NATIVE-BORN PIONEER

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1934, Page 9

NATIVE-BORN PIONEER

95 YEARS AT MOTUROA YEAR BEFORE THE “FIRST SHIP.” ANNIVERSARY OF MRS. R. B. HART. PRIVATE NURSE FOR 60 YEARS.

An anniversary of particular interest to New Plymouth is that of the birthday of Mrs. R. B. Hart, Bell Block, who enters her 95th. year to-day. She was born at Moturoa in 1840pthe daughter of Mr. Joseph Robinson, one of the early whalers of New Zealand.

As the pioneer ship came to New Plymouth in 1841, the birth of Miss Robinson ante-dated that event by one year. She may therefore claim to be one of the first white children bom at New Plymouth and Taranaki’s oldest nativeborn living resident. The Robinson family after their arrival from Wellington settled on land on Barrett Road, in the area known as the “Whalers’ Gate.” Except for a few years at Nelson during the Maori War Mrs. Hart has spent the whole of her long life in the neighbourhood of New Plymouth. For 60 years she was a private nurse, a record of service perhaps unexcelled in New Zealand.

Sympathetic and kindly in character, Mrs. Hart has won the appreciation of the wide circle with which she has come in contact. Recently she has been mainly confined to her bed in consequence of an accident she suffered. Nevertheless she retains the force of a friendly personality and a fund of fascinating reminiscence.

Mrs. Hart has had 12 children, of whom four sons and four daughters are still living: Three sons live at New Plymouth and a son and daughter at Sydney. The other daughters live at Avondale, Eltham and Fitzroy. A private celebration of Mrs. Hart’s birthday will be held to-day.