PASSING OF A PIONEER

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 542, 22 June 1920, Page 2

PASSING OF A PIONEER

MR. ROBERT JOHNSTON.

One of the earliest pioneers of Franklin, Mr. Robert Johnston, recently of Ruckland, passed away at Cambridge on June 18, at the age of 80.

Deceased, who was very well known in this district and highly esteemed, was born in County Cork (Ireland), f.nd emigrated to New Zealand when a young man, at about 24 years of age. He settled in Pukekohe, and did his full share of that arduous toil which the present generation is reaping the benefit of. He was for 30 years a linesman in the railway service, and he, with another, drained the swamp lands on which the railway now lies, and also the site of Ihe lately-acquired racecourse. To understand what such work implies it must be borne in mind that in those days Pukekohe was practically all standing bush. It may also be mentioned that deteased was a fellow railway woruet with the late Mr. Thos. Kenneiiy,

Great Church Worker.

Mr. Johnston was all his life a great worker in the Anglican Church, and was largely instrumental in providing this denomination's church at Buckland, he;.having, personally collected some £BO odd towards its cfet." This work he supplemented, as occasion served, to- the end of his life. When he left the railway service deceased took a farm at Harrisville, which he retained for a few years and then sold out and bought a property in Buokland, which he reu'deri on until his death. The funeral, which took place at Pukekohe yesterday, was attended by a large and repiesentative following, the vicar (Rev. J. P. Cowie) officiating. The pall-bearers weie Messrs. A. F. Hewett (nephew), J. Findlaj arid A. Fisher (sons-in-law), and J. Hamilton. A widow, four sons and four daughters are bereaved, and in this respect it is interesting to note that one of the sons, Mr. Robert Johnston, of Alberta (Canada), happened to be paying a visit to his parents lately, and was present at the funeral. The other sons are Messrs Edward, William and Howard, and the daughters are Mesdames Fisher and Findlay, of Cambridge, Mrs W. Mc Gowan, of Papatoetoe, and Miss Johnston, of Cambridge.