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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]
Taylor, Thomas Riley
Taylor, Thomas Riley, J.P., Farmer, “Oak-lands,” Kiwitea. Mr. Taylor was born in 1843 in Staffordshire, England, and completed his education at Warner's Commercial Academy School, Wolverhampton, after which he spent a few years in farming and cattle-dealing in the neighbourhood of Birmingham. Being favourably impressed with the reports of New Zealand, Mr. Taylor embarked on the ship “Merrington,” and after an eventful voyage of 141 days, landed in 1867. Smitten with the gold fever, he proceeded to the West Coast, and was fortunate in securing a valuable claim, which he worked at for five years; he then spent two years supplying the mines on the Mile Beach from a water-race. Through an illness Mr. Taylor was ordered to a change of climate and took a trip to fiji to recruit his health, being engaged there for eighteen months in managing a large butchery which had the contract for the supplies of meat to the British Navy. Returning to the Colony, Mr. Taylor proceeded to Turakina, and there established himself in business as a general storekeeper, and prospered so well that he was able in 1877 to purchase his present property, consisting of 380 acres. It was not until twelve years after that Mr. Taylor came to live on the place. During part of that time extensive works were being carried on: the railway line was in the course of construction, and the contract for the supplies of stores was entrusted to him. Mr. Taylor was chairman of the Kiwitea Road Board for twelve years, which position he resigned in 1894. He was a director of the United Farmers' Alliance and a member of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for many years, In 1893, he was created a Justice of the Peace, and is an unattached member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1876 Mr. Taylor married a daughter of Mr. Robert Verry, of Turakina, and has five sons and a daughter.
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Mr. T. R. Taylor.