Timaru Honours Her Pioneers’ Descendants

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 7

Timaru Honours Her Pioneers’ Descendants

(From Our Own Keporter)

TIMARU, January 14. About 260 descendants of the first families to arrive in Timaru were entertained by the South Canterbury Centennial Association's women’s committee in the Caroline Bay Hall this afternoon. Visitors were welcomed by the Chairman (Mrs T. H. C. Cumberbeach). Among the official guests were the Chief Justice (Sir Harold Barrowclough), the Mayor of Timaru (Mr R. E. 'White) and the chairman of the Centennial Association executive (Mr A. L. Ktfk). Visits to Hospitals Before the function the Mayor and Mr Kirk visited the Timaru Public Hospital and Talbot Hospital to present pioneer ribbons to those who were unable to attend the official function. Today’s function was primarily for descendants and residents who have lived in the district for the last 65 years. A large cake, made by Mrs L. McLeod and iced by Miss C’ Palliser, was decorated with a

model of the first direct ship to Timaru, the Stratballan. A candle, representing “100 years past and 100 years to coma," was lit by Mr A. H. Williams, a grandson of Mr Samuel Williams. It was extinguished by Mr lamest Holdgate. Miss E. Le Cren cut the cake. Five grandchildren of Samuel Williams were present at the function. There was a programme of songs and recitations, and Mrs J. D. Faulks read from early diaries the first of these having been written by Mrs B. M. Moorhouse in 1857 at Mount Peel station, owned by Tripp and Ackland. The second reading was written in 1866 by Lady Barker at Broomielaw. 45 miles from Christchurch in the Malvern hills. Study of History Urged Sir Harold Barrowclough said it was a day for renewing old acquaintances. He said it was important to study the history of the “province,” to stimulate a desire on the part of younger people to read something about the history of South Canterbury. “This centenary would never have fulfilled its functions properly unless it had been more than an occasion for celebration. It must also stimulate the imagination. I hope that the system of education to be adopted in this district is elastic and'comprehensive enough to allow an opportunity for school teachers, of whatever grade, to get their pupils interested in the early history of their own province,” Sir Harold Barrowclough continued. Much could be done if each school were to make a study of its own district. Even in the smallest of country schools there might be room for the compilation of some early history derived from inquiries of parents and J older persons. A great deal of merit lay in the study of that which our forefathers did. They < did not know anything about [ sputniks, but they did acquire a great deal of wisdom, Sir Harold Barrowclough concluded. Descendants of Pioneers Although no sons and daughters [ of those who settled here before 1858 were present, there were 14 sons and daughters of those who ' came out in the Strathallan, 10 descendants of Echunga immil grants, 16 of the Lancashire Witch > contingent, and 13 from the Vic- ' tory. Two of the descendants were , born in South Canterbury more ; than 90 years ago, and six more - than 85 years ago. ■ Descendants of Samuel Williams, ' the first white settler in South Canterbury, and representatives : of the Rhodes family and Sarah McQueen, a daughter of the shep--1 herd at Levels, stood, as re- ’ quested. There were also third ' generation members of those families who arrived in the four ; ships. Two men and three women ; were more than 90 years of age. i The women received bouquets from Lady Barrowclough, and the ‘ men were presented with sour venir programmes.