From "Mataroa District Centennial:
When his parents moved to Taihape, Robert stayed on the farm with his sister Mary who kept house for him. On March 23rd 1910 Robert married Nelle Edith Brickland in St Margaret's Church, Taihape. They moved to the farm and in 1916 they built their new home (the present homestead)
The farm was sold in 1919 to a Mr Dalrymple but because of the depression of the early twenties Robert McNeill was forced to return and repossess the property. As the school closed in 1925 they moved to Mangaweka for education and Robert travelled back and forth.
In 1931 they returned to Tiriraukawa to live until son Leonard married Judith Boon in 1940 and they took over the farm.

From 77 Years Among the Kowhais - Early Days at Tiriraukawa"
Page 74:
My father, Bob McNeill, at the agfe of fourteen years, joined my grandfather who had built a slab and shingle whare near the Mangaone stream about sixty chains east of the present Mangaone junction. A couple of other bush-fellers lived in the camp, but as my father was the youngest member of the party it usually fell to his lot to fetch the supplies from Hunterville. He would ride the pack horse to Hunterville, a distance of 23 miles and after loading it with the much-needed supplies would lead the horse home. On one homeward trip he was trudging along the track leading the pack-horse when an overhanging vine caught in the pack-load, pulling it loose, the startled horse pulled away from my father and bolted off along the track leaving a trail of groceries and hardware behine him. Fortunately the animal stopped a couple of miles along the track and the tiered lad was able to catch him. By the time he had collected the scattered goods and reloaded them, darkness was approaching and he was very hungry.
Page 78:
My father purcahsed a French-made car called a "Zedell". From what my parents told us. I gathered it must have been a terrible contraption. Shortly after my father purcahsed the car it started back-firing violently when travelling down hill. Father stopped the vehicle, mother jumped out clasping the baby and ran off down the raod. My father with some difficulty turned off the petrol supply and with much shouted urging from my mother, who was sure the machine would explode, ran in the opposite direction.
The braking system was not very efficient; after my father had damaged the end of the carshed several times, he made doors at both ends, so that if he could not stop at the right spot he could drive right through and circle around for another attempt.
As with most cars of the time, my fathers had a collapsible hood which was only raised in wet weahter. Driving home one day my fathers was caught in a heavy thunderstorm. He hurriedly raised the hood but evidently did not secure it properly. As he drove up the narrow road in the rain the car struck a bump; the jolt collapsed the hood around my father's head. Luckily he managed to stop the car and untangle himself before he ran off the road.
Page 79:
The Mangaone Valley was farmed by the following families: Peed, Weekes, Anderson, and McNeill; while Les O'Callaghan and Tom Muir farmed each side of the Mangapa Stream.

1905 Electoral Roll-Rangitikei
MCNEILL, Robert, Wairepo, labourer