Obituary.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5650, 21 June 1886, Page 4

Obituary.

THE LATE EOBEET WILKIN. 1 The announcement of the death of I Eobert Wilkin will meet with an echo of I deep regret in the heart; of every Canterbury reeident who has any knowledge of the sterling worth and uprightness of the ' deceased gentleman's character, or of the r work ho has done for the public good, r more especially in advancing the agrieul- , tural and pastoral interests of a district in which thoae interests are of paramount importance. Itisknownthatforthe pastfour ' years Mr Wilkin has been in failing health ; 3 a rheumatic affection, from which he had » suffered more or less since he was 16 years r of age, had become more pronounced in its [ effects aa his years advanced. Bub it was only ten days ago that a sharp attack of " his old enemy confined him to his room. k After a week's suffering his medical attend- - ant hold out no hopes of his recovery, and at 4 o'clock on Sunday morning Robert j Wilkin breathed his last, at his residence, "Holmwood," Fendalton. An admirable eketch of Mr Wilkin'e career is J given by Mr A. Cox in Mb " Me» I of Mark of New Zealand," and as it r has the merit of having been revised by , Mr Wilkin himself, we may be excused ■ for reproducing it here :—" Robert Wilkin waa born at Tinwald Downs, Dumfries, 1 Scotland, on Jan. 20, 1820. Hia father, ' James Wilkin, was a leading farmer in t Dumf rieshire. His mother, Rachel Douglas s Laurie, was a daughter of the parish minister at Tinwald. He attended for eeven ' years the Dumfries Academy— a good and ' well-known classical school, under the > management of the Town Council. Thence . he went to Edinburgh University, and attended such classes as were thought likely to be useful iri the occupation of farming. In the year 1830 he sailed for Melbourne in the Midlothian, the first English ship that ever reached Melbourne direct. Going on in the came ship to Sydney, New South Walee, he immediately afterwards went up to the Namoi river, in the district of Liverpool Plains, where, for several years, . he had charge of stations belonging to Mr George Hobler. He afterwards removed to the Richmond river, and, in conjunction with two other young men, took up a station. Subsequently he went to the Colony of Queensland, where he acquired and held Btations in the Burnett district. In tlie year 1858 he became a New Zealand Colonist, 1 selecting Canterbury as the scene of his future work. He had previously been ap- ! pointed a Magistrate for Port Phillip, 1 upon the recommendation of Mr La Trobe, ■ the Resident Government Agent in Mcl- , bourne. Mr Wilkin had not long been in Canterbury when he was a«ked to join the \ Provincial Executive by Mr Moorhouse, ' who was at that time Superintendent of i the Province. This position he accepted ! and retained for some years. He sat in the Provincial Council for many sessions as , member for Timaru, and also in the General Assembly as member for Kaiapoi. When the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association wae founded, in 1863, he was elected its first President, and has been more or lees connected with > that Institution ever since. About fifteen years ago, in addition to pastoral pursuits, in which ho was co largely engaged, he entered into business Ift iJe r eft>t<J Street, Christchurch. He lias made msre than ono trip to the Old Country and the neighbouring Colonies siuce he firet came to New Zealand. . . On one of the occasions of hia taking leave of his friends who had gathered to wish him God Bpeed, Sir John Hall, then Premier of the Colony, spoke of him as ' one of the beet Colonists and moat worthy men Canterbury ha 3 numbered among her settlers.'" In this memoir we may add that, in Australia, Mr Wilkin was station manager for Redfern, Alexander and Co. He was their trusted servant, and exceedingly successful in his management. When he came to Canterbury Mr Wilkin was accompanied by his brother. He purchased "Avon Park " from the original owner, Mr Todd, and subsequently acquired St Leonard's Station in partnership with the late Mr R. H. Rhodes. In 18GG he took up some country near Wanaka, with Mr A. Thompson, his wife's uncle, and the following year paid a visit to England. In 1869 he returned aud commenced business as general merchant in Christchurch. In hia business relations his probity and sense of justice to others set a bright example to all engaged in. similar pursuits. In politics Mr Wilkin was not remarkable for oratory, but he was able to give valuable advice and assistance on many important occasions. When William Sefton Moorhouse was fighting for the tunnel, Mr Wilkin was ona of his right hand men, and will be remembered with honour as a member of the Government which aid so much to develop the commerce of Canterbury. In May, 1878, just before Mr Wilkin paid another visit to the Old Country, he was banquetted by the citizens of Christchurck, and, on their behalf, presented with a testimonial. The portrait which now hangß above the mantelpiece in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's rooms, ia an excellent copy of the original painting by Norman M'Beth, which was the city's gift to Mr Wilkin. So long as the Agricultural and Pastoral Association of Canterbury shall exist, this portrait in its rooms will serve to keep before the minds of members in future years the form and features of one who has not inaptly been described as "the father" of this Association. It may truly be said, also, that it is largely owing to Mr Wilkin's labour and wisdom that the Agricultural and Pastoral Association has risen to the high position it now occupies in the Colony. Alter ho was incapacitated from active work, Mr Wilkin still continued to take a lively interest in the affairs of the Association, and only shortly before hia death he was eleoted Patron in conjunction with Mr George Gould. Almost to the last he was , a contributor to the columns of the " New , Zealand Country Journal." As an importer and breeder of stock Mr Wilkin ', earned a well deserved celebrity. He was one of the founders of the Middlepark Stud '. Company, and of late years had devoted i himself especially to the importation of i American trotting horses, amongst them , the celebrated sire Berlin. In conclusion, , it can only be said that by the death , of Robert Wilkin Canterbury has lost ) one of her most esteemed settlers. His , publio character was well described by ; Sir John Hall at the banquet in 1878. Sir [ 1 John said t-r-" He might ask what public in- [ Btitution was there to which Mr Wilkin , was not willing to lend a helping hand ; , what movement did not receive his cheerr ful aid; who more willing to disregard k trouble and give the benefit of his mature , experience to any difficulty requiring wise t consideration ? There was no man more j referred to than Mr Wilkin, none whose ■ opinion was more esteemed in deciding J what was right between man and man." i In private life Mr Wilkin was remarkable for his unostentatious generosity | which led him to relieve distress j ungrudgingly, though in secret, while by 5 a large circle of friends he was highly esteemed for his amiable disposition and J genial social qualities. In religion he wag I a Presbyterian, and was one of the oldest and most prominent members of St Andrew's congregation, in whose welfare | he took a deep interest. Mr Wilkin waa j 60 years of age at the time of his death. > =====