RE-UNION OF VETERANS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 62, 22 June 1910, Page 7

RE-UNION OF VETERANS

I ENTERTAINED BY THE MAYOR. At the gathering of veterans on Monday afternoon in the Brougham-street Hall, Mr. G. Tisch, Mayor of New Plymouth, who was host and chairman, called a halt in the jingle of cups and spoons and plates, and then went on to tender a very hearty welcome to his guests. The gathering was soon all attention, and the fine old faces of four-score years and thereabouts looked intently at the speaker, recogpising in him the man above all other locally who had evinced a practical interest in the veteran settlers of this district, and had from time to time taken the lead in entertainments and re-unions organised for their benefit and delectation, often shouldering a considerable portion or the whole of the financial phase of the undertaking. Mr. Tisch, after extc.i.i.ng a hearty welcome, referred to th.: iaci. that this •re-uuiou had originally been planned for Anniversary Day, March 31st, when it had been intended to celebrate the anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers by holding a picnic at Te lienui. But on*that day they experienced a "real old Taranaki gale," which was strong enough to blow some of them away. It was "then decided to postpone the function indefinitely., Then it was suggested that the gathering should take place during the farewell visit of Lord P'lunKet to New Plymouth, but the dpath of his late Majesty the King .put a stop to those arrangements. Then they received word of the intended visit of H.M.S. Pioneer, and it was thought that it would be nice to bring her officers in touch with the men and women who had I laid the foundations of this prosperous district. Here again .misfortune had attended them, for the warship had not been able to stay long enough. He understood that H.M.S. Pioneer was needed in Wellington on Wednesday in connection with the arrival of the new Governor, Lord Islington. But lie was glad to see that a large number had taken advantage of the very fine afternoon to attend the gathering and to renew old acquaintances. Mr. Tisch remarked upon the hearty and hale appearance of most of those present, and: then compared the conditions obtaining in the days when they left Home with the conditions of to-day. In those days, 50 or 60 years ago, they came in little sailing ships, the journey occupying half a year. There were no luxuriously fitted steamers; no refrigerators to ensure supplies of fresh meat right throughout the voyage; no fresh water supplies; and no warm welcome awaiting/ them here—nothing but a country covered with bush to the water's edge. Strong arms soon levelled the ibush, and it was not long ■before they had their crops of potatoes and corn, together with the inevitable j kumikum. No sooner,, however, had they felt their feet than the Maori trou- J hies began, and the settlers were driven from their farms to the town. Night after night they saw the glare of. fires reflected in the sky. What was it? The burning of some, settler's home. 'Nearer and nearer came the fires each night—and the Maoris. Presently all the women and children had to be placed iu the barracks on Maryland Hill for safety, and later were sent away, to Nelson, whilst husbands, brothers and sons remained here to keep the Maoris out of the town and to quell the rising. That was only one of the hardships. Now, in their old age, they were living m a borough with every modern convenience, and they had paved the way for it by their plucky determination to hold fast to the country of their adoption, and not to give it to the Maori despoilers. He would like these meetings of veterans to become regular institutions, and for that purpose advocated the formation of an Old Colonists' Association, which should have the effect of keeping the pioneer settlers in touch with one another. Another matter which might well claim the attention of the people of to-day was the raising of a rough stone monument and inscription plate upon the very spot where first those "'pilgrim fathers" set foot on the Taranaki beach. The Old Colonists' Association might make a collection of old pictures and documents relating to-our early settlement, and 'it could also up the celebration of Anniversary Day. He would be pleased to help to the utmost of his power in both of the matters that he had mentioned.

Mr. H. Okey, aLI'.. was the next speaker. He said Ik- was one of those who had been very sorry that the tec-, tion at the East End on Anniversary Day had been abandoned, for he had been looking forward to the mixed bathing. (Laughter). Some of the old people were laughing, but he knew them pretty well, and knew they would have watencd the seaside pastime with great zest. He was beginning to feel a bit of a pioneer himself. He Had been here for 5S years, and he couldn't very well have been here any longer, for lie was born on the Frankiey road, and was one of those little children who were carried in to town upon the outbreak of hostilities. He couldn't remember much about it. (A veteran at the, far end of the table: "I do"). Talking about the longevity of the old settlers, lie pointed to :,ir. David Sole, stiil half rr.d hearty .it the age of 92 years. In the old days Mr. Sole had had to walk out to Waitara to get a day's work, and all he got was iour shillings a day. In those times Mr. Sole had been offered the Devon street block, from the Imperial Hotel to- the National Bank corner for a pound (Mr. Sole: "No, ten shillings"). That land be bought now for £IO,OOO. He prophesied a very big advancement in this district ui the near future, and gave credit to the pioneers for their splendid work, of which we were, now reaping the benefit.

The Mayor called on Mr. R. Cock to "say something that would make them laugh, tell some of those interesting aiecdotes." Mr. Cock responded to the call, but said he felt more like a you» 0 ster than a veteran when he saw men around him who had seen their ninety years and over. Referring to Mr. Sole's refusal of the land in Devon street and Mr. Okey's estimate of its present dayj value at £IO,OOO, he would like to be able to buv it at £IOO,OOO. (A vmce: That's more like it). He was rather surprised that their own member 01 the Legislature should have such a notion of our land values. He was confident that Taranaki' had a very big future. It I tised to be said that Taranaki wouldn't «o ahead until a few of the old fossils were gone out of it." And it was viae. The leading men of the district had kept it back. They weren't living in those days now, but in an enlightened age. As for the veterans, they had worked hard | for whatever they now possessed, and they deserved what they had. He referred to scenes of distress that he himself had witnessed in the present days, of bush pioneering, and expressed his' opinion that the Government should give land to the pioneers. He could remember the hard times in New Plymouth ton. In the old days there hadn't been enough money to tro round, and they used to trade* on slips of paper, reallv promissory notes for half a crown. Humorous reference was made to the mud-channels that served as roads in winter time, and

Mr. Cock then refreshed the memories of those present concerning the early race meetings in New Plymouth. He recalled how the settlers had come to the races in their bullock drays every Anniversary Day, and picnicked on the green. And how the Maoris used to sell fruit and ■melons, and the mischievous youth (including the iraconteur himself) used to pull away the tip-stick, and spill the load of fruit. As the reminiscenses progressed, Mr. Cock was continually reminded by one or other of things he had missed, and this made the speech all the more interesting to the old folk. He warmly supported the formation of the Old Settlers' Association and the erection of the commemorative stone at Moturoa.

The Hon. T. Kelly, M.L.C, remarked that if this stone was to he erected they would have to be pretty quick about it, for the Harbor Board's new dredge would soon be here, and the spot where these pioneers landed would be covered by the proposed reclamation works. He recalled the time of his landing here to take up farming pursuits, and the surprise he received when he learned of the state of unrest. Farming soon became a matter of impossibility, and he had joined in fighting this brave foe—a braver never took the field. Of course, the Maoris were beaten, for were they not opposed by the descendants of the men who vanquished the Spanish Armada ? He expressed his pleasure at again meeting so many of his comrades-in-arms, and hoped for many similar pleasures in the future.