GREAT BENEFACTOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 12

GREAT BENEFACTOR.

DEATH OF MR. J, TROUNSON,

A MONUMENT IN KAURI.

NOBLE LIFE WELL SPENT. The death yesterday morning of Mr. James Trounson removes ono of New Zealand's greatest public benefactors, whose name will bo perpetuated for ever in the magnificent kauri forest which he gave to the nation in tho Kaihu Valley. A lofty, gonerous and Christian character, his loss will be deeply felt, particularly among tho scattered communities of North Auckland, where he hewed out a homo with the Albertland settlers and shared tho privations of a pioneer's existence in tho sixties of last century.

Death camo at the age of 90 in the peaceful home of Quinton Villa occupied by himself and Mrs. Trounson at Northcote. There, in recent years, ho had rested on his laurels, content to reflect on a life well spent and heartened in the knowledge ihat, in the words of his friend, -Sir Edwin Mitchelson, "he had crowned his life with glory" by an imperishable gift to the people of the Dominion. Working for 4d a Day. Few people living to-day knew the hardships and battles of tho early settler as did Mr. Trounson. Born at Camborne, Cornwall, in August, 1839, he started life by walking two miles to work for 4d a day in the mines. Then, fired by enthusiasm for colonisation in a new country, ho joined up with the Ivonconformisfc settlers from the Midland counties who emigrated to New Zealand in the early sixties. With his wife he sailed in the ship Hanover, of 1045 tons, which arrived in the Waitcmata on September 18, 1862. The r.cw settlers, who had been allotted 40 acres each at Paparoa, in tho Kaipara district, by the Provincial Government, went up to Riverhead in cutters by night and then walkec! 14 miles to Helensville, the journey occupying the best part of two days. Tents were pitched on the banks of the river and the party remained there for a week, drenched by torrential downpours. A whaleboat took the party to Palhi, a night being spent with the Maoris on the river-bank. When the site of their , new home was reached they found the land had not been surveyed and that they had to wait for three or four months before they could proceed to their sections. They lived in tents while they erected the first building—a church—sawing the timber by hand and carrying it on their shoulders. Mr. Trounson later said: "If it had not been for that little church there would have been no Trounson Kauri Park." Grazing and Timber Milling. For years Mr. Trounson toiled with his fellow-settlers clearing the dense bush, farming and raising stock. His cattle he disposed of among the numerous gumdiggers and bushmen's camps and also at Dargaville, Te Kopuru and Aratapu, then prosperous townships which had sprung into existence through the rise of the timber industry. Subsequently ho acquired large blocks of virgin country, as well as heavily-timbered land, in the Kaihu and adjacent districts. Ihose he developed for grazing and milling purposes to such an extent that he found it necessary, about 45 years ago, to leave Paparoa and make his home in the Wairoa district, where he bad large and growing business interests. In everything he proved himself a man of affairs —shrewd, capable, generous and public-spirited. In 188j he took up land at Flaixmill, now Parore, and opened a butchery business at Dargaville and Te Kopuru. He purchased 3400 acrev of bush laud at Maropiu and erected » sawmill, at Kaihu. At one time he was cutting 4,000,000 ft. of kauri timber from his

Wairoa Bush, entailing a gigantic tramway system which was the centre of interest to visitors. At different tinns he suffered great losses from floods, but his perseverance was undaunted, and as the bush came off he converted the land into

farms. He eventually cut up his Maropiu and Mamarunui properties and sold them as dairy farms, which to-day supply a great proportion of cream to the Northern Wairoa factory. Gift of Famous Forest.

Sir. Trounson was one of those who foresaw the extinction of the kauri, and in order to preserve an area for all time he presented a block of about 75 aeres of his best bush to the nation. The Government afterwards purchased all the surrounding area and this, together with the area presented by Mr. Trounson, comprises about 1100 acres now known as Trounson Kauri Park, which is visited by thousands of visitors annually. The deeds Cor the piece presented were handed over by Mr. Trounson on November 29, 1921, under the largest tree in the forest to the then Governor-General, Earl Jellicoe, and Sir Francis Bell, representing the Government. This was the crowning effort of Mr. Trounson's life. The park is famed the world over and will always be a living monument to the donor. It was estimated at the time that

the monetary value of the gift was in the vicinity of £60,000. Of-h>U' benefactions were made subsequently In spite of Mr. Trounson's business and farming activities he found time to enter public life, and at one time was a member of tho ITobson County Council for three years. He also stood for the Bay of Islands seat in 1890, but was defeated by nine votes. He was elected a member of

ho Auckland Land Board in "1907, and

held office for many years. A life-long advocate of temperance, ho took a prominent part in tho no-licence movement, and was for many years on the executive of the New Zealand Allianco and a member of the Kaipara Licensing Committee. Generosity to the Church.

An ardent Methodist, Mr. Trounson gave liberally to tho Church's funds. He was a lay preacher of outstanding ability and held many important offices in the circuit, district and general conferences. No man displayed throughout a long and useful lifo a truer liberal and Christian character. He had lived in Auckland for a number of years, but until very recently made periodical visits to the northern district, where he still held large interests. In addition to his other activities ho was for some time a member of the Electoral Boundaries Commission. Mr Trounson is survived by his wife, who is also a great age, and by two sons and four daughters. They are Mr. Vivian Trounson, of Maropiu, who is chairman of the Hobson County Council; Mr. James Trounson, of Paparoa; Mrs. Ada Cliff, of Whangarei; Miss Mary Trounson, of Paparoa; and Miss Annie Trounson and Miss Kathleen Trounson, both of Auckland. There are 22 grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren The funeral will take place this afternoon. A short service will be held at tho Pitt Street Methodist Church at 2.30, after which the interment will take place at Purewa Cemetery.