PIONEERS’ OWN DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 101, 23 January 1935, Page 10

PIONEERS’ OWN DAY

Early Settlers’ Reunion in Wellington TALKING OF OLD TIMES Memories of old 'Wellington, aud the province were revived yesterday afternoon when the Early Settlers’ and Historical Association of New Zealand held its annual reunion in Wellington. The occasion marked also the 95th anniversary of the founding of the city. A large gathering of pioneer residents and descendants of those who had come to these shores in the middle of last century was present to renew acquaintances and talk over the days that are gone. Professor F. P. Wilson, president of the association, presided. Special honours were accorded the oldest members—-Mrs. E. Drwin, who is 91. and Sergeant-Major Bezar, 97. The ceremony of cutting a birthday cake was performed by Mrs. Urwin. .Messrs. W. B. Allen aiid M. Maxton as vice-presidents also cut the cake. In accordance with the association’s custom giving first thought to the Almighty for blessings bestowed by Him down the years from the founding of Wellington in 1840, the old people sang the National Anthem and “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow,” and later “0 God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The singing by the pioneers, many with tremulous voices thinned by the years, was appealing to those of the younger generation who were present, and recalled many pions meetings Sunday by Sunday when publie worship was the first duty in other days. Diminishing Roll. The diminishing roll of original members was called by the secretary, Mr. W. Toomath, who read the following names of those still surviving:—Mr. J. Daysh, ship Gfertrude, 1841; Mr. J. Kilmister, Lady Nugent; Mrs. E. .1. Brown, born in Wellington, 1843; Mr. W. B. Allen, 18-17, born in Wellington; Miss C. A. Allen, born in Wellington; Mrs. Chisholm (nee Allen), born in Wellington; Mr. 11. J. Claridge, Oliver Lang, 1856; Mr. W. 11. Smith, New Era, 18-15; Mr. G. Pain, born in Wellington; Mrs. Lloyd (nee Stratford), born in Wellington ; Mr. Mark Maxton, born in Wellington, 1853: Mr. J. E. Jenkinson, born in Wellington; Mrs. C. J. Hill, born iu Wellington. In welcoming all present Professor Wilson said the commemoration was not so much an event of sadness as of rejoicing that the tine old people were going to their rest, with the advancing years. They were passing on in the knowledge that they had completed their life’s work and bad done their part in making New Zealand what she was to-day. They had fulfilled their destiny nobly and sadness should, there, fore, give place to rejoicing for their lives. Worth-While Lives. Any man or woman who left the world a better place than lie or she found it had lived a worth-while life. So it was with the early settlers, who were leaving New Zealand better than they had found it. Many people sneered at the Empire as an instrument of Imperialistic oppression and of exploitation by capitalism. Such a view of the Empire was unworthy. Capitalism might be selfish and greedy as expressed in some individuals, but these were only units. The real worth of the British Empire was measured in the good in the majority of its citizens, and the pioneers whose lives were that day remembered were people who had built this part of the Empire on a foundation of goodness. Mr. W. B. Allen presented to the association portraits of the late Mrs. Alien’s father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. E. Tieehurst, who were the first white people to land at I’ipitea Point. The photographs will be placed in the old colonists’ section of the new museum on Mount Cook. Notable Pioneers Pass On. Professor Wilson mentioned- that since the last reunion three notable members had passed on. They were Mrs Cornford, who died at the great age of 104, Archbishop Redwood at the age of 96. and Mr. G. Judd, also (id. It seemed only the other day, he said, that the Archbishop and Mr. Judd were talking and joking together among the other old people. Despite the fact that lie is nearing his century, Sergeant-Major Bezar addressed the assembly in a strong unfaltering voice, speaking of his youth as a soldier in the last days of the Crimean War and of his coming to Now Zealand and service in this country.