A PIONEER PASSES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 7

A PIONEER PASSES

. I'Hfi LATE M. N. E. BEAMISH ' Oi' STOKE YCitOIT. The death is recorded at Sloneycroft, in his 93rd year, of Mr.' Nathaniel Evanson Beamish, a very old settler. The late Mr. Nathaniel Evanson Beamish, with his father and mother, brother and wife, and four sisters, arrived iu New Zealand in 1850. After a short residence in Lyttelton ho was appointed by the late Hon.,W. B. Rhodes, of Wellington, as manager of the Heaton Park Estate, in the Kangitik&i and Turakina district, The country in those days was absolutely in a state of nature—no roads or bridges, and the sea beach was the Queen's highway between Paeknkariki, Wellington, and Wanganui. In a few years he had erected a duelling and outbuildings and yards for sheep and cattle, under much difficulty, and fot a, considerable guantity of land cleared, ploughed, and laid down in pasture. The fat stock of the station found a ready market in Wellington and Wanganyi, where Imperial troops wero quartered in those days, lii the early 'sixties war broke out between the Government and the Natives in Taranaki, and Mr. Beamish look an active part with the other settlers of Tnrakiiu in adopting prompt measures for their mutual protection. After about sixteen years of hard work Mr. Beamish resigned the managership of Heaton Park in favour of Mr. Robert Wilson; and haying purchased- land near Marlon was iu progress of settling down thero when the Poverty Bay massacre took - place, led by To Kooti. AmoiiK tho victims of that tragic event were tho Wilson family of fire persons, only one little boy of llireo years of age, tho present Mr. J. C. Wilson, surveyor, of Hawke's Bay, surviving. Mr. Beamish was then requested by the late Mr. Thtjmas Lowry to come and take over the management of the Okawa property. He brought his wife and six children over the Ruahino Mountain, which was tho only and most direct route between the West and East; Coast in those days, a rough and dangerous track. Leaving his house on January 26, 1870, the first, -night's camp waa on the Palmerston fUbi, and this family wero the only people on the flat thainight. They arrived at Waipukurau on the evening of tho fifth day's riding, without' any particular drawback except for one tropical shower, which drenched everything. During his residence a,t Turaiina, Mr. Beamish's father, and mother died tliero, and his four sisters were married, one to tlio late Or. Heweon, of Otaki, another to the lale Rev. Heniry Ellis, of Auckland, another to tho late Mr. Thomas Lowry, of Okawa, Hawke's Bay, and tho fourth to tho late Lieutenant .lames Wilson, of tho Colonial Forces, Poverty Bay, one of the victims of tho massacre. During Mr. Beamish's residence at Turakina he was deputy postmaster at his house for a few years, and was presented, by his fellowsettlers with n testimonial and a puree of sovereigns in recognition of his services to them. While residing at Okawa ho was member and occasionally chairman of the Okawa Road Board, until it wa.s merged in the Hawke's Bay County Council. After twenty years as mauager (nino years of which lie was managing trustee), Mr, T. 11. Lowry attained, his majority and camo into possession of fho Okawa Estate. In the 'soventies Air. Beamish acquired the freehold: of tho Whana Whatia irun from tho Natives, and in 1907 divided it amongst his sons and daughters. He married I.Oliza belli, eldest daughter of the lata Mr. William Couper, of Kahuranaki and Havelock North. On leaving Okawa in 1890 he purchased the Sloneycroft property near Hastings, where he had resided up to tho time of his decease. The members of his family who survive him aro four sons—Messrs. William Beamish, Georgo Beamish, Nat. Beamish, and Ilenry Beamish; and two daughters—Mrs. A. 11. Walliij and Mi's. Barcroft. His wife.predeceased him in February, 1912,