He was also appointed Commander-in-Chief of the New Zealand Naval Forces in early 1870. He took Bert, his eldest grandchild, with him to many events which have become part of the city's history. It was probably due to these experiences and the developments that occurred within Bert's lifetime that made him mindful that if this history was not recorded it would be lost and the hard work and sacrifices made by early settlers forgotten. With this in mind, this book incorporates the stories that Bert wrote and provides some background to his life and that of his relatives. Subsequent research into his family history reinforces the need for documentation as not all the stories that Bert wrote were entirely accurate."--[Introduction]