Krippner Martin 1817 1866 Orewa Puhoi Northland Nz

edmondsallan - Hello - Krippner, Martin
Soldier, coloniser, postmaster, teacher -- Martin Krippner was born probably on 23 September 1817 at Mantau, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the eldest son of Johannes Krippner, a blacksmith, and his wife, Anna Pallier. Martin received a better education than his peers. After attending secondary school he studied law at Prague university. In 1842 he obtained a commission in the Imperial Austrian Army and rose to the rank of captain before his resignation in 1859. While stationed at Frankfurt he met Emily Longdill, a well-educated Englishwoman, whom he married on 12 May 1851. The couple had four children and also brought up a niece and a young girl whose mother had died.

Emily Krippner's brother, Pynson Wilmot Longdill, had settled in New Zealand; possibly he urged the Krippners to emigrate. Martin and Emily and their children arrived at Auckland on the Lord Burleigh on 22 March 1860. With them were Martin's brother, Johannes (Hans) Krippner, and his future wife, Elizabeth Turnwald; and the Pankratz and Scheidler families, Bohemian friends who were to assist the Krippners in a farming venture. Martin Krippner was naturalised on 10 April 1860 and settled at Orewa, where he was postmaster from August 1861 until October 1863.

Krippner was not a successful farmer. Nevertheless he was enthusiastic about the colony's prospects, and devised a scheme to benefit his compatriots. He received permission from the Auckland provincial government to organise a Bohemian settlement at Puhoi, with the promise of a 40 acre land grant for each adult immigrant and a 20 acre grant for each child over five years. He then wrote to his brothers in Bohemia, whospread the word.

The scheme had immediate appeal to farmers in the Mantau district. On 27 June 1863, 83 immigrants, including Michael Krippner, another of Martin's brothers, arrived at Auckland on the War Spirit. They were taken by cutter to the mouth of the Puhoi River and transported upstream in Maori canoes to the settlement site chosen by Krippner. Arriving at night in the middle of winter, they were dismayed at what they found - two nikau huts in a small clearing, surrounded by dense bush. However, there was no going back. Sections were allotted and the work of felling the bush began. In order to survive the settlers produced charcoal, shingles, fenceposts and firewood for the Auckland market. This trade was arranged by Krippner, who also acted as interpreter.

Krippner exercised considerable influence over the Bohemians because of their dependence on him. Soon after their arrival, he persuaded many of the men to join the Third Regiment of the Waikato Militia. He was offered a commission as captain if he could get 50 men to enlist; the commission was granted on 17 October 1863. In 1864 Krippner and his men guarded Maori prisoners being held on the hulk Marion at Auckland. At the conclusion of the war, some of the Bohemians accepted grants of land at Ohaupo, Waikato, where another settlement was established. Krippner himself received a land grant but did not settle there. I wonder why ? till we meet again - Regards -edmondsallan