NINETY YEARS OLD TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1929, Page 18

NINETY YEARS OLD TO-DAY

MR. ROBINSON STILL WELL-KNOWN TARANAKI SETTLER REMINISCENCES OF MAORI AVAR. : Still hale and hearty in spite of. a very strenuous life during the most troublous period of Taranaki history, Mr. G. F. Robinson, now of Christchurch, celebrates his ninetieth birthday to-day. During his long life in Taranaki Mr. Robinson, by reason of his enterprise and energy, was one of the best-known figures in the province. He was engineer to the Taranaki. County Council, whose territory extended over the whole of North and Central Taranaki, Crown Lands Ranger, with duties taking him all over the land district, and, later, District Roads Engineer. He was born—it is understood —in the Isle of JMan, on December 19, 1839. When

a boy of 15 he accompanied the late Mr. Thomas Kelly and family to New Zealand onboard the barque Cresswell, which arrived at New Plymouth on June 3, 1855. Mr. Kelly took up land on the Henwood Hoad, Bell Block, and Mr. Robinson made his home there for several years. Then he was engaged in bridge building until operations in that direction became slack, when he went to Queensland. When the Moa Block of land was purchased, Mr. Kelly, then in the Provincial Government, induced Mr. Robinson to return in order to take charge of road works in opening up the block by a road from Sentry Hlil to the site of Inglewood. When provincial govenemcnt was abolished the Taranaki district was divided into two counties, Taranaki and Patea, and Mr, Robinson was partially employed in an engineering capacity by the Taranaki County Council, of which Colonel Trimble was chairman, until Mr. T. K. Skinner was formally appointed county engineer. lii the meantime Mr.. Robinson was employed part of his time by the Taranaki Land Board in superintending road and bridge construction, and in May, 1877, he was appointed Crown Lands Ranger. Subsequently he became District Roads Engineer, in which capacity he undertook much of the pioneer road and bridge work in the district. In 1901 lie was appointed District Roads Engineer for the Wellington district, and retained that position until his retirement. in 1909. BRUSHES WITH THE MAORIS. For many years Mr. Robinson has resided with his daughter, Mrs. L. Hansen, whose address is 102 Leinster Road, Christchurch. He is in the best of health. In spite of his 90 years he is a keen gardening enthusiast, and he takes a lively interest in all topical matters, especially anything relating to Taranaki, where he spent so many useful years. Mr. Robinson has vivid memories of the building of the Bell Block redoubt and the battles of Puketakuere, Huirangi and Mahoetalii. In February,

1859, he joined the Bell Block squad of the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers In February and March, 1860, the Bell Block settlers, knowing that there would soon be trouble with the Maoris, went into the. bush, which was then close at hand, and cut down small trees, such as kuhekohe and tawa, about • 20i't. long and Ift. diameter, and Mr. Robinion assisted in carting them out to the site of the future blockhouse. Here a deep trench was dug and the tree trunks were placed side by side.on end and rammed securely, the tops projecting about’ 12ft. There was no time to. split palings or shingles for the roof, and so the blockhouse had no. roof until the following Juno, when timber and shingle were obtained from Nelsen. ■ A deep and wide trench was dug outside the walls, the earth being thrown against the walls to make theni bulletproof. To keep out the rain, winnowing sheets were stretched across the walls, but these sagged and let iii the wet. The garrison lay on straw on the levelled and tamped clay. SKIRMISHES AT BELL BLOCK. As the Bell Block stockade was the northern outpost and. right amongst the enemy there were frequent skirmishes, and Mr. Robinson having lived in the I district for nearly five years and hav-

ing had at times to hunt for cattle which had strayed through broken fences, knew nearly every track in the surrounding country, and was called upon to guide and lead foraging parties of troops, etc. He was present and took part in the battles of Puketakuere, Huirangi and Mahoetahi.

The first of these was near to where the railway line crosses Devon road before going down Big Jim’s hili'to Waitara. Major Nelson had command of about 350 men of the 40th Regiment, and Captain Seymour, of the Pelorus, had charge of about 50 sailors. Of this force 29 were killed and 34 wounded. Mr. Robinson was with the guns (241 b. howitzers), his dray being loaded with round shot and shell, so he had to keep close behind them wherever they went. After opening fire on the pa at about 300 yards they gradually closed up to about 180 yards, and there blazed away for about two hours, when they were overpowered by the Maoris and driven back.

At the township of Huirangi, about where the township is now, Mr. Robinson was one of a party of about 50 Rifle Volunteers who were permitted to accompany the troops. They burned three empty pas on their route, had several brushes with the Maoris, and retired when it was time to go home, leaving the Maoris in possession. Mr. Robinson received his medal for this affair, as General Pratt was present. From March, 1860, to March, 1861, Mr. Robinson was stationed at Bell Block. The fights with the Maoris might average two a week. Sometimes they were of daily occurrence, when Maori parties would try to drive the settlers’ stock away, or when they set fire to and burned a settler’s house down.