Eric Anderton's recollections of ...

Perhaps this is the most opportune time to write a few lines and remarks to tell of what we have learned of some of the people who are, or were, the first to come to New Zealand - also one or two others who were descendents of these early pioneers whom I consider worth a mention because of their part or parts in New Zealand history. 

Clarence Johnson

Now we shall start with Clarence Fairfax Johnson who was the first of our Johnsons to arrive in New Zealand in a sailing ship, from Moulton, England in the early 1800s, seeking adventure and experience as a Medical Practitioner.

After settling in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty and apparently mixing and living with the more peaceable and friendly Maoris he was finally accepted into their Pa as their Tohunga (Doctor or Medicine Man) because of his medical prowess. 

After quite some time with these people, he became attached to one of the young Maori maidens [Elizabeth Hauta] and eventually married her and settled at Te Wairoa, where they reared a small family of two girls and two boys. 

The two boys grew up to be very versatile, agile and intelligent young men who at the age of sixteen, were skilled horsemen and quickly learned much about the countryside and coastline through their efforts while hunting and fishing. This was, to them, a most essential part of life or survival. 

So it was that on winning such a reputation, it was quite an easy matter for them to be accepted into the British Army which was established there as a Barracks. The main purpose of the British Army's presence was to police the hostile natives in the surrounding districts etc. Therefore, they were welcome candidates as Despatch Riders, and were able to carry out these duties without any further instruction and were, at times able to outdo tasks which the more senior men were unable to perform. They soon won fame and a name for themselves.

Their untiring efforts and devotion to duty whilst riding despatches (which involved much travel and dealings with mostly hostile tribes) was very well received by the British Army. Their dealings required nerve, cunning, diplomacy and good horsemanship. A fast horse to avoid possible death, was all just part of another day's work for the boys. 
Then it was that Clarence Fairfax Johnson who was the oldest of the two boys was picked along with a number of other troops form the constabulary to form a small detachment under the command of a Lieutenant. They were to perform patrol duties around the outlying districts and so attempt to contain any ostilities or troubles that might occur from time to time.

They were specially detailed to seek out a certain hostile Maori Chief by the name of Te Kooti (who was causing trouble and harassing most of the outlying settlers) and have him and his band of Warriors detained or arrested. After chasing up many leads with no results, it became evident that Te Kooti and his men were nobody's fools and would have to be treated with the utmost caution. 
Many weeks of continued riding and searching endlessly were spent - to no avail. Feeding themselves was a task which at the best of times was quite an achievement under such primitive conditions, but ravenous appetites were always successfully appeased. 

On nearing Taupo (after stopping only at night to rest, make camp and feed their horses then prepare food for themselves) they suddenly came upon a recently vacated camp site.  Here there was also an adequate supply of fresh water handy. It was decided by the Lieutenant to let his men stay for a few days for a well-earned rest. He had learnt that TE KOOTI and his band had moved many miles away to the south some days ago. 

The Lieutenant, thinking his men would be quite safe, decided to take a few packhorses and ride on into Taupo which was only about one hour's riding time. His plan was to procure a fresh supply of stores which were badly needed by this time, as well as to carry out further duties of observation. 

It was during this period that TE KOOTI made his surprise attack on the relaxed camp and almost annihilated the entire group. 

The natives attacked from the surrounding bush, killing nine of the British Troops whose bodies were buried on the spot. The site has since been made a memorial cemetery to those who were slain. 

Five of the troops did manage to escape with their lives. They were - Cornet: A. Smith (decorated with the NZ Cross), Sgt. Detir, Troopers: Lockwood, G. Stevenson and, G. Crosswell. However, Charles Fairfax; Johnson was one of the nine most unfortunate who were killed. Your attention is drawn to the fact that Charles' Surname was spelt incorrectly, the headstone bearing the name of "CHAS. JOHNSTONE" instead of "JOHNSON". It is not known if it would be possible for the Authorities to have it changed or' corrected. 

Click here for photos - a memorial says "On 7th June 1869 the advance party of Te Kooti force surprised a detachment of fourteen members of the Bay of Plenty Cavalry who were camped here killing nine of the British whose bodies now rest in this cemetery."

