Mr. Richard Williams Hawkins arrived at Lyttelton by the ship “Sir Edward Paget” on the 2nd of July, 1856, and had a large experience of trying times in Canterbury in the early days. He was born at Maidstone, Kent, England, and was employed in London as carrier by Messrs Pickford and Co., and also by Messrs White and Ponsfort, and the City Flour Mills. Soon after his arriva, in the colony, he was engaged by Messrs Hebner and Perceval, stationholders, at Hororata, and was afterwards with Messrs Tripp and Acland, on their Mount Somers station. Mr. Hawkins has many reminiscences to relate regarding his experiences during weary journeys over hill and river, tussock and shingle, with his goods, and his wife in the waggon behind a costly team of bullocks. Mrs Hawkins was the first white woman to live in the Mount Somers district, and their son was the first white child born there. Potatoes were imported by Messrs Tripp and Acland for the station, and Mr. Hawkins was one of the first to plant them in the district. The event was page 364 looked upon with great interest, and there were the customary doubts as to whether the crop would be successful, but when the time for digging came, the crop surpassed all anticipations, and the yield was very heavy. While in the employment of Messrs Tripp and Acland, Mr. Hawkins discovered the Mount Somers coal mine, which has been profitably worked for many years. Mr. Hawkins then went to Mr. G. R. Russell's station at the “Brothers',” Ashburton, and afterwards was shepherd on the banks of the Rangitata with Mr. Rodgers. During his stay there his house was visited by the Burgess and Kelly gang of bushrangers, one of whom attempted to steal a watch from the wall of the house. But on Mrs Hawkins protesting, she was overheard by the leader Burgess, who had just arrived at the door, and the would-be thief was ordered to desist, and the watch was immediately restored. Later on Mr. Hawkins took up 105 acres of land at Yaldhurst, and carried on farming there for a number of years. In 1866 he was appointed poundkeeper for the Templeton district by the Provincial Government, and retained the position for twenty-one years; and he was also caretaker for the Canterbury Jockey Club for a number of years. As a volunteer, Mr. Hawkins served in No. 6 Company for eight years from 1865, under Captain Steward, now Sir William Steward, and took part in the celebrated Hills-borough enacempment. Mr. Hawkins now lives in London Street, Woolston, with his wife, who has shared with him in the vicissitudes of life for nearly half a century. They are now enjoying the fruits of their labours, and look with pleasure on the prosperity of their children, who occupy good social and commercial positions. Their three sons and six daughters reside in various parts of New Zealand; their grandchildren number sixty-four, and they have three great-grandchildren.