THE LATE MR ROBERT GREENWOOD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8586, 25 September 1889, Page 2

THE LATE MR ROBERT GREENWOOD.

Wb are indebted to an esteemed correspondent for the following interesting obituary notice o£ the late Mr Robert Greenwood, who died last week at the residence of Captain Good, at Oeo :— You had the painful duty last week of recording the death of another of the ever lessening number of old identities, and one who had done his full share in the arduous pioneer work that all the early settlers had to undergo. Robert Greenwood passed away quietly to his rest on Sunday, September 14tb, at the advanoed age of 92 years, at tbe residenoe of Captain Good, of Oeo, attended to the last with loving care and sympathy. Sprung from a good old English family, his love of sport, which is every true Briton's birthright, was great. He was a keen sportsman, and to the very last hie interest in field sports and lovo of outdoor exercise was unabated. Many a time have I seen him going for his daily walk of 12, 16, or 20 miles, with firm step and jo ml mien, when he was close to his 90th year. As illustrating his powers oC endurance at an advanoed age, I may mention that the last time he visited New Plymouth —so»ne three or four years ago, being then in his 89th year —he rode thiough from Oeo to Omata on horseback, n distance of over 50 miles. Mr Robert Greenwood's family came of a long-lived race. His elder brother followed the hounds until he was over 70 years of age, and then went afoot with his dog and gun up to 84, and died at the patriarchal age of 94. His younger brother, also a great Nimrod, died at the advanced age of 88 years. In Oalmady Terrace (on the banks of the Henui), New Plymouth preserves the name of his sister, Lady Calmady, one of those who took a leading part in the foundation of the settlement of New Plymouth. Mr Robert Greenwood, after his school education, went to Cambridge University, where he graduated. He was there contemporaneously with the late Dr. Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand, and I have heard him state that he witnessed the first University boat race, which was rowed at Henley as far back as 1829, and in which his friend Selwyn took part. In early life Mr Greenwood waß employed in mercantile pursuits ia connection with his father's business, who was an Amerioan merchant at the close of the last and beginning of the present century, and was also the head of the firm of what is now styled Baring Bros. & Co., the eminent London bankers. Mr Greenwood came out to N»w Zealand in 1850. in the barque Poiotiers. He purchased land on the Tataraimaka Blook, whioh about this time was offered for sale by the New Zealand Company, and with the late Mr G.Catfield, Mr James Pearoe, Mr Oxenham, the late Mr Thomas Bayly, and other well known old settlers, set to work to make homes for themselves ia that —in those days at least —beautiful picturesque district. On hostilities commencing with the natives, in 1860, these happy homeß and the labour of ten years were roughly taken from them, and the families were driven into New Plymouth. The last 25 years of Mr Greenwood's life waß passed with Captain Good at Urenui and afterwards at Oeo. The death of his youngoßt son, Mr bidney, was a blow from whioh he never quite recevered. Mr William Greenwood, the only other surviving ion. was once in business in New Ply mouth j and is well known to all old Taranaki folk. He is now living at Greymouth.