[1] He was a Justice of the Peace[2] and Member of Provincial Council in Wellington during the colonial years of New Zealand, serving alongside other pioneers including William B. Rhodes and during the first term of Henry Bunny in 1864.

Here too are a number of Highlanders from the estates of the Duke of Sutherland: they are a fine hardy set of fellows, and capable, no doubt of fighting their way in any region of the world in which they may be placed.

They are clad in one uniform dress – a blue jacket and cap, and tartan trousers – everything upon their backs appears to be perfectly new.Barton became an agent for the New Zealand Company and was responsible for the Highlanders on board the Oriental.

Although he appears to have built a slab hut on his purchase around 1841, the Trentham Parish histories indicate that he and his third wife, Hannah, whom he married about 1843, only settled on the estate in 1846.

[8] Barton appears to have acquired more land, as his estate is described as lying to the west of the Main Road from Quinn's Post to Silverstream on both sides of the river.

In case there should be another, some heavy timbers were used in the foundation and a whole Birch tree, (its head lopped off) was encased in the structure to hold the house up more safely.

Mr Rabbit remembers the house being demolished around 1939 (actually 1938).The timber was going to be used to build huts for a Scout Jamboree where General Motors stands today.

The Jamboree was never held and the shortage of eggs due to the war led the wood to be used for building fowl houses by farmer Ken Geange."

The house was full of borer, and had been abandoned and vandalised for a number of years before being demolished by Scouts for use in a Jamboree; they discovered that all the timber had been pit-sawn and planed by hand, and that walls had not been removed when the various additions were made.

"The Barton family sold 48.5 hectares of the estate in the early 20th century which is now the Royal Wellington Golf Club in Heretaunga.

He joined a party led by Samuel Charles Brees, the New Zealand Company's Chief Surveyor (succeeding William Mein Smith in 1842).

They were tasked by Wakefield with judging the practicability of carrying a road to the Wairarapa and ascertaining its general character for the extension of the Wellington colony.

[12] They described the valley as consisting of "quite sufficient land fit for arable purposes to support settlers", which resulted in more expeditions over the year.

It is understood that in later years, Barton took up land in the Wairarapa for further farming establishing a sheep station at White Rock around 1847 and afterwards extended his holdings.

[3] A topographic map from 1853 shows Barton had taken up land across Cape Palliser which bordered the runs of the Riddiford and Pharazyn families.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, RICHARD BARTONHe was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council in 1864[17] alongside William B. Rhodes and Henry Bunny.

This term resulted in council agreement to build a Custom House and Post Offices on reclaimed land at Lambton Quay.