A FRANKLIN PIONEER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 592, 14 December 1920, Page 2

A FRANKLIN PIONEER.

BEYOND TH£ VALE.

MR. ROBERT HAMPTON

There passed away at Paeroa 01 Saturday, December 11, at the resi dence of his son-in-law and daUgh ter, Mr. and Mrs. A. Duff, one of thi early pioneers of Pukekohe, Mr. Rob ert Hampton, at the age of 87. Mr. Hampton, who was a native o County Armagh (Ireland) came ou to New Zealand in the sailing shi] Ganges, arriving in 1863. . Landing at Onehunga, the late Mr Hampton came with others of thi party to Drury, shortly afterward: moving up to the Queen's Redoubt where the troops were stationed a the time. From thence, the nex move was made to Lower Tuakau, o: the locality now known as Tuakai south, being employed on various Government works, also bush-felling am ether pioneering work, one of hi: companions being Mr. John Collins so well-known in this district. When the Thames gold rush broki sut the lure of the goldfields attract 5(1 Mr. Hampton thither, where hi remained for some years. When thing ? ot quiet he left the Thames ant took up a section of land at Harris lille, then belonging to Mr. Harris the present well-known M.LC. In about 1888 Mr. Hampton mad' >ne more move, this time to Paeroa taking up a small holding on thi south bank of the Ohinemuri River six or seven years ago deceased gavt up his property and retired, makini his home with his son-in-law am daughter. The late Mr. Hampton was extreme [y well-known in the Facroa district Though he did not take a prominen part in public affairs. Mr. Hampton, kindly, genial nature, coupled witl bis sterling honesty and rectitude o character, made him hail-fellow-well met with everyone in the district *nd his death caused quite a gloon in the community, especially amon{ the older residents. The late Mrs. Hamptont who, to aether with the eldest son, Mr. Rob srt Hampton, junr., came out fron Ireland with her husband, predeceasec hiim by eighteen years. The surviving blood relations uumaer three sons and two daughters, -Mrs. A. Duff (Paeroa), Mrs. W Warrington (Cambridge), Mr. Robert Hi-mpton (Marton Junction), Mr W. I. Hampton (yi the police force, at Sumner, Christchurch, Canterbury), Mr. T. H. Hampton (Mount Eden, Auckland). There are also thirteen rrandchildren, seven of whßm, the children of Mr. Robert Hampton, are )f adult age. » The funeral took place at i'aeroa mi Sunday, the Rev. McDonald (Presjyterian Minister) officiating at the iiaveside. A goodly number of ,he friends of deceased attended to >ay their last respects, and several ine wreaths were received from vari>us quarters.