ROBINSON, CHARLES BARRINGTON (1812-99) was the son of Joshua Robinson. He read for the bar and had a good practice, besides being well versed in languages. Robinson came to New Zealand in 1840 and settled at Akaroa, buying five acres from the Nanto-Bordelaise Company, on which he erected his house. He was a freemason and superintendent of Lodge Francaise Primitive Antipodienne (1840). Shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi he called on Captain Hobson at Bay of Islands and was commissioned (Jul 1840) to proceed with M. Murphy in the Britomart to hold courts at Akaroa and other places and to remain as resident magistrate at Akaroa. The ceremony took place at Akaroa on 11 Aug. Robinson occupied that position, as well as the collectorship of customs, till Aug 1845, when he resigned to visit England. Returning in 1850 in his own vessel, the Monarch, in which he brought shorthorn cattle and English pheasants, he made several voyages to Australia for stock and then sold the ship.

In 1853 he married Helen McHutcheson, daughter of Francis Sinclair (q.v.). He had acquired a good deal of land in Canterbury, but after another visit to England (1864) he disposed of his holdings and returned to England, where he died on 28 Dec 1899. His widow died in 1913. Robinson fought a duel with Captain Muter.

Family information from Aylmer F. Robinson and Eric Knudsen; Cant. O.N.; Barclay; Deans; Godley, Letters; J. Hay; Buick, Akaroa; Scholefield, Hobson; Acland; The Press, Jul 1924, 5 May 1930; Lyttelton Times, 12, 19 Feb 1853, 16 Dec 1925.

Reference: Volume 2, page 126

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