PIONEERS' PICNIC.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 70, 10 March 1914, Page 6

PIONEERS' PICNIC.

A PLEASANT GATHERING. , On Friday at the Balclutha showground the Clutha and Bruce Early Settlers' Association held its annual picnic. These gatherings are held alternately at Milton and Balclutha, the object being to afford obi identities an opportunity of annually gathering together, exchanging reminiscences of bygone times, and through hearing of struggles and accomplishments in the good old past induce the younger folk to better appreciate the doings of the brave obi meu and women, who at great personal hardship blazed the train into a land now flowing with milk and honey. Despite a cloudy sky and cold wind on Friday morning old identities and their descendants in Clutha and Bruce turned out in large numbers to the picnic. The committee, with commendable foresight, had huug canvas along the fence 011 the •western side of the' .show-ground, thus affording a good shelter from the wind. There were baskets of good things in plenty, and with the tea provided by the local committee an enjoyable luncheon "was partaken of. In the afternoon the air was livened with the sweet strains of music as dispensed by the Kaitangata Pipe and Balclutha Brass Bands. Although several valuable trophies had been donated for races there was difficulty in getting sufficient competitors for the events, the majority of the folk being content to wander quietly around, meeting and chatting with old friends. The results of the competitions were:— Piping, A. Paterson.], A. Morrison 2; old identities' race, Geo. Barker 1, .lames Robertson 2; young ladies' race, Miss Sarginson 1, Miss Spence 2, Miss Hewson *!.

At an interval in the afternoon the customary spoechmaking took place. Mr S. Wright (chairman) extended a hearty ■welcome to all visitors, and hoped they ■were enjoying a pleasant day. Mv Malcolm, M.l\, after referring; in happy , vein to the pleasures which tlie old folk were wont to indulge in, and expressing his pleasure at seeing such a splendid gathering of pioneers, said ail present wished sincerely ami heartily that there won hi he many years yet spared to them of ease and happiness. One of the pleasant features of such a meeting as this was that those who arrived in the country at later times had an opportunity of showing the earlv settlers the respect tliey had for them. He thought that the younger generation thought little of the honour due to the pioneers, but he was confident that in time to come it would be considered an honour to be descended from the early settlers. (Hear, hear.) The speaker made reference to his visit to the West (/'oast jubilee recently, where he saw a fine old spirit still existing of hospitality and healthy sport, and then commented on Mr R. McNab's gift to the Dunedin City Council of his library of books oil early New Zealand, eulogising the donor for his work and generosity, and expressed the hope that lie would long be spared to continue iiis valuable work, lie concluded by exhorting all to honour Otago's pioneers, who stood as monuments of the good work done long ago. (Applause.) Mr James Robertson, Mayor of Lawrence, expressed his pleasure :it being present and meeting so munv old friends. -He made short reference to the hardships of old settlers through want, of markets, and spoke of the better times following the discovery of gold by Edward Peters. In the mining jubilees at Lawrence, Dunstan and West j Coast recently he had seen the same old spirit of hospitality among the miners. Mr Robertson, after quoting some appropriate verses composed on the occasion of the West Coast jubilee, concluded by congratulating the committee on the excellent manner in which they had carried out all the arrangements, and said the visitors highly appreciated the kindnesses and hospitality bestowed 011 them that day. He called for three cheers for the committee, which were lustily given.

