY

The last survivor of the passengers of the Cressy, one of the First Four Ships which came to Lyttelton on December 27, 1850, died yesterday at the age of 95. He was Mr Richard Evans, of Rangiora, who was a child aged two when he, arrived in New Zealand with his parents. For several years after coming to the Dominion Mr Evans lived at Lyttelton with his father, who was a bricklayer. Before he reached the age of 10 he started work at Lyttelton. After the arrival of Mr Evans s family at Lyttelton they liyed at Salt’s Gully, near the site at which the tunnel was later built. Lyttelton was much smaller then in area, as well as ;n population, because at that time the sea came up to a point near the present railway gates. Few buildings had been erected at Lyttelton when the First Four Ships arrived. When he was almost 11 years old Mr Evans set out by himself to walk to Rangiora to obtain work. He was able to recall incidents of the journey, which he eventually made in four vehicles, arriving at Rangiora about 13 hours after setting out. Rangiora then—in 1858—consisted of a hotel, a store, a swamp, and very little else. Bread for the community was baked in a small camp oven. The land was worked with bullocks, and at the age of 12 Mr Evans had become: a proficient bullock driver. He was em-

MR RICHARD EVANS ployed on a number of farms in Canterbury over a long period'. First he was with Mr C. O. T. Torlesse, of Fernside, then with Mr Robert Chapman, of Springbank, Mr John Collier, of Cust, Mr Mannering, of Birch Hill, and for 16 years with Mr Duncan Rutherford, of Mendip Hills. After leaving Mr Rutherford’s employ Mr Evans had a farm of his own at Rangiora until about 1913. He went to the North Island in 1928, and lived with a son .at Otorohanga, South Auckland. Later he came t live with Mr W. H. Evans in Good street, Rangiora. , Mr Evans was married in 1874 to Miss Georgina Mallet, a daughter of the late Mr George' Mallet, of Fernside, and there were five children of the marriage. Mrs Evans died several years ago. Until recent years Mr Evans had gooi health, and took an active interest in gardening as a hobby. Latterly, however, his health had failed, and his sight had been impaired. His recollection of the events and conditions of the early days was remarkably keen, and as patron of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association he maintained contact with others who had taken a part in the development of Canterbury from its foundation.