PIONEER WOMEN HONOURED

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22896, 18 December 1939, Page 14

PIONEER WOMEN HONOURED

Memorial on Bridle

Path

FOUNDATION STONE UNVEILED On a typical Canterbury summer day the first stage of the project to erect a memorial to the pioneer women of Canterbury was completed on Saturday, when at the summit of the historic Bridle path, the foundation stone of a shelter was unveiled by Miss L. P. Wakefield, a granddaughter of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, originator of the scheme for the settlement of Canterbury. Miss Wakefield came to Christchurch from Auckland for the ceremony, at which there were also present two of the three remaining Canterbury pilgrims, the Rev. F. G. Brittan and Mr Richard Evans, who arrived with the First Four Ships in 1850.

The project must have caught the imagination of the public, for the crowd present was much larger than expected, numbering more than, 1000. The Lyttelton party, which at the invitation of the Mayor (Mr F. E. Sutton), walked from Lyttelton to the summit, numbered about 50. Oldest in the party was Mr J. Wakelin, of Heathcote, who will be 86 years of age next month. Mrs S. Morgan, of Heathcote, aged 80 years, was the oldest woman, anji she finished the climb none the worse for her experience. Other elderly persons who climbed the path included Messrs F. Wooles Christchurch, 85; W. J. Toomey, Lyttelton. 83; E. Preece, Christchurch, 76; W. R. Newton, 82; W T. Foster, 73; F. J. Clarke, 79: F. Harvey, 75; J. Davies, 73; W. R. Webb, 74; Mrs M. C. Schenkel, 70.

Mrs J. G. L. Vernon, chairwoman of the women’s committee which is in charge of the memorial project, was the first speaker. She said it was appropriate that the Canterbury Pilgrim’s and Early Settlers’ Association should be associated with the committee in doing honour to the pioneer women who had passed over the Bridle path.

Memorial Described

Mr Heathcote Helmore, honorary architect, gave a description of the form the memorial would take. After taking into account the shape and nature of the site which had been presented, he said, and also the fact that it was on that spot that the early settlers rested and looked down on their future home on the plains after their strenuous climb up from Lyttelton, it appeared that some form of shelter with seats was by far the most suitable and practicable solution. The memorial, therefore, was to take the form of a hexagonal-shaped shelter, built in local stone, and which, it was hoped, would appear to fit in and harmonise with the rather rugged surroundings. The shelter was to be enclosed on the three back sides as a protection from the weather, the central opening overlooking the parking area would have at its base the memorial stone, and flights of stone steps formed in the natural rock would lead up to the two remaining openings. One would overlook the harbour of Lyttelton and the other the plains of Canterbury. The floor would be of stone flags, and the heavy rough beams and roof framing would be left exposed. On the beam over the central opening would be carved the inscription, “The Pilgrims Passed This Way.”* It was hoped at a later date to have an incised stone panel. let into the inside wall of the shelter depicting the scene which took place on the spot in 1850.

Happy Choice

It was a happy suggestion that the memorial shelter should be erected at the summit of the Bridle path, where the women of Canterbury rested in the early days and saw for the first time the plains whereon they were to make their homes, said Mr E. R. Webb, chairman of the Pilgrims’ Association. The Mayor of Lyttelton thanked all those who had walked up from Lyttelton with him. He said that recently his council had had the track cleared and he really thought it would be possible to'take a car up it now. / Mr J. S. Barnett, Deputy-Mayor of Christchurch said the memorial was an eminently suitable one. The pioneer women faced immense difficulties in setting up homes in this new land; They had to help the men in the hard work and there were no social services available in those days. A most interesting talk on the arrival of the First Four Ships and of the early days of the province was given by Miss Alice Candy, whose grandparents arrived in the Cashmere. Unveiling Ceremony Miss Wakefield then unveiled the foundation stone. The flag used was the house flag of the Charlotte Jane. She said it gave her much pleasure to be chosen for the honour and that although she now lived in Auckland she had a very warm place in her heart for Canterbury. On behalf of the women’s committee, Miss Mildred Trent presented Miss Wakefield with an inscribed copy of “Tales of Pioneer Women,” prepared by the Women’s Institutes of New Zealand as a centennial memorial.

The inscription on the foundation stone of the memorial reads:— Centennial Memorial to the Pioneer Women of Canterbury This Tablet was Unveiled by Lilian Priscilla Wakefield

Granddaughter, of Edward Gibbon Wakefield,

16th December, 1939.

After the unveiling of the stone the hymn “O God, Our Help” and the National Anthem concluded the ceremony. Most of those present remained for picnic lunches.