Spirit Of Pioneers ‘Still Needed’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 16

Spirit Of Pioneers ‘Still Needed’

Although 115 years has passed since the arrival of the first settlers in Canterbury, there was still a need for the resourcefulness and strength of purpose which they had possessed, the Rev. I. G. Botting, chaplain of Christ’s College, said at a service in the Christchurch Cathedral yesterday to commemorate the arrival of the first four ships at Lyttelton.

The pioneers had had a hard life which had required a spirit of close co-operation and perseverance to establish even the bare necessities of a home life, he said. The efforts of some of the early women especially had been often heroic. The surroundings had changed but the task was still essentially the same, Mr Botting said. In the puzzling, troubled and complex world of today truth and righteousness were still the most important issues. Mr Botting said the “modern pilgrim'* had a responsibility to be mindful of others. To build for the future required fellowship and service. Truth was still the most relevant value in our lives,

be said. This was the challenge of the affluent society. The people of Christchurch had a responsibility to carry on the work of those who had walked there earlier. The demolition work which was frequently done In Christchurch demonstrated the simple truth that it was much easier to pull down than to build, Mr Botting said. The spirit necessary for developing the community was a demanding one and required the resourcefulness of every member in that community. Exactly 115 years ago today the Charlotte Jane arrived in Lyttelton carrying 151 persons. She was followed on the same day by the Randolph, and the Sir George Seymour arrived the next

day. The last of the four, the Cressey, arrived at Lyttelton on December 27. This was the second such commemorative service held in the Cathedral. About 200 attended, including the Mayor (Mr G. Manning). More than 80 people visited the sod hut at the Ferrymead bridge yesterday afternoon, Anniversary Day. The custodian (Mr E. S. Parish) had urged the public to visit the hut yesterday to sign the register as a mark of respect for the founders of the city. Flags were flown from the old time-ball station at East Lyttelton yesterday to mark the anniversary. The senior boatman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr J. Fellows) hoisted a red flag at the south yardarm at 8 a.m. This was once a normal procedure to indicate the arrival of a ship off the beads. At 10.30 a.m. the numbers of the Charlotte Jane were hoisted. These were the code flags, N.R.B.H. They were lowered again at 4.30 p.m.