And click here for which lists "Johnson, Charles, Trooper Tauranga Cav. Vols. killed in attack 8 6 1869, buried at Opepe"

Others buried there include Troopers Joseph Bidois, John Cook, Frederick Gill, Ensign Ernest Lawson, Alex. McKillop (trumpeter), Charles Poictiers (or Potier), Lieutenant Gillian Hector Ross, Serjeant Michael Slattery.

Edward Anderton

So ends the Johnson side...

Now we shall say a few words about the ANDERTON side, because JOHNSON and ANDERTON are the two main factors in this Family Tree. 

First of all EDWARD JOSEPH ANDERTON who also came to New Zealand from England (Middlesex) in the early 1800's as a young man seeking adventure and the novelty of a new colony and the fortunes which may be possible. He settled in' Auckland and became engaged as Clerk of the Court in the Auckland Supreme Court where he served fop a few years. 

After a time he married at the age of 21 ISABELLA WELLS also 21 years of age. Apparently Isabella Wells was illiterate as she signed her name with an ,'X', which is recorded on the marriage certificate dated 7th April 1858. According to further records, EDWARD JOSEPH subsequently signed her name for her. 

Not long after he retired he died in the Thames Hospital - chronic enocarditis x 2 weeks, cardiac failure. He was 69 and died on 1st February 1906 and was buried in the Shortland Cemetery Plot 2592. (Note: It has been established that his actual death was on 30th January 1906).

Recounted by Eric  
Anderton in 1984.

Williams Johnson

Now let us change to the younger brother Williams Fairfax Johnson again who was still stationed with the British Constabulary at the Tauranga Barracks or Garrison. He was becoming more involved with business dealings with the natives through his despatch duties so that he quickly learned that a little diplomacy, nerve and sometimes cunning (as well as a good fast horse), meant the difference quite often between success or failure.

Then 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. 

Around this time WILLIAMS FAIRFAX JOHNSON 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. 

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. After his wife Odelia died, he 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 23rd September 1938 at the age of 88 years. He was remembered by the local newspaper as welt 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. 

Louis Dihars

Now I would like to leave the ANDERTON side here to tell a little about a Frenchman who also settled here and became part of the family. His name was LOUIS DIHARS who came from the French/Belgian border. His name was spelt in several different ways, some of which were "DE HAR., DE HARS., and DI HAR". The correct spelling of the name is "DIHARS". He came to New Zealand in about 1846 and settled in the Thames district. 

After staying a short while around the Thames area, he moved into the Karangihakes between Waihi and Thames and settled on a Government block of land known as Te-U-Uriaha where he worked and lived as a gold prospector. He helped in opening the Omenui Gold Mining Company in 1875, also in finding road routes and direction to Mauitoto diggings and many other places in those years. It is said that during some time in this era, he probably worked with ANDERTON (presumably EDWARD JOSEPH) on some of his prospection or prospecting jaunts. 

It was told that Louis Dihars found a cave from where he "took out a large rock to have assayed. On being told it was worthless, the rock was shelved for quite some years until it was again taken to be assayed. This time it was found to be very rich in both silver and gold - something like 400 oz. to the ton - but alas Louis Dihars had died and the cave was never again found. 

Louis Dihars was also an ardent student of the Maori language of which he soon became a fluent speaker. He was quite often called upon to act as an interpreter and settle arguments between the Maoris and Pakehas. It was also of his prestigious nature that he chose to fraternise with Wahine Rangitiras or women of high rank, so that when he finally married, he chose a Maori Princess to be his bride and she came from a huge tribe called "Ngatimaru" which stretched from Coromandel through Thames - Waihi -Katikati -Tauranga to Whakatane (with many sub-tribes in between of which ours was the Ngaiterangi). So he remained in the area for quite a number of years working as a carpenter and rearing a family of eight boys and girls, some of whom in later years were to marry into the JOHNSON and ANDERTON families.

It is also interesting to note that if we trace back through our Maori side or ancestry, we can find that we are definitely connected to one of the Canoes (there were seven) the name of which is "TAINUI" which first brought some of the Maoris out to New Zealand – other Canoes also brought many others. 

I will now bring these notes to a reluctant close with the thought of how sorry I am at not being able to tell more.