PIONEER SURVEYOR’S DEATH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 17 January 1931, Page 3

PIONEER SURVEYOR’S DEATH

EARLY DAYS RECALLED The dcatii occurred at Auckland this week of Mr Peter Edward C'lieal, one of New Zealand’s pioneers and best known surveyors, at the age of 85 years. He was prominently connected 'with the original surveys of the Waikato and Tarnaki districts. Arriving at Auckland in 1865 from London. Mr Chcal was first engaged in clerical work, and after being connected with a sawmill venture on the border °f <be King Country, entered the Survey Office in Auckland. On the removal of the Department to Wellington, he carried on as a private

draughtsman. On the opening of the goldfields in 18(17, Mr Clieal went to Thames, and stayed there for three years. In .1870, he resumed the practice of his profession at Thames, where he stayed till 1874, when lie joined the Survey Department of the Taranaki Provincial Government. He remained in the service of the New Zealand Government when the Provincial Governments were abolished. Subsequently came the very stirring period of Mr Cheat's life (states the "New Zealand Herald”). He surveyed tile Waimate Plains railway, and from 1874 until 1878 was engaged in survey operations connected with the opening for settlement of the country around Mount Egmont, which involved much laborious work in heavy bush. Strife came when in 1879 Air Cheat was in charge of a survey party laying out lands on the Waimate Plains. The Native owners, finding that the surveyors had not been instructed to provide reserves for them, and acting under instructions from their leaders. Tc Wniti and Toliu, had Mr Clieal and lih stall' placed in carts and removed from the. plains. Thereupon SOO men of the- Armed Constabulary were sent to the district, and under cover of their rifles and with camps protected by riflepits, the surveyors resumed work. The Maoris then started ploughing up the properties of settlers, beginning from the New Plymouth end. As the Grey Government, which was then in olliee, took no action, the settlers armed themselves, and formed what became known as “the TTawera Republic” giving notice to the Government that if ft did not shift the Maori trespassers they would do so. On three separate days they had scuffles with the Maori ploughmen, and put them and their ploughs into drays, carried them across the Waingongoro River and deposited them upon land of their owi:

Mr Cl eal at that time was a member of the Ha worn Cavalry, and took an arrive part in all the proceedings. Finally the Government sent a force of Armed Constabulary, who arrested and deported KlO trespassing Natives, conveying them in coaches under escort to Pa tea. After trial the trespassers were sentenced to terms of imprisonment, from which the Trail Ministry, which had replaced the Grey Government, released them in the following year. These disturbances wore the forerunner of those of November, 1881, when the Parihaka Maoris made fresh trouble, and the Hon. John Bryce, as Minister of Native Affairs, headed another expedition of constabulary and volunteers to the Parihaka Pa, and arrested Tc Whiti and Toliu as the ringleaders. In 18S0 Mr Chcal returned to Thames in charge of the local survey office. There he remained until 1880, when he left the Government service and made his home 'in Auckland. In his later years lie was best known as the energetic chairman of the Auckland Railways League. Air Clieal is survived by his widow and two tons and two daughters. There arc six grandchildren.