Old Identities.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1693, 27 April 1886, Page 2

Old Identities.

A good many old identities have been unearthed through the signing of Sir George Grey's birthday address. Mr H, W. Haybittle. of Palmerston North, Mauawatn, writes to say that he notices from files of the Herald that, so far, Thomas Scott (1836) carries off the palm. He states that he knows an old man named William. Shearer, living at Palmerston, who came to Wellington m 1835, and has since lived continuously m the North. Mr Haybittle thinks Mr Shearer should have a chance of signing the address, m order to beat Thos. Scott's record. Shearer came to New Zealand as third>-fnate on board the barque Australia, commanded by Captain W. B. Rhodes, the latter gentleman being well-known to Sir George Grey. Mr Haybittle will probably collapse m his well-meant efforts, when he is informed that Mr Peter Greenhill, of Mahaurangi Heads, has sent m his sheet. He was m this colony m 1829, and returned to settle here m 1835. There remains now but a brief period till the presentation of the address, and if Mr Haybittle, or " any other man," cau beat the Greenhill record, let him come on. In a subsequent issue of the Herald " Fact" writes as follows : — " In reference to the paragraph m to-day's Herald Arietit the old identities who hnvo signed Sir George Gr«y^s birthday address, perhaps it is not generally known that;; Mr John Fairburrif of Otahuhu, has signed it, with the addition of ' native bom, 1823.' This, I fancy 'beats the Greenhill record.'