Peter Grant (1845-1924) by Christine Clement

Peter Allan Grant was baptised in the Parish of St Nicholas, Aberdeen, on 14 November 1845 as Patrick Allan Bannerman Grant. In New Zealand he was always known as Peter Grant. His father was Logie Pirie Grant and his mother Barbara Allan, married 25 November 1841 at St Nicholas Church, Aberdeen.

By the census of 30 March 1851, Barbara was home alone with seven children including Peter and his younger brother Logie. By the census of 8 April 1861 the Grant family were no longer in Scotland.

Various records point to the family being in Victoria, Australia — including Barbara and some of the children arriving there in July 1861 on board the Ocean Chief; the marriage of Isabella Grant, daughter of Logie Grant and Barbara Allan, on 22 December 1866 at Colac, Victoria; the death of Barbara Grant, wife of Logie Grant, in 1867 aged fifty-five; and the death of Logie Pirie Grant in 1921 at Cobden, Victoria — the son of Logie Grant and Barbara Allan (Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages).

Peter Grant claimed that he rode in the first Melbourne Cup when it was run in 1861 at Flemington, but the surname Grant does not appear among the jockeys in the report of the Victoria Turf Club Spring Meeting (Melbourne Age, 8 Nov 1861). He was a groom and possibly at the meeting though not as a jockey.

Peter Grant enlisted with the 1st Waikato Regiment, No 6 Company, on 1 September 1863 at Geelong, Melbourne. He left for New Zealand on board the Star of India, arriving in Auckland 11 September 1863. The 1st Waikato were based at Ōtāhuhu for about three months before skirmishes in South Auckland and the Waikato.

The 1st Waikato were at Ōrākau (Kihikihi) 31 March – 2 April 1864 before returning to Auckland and then on to Tauranga. Peter was sentenced to 84 days’ imprisonment 4 June 1864, reason not given. He deserted 29 December 1865 and was retaken 24 February 1867, almost 14 months later. It was said he deserted to the Hauhau and supplied Māori with stolen horses and rifles. Captured by Hans (Tapsell), he was court-martialled 18 March 1867 and received two years and 50 lashes.

He later acted as despatch rider between Ōpōtiki and Thames, a journey of 190 miles through enemy-held country. Two horses were shot from under him, but he was said to have “promptly secured possession of a horse and carried on with his mission" (Obituary).

In 1911 Peter applied for the New Zealand War Medal, claiming to have been under fire while carrying dispatches from Rūnanga to Galatea two days before the Ōpepe Massacre (7 June 1869). He reported that after being fired on by Te Kooti’s men he made for Galatea and reported to Major Cummings of the Armed Constabulary, under Colonel Fraser. His account was supported by Captain Gilbert Mair, who wrote that “there was no pluckier man in the Colonial forces,” and by Colonel J. N. Roberts, who also recommended his case. The application was unsuccessful, possibly due to his earlier military record. He later acted as guide with Captain Mair during the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Tauranga, December 1870.

On 26 March 1870 Peter married Caroline Moon at the Te Papa Mission Station, Tauranga, officiated by Archdeacon Brown. The Moon family lived at Greerton; Caroline’s father William was also a 1st Waikato Regiment veteran. Peter and Caroline had three children, all born in Tauranga, probably with help from Caroline’s mother Elizabeth Moon, a midwife and nurse.

Peter undertook contract work for Tauranga County Council and others. In Aug 1875 he built 36 whare between Aongatete and the Wairoa (Katikati) for George Vesey Stewart’s first settlers. In Dec 1878 he and Daniel Donovan were contracted to form Harington Street, Tauranga.

In May 1879 Peter placed his 30 acres near Gate Pā on the market, yet remained resident Dec 1879. By Feb 1880 he was a member of the Tauranga Working Men’s Land Association, seeking 100 acres in the Te Puke block. By Nov 1880 he was working there; the first steamboat on the Kaituna River, the SS Katikati, brought him drain-pipes and stores. He was road-contracting for the County Council in anticipation of new settlers.

On 10 Feb 1881 the Bay of Plenty Times noted: “Mr Peter Grant informs us that the bridle-track between here and Te Puke is now completed right through from Hairini to the centre of the block. Mr Grant came through yesterday, bringing two draught mares, making the journey in two hours and a half.”

On 14 May 1881 Peter applied to the Waste Lands Board for Section 3 Block II (50 acres) Te Puke, previously granted to C. E. Paget. The Tauranga Land Officer reported: “Mr Grant is an industrious man and would make a good settler.” He had been living there since Jan 1881 on the triangle of No 3 Road and Te Puke Quarry Road.

In Feb 1881 he upgraded the Māori track from Ngāpeke to Manoeka to a bridle path (at a loss of £50), then the only road to Tauranga. In Apr 1881 he completed the road from Waiari Stream to No 3 Road (2 miles 8 chains, over nine swamps), and the Waiari to Kaituna Road and bridge. He employed both Māori and settlers, including Samuel Crawford.

With few accommodations on the block, Peter sought a liquor licence for a hotel on his land. Ten settlers supported him. Captain William Barclay called it the best site at the junction of two roads. In July 1881 the Tauranga Licensing Committee approved his application for the Te Puke Hotel (Section 3 Block II). The building had rooms and stables ready. A rival, Thomas Corbett, also applied; the committee suggested Grant’s hotel be called the Atuaroa Hotel or Traveller’s Rest. By Sept 1881 it was known as the Black Swan Hotel, but locals called it Grant’s Hotel (in 1894 Peter was licensee of the Commercial Hotel at Tauranga though still appeared to be living in Te Puke).

By 1884 Peter had purchased Section 10 Block II on No 3 Road from Joseph Ramson. The Bay of Plenty Times (17 Feb 1885) reported:
“Peter … has returned to his old hotel, to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is rather quiet and reserved for a landlord of an up-country hotel, but then people here are accustomed to his reticence and do not mind him, while the buxom landlady has a smile and cheerful word for everyone, and the accommodation of the house is all that can be desired.”

The farm was sold to Alexander Harvey.

Bay of Plenty Times, 12 May 1885: “A match for £10 against time was run yesterday by the horse Tam O’Shanter … from the Masonic Hotel, Tauranga, to P. Grant’s Hotel, Te Puke, within an hour. Distance 16 miles; covered in 58 minutes.” Ridden by his son Billy. The event became local legend. Grant’s horses Tam O’Shanter and Taihoa won many races across Auckland Province.

By May 1886 the Traveller’s Rest/Atuaroa Hotel was managed by R. J. Greening; 1887 licence to W. G. Fraser (died 1888 at the hotel). 1889 licence transferred to T. Keneally, who built a new Te Puke Hotel (1890). Peter’s original hotel burned 30 Jan 1894 (insured £400); property sold to R. S. Bassett.

8 Aug 1900 Bay of Plenty Times: Peter Grant charged with stealing a horse (Mary McGhie). Case dismissed after confusion over markings. Paper noted, “Peter is an old identity in these parts and a general favourite, so everyone seems pleased that he is still among us a free citizen.”

6 Feb 1902: became registered owner of Ben Lomond Gold Claim from J. C. Galbraith; later sued for non-working by Wiremu Ngatoti, case unproven.

When he died in 1924, Peter Grant — horse-thief, deserter, and early settler of Te Puke — was accorded a full military funeral. Buried Tauranga Mission (Military) Cemetery. A headstone was unveiled by descendants Dec 2009.