MAORI WAR VETERAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22099, 3 May 1935, Page 13

MAORI WAR VETERAN

MR. A. BINNTE'S DEATH f SERVICE IN TAFIANAKI EARLY DAYS ON GOLDFIELDS [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday A veteran of many adventures, a soldier, gold digger, merchant, contiac- : tor and farmer, Mr, Alexander Binnie lias died at New Plymouth at the age of 5)2 years. The eldest son of a Glasgow n.erchant, Mr. Binnie was born in that city. Leaving school, he entered his father's business, but when only 17 years old he succumbed to the lure of stories of the Australian goldfields. After six months in Bendigo, Victoria, he joined the hundreds of men making for Gabriel's Gully, Otago. There he had the experience of having his claim jumped. Another experience was to be lost on the sno\Vs of the Old Man Range for two days and nights. No great success attended his mining, so Mr. Binnie volunteered for service in the Taranaki War and spent three years in the militia. He enlisted under Captain Mace at Dunedin and was believed to be the last survivor of 900 military settlers who were recruited from Victoria and Otago to take part in the war in Taranaki. He was present at the capture of Kaj.ts.ke Fort. Later Mr. Binnie went to the Wsst Coast goldfields as a storekeeper. With Mr. James Chesney he secured a contract for the carrying of mail between Christchurch and Hokitika. The partners eventually amalgamated with Mr.' Hugh Cassidy, contractor, and carr .ed on business under the style of Cassidy, Binnie and Company. Some of the most famous drivers of those days were employed by the firm and pride was tab en in the large number of line horses used in its service.

Mr. Binnie subsequently returned to Taranaki and farmed in the Okato, Warea and Tariki districts. He also migaged in fiaxmilling. He was an early chairman of the Okato Road Board, chairman of the Okato Packing Company, and a director of the Warea Dairy Company. For more than 40 years Mr. Binnie was a justice of the peace, and on occasions he acted as coroner.