A REMINISCENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 28 December 1907, Page 2

A REMINISCENCE.

This item may interest old Foxtonites. While our representative was on a visit to Pahiatua this week he happened across.. a. sturdy looking man, nearly fitt; high, grey-bearded, a face with hospitality . writ large all over it, in fine, one of the old pioneers; His name was Robinson but not related to our-grand old Herrington family. Yes/ he settled in Foxton on a chunk of earth nearby Neylon’s or Nye’s. Anyhow, one of the Herrington Robinsons now* own the land. Built a nice home and kept cows, pigs and poultry His wife and. two children lived with him and k * young “ chap,’' think Gingell was>£.' his name, was working for In 1880 a big flood rose the Manawatu which overflowed**? the land. The water rose inch by inch in Robinson’s home. The wife' and children were taken' out to a place of temporary safety, “When Symons and I left the house, the water was up to our chins.” The water rose higher and higher, lifted the house and all its contents clean off the foundations and sent it sailing down the current. “They thought the ferry wires at the bend would arrest its course but it went through them as if they had been silken threads.” The house broke asunder near Herrington and the effects “ went,sailing o’er the tide.” The safety of Robinson’s wife and children,! however, was his consideration. He placed them a canoe. His employee was at the 1 bow and Robinson steered. In- V |j to the rushing muddy iorrent they were swept. Then -jj a thrilling incident occurred An « enormous totara log was ahead 1 of them, a collision with which f meant death, at least to some of the party. By an airport superhuman effort, Robinson managed to just clear the log. The impressions of that awful time Will never be effaced from the memory of Robinson or his wife, He spoke of the open-hearted hospitality of . the ' settlers and Maoris in, those days/. Robinson still has a love for F<xx% ton, but his 4 better-half is happier elsewhere.' Mr and Mrs Robinson -.. have come triumphantly all their troubles, and have givenM to the dominion a splendid of sons and daughters. . ..