Tales of Banks Peninsula
36. –Mr. C. B Robinson
36. –Mr. C. B Robinson.
The name of Mr. Charles Barrington Robinson is intimately connected with the early history of Akaroa, as he was one of the magistrates brought down in the Britomart on her memorable voyage in August, 1840. The story of that race down the coast is told in the other articles dealing with the French occupation of Banks Peninsula. Mr. Robinson, after having, with the other magistrate, Mr. Murphy, hoisted the flag at Green's Point, Akaroa, and at Piraki, remained as chief magistrate at Akaroa, retaining this position till 1846, when he resigned, and soon afterwards went to England. He was specially fitted for his position in Akaroa, being a remarkably clever lawyer and a good linguist. His knowledge of French enabled him to render great assistance to the French and other settlers in their business and local affairs. Many of the foreign settlers remained for years ignorant that they were living under British rule, and to prevent possible disaffection arising Captain Lavaud arranged with Mr. Robinson to administer French law among them. This the Governor allowed Soon afterwards the Nanto Bordelaise Company sold all. the claim they had to the Akaroa lands to the New Zealand Land Company. When Mr. Robinson resigned in 1846, Mr. John Watson succeeded him as Resident Magistrate, and retained that office for many years thereafrer. Mr. Robinson married Miss Helen Sinclair, second daughter of Captain and Mrs. Sinclair, who, with their family, settled in Pigeon Bay early in 1843, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Ebenezer Hay and family. Reference to these earliest Canterbury settlers, with whom the Deans family is also associated, is made elsewhere in these records, In April, 1850, Mr. Robinson returned to New Zealand in the ship Monarch, bound for Auckland. In passing Akaroa Heads an accident happened to the rudder, which necessitated the vessel putting into the harbour, and landing her passengers at Akaroa. Mr Robinson had entered into partnership with a Mr Smith They brought out the first Shorthorn cattle shipped direct page 258from England to New Zealand (two bulls and two heifers), but they were unfortunate in losing three of the valuable animals, only one bull surviving the voyage. However, that was the start in Canterbury of splendid stock, A good mare was brought out by them also, and some old English pheasants, and Mr. Robinson gave a pair to Mrs. Sinclair, then living in Pigeon Bay. Finding their way first to Port Levy, this adventurous pair of birds, or their progeny, soon stocked the whole Penisula, vying with the pigeons in numbers. Mr. Robinson acquired some good land property in one of the Bays in Akaroa Harbour, which was named Robinson's Bay, he being the first owner. he also owned a fine block of land in Pigeon Bay, which was sold to Mr. Ebenezer Hay in 1861. About this later date he returned to England, but came back about 1864 5 to dispose of his property, after which he left New Zealand finally for England, where he spent the remainder of his life. His widow and their only son, Mr Aubrey, have their home in Makaweli, Hawaii, one of the Sandwich Islands, where most of the members and descendants of the Sinclair, Gay, and Robinson families reside on their fine properties.