OBITUARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6887, 24 June 1890, Page 3

OBITUARY.

Robert Wilson. Aged Seventy-two. One of Canterbury's earliest settlen passed away yesterday morning in the person of Mr Robert Wilson, a well-known and highly -respected farmer, who has earned the golden opinions of his fellow Colonists ever since his arrival here. Mi Wilson was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1819, and lived in the pariah in which the Eev H. Ward, father ot" the late Messrs Crosbie, Hamilton, Edward and Henry Ward, officiated a3 incumbent. It was in consequence of the younger members of this family coming out to New Zealand in 1850 that Mr Wilson (who was then thirty-one years of age, married and had three children) was induced to try this Colony for bis future home, and he embarked in the ship Charlotte Jane, which arrived here on the evening of Dec. 16, 1850.' Mr Wilson at once entered into the employ of the Messrs E , H. aud Hamilton War 3, who leased Quail Island, and he remained in their employ for about twelve months, his previous knowledge of boating and boat building standing him in good 3tead for the many necessary trips across the harbour. Mr Wilson subsequently built a boat of his own, and, finding an opening for the trade, commenced to carry fire° wood from Mr A. Dobb's bush at Governor's Bay to Lyttelton, which proved a remunerative employment at that time. During this time he constructed a flat-bottomed rowing boat for pleasure purposes, and Mr Wilson, with Messrs E. and H. Ward and M'Cormick, were the first to row a boat race in Lyttelton harbour, when they challenged some of the crews in port, and despite the sarcasm indulged in at the expense of what tho sailors chose to term "Wilson's punt," they had the satisfaction of winning every race they rowed, as the clumsy gigs and dingeys with which ships were provided, and the long oars, were not conducive to speed. Subsequently, Mr Wilson undertook the management of the Heathcote Perry for Mr James Townsend, who had the lease of it at the time and resided near. He held this post for about a couple of years, during which time he bought a section of rich land at the Seven Mile Peg on the North road, and when he gave up the work at the ferry, owing to change of lessee, he went to live on this farm, where he has resided ever since. Prom twenty- five acres at first secured, Mr Wilson gradually increased his property till there is now in the family over 150 acres in the locality, all being the best land conceivable. Here he devoted himself to farming, for which he had a thorough Home training, and he has given his sons the advantage of his knowledge, and, so soon as they were old enough, he placed them on farm 3of their own. He also secured a large block of land in the district of Sefton, on which two of the family now reside. The family consists of two married and three Bingle sons, and one married daughter, Mrs Wilson having pre-deceased her husband about fourteen years ago. The whole of the survivors were present at his death-bed yesterday. He also leaves nineteen grandchildren. Mr Wilson was brought up a Presbyterian at Home, and was a regular attendant at the Papanui Sunday School ever since he went to reside oh the North road. He used to take great delight in teaching the young and, when he was prevented from going so far as Papanui, he would walk down to the school on the North road and give assistance there rather than be idle. He enjoyed robust health till about six months ago, when a general breaking up took place, and despite the best medical advice and. attendance he has been a thorough invalid since, having been closely confined to his bed for the past two months. The funeral takes place to-morrow in the Lyttelton Cemetery, where Mrs Wilson's remains lie. It will leave the house at eleven, and be conveyed by the 25 p.m. train to Lyttelton.