AN EARLY PIONEER.

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1920, Page 2

AN EARLY PIONEER.

LATE MR ROBERT MAIR

Mr Robert Mair, whose death took place in Whangarei yesterday at tx i* ripe age of 89 years, was one of the earliest pioneer settlers of the Whangarei district, and was probably the oldest New Zealand born European in New Zealand at (the time of his death. His father Gilbert Mair, was '■ born at Peterhead, Scotland, in 1799, came first to ew Zealand in 1820 aboard ihe whaler "New Zealander' and finally settled at Paihia, Bay of 1 Islands in 1824, and later established | a trading station at Wahapu. In ithe year 1827 he married Elizabeth ' Gilbert Puckey, at Sydney, and [ brought her to the Bay of Islands. Thus was the Mair family first established 'tablished in New Zealand. Their .j eldest son, Robert Mair (the subject of this sketch) was born at ' Paihia, Bay of Islands, in June 1830. ' The family migrated to Whangarei 'in 1842. In the year 1857 Gilbert ' Mair died ait Whangai'ei. Upon Robert, at the early age of 27, devolved m the responsibilities of pro- ' viding for the maintenance of a ' family of 12 brothers and sisters, mostly his juniors, in a country, at 1 that time, sparsely populated by a handful of Europeans amidstt the ' turmoil of native tribes whose chief • occupation was war. After the ' vicissitudes which usually fall to ithe lot of pioneer settlers under such conditions Rojbert AAair finallly es--1 tablished ithe home firmly and enduringly in Whangarei. Here .he 1 married M. E. Boult in 1861 and is 1 survived by his wife, four sons, two daughters and 13 grandchildren. The deceased at various times acted in ,t clerical capacity on several local bodies, such as Ithe Town Board, th« Magistrate's Court, the Hospital Board, the County Council and others. Of a retiring temperament by nature he never engaged in the turmoil iof locdl politics, but whs nevertheless intensely interested in public questions affecting the progress of Whangarei. In the early days he acted as chairman of the "** Whangarei • Road Board before the formation of the Town Board, and later was chairman of the Kensington Road Board. Familiar from his earliest days with the native language and customs he was appointed by tho Government as a licensed native interpreter. Always keenly loyal to his native land and everything - pertaining to it he was especially interested in its natural history, particularly in its native trees. Of these several of half a century's growth still survive on the "Deveron" estate. When he presented Mair Park unconditionally to ithe borough in January 1914, he gave up the most cherished part of his estate, in jthe hope thit this beautiful property would be kept as far as possible as a sancituary for native trees and that the public of future generations mighit learn to appreciate the native flora as he himself appreciated and understood it. As time goes on we think that the park which bears his name will remain his mosit enduring monument in the hearts of Whangarei citizens. The surviving members of the famil> are: Mrs T. H. Steadman, Whangarei; Mrs R. C. M. Harington, Whangarei; Ernest W. Mair, Whangarei; L. E. Mair, Vancouver; S. A. R. Mair Hunterville; G . H. Mair, Auckland. ' The interment will take place tomorrow, at 10 a.m., ajfc Christ Church Cemetery.