CHEVIOT ESTATE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24116, 27 November 1943, Page 6

CHEVIOT ESTATE

50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SETTLEMENT TRIBUTES TO PIONEERS Fifteen of the original settlers on the Cheviot Estate, who took up land when it was subdivided by the Seddon Government 50 years ago, answered the roll call at a commemoration ceremony in the McKenzie Domain Board’s reserve yesterday afternoon. There are others, of course, still living, though the majority are scattered throughout the Dominion. The oldest settler present was Mr T. Lewis, to whom was entrusted he honour of planting an oak tree. Mr Lewis who is 91 years old, remembers the Mansion House in the days of the Hon. William Robinson, as he was employed there as a gardener. The memories of Mr John Douglas went back to 1873; in that year, when he was a boy of 10, his father joined the gardening staff at the Mansion House. The only original married couple among settlers present was Mr and Mrs W Mowat. Other settlers present were: the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes. Mr A. E Denton, Mrs J. Fleming. Mr T. H Wilkinson, Mr J. Auld. Mr F. H. Smith. Mrs George Barnes. Mr R. R. Lockhead. Mrs M. Flaherty, Mrs A. McQueen. Mr Ernest Forbes, and Mr J. Shaw. Messrs Forbes, Denton, Lewis. Wilkinson Auld, and Mrs Fleming still reside on their original holdings. William Robinson’s Buggy A relic of Cheviot's colourful past was the original buggy in which the former owner, Mr Robinson, was driven about the district. It had a featured place in the procession of schodl chil- „ dren, boy scouts, and girl guides, and several former residents (including the octogenarian, Mr Douglas), availed themselves of a ride in it. Cheviot’s celebrations attracted . a large attendance from surrounding districts. A special train from Christchurch also brought a contingent. The visitors were welcomed by the president of the Old Settlers’ Association (Mr D. McLaren), who alluded to the fact that the settlement had produced a Prime Minister in Mr Forbes. The Government was officially represented by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts), who was accompanied by Mrs Roberts. When introducing the Minister, the member for Hurunui (Mr W. H. Gillespie) said that Canterbury farmers had real problems in front of them, and in was hoped that Mr Roberts wo Id take an interest in them. “Therefore, we are specially interested in our new Minister,” said Mr Gillespie, “and we wish him every success in his task." New Zealand was a country worth living and fighting for, replied the Minister, when extending the Government’s congratulations to the district cn achieving its jubilee. “We have received a priceless trust from the pioneers who worked so hard that we might enjoy the standards of to-day," he declared, "ahd it is a sacred responsibility on the shoulders of the present generation, that we should hand this country on ever, better than ' we found it to our children and their children’s children.” While he could not claim New Zealand as the land of his birth, continued Mr Roberts, he had spent 36 years in the country, and had reared a family of seven children. “I have had to struggle,” he added, “and I believe that I have still some struggles ahead—not so much perhaps in the Ministry of Agriculture, but a cartoonist has already pointed out that there is a halter waiting for me in the Ministry of Marketing.” (Laughter.) “I believe that a farm is the best place bn God’s earth on which to raise a family,” said Mr Roberts. T believe that farming is something more than a business. It should be a way of life.” It was essential, in his opinion., that farmers should concentrate on producing children that had character and self-reliance, rather than pile up bank balances Increased Production Urged The Minister emphasised the necessity for increased production on the land, in view of food shortages which would occur after the war in all parts of the world. It was particularly urgent that more wheat should be grown, he said, as the Governmept.had to see that the people of New Zealand and their Allies were fed adequately. There had been some difficulty in getting some of the farmers to make the necesary change over, and he appealed for co-operation; especially as it appeared as if the acreage sown in wheat would be less this. year. Mr Roberts also participated in ceremonies at the memorials to the late Rt Hon. R. J. Seddon and Sir John McKenzie, both of whom had played such an important part in securing the Cheviot Estate fori settlement. Mr Forbes, on behalf of the settlers, placed wreaths on both memorials. Referring to the famous Liberal Prime Minister, Mr Forbes said that he had always been a friend to the Cheviot settlers, and on one occasion had spent a holiday among them. “Mr Seddon was a man of foresight and vision,” declared Mr Forbes, “a humanitarian, and an Imperialist. Those who still recall his great work in New Zealand, especially for closer settlement, revere his memory.” The guiding hands of both statesmen, said the Minister, did much to place New Zealand in the proud position the Dominion now occupied inthe British Commonwealth of Nations. Both had to make important decisions, and they had shown judgment and foresight. “The Bible says that a people without vision must perish,” he added, “and we are grateful for the vision of men of the calibre of Seddon and his able lieutenant, McKenzie.” A prepared history of the district from the days of the original settlers was read in two sections by Ngaire Meikle and Stuart Murray, of the Cheviot-District High School, and both grandchildren of the original holders of sections on the estate. The former dealt with the period from 1848 to 1893, and the latter with modern development in the settlement Memorial to Bishop Before the ceremony in the reserve Mrs George Barnes unveiled gates that had been erected at the . Anglican Church to the memory of Bishop Edmund Hobhouse, the first Bishop of Nelson, who visited Cheviot Hills in 1860. The Rev. E. H. Newman presided at this ceremony. The latter was also associated later in the day with the Rev. K. I. Cameron at a thanksgiving service in the reserve. Mr J. T. Reid acted as marshal for the procession. At the reserve, in the presence of residents, Mrs H. Flaherty (an original settler), cut the jubilee cake, which was made by Mrs T. Wilkinson, Mrs M. Wilkinson, Mrs Eric Winskill, and members of the Gibson family (all of whom were also first settlers). The festivities concluded with a presentation to the former member for Hurunui (Mr Forbes), the roll call of pioneers, and sports for the children.