THE LATE MR R. BOOTH.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 12 March 1919, Page 3

THE LATE MR R. BOOTH.

By the death of Mr Richard -Booth, of Otaki, at tlio ripe age of 8-1, a fine personality and pioiiecr has parsed away. "Mr-Booth, with-his brother, the late Mr James Booth, S.M., of Gisborne, came'to this country from England in the early fifties. After a short stay in Wanganui he took up farming at Pipiriki, on the Wanganui river, at Kapuka, just above where Mr Hatrick's Pipiriki House now stands. To give an idea of the difficulties the early settlers had to contend with, Mr Booth, assisted by the Maoris, drove his cattle along the "banks of the Wanganui river, following the native tracks as'for as possible, with occasional crossing of the river, in which the drivers had to bring canoes into operation, and after days of careful handling, overcoming considerable difficulties, the first stock to reach Pipiriki were those, of Mr Booth. The sheep were transported up by the. Maoris in canoes. Mr Booth, who was a man of powerful physique, was considered by the Maoris as one of I the ablest men on the river with paddle or pole. Besides his farming interest lie also . took charge of the fiourraill owned by the Maoris for milling the wheat which was then extensively cultivated in those days on the old site of Pipiriki, on the opposite side of the water to the present township (which unfortunately.now has been allowed to encumber with gorse and other growing pests). One looking at the site nowadays of the old and oxtonsiws cultivation can hardly credit what productive land this originally was. Owing .to native troubles in the year ISGI Mr Booth had to reliquisk and leave bohind everything he possessed to the invading Haiihaus. Mr James Booth at

this time was stationed at Pipiriki as native agent, and he and his brother, Mr Richard, who were fluent Maori scholar*, exercised considerable influence over the natives on the river, but a taua, or fighting party of Hauhaus, led by tlio fanatical chief 'fe Ua, decided as utu for relatives killed in the TnraiKiki district to massacre the two Booths and their respective families. However, to the good oftiees of a friendly chief they'were allowed to escape by night with their children, eventually reaching "Wanganui, to the surprise of the then sparse inhabitants, who had received intelligence that they had all been slaughtered. Subsequently Mr Booth .for some years managed Kawau for Sir George Grey, later on being appointed assistant native lands purchase officer. He eventually retired,' and taking tip land near Otaki of lato years- ho has lived in quiet retirement with his daughter and her husband, Mr "Walter Best. The above is an object' lesson to the younger generation that these stout hearts had to contend against in these old strenuous times. Mr Booth leaves a family of three-

Mr Wm. Booth,, farmer, Otaki; Mrs Best, of Otaki; and Mrs Guy Eingdon, of Manakau.