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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Mr. Peter Robertson

Mr. Peter Robertson , Old Colonist, with whose name is associated the early days of goldmining in Tuapeka (and at whose house miners and travellers received hospitable and friendly welcome and accommodation) was born at Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, in 1817. In 1858 he came with his family by the “Robert Henderson” to Port Chalmers, and went on to Dunedin, with the intention of starting a store; but as the population was small he began to make a home for himself. His first work was a contract for the supply of road metal to the Provincial Government. When he offered a share of the work to his fellow immigrants, one who had happened to be a tailor in the Old Country, contemptuously asked, “Do you think I have come 16,000 miles to break stones?” Three weeks afterwards Mr. Robertson left for Tuapoka to become a shepherd on Mr. Cargill's sheep station. A record of the journey shows what difficulties the early settlers had to contend with. On the first day Cullen's accommodation house at the Taieri was reached; then, two days afterwards, the Taieri Ferry, where the river was found to be in flood, and the party had to cross in canoes to the accommodation house on the opposite side. They were then weather-bound for another two days, and until all the goods could be boated to the head of the lake. From the Taieri Ferry to Tokomairiro the journey was made in a small dray drawn by two bullocks, and ridges had to be followed and gullies avoided. After Tokomairiro come Meadowbank, and then Roxburgh home station, owned by Mr. Walter Miller; and there a stay of six weeks had to be made until bullocks could be broken in to take them on to their destination. Then the journey was continued by way of the leading ridges, and Mr. Cargill's station at the head of what is now known as Clarke's Flat was at last reached, after the party had gone through the experience of being stuck in the middle of the Waitahuna river, and also in the creek near Livingstones. After undergoing all the hardships incidental to this last experience, Mrs. Robertson, carrying a child in her arms, walked wearily on for some miles till in sight of their new home, when she gave way from sheer exhaustion. When Messrs. Murray and Musgrave bought out Mr. Cargill Mr. Robertson remained in their employment about a year, but then built a house for himself at Lawrence, on three acres of Government land, for which he afterwards had to pay £50 an acre. The timber for his house was sawn by hand at 2s per foot, and the haulage cost £5 per diem. Thus the first wooden building in Lawrence was erected; and it is still standing. Mr. Robertson leased 7000 acres of land, and began dairying. He milked forty cows, and milk was then sold at 1s per quart. He also engaged in horse dealing on a large scale, buying shipments as they landed in Dunedin, and carried on wholesale slaughtering to supply retail butchers. When land could be purchased, Mr. Robertson secured about 4000 acres, on which he resided till his death, which occurred in 1895, when he was seventy-nine years of age, Mrs. Robertson lived in the old house till the 11th of April, 1902, when she died, aged eighty - one. Mr. Robertson took great interest in local and political matters, and left a family of three daughters and four sons. The eldest son, Mr. James Robertson, lives in the old home at Lawrence.