ADAMS, ROBERT ALBERT (1842-1904) was born in the Vale of Clwyd, Wales, a son of the Rev. Edward Adams. Educated in Flintshire, he was apprenticed to a draper in Liverpool. In 1862 he emigrated to Melbourne, and in the same year came to New Zealand. He was on the Otago and Thames goldfields and took part in the Waikato war (including Orakau) as a private in the militia. After the war he took up land in Waikato, but soon spent a year or two in Canterbury, and in 1868 again enlisted (in the Armed Constabulary) for the war on the West Coast. He was present at Nukumaru. In 1874 Adams commenced a drapery business in Patea, where he was for many years a leader in local government. A member of the town board, he was afterwards for six years mayor. He was also on the school committee (eight years chairman), the Patea harbour board (1877-78), Wanganui education board, hospital and charitable aid board (some time chairman), and chairman of directors of the Hurleyville Dairy Co. In 1883 he married a daughter of Daniel Smith.

Cycl. NZ, vi.

Reference: Volume 1, page 18

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