Hardy Pioneer Recalls Tales of Early Days

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 370, 2 June 1928, Page 20

Hardy Pioneer Recalls Tales of Early Days

Mrs. Ann Smith tells how Settlers Sixty Years Ago Toiled and Conquered SIX MONTHS ON SAILING SHIP 'With undimmed eyes and an alert brain, Mrs. Ann Smith, of Buckland, still takes a keen interest in the pageant of life. Yesterday she celebrated her 90th birthday, and cheerily looks forward to the coming years. Mrs. Smith’s story is a romance of the early days of New Zealand, when men and women toiled long hours and suffered almost heart-breaking hardships. “I don’t think the people of to-day could do it,” she said, with a smile. “We walked everywhere and worked at harvest time throughout the night in order to gather the grain.” Looking back on her life from the quiet comfort which she so honourably deserves, Mrs. Smith remembers the stirring days as they unfold in her memory. She does not falter when dates are mentioned and she still takes a keen interest in the politics of the country. Mrs. Smith was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 183 S. With her parents she lived on a farm, but at an early age she married the late Mr. James Smith, also of the same county. SAILED ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT On Christmas Night, 1866, the young couple set sail on the Dauntless from Kingston for Auckland, little thinking of the dreadful journey which lay ahead of them. For nearly six months the sailing ship wallowed through the seas. The food was poor and Mrs. Smith became ill, so ill that when the vessel at last arrived at Auckland she had to be carried off the ship and taken to a hospital. A child was born during the voyage. For a whole month the Dauntless

scarcely moved and the heat in the tropics was almost unbearable. Then would come a gale and for days mountainous seas would sweep over her and the terrified passengers. Not on© call was made on the whole voyage. When nearing New Zealand the Dauntless came on another sailing vessel, the Fiery Cross, on which there had been a fire. The Dauntless took off the crew and as much fond as could be found. “But for coming on that vessel I don’t think we would ever have reached Auckland, said Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith’s next adventures were in the Mauku district, where, after she got well, her husband took up land. The Maoris were in threatening mood and there was a general feeling of unrest. Heavy bush clothed most of the country. When reports that Maoris were approaching reached the settlers, they all took refuge in Henry’s store, which is still standing. “We built our whare in the bush,” recalled Mrs. Smith. “We had not a fowl, a cow or a horse and we walked everywhere.” She remembers one night when Mr. Smith, armed with a gun, went in pursuit of what he thought was a number of Maoris, who were trampling about in the bush. Terrified, Mrs. Smith decided to accompany him. Much to their relief and amusement the “Maoris” turned out to be some cattle which had strayed from another part of the country. WALKED OFF FARM Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the first settlers from the Old Country to take up land at the Mauku At the end of three years the reports of the Maoris became so* consistent that the couple just walked off their farm and made for Auckland. “We just left the pans of milk, the few fowls we had got by that time and the little home, and came to Auckland.” said Mrs. Smith. After a few months in Auckland the family moved to Tuakau, where they stayed for 25 The late Mr. Smith was an excellent farmer. When he sold his Tuakau property he moved to Buckland, where Mrs. Smith still lives. Mr. Smith died 22 years ago. Those early farming days are still vivid memories for Mrs. Smith. “I have worked until one o’clock in the morning, helping to harvest wheat,” she said enthusiastically. “Then I have gone into the house, made scones for the men, and worked again until the early hours of the morning.” It seemed almost impossible that the slim little woman could have endured such hardships. The family cut the wheat and oats with sickles. That was before the modern inventions of to-dav. Mr. and Mrs. Smith’s family of girls helped in the harvest field, cutting and binding the grain. Mrs. Smith laughed when asked her opinion of the girls of to-day. ~ , ? n A , ,n k they would like me it I told them,” she said. “Still, I hope they will do well, it is the age I suppose, but I don’t like to see married women in such short frocks.” Mrs. Smith had a family of seven children, four of whom are living toTh .® y are Miss L. Smith, Symonds E - K - Barker, Ponsonby, Mrs p . McKean, Buckland, and Mrs j Handing-, Mount Eden. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Ninety candles twinkled on the birthday cake for Mrs. Smith’s birthday celebrations. Mrs. Smith is at present staying with her daughter, Mrs. J. Handing, of Mary Street, Mount Eden, and in honour of the occasion Mrs. Handing entertained her mother and several guests at a delightful afternoon tea,. Among the guests were Miss L Smith. Mrs. E. K. Barker, Mrs. Allport Barker (Fiji), Miss Molly Barker Mrs. Jeoffrey Bacon. Mrs. W. Clark, : Mrs. J. Bragman, Mrs. Jack Belcher! , Mrs. Fred Belcher, Mrs. Brunt, Mrs. B. : Little, Mrs. W. Campbell, Miss E. : Burke and Mrs. Smith’s three grand- ; daughter. Misses Madge, Nancy and < Daphne Handing.