ACTIVE AT NINETY-ONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 8

ACTIVE AT NINETY-ONE.

" THE FATHER OF PETONE.'*

BULLOCK-DRAY DAYS RECALLED.

The honour of being the first white child born in the Wellington Province is claimed for Mr. Thomas Rodgers, of Palmerston North, -who is in his 92nd year. Despite his advanced age, Mr. Rodgers is still hale and hearty. When visited by an interviewer a few days ago, his only complaint was that the wet weather was preventing him from "sowing a few spuds." Mr. Rodgers' parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rodgers, of Waltham Abbey, Essex, arrived at Petone, called by tie British Britannia Town, on the steamship Oriental on January 25, 1840. Mr. Rodgers was born on February 29, 1840, leap year day, in a smalj manuka bach on the Petone beach, and in due course became the "Father of Petone."

Mr. Rodgers' early years were spent in working as an assistant on various farms in the Hutt Valley district, until on Job# 3, 1866, he was married and commenced farming on his own account in that district. He later purchased a block of land at Palmerston North and went to that district to reside in 1877, and has sinc« occupied the same farm which he hat watched develop from its original bushclad state to its present fertility. Mr. Rodgers has leased his farm with the exception of a few acres in which he still grows all the vegetables necessary for his household.

The journey from the Hutt Valley to the Manawatu, which was made by bullock dray, occupied three days, the route being over to Paekakariki and up the coast line to the mouth of the Manawatu River. A punt was used to transport the dray and bullocks over the river.

Before shifting to his bush-clad section, Mr. Rodgers made several trips to th« district to clear away some of the bush and erect a bach. .After this was accomplished he finally shifted, coming'up the coast with a bullock dray and bringing with him four cows. Mrs. Rodgers and her family of six children and their belongings went to Foxton by the steamer Tui, a ' coastal trader, and from thence to the selection by coach over the roughly-formed bullock track.