A VERY OLD COLONIST.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 658, 12 August 1921, Page 5

A VERY OLD COLONIST.

One of the old pioneers who helped in the moulding of the Dominion and who braved the stress and storm of its early struggles has passed away in the person of Mr Ralph Gracie, of Waiuku, at the age of 98 years. For 72 years he has been a colonist and his long life has been one of interest and usefulness. Born in Edinburgh in 1823, Mr Gracie emigrated when a boy to Tasmania, and a few years later came to New Zealand. A shipwright by trade, ho followed his occupation for many years. He built the first church at Te Awamutu, the old mission station building in that township. After two years’ residence at Te Awamutu he moved to Waiuku and took up a 10acre farm, adjoining Colonel Haultain’s property, and known as ‘’lnglewood Forest Farm.” Mr Gracie was all through the Maori War, having charge of the Government stores and

A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. A few months ago a representative of the Times interviewed the late Mr Gi acie and wrote up the following biographichal sketch, which contains many interesting paragraphs. We publish‘that article below, together with a photograph of this remarkable old colonist taken at that time. As the publication of the history and experiences of our old identities is without a doubt going to be a matter of considerable interest, and likely he the means of many unrecorded incidents worthy of mention. I therefore have taken upon myself to interview one of Waiuku’s oldest pioneers, and whose narrative, I think, is worthy of publication. Mr. Ralph Gracie, whose age is now 98. has a wonderful memory of the past, and for his age is very active. He walks into Waiuku two or three times a week for the mail and provisions, the return journey being about four miles. He lives by himself at “Pura Pura,” where he first settled down in 1855. and nothing could induce him to leave the old snot until carried away. Mr. Gracie says: “We arrived in Auckland in June, .1851, by a little trading vessel called the Isabella from Tasmania. I was married only four months before arrival. When we got to Auckland we found the place practically deserted, as the people had been 'attracted away by the Californian gold diggings. I and another arranged with the _ (Sir George Grey) to go to the Waikato to erect flour mills, the first being erected at Maungatawhirie and continued at that occupation for over throe years, and iiu. ing tha t time Bishop' Selwyn gave me a written prooosition to go and reside on Mor-k-azvs Mission 'Station. “Otawhao.” and erect buildings. This block of land was handed over to the-bishop to administer ior the natives. the bishop used to come through overbad 'from Wellington, and walked the distance. The scheme was not a success, as just at that time tha New Zealand' Government altered its c< institution. “When a Crown Colony the Mission was allowed 27000 for native wurpeses, Mr. Ewingtou and Mr. TjpVon being two of the trustees on behalf of Bishop Selwyn, and owing

Death of Mr. Ralph Grade, AT AGE OF NINETY-EIGHT YEARS, Interesting Biographical SKeich.

acting as guide to the soldiers. The first cheese factory and public hall and the first two churches at Waiuku were built by him. Mr Gracie married the youngest daughter of Mr Murdoch McKmlay, of Edinburgh. Of a family of nine, five sons and four daughters, seven are still living. His grandchildren number 89, while there are oyer 80 great grandchildren. Mrs Gracie predeceased her husband 20 years ago. Mr Gracie resided at Waiuku until. 11 months ago, .when owing to advancing years he moved to town to reside with his son. He retained his faculties right to the last, being able to read without the aid of glasses. So now, ‘'after life’s fitful fever, ire sleeps well” regretted and respected by all who" knew him. His life stands as a record of the history of this district and he nobly played his part.

to circumstances all work was stopped. This place is now Te Awamutu, and great trouble was experienced in getting stores there, goods having to be left on the bank of the river and gathered from there. ‘‘On account of my wife I decided to give the work up, and get nearer civilisation, as Waiuku then had great prospects, a very large amount of trade going through there to the Waikato Heads. As a large number of speculators were purchasing land at ‘ ; Pura Pura,” at the first land sale i got a piece there and settled down, and have resided there ever since/ except, of course, when away working. fdaori War. ‘T remember in 1830 the war broke out in Taranaki, and righting continued for about 18 months, Governor Brown being removed and Sir George Grey being recalled to establish peace. -The dispute being over a block of land, it was referred to the Home Government, who disapproved of Governor Brown’s work, and ordered the land to be handed over to the natives again. “In 1883 I was in the Government employ, and went right through the war, " being employed in ship and boat building. At that time the difficulty was. to follow and keep the supply of scores up, owing to no suitable boats being available. “The Korahia (Korahia?) was _ the first gunboat launched, and 1 helped to bubd this boat from the start, and went un the river in it the first trio. When we get to Ngawhai a little 'steamer called, the Avon we found had got snagged and sunk, and I, with the assistance of a gang of bluejackets and soldiers, got her lip again. When repaired she started running again carrying stores. An ljn!:i«ky Shot, “About the -second trip, l still behur on hom'd the Koruiua, t he to ’yve else four bluejackets and an officer named Estor from the eominoom eh flagship Cosrasoa in \v hen going up the second t v : • • the ;'ce was swarming with nrtu.os.. but 1 he instructions wove not to into, to •« w : th any native.? unless c I. e natives a 1 tacked them. “Going up and on the iei t mo.e we a pa:ty of natives armed and standing cn the bank io.Ainv at ur. and whatever induced the ohicer

in charge to do so I cannot imagine: but Ester iired a shot at the natives. The natives did not reply at the time, but I, knowing the custom of the natives., told the bluejackets what a foolish thing it was to do, and that we should know more about that shot when v/e came back, and sure enough this proved correct. When at Ngawhaia we picked up two more young officers,. and after landing our stores started again for the Waikato Heads, the other two young fellows going with us, one being named Mitchell, a lieutenant. When nearing the same place a number of natives could be seen waiting there, some trying to hide themselves, which I knew to be a bad sign. Estor, the officer in charge, was on the bridge, and .with him were Lieutenant Mitchell and the ether young fellow, their attention being drawn to the natives hiding on the bank. “Lieutenant Mitchell turned round to look, and as he did so an accurate shot from a native’s rifie struck him fair in the breast and killed him. These young fellows know nothing of" the shooting incident upon the up trip. I was the only civilian on board, and it was mentioned on board that nothing was to be said about the shooting at the natives, as it would mean a court-martial. The body Kvas taken back to Ngawhai for burial. “We still continued carrying stores up the liver until after the last stand taken by the natives. That was the Orakau fight. Then they broke away in small parties. “I continued in the Government employ as long as the war lasted in the Waikato, "and left their employ about the end of 1885, and came home to my family and started at my own 1 calling, carpentry and building. “On the 11th of June, 1901, when Waiuku was almost deserted, the people being away in Auckland witnessing the visit of. Royalty, I lost my wife, suddenly, and not a soul near beyond myself. “I noticed by the papers some little time ago that our late Governor (Lord Liverpool) mentioned iniedents of the war gathered from his father, amongst which appeared a word about the shooting incident upon the Waikato, which I have spoken about, and I believe the actual facts were never fully made known.’'