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Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1920, Page 5

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EARLY AUCKLAND HISTORY. DEATH OF A PIONEER. By Telegraph.—Pres? Association. Tauranga, Last Night. By the death of Mr. George Yesey Stewart, of Katikati,. which occurred to-day at Rotorua, one of the most conspicuous figures in the earlier history of the colony disappears. He was the third son of Mr. Mervyn Stewart, Matrake House, County Tyeonc, Ireland, and was born on October 4, 1832- He resided with his parents in the north of Ireland till twelve years of age, and after travelling the Continent, he ultimately settled in the mountains of Altmore. About 1574 he met in Belfast, Mr. H. Farwal, agent for tho Auckland Provincial Government. and as a result. Mr. Stewart came to Auckland that year, and succeeded in making an agreement to bring others to New Zealand. Number one Katikati party came in the Careisbrook Castle and the Dover Castle, followed by number two party in the Lady Jocelyn and Halcione. A Parliamentary paper of 1878 contains interesting correspondence regarding this partyMr. Stewart returned to London In 1880 and brought out the first party of Te Puke settlers in tho Lady .Tocelyn. After unsuccessfully' contesting the Taurar.ga electorate Mr. Stewart was elected first Mayor of Tauranga in 18S2. After tho passing of a special Act of Parliament Mr. Stewart and the late Mr. John Duncan, of Levin and Co., Wellington (who was a member of tho Te Puke party) signed an agreement with the Government on behalf of a local company to construct a railway from Rotorua to Tauranga- After several negotiations locally Mr. Stewart proceeded to London in 188." to form a company there to construct the line. This was done and a provisional contract made, but the undertaking fell through in consequence of the Tarawera eruption. Not till ISBS did the deceased return to New Zealand, and then he settled on a farm at Katikati. where he has resided ever since, taking an active interest. in all local matters. As chairman of the Kntikati Road Board he held a record for New Zealand, for at the time of his death he was still chairman, and also a member of the Tauranga County Council, the Harbor Board, and the Charitable Aid Board.