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Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 6

The only surviving Canterbury pilgrim of those who arrived on the Cressy in 1850, Mr Richard Evans, a former patron of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ and Early Settlers’ Association, will celebrate his 89th birthday today. Mr Evans lives with his daughter, Mrs H. H. Chatterton, of Templeton. Mr Evans was nearly three years old when he arrived with his parents and a sister on the Cressy, says The Press, Christchurch. The first eight years of his life in New Zealand were spent in Lvttelton, his family living at the foot of Salt’s Gully, near where the tunnel was afterwards made. When he was 11 years old Mr Evans went to North Canterbury, arriving at Rangiora after a day’s journey. At this time the land was being worked with bullocks, and in a year or so Mr Evans became a proficient bullock driver. He worked on several North Canterbury farms and later began farming on his own account. Until 17 years ago he farmed his own land at Rangiora.