OUR PIONEERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 8

OUR PIONEERS.

GATHERING AT TOWN HALL

A PLEASANT REUNION.

SPEECHES, SONGS & STORIES,

Some attempt was mado in tho Town Hall last evening to do honour to tho New Zealand pioneers, and more particularly to the men and women who boro a part in raising Wellington from its primitive state to that of a wealthy and populous city. Tho occasion was the animal winter reunion of the Wellington Early Settlors' Association. About fifteen* hundred' people, old l Und young, attended, and most of them wero in their places' soon after seven o'clock. Tho hour that followed was devoted to conversation and to. the reminiscences ci tho old days. No impatience was displayed' for a commencement upon the regular programme. In all directions grey-bearded men and old ladies wore to bo seoai in. earnest talk, recalling events of tho distant past, and fighting somo of their pioneering battles over again. As for the younger folks, they found ample entertainment in listening to the stories of their elders, ot in watching their old faces lighted with the memories of bygone years. Although many of the old folk who took part in it have gone far along tne road of life, tho gathering was in every way a pleasant and joyous'one. Old faces lighted up as brightly as younger ones under the influenco of friendly talk and/ greetings, and it was a beautiful thing to see how somo of the old pioneers, and l especially the women, warmed to the music, most of all to the songs that told of the Homeland which they left long ago, and which has become to most of tihom a very distant memory.

In Five Reigns. The oldest individiual in the room, though not the earliest settler, was Mr. William White, who bears the burden of 88 years with a jauntiness that would shame many a man of half 'his age. Ho hails from Surrey, and came to Now Zealand in 1857. In tho Old Country he was a member of tho Surrey Militia, and the passageof years has not robbed him of military alertness. He has worked at various occupations since coming to New Zealand, and assured a Dominion representative, who had somo talk with him, that he was still quite capable of going down on his knees and doing a bit of scrubbing if anybody offered him the job. He proclaimed an intention of walking out to Taitn on tho morrow, and scornfully waved aside a suggestion that the train would save the labour of walking. "What's tho good of your legs if you don't use themP" demanded the dauntless ancient, and he appended a remark that he didn't see the good of wasting his pension on train faros.

Mr. White has lived in five reigns, starting with that of Geo. IV. He attended tho coronation of Queon Victoria, and in his own words was "pretty nigh jammed by the monstrous ofowd."

Nowadays he spends his days in Wellington, and gets along comfortably on eightcenpence a day. He lives on thrco meals a day, and, as to doctors, his advice is: "Pick out a good one, and don't take his medicine." By hifl own account, this hearty old man is better satisfied on his eightoenpence a day than many who have got thousands.

Some Early Settlors. Old as Mr. White is, tho gathering moulded many people who were in New Zealand before liim. Archbishop Redwood, who was ono of tho speakers of the evening, camo to Now Zealand as a child in 1842, and a Mrs. Mitchell was present who camo to New Zealand in 1841. Another notable figure was Mr. John Delanoy—a vetoran of the Maori war —decorated with many modals, and upright and sturdy in spite of his eighty-seven years. One old gentleman to whom atten. tion was called during tho evening was Mr. John Clements. Mr. Luke stated that when Mr. Clements came to New Zealand forty years ago ho had only one lung. To-day he has every appearance of being halo and hearty. Another old couple prosent wero Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor, of Tawa. Flat. Mr. Taylor is over 90 and his wife is 89. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) who presided over the gathering, mounted tho platform shortly after eight o'clock. Ho was accompanied by Archbishop llcdwood, Sir Joseph Ward, the Rev. Jas. Patcrson, tho Hon. J. E. Jontiinson, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. S. Hill, Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., and others. Tho Prime Minister forwarded an apology for absence, but Mrs. Massey and Miss Massoy were present in tho latter part of the evening.

The Crinoline. The platform owed its prottiest feature to the presonco of two young ladies (Miss Trovithick and Miss Lyon) wearing dainty -muslin dreßsos or the oldfashioned crinoline typo. Many of the speakors during the evening praised the dresses and complimented tlieir wearers, nono more heartily than Archbishop Redwood, who declared that they had delighted his eyes with the finery ho used to admire in his youth. 1

The Speeohcs, The Mayor, in formally opening the proceedings, said that he had apologies tor absence from the Govornor, the Hon. AV. F. Massey (Prime Minister), Bishop Sprott, Archdeacon Fancourt, tho Hons. C. M. Luke and C. J. Johnston," arid Messrs. J. Dumbell, G. Hunter, and G. W. Russell, M.P. It was a pleasant duty, Mr. Luko reumrkod ; to take tbe chair upon such an occasion.' Nothing elso in Wellington could come up to the reunion of the early settlers. Ho would have liked to see tho hall filled with early settlers and with those who desired to keep alive tho traditions of the old identities. To-day Wellington was a city of 66,000 people, and bad a capital value of £19,000,000. _ This development was not to bo credited altogether to the people who were here to-day. In part it was to be credited to the people who founded this Dominion. (Applause.) He touched upon the difficulties faccd by the pioneers., Wellington, he said, had been settled by tho best people that tho Old Country could send out. In the first year of its existonce Wellington had a property value of £200,000, which would show that the early settlers were people who had somo wealth with which to found homes in this beautiful country. (Applauso.) Sir Joseph Ward said that the people who founded this Dominion were of tho right class. (Applause.) Thoy were enterprising and intrepid, and had displayed a courage and cnorgy which had done much for later generations. The pioneers had encounters difficulties and endured hardships such as the fastidiouß people of to-day could not real" ise. The young people might remember the good work that tho older ones had done. It was a foaturo of such a country as New Zealand that sometimes people* were not disposed to pay that respect to age which they ought to pay. Tho old identities were worthy of a far creator gathering in their honour than had assembled that night. _ Ho would have .liked to see the building packed "from floor to ceiling." To tho old folks present ho expressed a hope that they might live to attend many gatherings in"honour of what they had done for themselves, for their families, and, above all, for the country to which they belonged. (Applause.) An Early Arrival. Archbishop Redwood made no sot .(Dooch, but ho entertained hi* Hearers

