EARLY RANGITIKEI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 676, 30 May 1929, Page 7

EARLY RANGITIKEI

OLD SETTLER CELEBRATES (Prom Our Own Correspondent) MARTON, Wednesday. In characteristic modest fashion, Mr. Neil Small celebrated his 86 th birthday yesterday at his model farm, “Glenbank,” near Marton, and interest was lent to the occasion by reason of that fact that Mr. Small is—of the few pioneers who remain—the one who has continuously resided in the Rangitikei district for the longest period. It is 71 years since he migrated from Glasgow’ with his father and mother and other members of the family, and on arrival in the Bominion they immediately settled in Rangitikei, taking up land at Upper Tutaenui, and in this locality Mr. Small has resided ever since. The scene that met Mr. Small’s gaze when he first cast his eye over the district was not an impressive one. A great waste of manuka scrub, interspersed here and there with flax, cabbage trees and native bush, must have been heart-breaking to those pioneers, but that they never flinched from their task is strikingly demonstrated by the prosperous appearance of tlio same expanse today. Mr. Small was present at the opening of the Western Rangitikei School in ISGI and at the opening about the same time of Marton*s first Presbyterian Church (afterwards destroyed by fire and later rebuilt). He was precentor of the church at Upper Tutaenui and to this day is an elder. He seldom misses a service, and is still a member of the church choir. For liis years Mr. Small enjoj’s wondeful health, and is of a cheery disposition. He enjoys the esteem of the whole community, who united in a warm-hearted “Many Happy Returns” to Rangitikei’s oldest surviving pioneer.