CELEBRATIONS AT STEWART ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24232, 16 September 1940, Page 7

CELEBRATIONS AT STEWART ISLAND

NINETY YEARS ATTAINED BY TWO FRIENDS

A pleasant function took place at Mrs Lance Tolsen’s home at Horseshoe Bay, Stewart Island, in honour of the ninetieth birthday of her father, Mr Charles Robertson. Also invited to the function was Mr John Wesley, whose ninetieth birthday has since taken place. Mr Robertson was bom in Glasgow on August 26, 1850, and was the eldest son of the Rev. John Robertson. Before finally settling on Stewart Island with his two brothers, Mr Robertson travelled extensively. He was a great lover of good books and possesses an excellent library. He was also a noted engineer, having served his time with his uncle, Mr James Robertson, a well-known Scottish engineer. Mr Robertson was one of the men whose proposal it was to form a county council at Stewart Island, of which his brother, the late Mr Walter Robertson, became the first county clerk, a position he held for 30 years. His third brother, William, died about four years ago.

In proposing the health of Mr Robertson and his guest Mr John Wesley, Mr T. Bragg referred first to the many years that he had known Mr Robertson. As a small boy, he said, he remembered going with his father to visit two elderly gentlemen at Horseshoe Bay and there first met the three Robertson brothers.

Mr Robertson thanked his many friends for their kind wishes and expressed the hope that he would live long enough to see the end of the war and Britain’s victory. A large number of his friends travelled from Half Moon Bay to honour him and a number of congratulatory telegrams was received. On August 30 Mr John Welsey, whose Maori name is Te Kene Huria Morokiekie celebrated his 90th birthday and Mr and Mrs R. C. Hicks, of Femdale House, gave an afternoon in his honour, when a few of his friends were present. In proposing the health of Mr Wesley, Mr Hicks referred to the good feeling that always existed between the Maoris and pakehas. On coming to the island over 40 years ago he noticed the wonderful kindness and hospitality of the Maoris, not only to each other, but also to the pakehas. Mr Wesley is the oldest living member of the Stewart Island Presbyterian Church, having joined 66 years ago. Mr T. Bragg, in replying for Mr Wesley, gave his whakapapa or genealogy, which showed that he was of high rank. As a young man Mr Wesley was with Captain Paddy Gilroy, in the Amherst when she rescued the survivors of the General Grant, which was wrecked on the Auckland Islands in 1866. He was also one of the crew dredging for oysters off Port William in 1868 with Charles Brett, the pioneer of the oyster trade. As a sealer Mr Wesley was an expert and was a well-known figure in charge of sealing parties on the Auckland and Campbell Islands. He was noted for his care of his men, boats and gear and in all his years of experiences as a sealer, an oysterman and fisherman he never had an accident. >

Mr T. Leask said that he had known Mr Wesley longer than anyone present and he could vouch for all the good qualities attributed to him. Mr T. D, Yates, Presbyterian home missionary for Stewart Island, proposed a toast to the Maori race, to which Mr T. Bragg replied. A letter was received from the Stewart Island Returned Soldiers’ Association congratulating Mr Wesley on his reaching his ninetieth birthday and wishing him many happy returns. Mr Wesley, although having reached the age of 90, is still hale and hearty. He lives by himself and is able still to do all his own work and to go for long walks round the bay.