Among the present inmates of the Auck land Hospital is Mr John Wheeler King, who is believed to be tho ...oldest living colonist born in New Zealand. This veteran was 77 years of age in the month of Septem ber last, ills mot her and father were among the passengers of the trig Active, which sailed from Sydney Cove on tho 4th March, 1814, for the Bay of Islands The brig was under the command of Captain Dillon, and the visit was organised for the purpose of establishing a friendly intercourse with ihe Natives of New Zealand. Among the pas sengers of tho Active was the Rev. Samuel Marsden, the principal chaplain of New South Wales. He brought several mission aries with him to the Bay of Islands for the evangelistic work, Mr John King (father of Mr John Wheeler King) being one of the number, also Mrs King and Philip King, a youth 15 years of age. In all there were 35 persons on the Active, and they comprised all sorts and conditions of men, convicts being among the number. The Active called at Derwent on her way from Sydney, and arrived at the Bay of Islands on the 10th of June, 1814. A Star reporter hearing that Mr John Wheeler King was in the hospital looked him up one day this week, and found him arranging his bed. His memory is rather hazy, but he answered a few questions. He said that his father, who was- employed by the Church Missionary Society, came to New Zealand to teach the Natives Christian ity. He died 40 years ago, while his mother died previous to that. The old colonist states that iri his early days he followed farming pursuits at the Bay of Islands, but he has been in and about Auckland for the past 20 years. His memory is altogether deficient as to events at tho foundation of the Colony, and it was impossible to glean anything from him as to the early events of his life. However, Mr Kirig said he acted ns interpreter at the trial of the Maori Maketu for nfurdcr in 1841. This trial was conducted before Mr Justice Martin, the first judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Maketu was charged with the wholesale murder of a white woman, several children, and a man, at the Bay of Islands. 