95TH BIRTHDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22107, 13 May 1935, Page 12

95TH BIRTHDAY

NORTH AUCKLAND PIONEER MR. CHARLES HAWKEN INCIDENTS IN EARLY DAYS [from our ow.\ correspondent] WHANGAREI, Saturday A well-known North Auckland pioneer, Mr. Charles Hawken, of Maunu, Whangarei, celebrated his 95th birthday to-day with the members of his family. Born in St. Anstell, Cornwall, Mr. Hawken left England in the ship Castilian and arrived at Sydney in June, 1857. Two years later he arrived in Auckland on the ship Worsloy, and immediately went to his father's farm at Whan Valley, Whangarei. After assisting in the felling of the bush he went to Pukekohe, where he took up a farm. Shortly afterwards trouble arose with the natives, and Mr. Hawken was urged by Government officials to leave for Drury, but at first refused. Ultimately he went to Drury, and his house in Pukekohe was one of the first to be destroyed by fire by the natives. On arrival at Drury ho was accommodated for the night in the church with many other settlers. Mr. Hawken then returned to Whangarei, purchasing a farm at Maungatapere after he married Miss Elizabeth Tidy, third daughter of Mr. J. Udy, of Mount Eden. Some timo later the Maoris became aggressive, and friendly natives warned the settlers to leave for Whangarei. Every settler left with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Hawken. Mr. Hawken's death was arranged by the hostile natives, but a force of friendly natives arrived in time. Mr Hawken and his family were never again molested. He recalls that ho was enrolled in 1860 as a soldier under Sir Osborne Gibbs, who then lived in Whangarei.

Although ho has not taken a very prominent part in public life, Mr. Hawken was a promoter of the constitution of the Maunu Road Board, and was a member of the board for 14 years, including several terms as chairman. He was one of the promoters of the Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and has been a member of the Marsden Licensing Committee since its inception. Mr. Hawken remembers selling butter which had been packed in to the Whangarei stores, at 4d per lb. He also recalls receiving 2s 6d per lb. during a gold rush many years ago. Mrs. Hawken died about 26 years ago. They reared a family of 17, of whom 15 are still alive. Mr. Hawken follows the rule of early to bed, and rises with the sun, winter and summer. He has been a very hard worker, and his homestead property at Maunu is among the show farms of North Auckland. It was taken over by him 49 years ago, when it was considered too rough to be worth breaking into cultivation. Mr. Hawken enjoys remarkably good health considering his great age, and is able regularly to visit Whangarei and transact his business.