Reuben PARR
Reuben was aged 25 and a farmer when he joined the Duke of Cambridge Lodge on 26 November 1870. He was married to Maria and they had seven children. A son (the second white child born in the district) was to became Sir James Parr K.C.M.G. who later told that often in the early [eighteen] seventies the farmers of Pukerimu rushed their wives and families, in the middle of the night, to a central redoubt at Comrie's farm, and there they stood guard, carbine in hand, all through the night, against possible raids.
Reuben was a member of the St Andrews Anglican vestry in 1871, enrolled with the Cambridge Cavalry Volunteers as a trumpeter in 1872, a member of the Farmers' Club in 1875 and on the committee of the Pukerimu School in 1877. In 1877 he also became a member of the Cambridge & Waikato Reed Band.
By 1881 Reuben was in Te Aroha being a Director of the Te Aroha Quartz Crushing Battery Company and clerk of the Course at the Te Aroha Race Meeting


more on Reuben & Maria ...

Reuben Parr emigrated to New Zealand on the "Canterbury" which left Gravesend on 21 September 1863, arriving into Lyttelton on 10 January 1864

Maria was apparently born in Tipperary, Ireland in 1837 as Maria McGREEVEY. She changed her name to GREAVES and married Reuben in 1868 in Christchurch

their known children were:
(I would like help with these children please)

1869 - 1941 Chirstopher James Parr Lawyer, mayor, politician, diplomat
- later known as Sir James Parr
- James married Barbara Mary WHITWORTH in 1938 in a quiet celebration at the Cambridge registrar's office

1875 - John Parr

1877 - Reuben Parr

1879 - William Parr

1880 - Eliza Parr
- in the Waikato TImes 18 Nov 1880 ... At Nguturuanga, Waitoa, on 9th November, the wife of Reuben Parr of a daughter


NOTES

1877
In the WAIKATO TIMES
LICENSING COURT - The application of Reuben Parr, for a transfer of the Criterion Hotel to Edward Hewitt, was also granted


1879
From the EVENING POST 3 March ... John ALMEN was arrested on a charge of forging and uttering a chegue puporting to be sign by Reuben Parr, of Cambridge

1880
From the THAMES STAR 16 December ... By a telegram in anouther column it is stated that the Government have intimated to Tukukino that they are determined to form the road through the Komata Block. We sincerely trust the report is correct, as the need for this road is now far more generally felt thatn before the opening of the Te aroha goldfield. We are afraid that such is not the case as the Hon. F. Whitaker declined to decide the matter himself, and Mr Bryce, the Native Minister has not yet arrived in Auckland. We understand that should the Government not proceed at once with the formation of the road, Mr Reuben Parr and a numer of Waitoa settlers intend to carry it through, Subscriptions are being raised by them for the purpose

1880
From the THAMES STAR 4 November ... TE AROHA, Tuesday. On Monday night a meeting of the Waitoa Prospecting Association was held at the Hot Springs Hotel (O'Halloran's) and there was a good attendance, principally of Waitoa settlers. Mr Reuben Parr was appointed Chairman ... more

1884
From the Te AROHA NEWS 25 October ... A well attended metting of settler was held at Moffat's Hotel, Waitoa, on Saturday last, to take measures or the establishment of a cheese factory ... the undersigned gentlemen guaranteed to supply milk daily to the said factory

1925
the Death Notice of Reuben Parr 29 December 1925 states:
... Mr Reuben Parr, father of Sir James Parr, died at Waihou last night, after a prolonged illness (states a Press Associtaion message from Hamilton). He came to the Waikato in 1865, and first settled in the Cambridge district. Subsequently he removed to Waihou, where he lived for nearly half a century.