THE EARLY DAYS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 198, 10 May 1918, Page 7

THE EARLY DAYS

LIVES OF THE HONKERS

WHEN WELLINGTON WAS

YOUNG

Dr. A. If, Newmnn, M.P., always an entertaining ei>eaker, delivered an address on the subject of ho early days al a feathering of the Early Settlers' Association last evening. Tlio gathering, which was fairly large, was presided over by Mr. J. E. .Tenkinson.

]Jr. Newman said that Wellington, founded in 1810, was the oldest city in New Zealand. Ho doubted if any of the "old eightoeu-forties" were alive now. Voices: "Yes, a number."

Dr. Newman Mid that it was wonderful that they were, for 1840 was well over seventy years back. The men and the women of the' very early days lived very simply. Their houses were far from elaborate, and their food was plain. Many things they had to do without. They drank bluet- ten, and used, black sugar. Sometimes they got .flour down from Chilo, and it -ost about .El 5 per ton. However, the settlers were very happy, and it seemed to him that many of the luxuries ■■he peoplo ol to-day had did not ensure happiness. The pioneers generally had their meals off the floor, and did their cooking in camp ovens or Maoris ovens. TLey were not worried by municipal authorities, and had no city rates and taxes to bother about. All round Wellington was bush, and there were some very big trees which the Maoris used to cut down and convert into canoes. There wore numerous birds about, the place. Mid great numbers of lizards. We still had' tho mosquito with u-:. but tho blowfly, which was a nionacc in tho early days, seemed less noticeable. Dr. Nflwman mentioned the names of tho early settlers, including tho first Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Gcorgo Hunter, father of Mr. George Hunter, M.P.; Mr. Vavasour, the first man to bring sheep; and Mr. Crawford, the first man to bring cattle. Some of tho early setters- had given their names to places hereabouts. Wadostown was '.ailed after John Wade, an auctioneer. Johnsonvillo was called after" oho Johnson who owneA n, section on the* line, and cut it up for building. The peoplo who went to the Wairarapa travelled by way of tho coast to tho Wairarapa Lake, and then struck north. There were Maori pas and gardens about, inoluding a pa where Central Park now' is. Ho noticed it chronicled in an early newspaper that a road had been nindo from Petone to the Hutt, and that a coach had actually got through from Wellington to Petone in one day and returned tho same night. Tho earthquake of 'forty.eight was an event ever to bo remembered. Though the early settlers led simple, happy lives, they often had a very hard and anxious time of it, and wo ought to honour them for tho heroic way in which they had dono their part.