The Old Order Changeth.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 January 1928, Page 3

The Old Order Changeth.

The late Mr. James Brown, whose father was the first settler in the Upper Hutt, after leaving Belmont in the early 'forties, used often to relate how he and his brother George, as lads, used to punt over the Lower Hutt and Waiwetu district before the big earthquake raised the level of the land the necessary few feet to enable more firm means of locomotion between the areas named. It must have been in these times that the Hon. A. D. McLeod's grand-uncle and grand-aunt lived at Waiwetu and milked the first cow and made the first butter there ever made in the North Island; for Mr. Brown, sen., came out to New Zealand in the "Blenheim" with the first shipload of Scottish immigrants to land in Port Nicholson and settle—until the big flood in the Hutt River scattered them abroad, to the Wairarapa mostly—on the banks of the Hutt River and at Waiwetu. Had anyone told young "Jimmy" Brown and his young brother that someday Santa Claus would come that way dry-shod with a bundle of toys for some near six hundred happy youngsters of like age within a century of their arrival, they would doubtless have thought the tale a little absurd. But, hey presto! in Christmas 1927 it came true. Had they dreamt, even beyond this, that in this same water-logged region hundreds of cosy homes and a big school and an immense workshop, a railway line, and motor cars skidding over ramps adjacent, would likewise come to pass where they "paddled their canoe," possibly over to Sutherland's farm, where Moera Settlement spreads itself out to-day, they would have made the welkin ring and the swamp hens scatter with their yells of delight at the mere thought of so magic a thing, at any time within a century, might come to pass? Ask any child in Moera what he knows about magic happenings, and he'll vote this one, at least, to be true.

It must have been a proud day for Mayor Strand when, in the presence of the assembled multitude, he introduced to them the Hon. Minister for Lands (Mr. A. D. McLeod), who, in the course of his felicitations, said that he was not keen on the name Moera (held to mean "sleeping sun" or "sleeping in the sun"), and preferred Waiwetu, properly pronounced in its original form. It was a name he would like to see perpetuated in the district. It happened that, not very far from where they stood, a grand-aunt and a grand-uncle of his (Mrs. and Mr. Sutherland) had milked the first cow and made the first handmade butter in the history of the

North Island. The cow, which had been brought out from Caithness, Scotland, was first landed in the Waiwetu district, which could therefore claim the crdeit of having laid the foundatoin of the dairy industry. (Applause.) He praised the work of the honorary committee in the HuttPetone development scheme. That work showed what great service could be rendered to a district and a communiy by an honorary committee of the right kind of people. And though the Government was blamed for everything, even the weather, he supposed that the Government was entitled to some credit too. (Cries of approval.) After all, it was a poor sort of Government that would not stand criticism. Referring to the gardens of the settlement, he said that if they would collect about £50 to be distributed in prizes to the best gardens, he would put £5 towards it. (Applause.) Cheers were given for the Minister and for Mr. Strand. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland arrived in Wellington in 1840. Their youngest son is still alive—Mr. David M. Sutherland, of Ngaipu, Hinekura. He is on the male side the sole survivor of the second generation. His parents once held and farmed the land between Newtown and Lyall Bay. With Mr. Strand, who is Mayor of Lower Hutt, as well as a member of the honorary committee, came Mrs. Strand. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr. H. W. C. Mackintosh, was also present.