A NOTABLE PIONEER.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1921, Page 2

A NOTABLE PIONEER.

78 YEARS A COLONIST. One of the Dominion’s oldest identities in the person of Mr. Robert Ormsby, of Te Kopua, King* Country, passed away during Christmas week. Mr. Ormsby, who had reached the age of 98 years, was the younger son of the Rev. Robert Ormsby, M.A., rector of Dublin. | He was educated at Dublin University and came to New Zealand in 1842. After spending five years in Auckland, during portion of which period he was a school teacher, Mr. Ormsby settled in the King Country and resided there till his death, a period of 73 years. During the Waikato war lie saw many stirring scenes. On one occasion when in great danger his life was saved by a Maori chieftainess whom he afterwards married. The marriage took place in 1864 and there was a family of seven sons and one daughter. Six of the sons survive. The eldest, Mr. Arthur Orms-. by, of Puke Totara, near Pirongia, is well known throughout the King Country, another son, Mr. John Ormsby, of Otorohanga, was the first clerk of the Waitomo County Council, and has occupied other prominent positions in local politics. A third son, the late Mr. Jeremiah Ormsby, was for some years chairman of the Waitomo County Council and did much to further the settlement of the King Country. There are also a great number of grandchildren and