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No, 28.—Mr. Francois Lelievre.

It has often been remarked that few of the French settlers who came out in the historic Comte de Paris prospered much in the country of their adoption. Mr F. Lelievre was a notable exception, and died on July 12, 1902, a rich landholder of Banks Peninsula. We give below the obituary notice which appeared in the "Akaroa Mail" of July 15, 1902, as it tells the story of his interesting life, the particulars being obtained from the Lelievre family by the late Mr H. C Jacobson:—

"On Saturday Mr F. Lelievre, the oldest settler on the Peninsula, died in his ninety-fourth year at his residence, Akaroa, surrounded by a group of sorrowing relatives, Mr. Lelievre, in spite of his great age, enjoyed excellent health till a day or two ago, and his brain was as clear as ever, there being not the slightest sign of childishness or aberration of intellect. On the afternoon of the 28th of June, however, in trying to pass from one easy chair to another when by himself in the room, he fell across the fender, breaking a rib, and the shock proved too much for him, coughing causing him much pain For a time it seemed he would rally, but on Friday afternoon a change for the worse set in, he became unconscious, and remained so till he passed away at 5 30 p.m. on Saturday. Mr. Lelievre led a varied life till his settlement in Akaroa in 1840. He was a staunch Republican, an enthusiastic admirer and friend of Victor Hugo, and was associated with that patriot in the Parisian revolution of 1830. No doubt it was owing to the temporary triumph of the 'Citizen King,' Louis Phillipe, that he left France and went to sea, but he was naturally of an adventurous disposition and a born colonist, destined to help in the founding of new centres of civilisation in the hitherto waste places of the world. The Latin is not usually as good a settler as the Anglo Saxon, but those of Normandy, whose blood is mixed with the adventurous Norse strain have always been foremost in the settlement of new lands.

"Mr. F. Lelievre was born at an old Norman-French page 233farmhouse at the village of Lès Parlierre, in Normandy. His father was a farmer, and nearly all his connections were cultivators cf the soil, but the young Francois had mechanical ability, and was apprenticed to the locksmith trade. After serving his time, he went and worked at his trade in Paris. He became unsettled, however, and seeking a more stirring life, became the driver of the mail coach from Versailles to the capital, holding the position for several years. After the disturbance in Paris in 1830, he was dissatisfied with the turn of events and went to sea, his mechanical knowledge rendering him a most useful man aboard the whalers, which in those days returned such a rich harvest to their owners. It was in May, 1837, that Mr. Lelievre first saw beautiful Akaroa, where he was destined to spend such a large portion of his life He was then harpooner and boat steerer aboard a French owned whaler called the Nile, which was commanded by an American named Captain Smith. At that time the only European resident in Akaroa itself was Jimmy Robinson, whose history is fully related in the 'Stories of Backs Peninsula.' He was one of those pakeha Maoris who rose to great favour amongst the Maoris, and the father of that most prominent and influential of our Banks Peninsula half castes—Mr. George Robinson, of Little River. The whalers. however, from New South Wales were already landing shore parties on the coast that 'fished' for whales from the land whilst the vessels were pursuing those at sea, and Mr. Hempleman was even then located at Piraki. Mr. Lelievre left the Nile on her arrival at Akaroa, and remained there working for the whaling ships that visited the harbour till the end of 1838. He knew nothing of the celebrated Hempleman's purchase of the Peninsula, but was with Captain Langlois of the whaling ship Cachelot, when that gentleman purchased this part of the island on behalf of the French Government for the establishment of a French settlement. The Maoris fixed the price at £500, and of this £250 had to be paid as a first instalment. As was the custom in those unsophisticated days, the payment was made in page 234kind, including two whaleboats with their bottoms knocked out, a number of old muskets, and some peculiarly gaudy military uniforms, besides other rubbish. The cocked hats, scarlet jackets, and striped trousers were particularly fascinating baits for the Maori belles, who draped their handsome limbs with the new gauds in a marvellous fashion, that provoked the intense mirth of the overreaching Europeans, It was during this period that Mr. Lelievre built a whare near Mr. Jacobson's residence, in Balgueri street, and procured from a visiting ship a couple of weeping willow slips that had been cut by a devoted admirer of the first Napoleon from the tree that overshadowed the great Emperor's grave at St. Helena. These slips he planted—one at German Bay, and another at Mt. Leinster, close to his whare. The former is dead, but the latter is still flourishing, and is one of the greatest ornaments in Balgueri street. It was by slips from these two willows that the whole of the beautiful trees that shadow the Avon and elsewhere adorn Christchurch were propogated.

"In the latter part of 1838 Mr Lelievre returned to France, but came back two years later with his friend, Captain Langlois, in the Comte da Paris, which brought the eighty-two French pioneers, which were to found a new France on the sunny shores of Banks Peninsula. The vessel arrived in Akaroa Harbour on the 15th August, 1840, and Mr. Lelievre pointed out to the French commander the heavy folds of the British Ensign that drooped from the flagstaff at Red House Point, where Captain Stanley had hoisted it on the preceding day. Captain Langlois said some mistake had been made and hastened the landing of the new colonists. Mr. Lelievre steered the boat that landed the first section of the French pioneers at the mouth of the creek, close to where the Akaroa Coronation Library now stands. As we all know the new arrivals were granted five acre sections, and these grants were subsequently confirmed by the British Government. It was on the section allotted to Mr. Lelievre in 1840 that he passed away in the fullness of years last Saturday.

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"There was plenty of blackemith's work for Mr. Lelievre in those days, not only for the settlement, but for the visiting ships, and he was kept fully employed in the early forties. He eventually ceased to work at his trade, and became a farmer, his first speculation being in partnership with Mr. George Rhodes in Red House Bay. In 1851 Mr. Lelievre married Rose Justine, eldest daughter of Emery de Malmanche, one of the French pioneers. This young lady was only sight years of age when the Comte de Paris arrived in 1840. Mr. Lelievre kept the first accommodation house ever erected on the Peninsula, which was on the site of the present Duvauchelle's hotel. He had a boat there, in which he took passengers to and from Akaroa. As before stated, he had a grant of five acres like the rest of the pioneers from the Nanto-Bordelaise Company, and his death ends the record of the adults who had that privilege. As the place progressed, he gradually acquired land, dying in possession of a fine estate, being the most successful of all the French colonists. His family consisted of four sons and five daughters, viz., Mr. E. E. Lelievre, of "Oinaka," and Messrs Auguste, Eugene and Jules, of Akaroa. The daughters are Mesdames E. L Lelievre, of Long Bay road, G. Kearney, of Gough's Bay, and R. Ferris, of Akaroa, The other two daughters, Mrs. Jules Lelievre, of German Bay, and Miss Josephine Lelievre predeceased their father. Mr. Lelievre leaves no less than 105 descendants, including many great grandchildren, so there is no fear of the name becoming extinct. He took no interest in public matters and was never a member of any public body, but he was a good settler, an excellent neighbour and a kind friend, and passed away beloved and respected by all who had the privilege of knowing him."