Williams Johnson

William (or Williams) Fairfax Johnson was born on 10-August-1850, in Okura, Tauranga, NZ. He was the son of Fairfax Clarence Johnson and Elizabeth Te Hauta. Elizabeth's full name was Riripeti Tehapeta Timitiotahai Te Autaha.

Note: I originally thought their names were "Charles Fairfax Johnson" and "Elizabeth Te Hautaha"

He was stationed with the British Constabulary at the Tauranga Barracks or Garrison, and became involved with business dealings with the natives through his despatch duties so that he quickly learned that a little diplomacy, nerve and cunning, meant the difference quite often between success or failure.

Because of his vigour and untiring endeavour to please his Superiors, he decided also to ride despatch, this time to make contact with Auckland overland. This feat had not yet been achieved. It is felt that realising the hazards, endurance and sacrifice needed for such a venture, must have required lots of courage. However, the importance of making such contact was vital to the welt-being of Tauranga and surrounding towns in the Bay of Plenty. 

So it was decided that he, along with others to follow, was encouraged to make the attempt (ultimately to become a great success). A stone and plaque was later erected on the Bombay Hill site of the Redoubt and the names of such men were inscribed thereon.

William married a half-caste Maori girl (Oteria DiHars) of the Ngaiterangi Tribe at Te Wairoa near Tauranga where he settled for quite some years. Because of the advanced improvement in communication (which included the telephone and wireless – new in those days) he became redundant as a despatch rider. So he was paid off and placed on the Communications staff as Telegraph Linesman where he remained until he retired many years later. 

William married Oteria on 20-January-1871 in Te Rapa, Ohinemuri, NZ. I assume this is the suburb on the northern ouskirts of Hamilton.

After staying at Te Wairoa for quite a number of years, he was transferred away from Tauranga to Waimata (near Waihi) where he continued to work as a Linesman for the P. & T until his wife died 25th September 1912. She was buried in the Waihi Cemetery. 

During this time, they had reared a large family of fifteen who were scattered between Waihi and Tauranga. They were:

• Emily Johnson
• Selina Johnson
• Charles Johnson
• Walter Johnson
• Charles Johnson
• Fairfax Johnson
• Mary Johnson
• Ellen Johnson
• Rosaline Johnson
• Joseph Johnson
• Henry Johnson
• Emily Johnson
• Elizabeth Anderton
• Fairfax Johnson
• Roy Johnson

After his wife Odelia died in 1912, William retired from the P&T and went to live amongst his married sons and daughters in Waihi where he survived his wife by 26 years. He died in the Waihi Hospital 23-September-1938 at the age of 88 years. He was remembered by the local newspaper as well as the New Zealand Herald as the last survivor of the Battle of Gate Pa in Tauranga where the Maoris slaughtered a large number of British Troops. He was also buried in the Waihi Cemetery (note, not sure if this is the same cemetary as Louis and Erena Dihars).

Reference: 

Stories from Eric Anderton.

Some information supplied by Catherine Holgate, daughter of Dale Holgate, daughter of Joan Heath, daughter of Emily Johnson, daughter of William Johnson.

Other material from Linda Baine.