AUCKLANDER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21807, 23 May 1934, Page 14

AUCKLANDER'S DEATH

MR. R. T. WARNOCK IN BUSINESS SINCE 1863 FINE PUBLIC SERVICE A remarkable career of 71 years in Auckland industry closed yesterday with the death of Mr. Robert Taylor Warnock, chairman of directors of Warnock Brothers, Limited, tanners, leather merchants and soap manufacturers, Richmond, at the age of 90 years.

A resident of Auckland from early manhood, Mr. Warnock saw the city grow from a small, scattered town of 8000 people to «'i metropolis more than 20 times as large. When he and his brothers set lip their factory at Richmond in 1874 there were only 16 houses in the whole Grey Lynn district, which is now one of Auckland's most thicklypopulated areas. To the progress of the city Mr. Warnock contributed nob only by his industrial activities, but also by service on local bodies extending over 28 years. He was born in Belfast on February 20, 18-14, and shared with two other well-known Auckland citizens, Mr. E. W. Alison and Mr. Walter Pavitt, the distinction of,having a birthday only every four years. The year 1900 not being a leap-year, all three passed the eight years between 189G and 1901 without a birthday, Mr. Warnock celebrating his "coining of ago" at a large gathering in Scots Hall in 1928. Immigration in 1862

The tenth child of a Belfast soap and candle manufacturer and flax merchant, Mr. Warnock arrived in Auckland with his brothers .Tames and Richard on October 20, 1862, by the ship Indian Empire. A married sister and her family had preceded them in the ship Mermaid in 1860, and other members of the family came out in tbe ships Gertrude and Ganges in 1863. Altogether, ten of its members, including the parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Warnock, settled in New Zealand, and of them all Mr. Robert "Warnock was eventually the only survivor. There were few considerable - industries in Auckland in 1863, with the exception of shipbuilding, which had grown up to meet the demand for schooners for the coastal trade. The barque Novelty was launched from Niccol's yard the day before Mr. Warnock landed. The Indian Empire carried 350 immigrants, and arrived to find four other ships in harbour, bringing the total of newcomers to about 1500 in one week. Most of these people had been living under hard conditions and low wages in the Old Country, and were therefore well prepared for whatever discomforts they might meet in the colony. Mr. Warnock encountered a young farmer from the North of Ireland who thought himself lucky to have found a job at Epsom at 12s 6d a week, with his food and a. pi aco to sleep in. The man remarked that his father at home would disbelieve him when he wrote about it, for two men could be got in Ireland for the same money, without food.

Maori War Service Only six weeks after landing, tho three brothers Warnock started in business as tanners and soap manufacturers by taking over a going concern on the site between Parnell and Newmarket now occupied by the New Zealand Institute for tho Blind. A year later the premises were burned and they re-established their works by building at Ponsonby. In 1864 Ponsonby Road was only a track through the manuka scrub, which covered almost the whole of the Surrey Hills and Jervois Estates, now Grey Lynn and Heme Bay. Two and a-half years later they removed the business to a comparatively old-established factory in the city. There they carried on for seven years under great difficulties, having an insufficient water supply, no drainage and no room to expand. In 1874 they erected new works at Richmond, then part of the Newton highway district, where the industry has been conducted for the past 60 years. It now occupies 20 acres of land. Mr. Warnock's efforts to establish a business were interrupted by the call to compulsory military service during tho Waikato War period of 1863-64. All able-bodied men were called up for the militia, but he chose the alternative of enlisting in the Ist Company, Auckland Volunteers. For IS • months most of his time was taken up with day and night pickets, guards and flying column duty with the Imperial troops, with occasional spells of 48 hours' leave in which he was able to seo how the business was getting on..There was much marching through the bush, which was nearly always soaking wet. For six weeks he was stationed at Papakura, which involved picketing tho outskirts of the camp by lying in the wet fern from 2 a.m. until reveille in case Maori raiding parties should emerge from the bush. Work on Local Bodies In 1575 Mr. Warnock was elected ifchairman of tho Newton Highway Board and served for 12 years. On the formation of the borough of Newton he held office for the first two years as Mayor. After tho name of the borough had been changed to Grey Lynn he became a councillor for the Richmond ward in 1595, and four years later was again elected Mayor, remaining in office until 1903. He gave good service during the rapid growth of the district, not only in having tho original layout modified to prevent overcrowding, but also in having proper sower drainago installed in tho settled areas between tho years 1895 and 1898. On retiring ho was succeeded by his son, Mr. J. A. Warnock, who became a member of the City Council after tlio borough ended its separato existence. Father and son thus had periods of public service covering half a century. Mr. Warnock was actively connected for a great part of his life with St. Matthew's Church and All Saints', Ponsonby. Ho continued his business activities until his last illness, attending a meeting of directors of his company only four weeks ago. He leaves two sons, Mr. J. Warnock and Mr. 11. T. W arnock, both of Grey Lynn, and three daughters, Mrs. L. J. Armitago, of Takapuna, and Mrs. L. Kane and Mrs. J. Woodhall, of Grey i.yun. There are five grandchildren.