WHANGAREI'S OLDEST SON PASSES

Northern Advocate, 22 March 1937, Page 4

WHANGAREI'S OLDEST SON PASSES

Mr /A. M. Rust Historian Of j Pioneering Days j The death occurred at the Whanga- j rei District Hospital early on Sunday 1 morning, of Mr Alexander Mearns Rust, aged 78, who, at the time of his death, was the oldest European-born in Whangarei. . His patriachal figure was a familiar one, and he had long been regarded as the historian of Whangarei and the Middle North. Burling his long life, he served the comImunitj-' in many useful ways, his qualities of honesty, fearlessness and helpfulness being appreciated wherever he was known. His parents, the late Mr and Mrs John Stewart Rust, were among the earliest settlers in Whangarei.. arriving here in 1854. Mr Rust, senior, built a large store and dwelling in Rust

Lane. There their only son, Mr A. M. Ru?t, was born and lived in retirement during the declining years of his life. Varied Experiences. After leaving school, Mr Rust went with Bob (Robert) Dent to cut flax at the foot of Look-Out Hill, opposite where the railway station now stands. Next he was roadmaking and tramline building; then working at flaxmills in Whangarei and Ruatangata; assisting in his father’s store in Walton Street; agent for the schooner Clyde, which kept Whangarei in contact with the outside world; and then, for a term, book-keeper for Alfred Smart in Elliot Street, Auckland. While in the city, Mr Rust joined Captain A. Morrow’s third company of volunteers, and the Choral Society under the conductorship of M!r J. W. Brown, whose -son is in business in Rathbone Street, Whangarei. Returning to Whangarei, Mr Rust in turn, assisted in his father’s store; served in the'co-operative store when Mr James Harrison was manager; # went with Mr Harrison when he bought out Mrs. Dent’s business at the corner of Bank and Cameron Street; opened a branch at Kamo, and there partnered James Whitelaw in business as A. M.

Rust and Co.; joined the Volunteer Corps, just formed in 1879, as sergeant; and’ became a book-keeper at Hector Reed’s Hikurangi sawmill. 40 Years a School Teacher. In 1884 Mr Rust entered the school teaching profession, for which he was eminently suited. His first permanent appointment was to the. Kauri School. During his five years at Kauri, he took part in many activities. He became a second lieutenant in the Volunteers, and at the first sports meeting in Whangarei, won the 100 yards event in lOsecs., the course being from what is now Aubrey Street down the present Norfolk Street. During that period he also acted as steward and handicapper for the Whangarei and Dargaviile Racing Clubs, and also as ■ handicapper for Franklin. With Messrs J. S. Dent and Dave Munn he was part-owner of “The Worm,” a frequent winner, his first and last appearance as a racehorse owner. Mr Rust served in' several schools in the Auckland Province, including

the -headmastership of the Pokeno School. In 1902-he returned to Hikurangi, where he remained for an unbroken 21> years as headmaster. It was at Hikurangi that he completed 40 years’ service with the department and went into retirement. For some years he practised in Whangarei as a public accountant. For 19 years he was auditor for the Hikurangi Dairy Company. Things Musical. Between the years 1884 and 1924, Mr Rust at various times was conductor and bandmaster for the Whangarei Philharmonic Society, Kamo Choral Society, Hikurangi Brass Band and Hikurangi Orchestra. An accomplished musician himself, he did a great deal to advance the interests of good music in the North. He was an examiner in music for teachers’ certificates. Reference has already been made to Mr Rust’s participation in the volunteer movement. Later he became captain of the Hikurangi volunteers and Major in the Northland Battalion of Junior Cadets.

Taking an active interest in public life, Mr Rust served as a Commissioner for the Hikurangi Town Board, of which he was clerk until 1925, -and later as a member of the Whangarei Borough Council, from which he resigned after two terms in office. Mr Rust was an enthusiastic Freemason of many years’ standing. He was a P.M, of the Star of the North Lodge, of which he was also secretary at one time.

In his young days, Mr Rust was a keen player of outdoor games, being a particularly fine cricketer. He assisted both the Hikurangi and Whangarei Bowling Clubs in the early years of their growth, and recently was made a life member at the Whangarei greens. Four years ago he was appointed secretary of the North Auckland Bowling Centre, a position which he occupied at the time of his death. Valuable Reminiscences.

Mr Rust was a mine of information concerning the early days and earty people of Whangarei. In this, connection, he rendered invaluable service to the community by permanently recording his reminiscences and knowledge of the early days of the town and district in the form of a book, which he published some years ago. When the Whangarei Early Settlers’ Association was formed three years ago, he was appointed registrar, and even during his last illness was engaged compiling further historical data in relation to the pioneer families. Recently he issued an appendix to his original volume, dealing especially

with the settlement of the districts' surrounding Whangarei. A devout, practising Christian from his earliest boyhood, deceased filled many offices in the Whangarei Presbyterian Church. For ten years he was also a lay-reader in the Hikurangi Anglican Church. Senior Presbyterian Elder. Speaking from the pulpit at the Presbyterian Church yesterday, the Rev. William Elliott made feeling reference to the death of Mr Rust, who was the senior elder of the church. The deceased was, in a true sense of the term, a pillar of the church. Following in the footsteps of his father, who had been largely instrumental in promoting the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in Whangarei, he had been a lifelong supporter of the church. Deeply religious, and filled with a desire to promote the work of the Master, he had given of his best in the service of the Church. He had served long and zealously as an elder, and had always been a steadfast helper of the minister. He had passed to his reward, full of years, and his memory would be cherished by all who had come in contact with him. Mr Elliott extended to the bereaved the sincere sympathy of the congregation. Mr Rust married Miss Ella Williams, daughter of a Russell pioneer trader,, and sister-in-law of Judge Clendon. His wife predeceased - him by eleven years. Their family consisted of two sons and one daughter. Both sons followed their father into the school-teaching profession: Douglas S. is first assistant at the Nox*mal School, Wellington; and Gordqn J., who for a number of years was stationed at Te Hapua, is in charge of the Parawera Native School, Te Awamutu. The one daughter, Miss Dorothy Rust, teaches music in Whangarei. The funeral will leave the late residence at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning for Kauri Cemetery.