NINETY YEARS OLD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 177, 7 November 1941, Page 5

NINETY YEARS OLD

PIONEER OF EARLY MOTU

MRS CHRISTIAN HANSEN

To be still independent of outside help at the age of ninetyis the unique record of Mrs Christian Hansen of Victoria Avenue, Whakatane, who recently celebrated her birthday at the! home of her daughter, Mrs A. Haultam, of Hinemoa Street. Mrs Hansen; who reared l a family of eleven children (four sons and six daughters) hasi 44 grandschildren, 63 great grandchildren, iand one great-great grandchild. Her direct descendants number no less than one hundred; and twenty-nine. * Born in Denmark in 1851, she came out to Queensland, Australia, as a young girl of twenty, where she met ami married the late Mr Christian Hansen, who also came from her homeland. Two years later the couple came to New Zealand, arriving in Gisborne about 1873, and taking up land in Makauri, which they cleared and farmed, retaining the property for about 16 years. In those 1 days the Motu road was the only means of communication between the -northern Bay of Plenty and the Poverty Bay areas, and through little more than a bridle track its importance was recognised by the growing community in the Gisborne district. In Virgin Busli Mr Hansen had the foresight to re-, cognise the importance of the position as the road traffic increased, and with his young family moved to the then almost inaccessible spot and literally carved out a new homo from the virgin bush. All stores had to be transported from Makauri by* paclc-horse, and the timber foi the new dwelling pit-sawn in the bush. By this means the first accommodation hou.se of the new road, was steadily erected, and soon became known as the half-way house, between Gisborne and Opotiki. The hardships can better be imagined than described, but during all this time, in spite of her growing domestic responsibilities, Mrs Hansen carried out all the cooking and supervision of service, of the hotel, while her husband became fully occupied with the founding of the new district which his vision had made possible. The couple were known far and wide as the founders of the settlement. Starting a Community As' other settlers followed th« Hansens set about the establishment of a schoolhouse, church and stores. They were looked up to in every respect, the late Mr Hansen, combining the duties of 'Mine host' with those 1 of family doctor, dentist and chemist. No one appealed in vain to him or his kind-hearted wife, Slowly a community was built up. ft became possible to graze horses permanently around the accommodation house, instead of taking them nack 25 miles to Potutu. To assist in the ready growth of the township, the late Mr Hansen founded a timber mill on the site of the present Motu public hall. Slowly the bush was cleared, and the pioneer couple- enjoyed the. company of neighbours. Isolated Throughout the Winter The road Avas practically impassable during the winter making it necessary to store; in supplies fof at least three months. An indication of the state of the road may be gained from the fact that the first piano to the hotel took nine days to accomplish a distance of 14 miles ■ almost unbelievable in these days of easy transit. For forty years the Hansen family maintained the hotel, supplying in the process the social and communal life of the district, fostering its interests and sponsoring its progress. Mrs Hansen was untiring in her labours for others, yet despite the obvious hardships, she declares that she has enjoyed every minute of hei life and maintains that the simple pleasures are the best. Retired in 1906 With her husband she retired in 1906, after disposing of the hotel, and settling in a splendidly furnished and beautifully situated home in the vicinity. However three years later she was left a widow, and little guessed that she was to live to see and appreciate the Dominion Centennial thirty years later. Mrs Hansen is to-day quite independent, living by herself and retaining vivid memories of her early pioneering life. Twelve years ago she came to Whakatane to be near her daughters, and to enjoy the company of her grandchildren.

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Gathering of Family She has seen the decline of the Motu settlement, by the deflection of the main highway through Matawai, and the subsequent transfer of the hotel license to that centre. She has however no regrets, and remains amazingly strong and active, full of happy memories and stories of the early days when the apparently insurmountable difficulties were regarded as the very spice of life. At her birthday gathering were her six daughters and two sons, Mrs F. McDonald (Puha), Mrs W. D. L. McDonald (Masterton), Mrs J. Atkins (Waipaoa), Mrs W. Bright (Gisborne), Mrs A. Haultain katane), Mrs E. Derecourt (Whakatane), and Miessrs T. Hansen (Whakatane) and S. Hansen (Gisborne).