IN FOUR REIGNS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1945, 31 December 1913, Page 7

IN FOUR REIGNS.

PIONEER AND PATRIARCH,

.. Only, a very few years before the birth in London of tho Rev. 'William R-onaldson, uoiv of Duuedin, who last month enjoyed tho OOtli anuiveisary of his birthday, it took six days' to convoy the news of the Battle of Waterloo from Brussels to London. Now, when this wonderful old man has the mental alert' noss to appreciate the strange inventions of an inventive ago and compare them with iho crudities in the years of l;«is_ bo.yliofl'l, a luxurious world may learn in six minutes by meant of wirejess telegraphy the state of the weather, in the .'Antarctic or tho 1053 of an expedition in tlie Arctic region. Olio can hardly grasp—none can fully understand —Hie tremendous progress made sinco the third year of the reign of George IV, a wonderfiirporiod, representing tho life of tlio Rev. William Roua'ldson, pioneer and patriarch. So far, he has seen British civilisation change from tho simple, quiet, and leisurely progress cf English Me' in 1823 to the feverish, restand swift movement of , to-day. Genius lias struggled, conquered, and passed to other spheres; great names and movements have stirred tho nations , of tlio earth; the greatest Empire has' been built up steadily, ami through blood and tews, for a great purpose.! It were folly to attempt to chroniclc the progress and changes of the past 00 i years. 'Tis a life-labour for riiany patient historians.

It is casio? and pleasa-nter to spend half an hour with a clear-minded' old man, who has lived and laboured through it all, who has i'edf; content to give of his best in an outpost of tho Empire, r.nd who has earned the revsard. of peace and gentle respect. Ho does not dwell in the past, and gain pleasure from the knowledge that he has been loyal to five Sovereigns of Great Britain, and that in his long day the ways of work, travel and communication have changed. . His pleasure is deeper and nioro sacred. It is gratitude for his activity and opportunity, faith in tho purpose and goal of life..

It is pleasant and encouraging to hear this cheerful patriarch' recount his exporienses as a pioneer missionary in tho Wairarapa, or to see him in his library (also representing change in thought) fingering nimbly a typewriter, and printing his correspondence with a neatness not- yet attained hv many sprightly maids. He remembers witli rare distinctness his work as an Anglican missionary in tho Wairarapa, under tho penetrating eye of the late Bishop Sclwyn. All the familiar faces of that period havo gone, but thou- kindness and hone-sty are remembered. His first visit to tho Wairarapa was made in 1856, in company for a part of the roiigh journey «ith the celebrated missionary bishop. It was something in the nature of a.n expedition. Settlement was sparse, and the way was through rough country and dangerous rivers. But the resting-places for the nights ware havens of comfort. Each of the far-sepn rated homes, in this hushlaiid wore "franked through" from | boundary to boundary. And the pakeha had a keen competitor in hospitality— ; the Native. - The stor.v of Mr. Ronaldson's career as a missionary in the North has already been published. Enough to say that from other sources it is known that bis work was good, and appreciated, He was broadminded in his views, and sympathetic in liis estimate of men and their worries and weaknesses. Even to-day lie smiles when lie remembers how tli-iv settlers, whose exports and imports to autl from Wellington were conveyed bv Nick, tho Greek, in cutters, occasionally oomnlaincd that after waiting patiently for a "drop of spirit." nothing better than sea- water in a bottle wan brought io them, Let U3 all hope that such a di-s----anpointinen!) did n.ot reo to thorn at Christmas tide.—Duncdin "Star."