LINK WITH EARLY DAYS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18295, 11 January 1923, Page 8

LINK WITH EARLY DAYS.

NINETY-SECOND BIRTHDAY. OVER' 60 YEARS IN. AUCKLAND. " An interesting instance of the longevity attained by many of Auckland's pioneer settlers is provided in the case "of Mr. John Blackburn, of Shelly Beach Road, who recently celebrated .his 92nd birthday. Mr. Blackburn, who was born in the City of York, England, came to New Zealand in the ship Maori in 1859. and has been identified with the life of Auckland for over 60 years. The story of those years, reviewed 'by Mr. Blackburn in an. interview yesterday, contained many interesting references to life in , Auckland in the days of early settlement. With the fear of trouble -with the Maoris always hovering over the little community, every man had to be ready to defend it, and immediately Mr. Blackburn arrived here, as a young man of 29, he I was called on.to join the militia. He ! was not called on for active service, ali though at one period he was encamped 1 at Otahuhu for several weeks in readiness ■ for any hostile move on the part of the Maoris" , *■;'•-■ A tailor by-trade, Mr. Blackburn took a shop in Victoria Street, and did business there for many years. The shop wsa situated on the rising slopes of the hill near Hofascn Street, next to the old Cottage of Content Hotel, a place which will be well remembered by many old Aueklanders., Mr. Blackburn related yesterday how awkwardly he was .placed when the young city began to take its first steps toward roading improvements the levelling of the street left his shop perched up on a high bank, and customers had- to approach from the other side and then make their way across the street on slippery planks laid in the mud. There was a lot of rain that winter, and it was J not surprising that trade, fell off rapidly under these conditions. So Mr. Blackburn took a shop in Queen Street,' adding drapery to his tailoring trade, arid for many years helped to supply the needs of the pioneer families of Auckland. Upon retiring, he moved to Franklin Road, where he carried on a small private business in tailoring for some years. The terrible fires which swept through the voung citv in the sixties, were recalled with interest by Mr, Blackburn. On one oecesion, the prompt action of a young girl prevented a fire in Victoria Street from spreading, the blaze being checked within a few doors of Mr. Blackburn's own premises. There was a pump in a neighbour's yard, and for over an hour this girl worked Valiantly, pumping up the water and handing the backet over ] the fence to her father, who was at last j able to extinguish the flames. Mr. Blackburn, who is a staunch Meth- I odist, attended the old church in High Street, which stood on , the site now occupied by the Magistrate's Court, and j taught in its Sunday-school for 17 years, s He was also connected with the Y.M.C.A. for upwards of 20 years. The piety. of j those early days has remained the guid- j ing principle of his long life, and al- j though in frail health now, and unable ] to read ordinary literature, not. a night passes without his reading a chapter of J the Bible. Although unable to .walk with- j out the aid of crutches; Id's last act is j still to kneel in prayer before he retires, a habit unbroken from boyhood days.: Mr. Blackburn is now; living with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. H. S. ; Hill, His only other surviving daughter is Mrs. D. A. Milne, of Perth. Six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild complete the family of this pioneer of early days.'. ; .'., ?"""' — ■. >■■