OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 222, 16 June 1930, Page 13

OBITUARY

MR. FRANCIS ROBINSON Dominion Special Service. Faxton, June 14. Within a stone’s throw of his birthplace one of Foxton’s oldest and most respected residents, Mr. Francis Robinson, J.P., died last night, aged S 3 years. Deceased was patron of the Foxton Racing Club, Football Club and Horticultural Society, and a member of the Manawatu racecourse trustees. At one time he was a member of the Manawatu County Council. He was a great athlete in his younger days, a horseman and a polo player. The late Mr. Robinson married about 52 years ago Miss Rae, of New South Wales, and then settled in Carnarvon, but fifteen years ago he retired and erected a residence on Beach Road, Foxton. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson celebrated their golden wedding two years ago. Deceased was a loyal churchman and for many years was a member of vestry and vicar’s warden.

Deceased was the eldest son of the late Captain Robinson, J.P., one of the first settlers in this district. The late Captain Robinson landed at Wellington in 1841 by the Mandarin. After a short residence in Wellingto.n he came to Foxton, where he subsequently settled permanently after a short visit to Australia, taking over 400 acres of land in Foxton which he had purchased in London before coming to the colony. Subsequently he took a Maori lease of about 20,000 acrees, being portion of the Himatangi block. To the late Captain Robinson Foxton is indebted for the early progress of the district. He was a successful settler and always prominent in furthering the welfare of the district.- Captain Robinson was chairman of the old Foxton'Road Board, at that time the only local body in existence in the district. MRS. ANNIE S. DENBEE Dominion Special Service Carterton, June 14. The death took place at Parkvale yesterday of Mrs. Annie Sophia Denbee, wife of Mr. W. J. Denbee, a well-known settler of Parkvale. Mrs. Denbee was 65 years of age and was born in Somerset, England. She came to New Zealand 42 years ago with her father, Mr. S. Phelps, who was one of the early cheesemakers of the Wairarapa. Besides her widower, a family of one son and two daughters is left. One son was killed in the Great War.