RICH HERITAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1930, Page 5

RICH HERITAGE

WORK OF EARLY SETTLERS. GOVERNOR’S TRIBUTE. “The early settlers were the salt ofthe earth of New’ Zealand—the sound' rock upon which this Virile ultra-' British community was built up,” said liis Excellency the Governor-General 1 Lord Bledisloe, in' addressing the an’-O nual gathering of the Early Settlers and Historical Association on Monday; at Wellington. Hia Excellency remarked that the choice of Dominion Day; for celebration of the association’s anniversary w’as most fitting. The day; I tended to remind all of another great; landmark in the history of this country, when ninety years ago its first or-* ganised land settlement took place and British sovereignty was declared. “The chairman (Professor Wilson) has made appreciative reference to EdWard Gibbon Wakefield, and I should like cordially to endorse his eulogium,” f said his Excellency. ; “Wakefield- ur>-|jj doubtedlj had his youthful foibles andp weaknesses,- which none of us can. prove, but he was a reqlly great who did more than anyone, in historyg to. strengthen the. foundations• of tliep British Empire, particularly as re-'# gards the quality of-its British settlers. • ; A fitting memorial has yet to be erect- -|f edgin' New Zealand to this far-sighted# pioneer, and no one has jgore fully ’ deserved it. Nevr Zealand can claim, # above all other parts of the Empire j~ to have, had its. human foundation stone well.and truly laid. §■ EARLY DIFFICULTIES. | “Tlie early settlers had their difficul-# ties, among others Native . hostility to their claims an unsympathetic Home insecure land titles, f° r " midable obstacles of native bush, un-. fordable watercourses, lack of labour, Q lack of domestic conveniences and lack of transport facilities. They were men ';!i (and women) of cultivated homes, of self-reliance ; and. of. teligions convict- # ions; caftied their courage in -j; one hand, and, thfe.'Bible-.in the; other. # In building up their, fortunes they built -j up their own character and that of the '4, infant colony. ■ -n : WHAT OF .FUTURE. f “Whaitds- going:-to ; be the future of. the edifice.; of wliiclj'they; laid the foun- t dations? It enjoys now Dominion -stat- > • us.: .. ] s it'fully justifying that status ? Is the building, as it rises, proving worthy of the Solid/and secure 'founda- . f . tions laid by the old pioneers? Let us : - hope so. . . Time alone'will sliow; It has - exceptional, physical vigour, good edu- If cational facilities, great undeveloped, ; natural resources, a climate which fav-' ours the uninterrupted growth of plants and animals, and many men and women of public spirit, a high sense-of honour,-’ great human sympathy-and unbounded ! generosity. • •• •' “What, as it seems to me, -it needs us 'much to-day as 'ever in the past is the indomitable* spirit of the early settiers, with their self-reliance, their re- fi sourcefulness and their trust in God. g-;-These attributes, coupled with the .ad- J| vantages which freedom 'from local war #■' fare, modern transport and other fad- § lities, and modern science now afford, are capable of making New pre-eminent among the nations of the British Empire, whether viewed from a human or an industrial standpoint. But without them her. future will remain uncertain. At least the early settlers have done their part—a great and worthy part—for their coun- it, try. It 'is up to posterity to imitate /i. their virtues, grateful for their hav- i mg blazed the trail and prepared for :! them so ricli a heritage.”