OBITUARY.

Evening Star, Issue 6919, 4 June 1885, Page 1

OBITUARY.

Mr Robert Graham, one of the bestknown pioneers of Auckland, died there on the 26th ult., aged sixty-four years. In the course of a lengthy sketch of his career, the ' Star' says : —"On the granting of th»coßstitution to the Colony, Mr Graham; who had always taken a warm interest in public affairs, was elected a member of the first Parliament. He brought himself into notice by strong advocacy of the appointment of a Native Advising Council composed of Europeans to advise the Governor in mailers idVccting the Native race. Had this project been carried into effect, many «f the scrions subsequent difficulties that arose lirtween Natives ami Europeans would probably have been avoided. In lSOti he resisted imsiiceessfully the Land Fund compact which inflicted so much injustice for many years on this provincial district, and was one of the most strenuous opponents of tins removal of the seat of Government from Auckland. Mr ('.Vidiam had some experience of the perils of (In- ilitii. He was on board tlic While Swan when she was wrecked on her way lo Wellington, and contiilmted largely to 111 v rof-eue of the crew and passengers. iMuniing towards Auckland in the Lord W'orsley, the steamer went ashore on the rocks ai Te Namu, then inhabited by blood-thirsty Natives. On landing, Mr Graham met the chief Wiremu Kingi, who proved friendly. The captain of the vessel, having landed provisions and luggage, went to New Plymouth for succor, and the command of the marooiurs devolved upon Mr Graham. On the tilth day after the stranding the Natives made the Europeans prisoners, and a Maori boy warned Mr Graham that it had! been resolved to murder the crew and passengers. Mr Graham at once sumuioneu a meeting of the Natives, and assured them that their murder would be avenged by soldiers and men of war. Te Whiti, who was present protested against the proposed, massaeie; but the other Natives were apparently obduivte. I lie knowledge, of the danger was conlidcd by Mr Grdiam t > two other passengers, he feaiiag that a panic would precipitate the murder. Xtxt day, }.\\ (Ivaliym a;:<iin met the Natives, ur.d aft-, r ceuforriivj wi.h Uv.-.n 1 >r two houti,, in-

suaded them to allow the Europeans to proceed to New Plymouth. One of the most j fanatical of the Maoris rushed about flourishing hfe tomahawk, and swore he would murder the Pakeha, and had to be overpowered and bound by his own people. While in this condition he pretended he had a vision from God. This vision, united with other superstitions, was the origin of the Hauhau religion. Next morning the Europeans having given up their arms, were released, and proceeded on the way to Taranaki, the cargo, including L 6.000 worth of gold dust, being of course left behind. When ten miles on his journey, Mr Graham was overtaken by a Native, who informed him that the safe containing the gold had been pillaged. With exemplary courage, he returned to Te Namu, found the gold m Wiremu Kingi's whare, and placing the two boxes of treasure on his horse, galloped out of the settlement;, utterly heedless of the threats of the chief. Mr Graham found his burden too heavy, and hid it in the fern. Two days later the party reached New Plymouth in safety. After a consultation with the Superintendent of Taranaki, Mr Graham, accompanied by a couple of Natives, returned to where the gold had been hidden and recovered it. On his return to New Plymouth with his precious burden he had another narrow escape. A Native who met him on the road flourished a tomahawk and remarked: 'I have long wished to kill a pakeha.' Mr Graham laughed and replied: " Your arm is not strong enough to kill me. Why do yon waste your time when yon can get abundance of goods at the wreck ?" The Native then took his departure, and the party resumed their journey. South of the Mokau, Mr Graham encountered Wiremu Kingi (not the chief of the Bame name previously mentioned) with forty of bis followers. This Native stole the boxes while Mr Graham slept, and it was not until Mr Graham had exhausted his persuasive powers that Kingi was prevailed upon to return them. Without further adventure he reached New Plymouth in safety, and his exploit won the encomiums it deserved. Colonel Warre, then commanding the forces in Taranaki, gave him a complimentary banquet. He also received numerous letters of thanks, and, what was more substantial, a testimonial of LI,OOO was presented to him by the insurance companies who held risks on the gold. On his return to Auckland he came out for the Superintendence of the province, which had just been resigned by Mr John Williamson. Mr Graham and Mr Williamson were political opponents, and when the latter found that Graham was a candidate, he changed his mind and contested the election with him. The result was that Mr Graham was returned by a majority of 500 votes over his opponent. During the three years that Mr Graham held office lie carried out many important works, the Supreme Court, Post Office, Asylum, and Panmure Bridge being constructed during his regime. On the opening of the Thames goldfield he acquired the lease from the Natives of a considerable area of land, and founded the township of Grahamstown, now a portion of the borough of Thames. He was partly instrumental in establishing the steam tramway from Grahamstown to Tararu—the earliest railway in the Colony. In 1872 he visited Scotland for the purpose of seeing his mother, but she died before he reached the shores of the Home Country. He returned to the Colony in 1873. He sold a considerable portion of the Ellerslie estate to the Auckland Racing Club, and laid out the remainder on a cemetery. The Bill for the purpose of establishing the cemetery passed through the House of Representatives, but was lost in the Upper House, and the cemetery site was cut into building lots and sold. In 1878 he visited Rotorua, and was instrumental in concluding a peace between two hostile tribes at Maketu, who were thirsting for each others' blood in consequence of a land dispute. In gratitude for his efforts, the chiefs presented to him a considerable area of land near Lake Taupo, and containing some valuable hot springs. Prior to this he had become possessor of some land at Ohinemutu, and established Lake House, one of the best known tourists' hotels in the Southern Hemisphere. Of late years Mr Graham has not taken an active part in politics; but his knowledge of the Native race and his success in dealing with them frequently caused successive Governments to seek his advice in periods of difficulty."