OBITUARY

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4465, 14 June 1930, Page 3

OBITUARY

FRAN JIB R O BTNSON —A ETA T 83 YEAR'S. There passed peacefully away in his sleep last night at his home, “Pi Kutuku,” Herringtpn, Beach Road, Francis Robinsou, J.P., aged 83 years. The deceased had enjoyed good health up to a. few weeks ago and last night he sat up listening to the wireless-'programme till about 10 o'clock. His passing took place a short distance from the place of his birth,, on the Herrington estate. He’ ’was educated at Christ College, Christchurch, and upon his return- from school assisted in the management of I lie Herrington estate. ; Fifty-I wo years ago lie married Aliss Annie line, of New South Wales and-set tied in the Carnarvon district, where he broke in a large area of country. Tie left that estate about 15 years ago to live in retirement at bis charming residence which lie erected on the Herrington estate on the Beach Road, la Iris youth he was a noted horseman, athlete and polo player. He was interested in all branches of sport, was a member of the Alaiiawa.lu Racecourse Trustees and one of t lit* founders of Ihe Foxton Racing Club of which he was patron; patron of the Foxton Football Club and •Horticultural Society and in fact never refused assistance to any deserving object, bul shrank from publicity in Ihe giving. He was a member of the Maiiawatii County Council many years ago, but. declined to take a prominent part in public affairs. He was a. devoted churchman, serving on the vestry oil All Saints’ Church both as synodsman and vicar’s warden. His only son, Francis, made the supreme sacrifice in the Gt-eal War. It can lie truly said of him that he was beloved by all — both pake.hn and Maori —a man who never made an enemy nor was ii his nature lo give offence to his fellows. A widow and six daughters (.Mesdames K. C. White, Hustings, A. E. Flower, Christchurch, 0. S. Robertson, Wellington, F. A. Mason and Afisses F. M. and A. G. Robinson, Foxton) and two brothers, Messrs John and Charles Robinson, together with a number of grand and greatgrand children are left to mourn their loss. In common with the public thro ugh on I Die district we lender our sympathy to the family and pay tribute to the memory of a grand old pioneer and Ohristian gentleman.

Deceased was the eldest son of the late Captain Robinson, J.P., one of the first settlers in this district. The lale Captain Robinson was in the Marine Service during his younger days, afterwards acting as paymaster in Bombay from which position lie was compelled to retire owing to ill health. He. came to New Zealand, landing al Wellington in 1841 per ship “Afanda.rin” and became one of the first colonists in the Manawalii dislriel. After a short residence in Wellington, Captain Robinson came to Foxton where be subsequently settled permanently after a short visit to Auslralia, taking over 400 acres of .and in Foxton which he had puri liascd in London before coming to (lie colony. Immediately lie look possession of bis land ffe proceeded with the work of a pioneer settler. Subsequently lie took a Maori lease of about 20,000 acres, being portion of (he Himatnngi block. This block must have originally been heavy bush as timber has frequently been found embedded in the litrlli in the process of digging wells in subsequent years. (Deceased’s father spent a. great deal of money in draining, the swamp being so soft in many places that, it was necessary to pul down planks for (he men to stand upon he fore the drains could he const meted. To the late Captain Robinson, Foxton is indebted for the early progress of the district. He was a successful settler and always prominent in furthering the welfare of the district. Captain Robinson was chairman of the Old Foxton Road Board, at that time tlu* only local body in existence in I his disl riel. His death took place in November, 1888 at Hie advanced age of 82 when he left six sons and lour daughters of whom Iho late Francis Robinson was the eldest.