with many reminiscences of his experiences after coming to Now Zealand as a child three and a half years old in 1842. His father brought out a thousand pounds in gold, and settled ill Nelson. Archbishop Redwood described a big tent and other rudo dwellings in which his early years were past. He told of tho introduction of the first apples and poaches. When his mother Innrjed at Nelson she saw a Now Zealand daisy, and said to his father: ."Look, what a beggarly country you Ila.ve brought us to; it can't even grow a decent daisy I" It was not bo long, Archbishop Redwood continued, • before his mother saw splendid grapes growing in tho open air, and got a true idea of what tho country could do.

The Rev. James Paterson told of his coming to New Zealand 45 years ago, and modestly confessed l that ho was not ono of the early settlers. Ho described the difficulties of travel in days when a journey to Wanganui involved _ perilous fording of rivers and ninny similar experiences. While ho loved tho Old Land 1 , Mr. Paterson declared, he loved' Now Zealand too, and had' 110 patience with' people who grumbled at tho country on coming out hero, and had no appreciation- of its beauty and good l qualities. 'Die president of the Early Settlers' Association (the Hon. J. E. JeiiMnson) said; that its watchword was: "Honour thy father and thy mother." (Applause.)

Stocks and Duolllng. Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., said that he supposed) he .had been asked to attend as a sou-in-law of the first Superintendent of Wellington, Isaac Earle Featliorston. Ho spoke of the, stocks that used to standi at Thorndon, and of various other local antiquities. In passing he mentioned that ho had read recently in an Auckland paper about an old Wellington identity named' Tayne. "He used to keep a crockery shop dbwn on tho beach," said Dr. Newman. "Ho is 97, andl going strong." Duelling was another subject upon which Dr. Newman touched 1 interestingly. Ho recalled the fact that Dr. Featlierston and Colonel Wakefield went "out" on ono occasion, and mentioned another duel in wbicn the parties were named Ross and Browor. "Ono of those was killed," said Dr. Nowinan; "it was unfortunate!" He mentioned; that Dr. Featherston's son, Charles, was still living and doing well in Buenos Ayrcß. Tho early settlers, he concluded, had 1 laid tho foundations of a great society and) a great Dominion, and) it was v<p to their descendants to live tho kind' of lifo that would' make New Zealand tho great country which they intended it to do. (Applause.) Some reminiscences* of early days in Tamnaki were- given by Mr. Samuel Hill; son of a sergeant in tho 57th R-egiment. Pointing to Mr. John Delnney, Mr. Hill said, that ho had not seen him for forty years, and added, "My father gavo that man tho-shilling in Ireland to enlist in tlie 57tli Regiment." Mr. -Hill dedared l)is i belief that the northorn epidemio which has been diagnosed as smallpox was simply ako ake, or Maori itch. One of tho stories he told was>.about_ a man who was condemned to death in New Plymouth many years ago; taken to Auckland because ho could not be executed in the local gaol, and ultimately returned' to Now Plymouth and' pardoned. Mr. Hill stated' that ho had : heard tho story from the one-time condemned prisoner, who was living to-day and prosperous.

Arc Appoal for Support. Mr. John Smith put forward a strong plea for moro adequate support than tho Early Settlers' Association has yet received. T'hero wore many people, lie said, who were in a position to contribute photographs and reniiniscencos, and should d'o so. Tho men and women of to-day should respect tho men and women who came to New Zealand long ago, undeterred by tho fact that they were told that it was a country inhabited by cannibals. There were still living a number of .tho people who oamo out by the first four, ships to arrive in tho colony, and it was a fine thing to enable them to meet their old companions and talk with them.. (Applause.)

Tho Musloal Programme. Numerous musical and other items were contributed during tho evening. A notable performance was that of Mrs. Parsons, tho mother of daughters who have been well-known musicians for some years. Encored for her first song she Rave a sweetly tuneful rendering of "Robin Adair" in a stylo that many younger women might envy. An oldtimer of another stamp was Mr. Henry Walton, who came upon tho platform with the ancient Mr. William White and sang "Ben Bolt." Delicate critics might have been ablo to And flaws in the music, but Mr. Walton was loudly applauded for tho spirit of his song. Other i'icms wore: Highland dancing, Mrs. Rogers's 'pupils; song, Miss V. Castles; whistling solo, Mr. Digby; song, Mr. K. Luke; song, Mr. Rogers. The last "turn" of all was a series of stories and humorouß reminiscences admirably told by Mr. Enoch Tonks, a pioneer settler who had many interesting as well as laughable things to say. Speeches, songs, and stories being disposed of. supper waa served, and afterwards tne floor was oleaTed for dancmflr. W. M'Laughlin acted as accompanist to a number of tho singers, and also contributed a pianoforte solo.