LATE MR. T. M. DARTON

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2546, 6 July 1909, Page 3

LATE MR. T. M. DARTON

AN ESTEEMED COLONIST

The “Tuapeka Times,”in an obituary notice extending over, a column, feelingly refers to the late Mr. Thomas Michel more Darton, father of Mr. G. E. Darton, of Gisborne, who died at Lawrence, Otago, on Thursday, June 24. The ■ southern journal states that In his youth the late Mr. Darton was brought ,up to the eailmalring business, and at the age of 19 lie joined the British navy in which he remained for about seven years, rising to the position of a first-class .petty officer. Of this period of service for iiis Queen and country ho was very'proud and nothing gave him greater pleasure than recounting the stirring; incidents lie had experienced during his connection with the navy. He was a member of the crew of H.M.S. Albatross when she went on a * five years scientific expediion* in the course of which she visited most of the ports of the British possessions in the East, and in the course of this voyage he saw a lot of life in India and China.' In those days the coast of Borneo was infested with pirates and the work of clearing out these ocean parasites was undertaken by the Albatross in addition to the scientific work, upon which she was engaged. This was exciting work and as a.-result , ivrr. Darton’s share of the prize-money awarded amounted to nearly £IOO. On returning home after this- voyage he retired from the navy and married, settling for a time in the North of England. Restlessness of spirit was, however, too strong fbr him, and he sailed for landing'in Victoria in the year 1852. In Melbourne he engaged in business as a merchant and proved very successful up till the time when the gold rush broke out in Port Curtis, Queensland. His business enterprise led him to charter a vessel. to take provisions to the rush, but before the vessel had reached its destination the field had proved a “duffer,” and the result was serious financial loss to Mr. Darton. This and failing health compelled him to relinquish business. He then turned liis attention to New Zealand, landing in Lyttelton in the year 1858, and for a few years lie went into ’brickmaking in Christchurch. On the break out of the Gabriels Gully rush he came south in June of the year 1861, and a year later was followed by his wife and 'family of five 'children. He never actively engaged in mining but established "a store in Lawrence which was then known as The Junction, and the family have been residents of the district since that time. A man of more than ordinary intelligence and ability he quickly realised the disabilities which the children of our mining population then suffered as regards education and with his characteristic energy set to work to have a school established in the district. In this effort he received hearty co-operation from a number of pioneer residents, and they had the satisfaction, within a short time, of having their desires fulfilled, though at the cost of considerable self-sacrifice, fie was a keen believer in the advan-. tages of a liberal education and his interest in promoting and broadening the base of our educational system never flagged and his work in this connection will be an enduring monument to bis memory in this district. In politics the late Mr. Darton during the whole of his life took a keen and intelligent interest and lie was ever to be found working strenuously on behalf of the Liberal cause, lfis disinterested work on behalf of his party was recognised and appreciated hj r practically all our leading statesmen on this side of politics. Of British politics he was also a keen student, arid even up to a few hours of his death lie took a delight in discussing with his visitors the position of the British Empire in connection with the ’recent naval scare. He was, in every respect, a thorough John Bull, anxious in every way to uphold the supremacy of the British flag of which he Avas so justly proud. In his youth lie Avas of a nT'ftst studious nature, geology aud astronomy being two subjects in which he took special interest and his research in the former field of science was recently given to the public in the form of a pamphlet published in collaboration Avith the Rev. John Christie, of Palmerston. Any reference to the life work of Mr. Darton Avould be incomplete without, mention being made of his efforts on behalf of land settlement in this district and in regard to this avo cannot do better than reproduce an extract from an article published by us in the -ear 1900, Avhich very ful-. ly and graphically sets out the triumph of our late felloAV citizen, in promoting the close settlement of land in this district. It is as follows: — “Probably Mr. Darton’s greatest and most prolonged activity Avas, if the term may be used, in the field of land settlement. The difficulties of obtaining land for settlement about that time were manifold and Avell nigh insuperable. Many intending settlers Avith money in their pockets with Avhich to acquire and make a home for themselves oil tire land had perforce to lea\ T e the district. The land that Avas not rcserA'ed by the GoA f ernment on the questionable ground that itYvas auriferous, Avas in the hands of large run-holders —that is the best and richest lands in ♦the district. And the large run-holders, Jet it be said, Avere supreme in the Provincial Council and therefore controlled the departmental administration of the public estate. They were, indeed, the rulers in all matters appertaining to land settlement. and it was no small undertaking to attempt to break their power or compel them to admit the claims of the people to a share of their ample, possessions. Their original licenses, which Averc terminable at any time, they took an early opportunity, by circuitous means, of converting into leases of longer duration, and behind these they stood to defend themselves against the popular attack. This attack Mr. Darton led and continued to lead with great persistency and signal ability, for some time and ultimately, after much time and labor and. vigorous writing and effective pleading before the Land Board and. members of the Government ho succeeded in Avresting a couple of blocks on the Tuapeka West side of Bellamy’s station, and subse-' quently, with the co-operation of Mr. Horace Bastings. Mr. AndreAV Ferguson, and seme others, he succeeded in getting Tuapeka West throAvn open-- for settlement, Avhen Mr. Jno. Smith, Mr. Thomas Williams, Mr. Jno. McKay, and others Avent out upon the Blue Spur and took up land on Avhich they settled and have remained over since. The agitation was continued until Mr. .Darton and his friends had the satisfaction of increasing the area of land for settlement on the Tuapeka East side until nearly, all the available land Avas throAvn open and the area, by urgent request and agitation, Avas increased to 50 acres. For it has to bo understood that up to that time under the tenure on Avhich small settlers. took iro land they were not allowed more than an area of from five to

ten acres. As an instance of the difficulties which appear to have been deliberately created and thrown in the way of the land reformers of that day, it may be mentioned that with reference to Tuapeka West that though it was first surveyed for settlement it was- afterwards decided, under pressure of influence, no doubt, to re-let it for pastoral purposes. Against this course Mr. Darton fought with all the resource of ability and pertinacity at his command, Avith the result that the Sur-veyor-General came out to . Tuapeka West and ordered it to be surveyed for settlement purposes. But the survey Avas delayed pn various pretexts until-the Surveyor-General had gone to Wellington when his successor countermanded the last order and said if; should lx* disposed of for pastoral .purposes. Then the struggle opened aneAvi Mr. Darton again took the field, appeared before the Land Board fortified Avith facts, exposed the conspiracy which had been formed to keep the people out of their rights and ultipiately, as already stated, succeeded in wrestling the lands of Tuapeka West out of the hands of the squatters and making small settlement thereon a verity. At a period Avhen his labors might have been said to have been successfully closed, the settlers met together in 1882 and, as a memento of his services to the district extending over a period of 21 years, presented Mr. Darton Avith a valuable .. gold watch, : inscribed as follows:—‘.Presented to Thomas Darton by the settlers, of Tuapeka, in remembrance of the serA'ices rendered to the district durthe last 21 years.’ ”