AFRICAN REUNION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 614, 16 March 1929, Page 6

AFRICAN REUNION

SHIPMATES MEET AGAIN REMINISCENCES EXCHANGED Reminiscences of the fear and anxiety experienced by the early settlers were recalled by the Hon. G. J. Garland at a reunion of passengers who arrived in Auckland by tine ship African, held in the Farmers' Trading Company’s rooms yesterday afternoon. There were only five of the original passengers present, the Hon. G. J. Garland. Mrs. W. Dunstan, Mrs. J. A. Adams and Messrs. Thomas Young and K. R. L. Garland. Nearly 30 descendants of the passengers attended. Episodes of the voyage were recounted during the afternoon. A diary written by one of the passengers of the African was read and recalled numerous anecdotes of the trip. The Tlon. G. J. Garland referred to the outbreak of war in the Waikato a few months after the arrival of the vessel. Great anxiety was experienced by the settlers as there were only 73,000 white people in New Zealand at that time set down in a native population of nearly 500.000 Maoris. The Maori, however, was a noble enemy, and would never take a mean advantage of a foe. He preferred to re-

main in the open. 4 The Maoris are the only coloured race for whom I could feel any affection,’* ho said.

He concluded by urging the younger folk to keep up the annual reunion in honour of those who had been pioneers of the country.