Motor Tour on 89th Birthday

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 9

Motor Tour on 89th Birthday

AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE MR. J. J. COOPER TELLS OF EARLY AUCKLAND “In my wildest dreams I never imagined that Auckland could have grown into such a city in so short a time.” This was the verdict of Mr. James Joseph Cooper, of Onehunga, who celebrated his S9th birthday yesterday by being motored around the city and suburbs. Fifty-three years ago he was manager for the late R,obert Graham, and records that he assisted in digging the heaviest crop of potatoes he over saw from the present site of the Elierslie Racecourse just before Mr. Graham sold it to the Jockey Club. No fewer than 250 tons of potatoes were harvested, and Mr. Graham chartered a schooner and shipped them to San Francisco, as lie was unable to sell them in Auckland at even £1 a ton. On arrival at the United States port, the whole of the consignment was found to be rotten. Although Mr. Cooper has lived for many years at Onehunga with his daughter, Mrs. G. Vazey, it is many years since he has been in Queen Street, and yesterday he was amazed at the sight of the city’s principal thoroughfare. Born at Cromer, Norfolk, on August 9, 1840, Mr. Cooper went to sea at the age of 13, reaching Auckland in the

ship Ironsides in 1863. The Maori War was then approaching its height Young Mr. Cooper, filled with the spirit of adventure, packed up his sailor’s kit, took french leave, and swam ashore one dark night, landing on the Mechanics’ Bay beach. From there he walked to Mercer and got a job on the Government river boat, Gundagai, under Captain Fairchild, who afterward commanded the Government steamers Sella and Hinemoa. Hearing marvellous tales of the newly-discovered Otago goldfields, Mr. Cooper obtained his discharge as a warrior by arranging for a substitute, and soon found himself in Dunedin, where one day ho heard Hartley, of Hartley and Reilly, the famous discoverers of gold at the Dunstan, addressing a crowd of men from the balcony of the old Provincial Hotel. He told them that if 20,000 ounces of gold were not brought to Dunedin within a month, he would allow himself to be lynched. In less than a month the Dunedin banks bought 60,000 ounces. Mr. Cooper and his party mined on the Molyneaux and at Fox’s, now known as Arrowtown, and did exceptionally well. He records that while on the Dunstan he often met the notorious Devy, who afterward joined the murderous bushranging gang of Burgess, Kelly and Sullivan, and with the two former was subsequently hanged in Nelson gaol. While in Otago Levy carried on the trade of pedler, and Mr. Cooper often bought clothing from him. In 1867, Mr. Cooper joined in the gold rush to the West Coast, and after many ups and downs at Hokitika and Ivanieri, found his way back to Dunedin. Hero he had charge of the lighter Agnes, carrying timber from Port Chalmers to Dunedin for Messrs Guthrie and Asher, later known as Guthrie and Larnach, who had extensive kauri timber mills on the Manukau. Returning to Auckland in 1873, Mr. Cooper was married in Vincent Street by the late Rev. Alexander Reid, and took up land at Pakuranga, which he farmed for the next 30 years. His wife died 29 years ago, and three years later Mr. Cooper settled at Onehunga, where for a number of years he conducted a sailmaker’s business. Although he is S 9, the hand of time has rested gently upon him. His physical and mental powers are but slightly impaired, his memory is exceptionally retentive and his conversational ability would shame many younger men.

Mr. Cooper is the father of ten children, six of whom are living. There are 33 grandchildren and one great grandchild.