PASSING OF A PIONEER.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1541, 15 April 1920, Page 5

PASSING OF A PIONEER.

THOMAS KNIGHT, OF NEWBURY. This well-known pioneer settler of Manawatu died quietly at his home yesterday morning, at eight o'clock. Mr Knight had dressed himself and was just about to partake of a cup of tea, when he passed away from lailure of the heart. He was the first white settler to reside on the Rangitikei line, where he has lived since 1874. Ho bought the present holding from a negro who was known as “Darkie Ross,” and he always declared that he was the first white man to walk over the Rimutaka. The land was then in heavy bush, and Palmerston was mainly a Scandinavian settlement. Mr G. M. Snelson was even then known as the father of the town. The late Mr Knight took keen interest in sport and with Messrs J. Cotter, D. Pringle, J. O. Batchelar and J. Nathan, helped to found the Manawatu Racing Club, of which he was judge for seventeen years; but always declared he knew too much to own a racer. He was among the first promoters of the A. and P. Association, and helped to found the Awahuri Dairy Company, for which he was guarantor. In the days of Gabriel’s Gully, in Otago, Mr Knight and a number of gold-seekers joined a party of lads, most of whom were but 16 years of age, and, under the leadershin of the late Henry Sanson, who also was but a boy, they had a glorious time, as all boys should. Returning to Wairarapa, he and two brothers took up 10.000 acres at Tiranmea, 40 miles from Masterton, and. farmed it for 17 years. They sold out to the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, who was then Premier of the Colony, for a few hundred pounds. This estate has recently been purchased for soldier settlement at a substantial figure. The late Mr Knight was born at Lower Hutt in 1844, and with the exception of Mr Thomas Rodgers, a neighbour, was the oldest native born settler in this district. His parents came from Cornwall, and arrived in Wellington, 1840. in the ship Duke of Roxburgh. Of ten brothers and sisters in Mr Thos. Knight’s familv, the only survives now are Mrs Henry Barber, of Wellington, and Mr David Knight,, of Hawera. Mr Knight’s widow is a daughter of the late Captain John Varnham. Their surviving children are Mrs S. J. Sanson, Mrs Stanley Hume. Mrs Ross Campion, Mrs N. Cole, Mr Marshall Knight and Mr Warner Knight. The genial old gentleman was full of reminiscences of early days, and we lose much by their not having been placed on record. Among his vivid recollections were the days of ’55. when six weeks of earthquake converted their flounder fishery into the present high and dry location of the Hutt Park race course in a night. In 1870 Mr Knight had billeted upon him at Tiraumea some score of inter-tribal Maori despatch carriers, who were so pleased with their treatment that his property was unmolested. He told, too. with a twinkle in his eye, the reason why Awahuri was cursed with docks in every plantation. It seems that Tapa te Whata, a well-known chief, was impressed with the growing evil of idleness among his people, and decided that the industry of growing and drying the raurau. or torori. as they called tobacco, would fill their time and pockets. With commendable zeal he collected a goodly drove of nigs, took them to Wanganui, where thev were exchanged for groceries and ‘‘tobacco seed.” whmh proved upon cultivation to bo pure dock. Such was the historv of much of our dealings with the Maori people.

items rendered. The star performer was Mr Preboni Hanson, the Danish Imperial Court singer. During the afternoon he contributed - Tosti’s “Good-bye” and some Danish folk: sours which met with a splendid reception. In the evening he sang two Italian operatic selections, and again met with the applause his rendering of the songs merited. The folk songs by the whole audience led by a choir of young people were a feature of the evening and were entered into with the keenest enjoyment. Mrs Murdoch with folk songs at the harp and Mr Gilmour with a Maori war song, were among a number of others who gave pleasing items. After the concert, the hall was cleared for dancing, which was continued till a late hour and concluded a memorable day.