EVERGREEN PAST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 4

EVERGREEN PAST.

OUR PIONEERSTHE TOWN HALL GATHERING*' FIRST RE-UNION. About 2000 people assembled in the, Town Hall last night on the occasion oi! the firs', annual reunion of early settler* and their descendants. ' The gathering was held under the auspices of the Early Settlers and Historical Association of Wellington,'and was described «s "Wellington's tribute to her pioneers." Ad. dresses and musical items wcro given, nnd, towards the end of the proceedings, the concourse joined ill "Auid Lang Byne," During tho evening the Mayor (Mr. D« M'Laren), who presided, stated that Hi magazine would probably be run in connection with the association.

In the course of his speech, the Hon. H. D. Bell mentioned that Sir Frederick Young, a pioneer, was now living in London, hale and hearty at the age of uinetyw six. Tho Mayor (hereupon proposed that tho gathering should send Sir Fredcrick Young its most hearty greetings, and express n wish that he should enjoy every blessing during the remaining years of his life. The meeting readily agreed to the suggestion, and the Mayor an. nounced that the Prime Minister had un> dertaken to forward tho resolution.

In his opening remarks tho Mayor said that he wished to congratulate those who had instituted (his movement. The object*; of tho association were dealt with in about nine clauses, but they could be nil summarised by saying that one should bo proud ot our country, and our city, nnd try to emulate tho spirit anir charnc-i ter of those who worked here before us.

LORD ISLINGTON. Lord Islington then spoke. He felfl sure that tho aims which were moving people to-day were the same, as those which had actuated our predecessors. Ho was proud to be in the presence of 60 many of the ciders of New Zealand. (Applause.) Tho history of New Zealand could bo truly characterised as a very, picturesque and interesting one. Althougtt. the country was geographically remote, from the trade gravity of the world, it Has, lo a iKculitr degree, endowed by nature. There was a peculiar combination of soil and climuto which afforded, those who toiled here greater profit with less risk than was the case in almost any other country. Ho hoped that the character and the fibre, of tho people would not deteriorate on that account. He trusted that young New Zeolanders would live ta f-eo the population doubled, and he felt sure that they would sen the unfilled land of the Dominion eventually brought under tho plough. In one respect Now Zealand was like England—both depended, for livelihood on the volume of their exports. The-o was, however, this difference: England depended on manufactured exports, Now Zeauud on agricultural cxj potts. It should not be forgotten that the development of a nation depended on the, co-operativo march of the whole- populaJ tion, and that—like everything clso^ 1 colonisation hurt to oome under the aegii ..of practical science. Immigration was a necessity, but, ic, should be ronducled on careful, scrutiniW ing, and scientific lines. An indisv, criminate system of emigration might be very dctri.iiental to the couitry. And" then, was it not important that thev should turn a thought to (he biudJ ing'of this country closer with tho other; countries within tho Empiref The bond of Empire was well nigh unbreakable* and was daily bccoiuin;? stronger, and, moreover it was becoming a very useful and practical business bond. Three great links in this bond were finance, interchange ,of, , trade; , and, necessity for 6ocurity. Was' it not wotih , whil», doing "our best to secure those links; and bind them closer as tho ycarj: went on? All were proud of J the Union Jack. (Applause.) - Imperial/ perorations wore almost a fault nowadays,but was it not all worth whi'.e, even front a straight-out business standpoint? This was a proper time lo think of tho subject of continuing upbuilding from tho foundation which those who had borne the heat and the burden of the day had laid, and tho subject of binding closer tho links of the Empire which would be the* greatest factor in maintaining tho peace) of the world. (Applause.)

PRIME MINISTER. The Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Ma» eey) stated that the idea of holding such' gatherings was a particularly happy ono; He went on to say that wo could hardly realise to-day bow* when the early settlers arrived, how little there were of the comforts and conveniences of to-day. Ther«| wero their no 'phones, no trains, no olec* trie light, no newspapers—and no picJ tur-e shows. ('Laughter.) But he ventured to think, nevertheless, that the pioneers cnieved themselves quite as much.' as people did to-day. They enjoyed lira pleasure of ovcreomine dif£eultv whenever difficulty arose. (ApplauscT When, ever he thought: of what, the early settlers had done for'thi" country, he (figuratively, speaking) took off his hat to them. (Ap-i pluii'c.) Where could be found better specimens of humanity .than the early settlors, who, while they were working out the home and livelihood, knew that they might be at any time colled on to lay down the or-* diiiary implements of husbandry and take up their rifles? Where could ba found stouter men than the early diggers? They had their faults, but they wero admirable people, and, unfortunately, were a fast-vanishing band. )le was glad to note that one nf his Srini«li>riil rol. leagues (the Hon. H. D. Rein was tolling; a keen interest in preserving the historical records nf the country.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. Sir Joseph Ward said that ho ill ought that lie should claim to be fin roily settler ; lie hail been 53 vears in Now Zealand, and Now Zealand was only 70 years old. Ami how much had been necoropUshcd iu that time! The generation of to-day was oul.v ensnged in mskiitjr tbo superstructure on the foundation which had been laid by the pioneers. I.oyalty to Ewwre htul permeated all that the i;?d settlors had done, and the nicntoiy Cf (hem would always remind lis to recognise one flag, to tear God, and to homn,r Ue lung. > HON. H, D. BELL. The Hon. H. 1). licit said (hat lie had various associations with i,lio p<meprs« His father, Sir Francis uiilon Hell, vliom many present knew, was one ot the early, settlers, and lidward Gibbon W iilicfifld, whom the speaker knew when a child, was a cousin of .Sir F. D. .liell. Onlv a. couple of years a|;o Mr. Hell bad mot in linsl.'ur.i Sir Frederick Vomit'. the earliest survivin? pioneer, who was now 9G years of :igo. Mr. Bell mentioned that one of (lie incidents of early Wellington was a duel between Colonel Wakefield and lloctir FcaHusrstou. Tho pioneers o£ Wellington were the pioueers of New Zealand. But, tho real founding: of New Zealand wa« not tb» landing in AVcllington; the future of this land lmng in tho balance at tho lim» when ' tho' shins which brought the first lot of settlers' lay in !?t. Geor.te's Chan, liel, and the Imperial Government wets doubtful as to whether they should sanction the enterprise. However, the vessels set sail, and the Imperial Government s hand bavin? been forced, Captain 'Hob. son was dispatched to plant <hs British tla; in tho country, and (his H-ibfon did in lime to prevent this land becoming tho possession of a foreign Pawer. SONS OF PIONEERS, The la>t speakers, were Mr. Tonk* and (itv Councillor .lolni Smith, ITr. Tonks staled that his father, Mr, William Tonks, was an earlv scttW whose vovaßo to Nov: Zealand had occnpied five'months. The ship had in Wollinston Harbour on March I. \Sii. Councillor Smith staled that he had ;<?- rived at Nelson in lSto, ami hid b?on brought to Weliinston ill ISti. Tha musical programme was a? follows:—Organ selection, Mr. Maugh&n Bar. no!.t; soup, Mrs. W. F. Tarsons; son?, Mr. E. A. Burrows; sons, Mrs. Greenwood ; song, 3fr. J. L. Luut.