Mr J. Woods, Oiinedin, said that lie had visited the early settlers' picnic at Balclutha on many occasions, ami every year Balclutha seemed to exec! itself in hospitality. As .secretary of the Otago Karly (Settlers' Association he had noticed a great thinning in the ranks of early settlers. Of the names marked down in the association's record of those who came out in the first year, 1840, in the Magnet, there were only three remaining and of the John Wickliffe, in 1848, there were just 12 or 13 remaining, of which number there were two present at the gathering that day— Mrs Griffith and Mr Blatch. (Applause.) Oue of the most pleasing features of such a picnic was seeing the meetings of old shipmates and reassembling of old comrades. It was really an education to hear the recollections of the voyages of the pioneers. Too much praise could not. be given Mr McNab for his work in compiling the history of early New Zealand, and the presentation he was giving the Dunedin City Council was an invaluable one. Speaking of the history of New Zealand led Mr Woods to comment on the Marly Settlers Hall and Museum in Duuedin,which, lie said, was most interesting, ami in the museum the history of Otago could be seen in a pictorial way and learnt easily. Mr Malcolm had mentioned that he thought descendants of pioneers would in the future be looked on as aristocrats. After twitting Mr Malcolm on this remark, the speaker in effect endorsed his remarks and said that although young folk might now look lightly on the doings of the early settlers, as they grew older they wpuld come to realise what had been done, and would honour the pioneers fittingly. ]t was such gatherings as these which kept evergreen the memory of the pioneers. (Applause.) • Mr R. R. Grigor, secretary, then read apologies for unavoidable absence from Hon. Jas. Allen, Mr and Airs Sinclair Wright (Roxburgh), and Mr D. Stewart (Mayor of Balclutha). .

The committee, of which Mr S. Wright tnade an ideal chairman, and Mr R. R. Grigor a most capable secretary, are to be commended on the manner in which they all carried out,

Local motor-ear owners anil livery stjablckeepefs deserve thanks for their kindness in driving the visitors free to and from the station to the picnic ground.

In a book on the ground the following names of those present were recorded, "p" signifying passenger and "d" descendant:—

1840. Oriental.—Jollll Anderson (d). Bengal Merchant.—Geo. Anderson (d). 1848.

John Wickliffe—E. C. Griffiths (p), T. H. Blatcli (p), Geo. Finch (d), Mrs .lohn Robinson (d), Mrs .lames Tichner, nee Finch (p), Geo. Finch (p), Mrs C. Dabinctt (d), Mrs L. Keunard (d), Mrs Dcrca, nee Tichner (d). J'liilip Lning.—Mrs Somerville, nee Bannennau (dj. Blundell.—J. A. Homerville (d), Bessie Soniorville (d), Isabella Melville, nee Somerville (d). .Jura.—Jasper Clark (d). 1849.

Mooltan.—E. Bisset (d), A. McNeil (d), Vera Bisset (d), Mrs J. Hay (d), .Mrs E. Ballantyne (d). Ajax.—Win. Hay (p) David Strain (l'iLarkins.—Mrs M. Marshall (p), Miss M. Marshall (d). 1850.

Edin.—Miss Scott, (d). Poictiers.—E. Bernev (d). 1852.' Maori.—Hugh McKechnie (p) 1853.

Royal Albert.—D. Watt (<l), Mrs J. Low (p), Robert Avson (d), J. F. Ayson (l>). . Rajah.—J. L. Christie (d). 1856.

Isabella Ilemis.—Chas. Dabinette (!>)-, Southern Cross.—Peter Robertson (d), John Mcintosh (p), James Robertson (p).

Strathlieldsaye.—Mrs, Jessie Finch, nee MeGrouther (p), James Lochhart (!>)•

Palmyra.—James Hvslop (p), Mrs Wm. Somerville (p), A. His] op (p). Jura. —John Sandilands (p), Alex. Armstrong (p), Wm. Dallas (p), Thos. Robertson (p) ; Andrew Miller (p), Mrs H. Murray (p), Wm. Hislop (p). Dunedin.—J. J. Hardy (p). •Strathmore. —A. Petrie (p). Nounnahal.—Edward Morris (p), Frederick Twiss (p), Mrs J. McFarlane (d).

| Robert Henderson.—Edward Boyd (p), Mrs McGuiJan (p), James Robertson (p), Wm. Boyd (p), Miss J. McMillan (d), Dan Ilaggart((pr) r James Lamond (p), J. A. Callander (p). Three Bells.—Robert Grigor, senr., (p), W. Nicol (p). Alpine.—Mrs J. Petrie (d). 1859. Active.—Mrs Beck (p). Boomerang.—.Joli 11 Sutherland (p). iSavilla.—H. Tanslev (p), R. Ilcv.'itson (p), I). Smith (p). Alpine.-—Wm. Cameron (p), David Brvce ()>). Avondale.—D. McLaren (p), IS6O. Robert Henderson.—Robert Melrosa (].')• Henrietta.—Alexander M.ornsoii (p), George Smith, senr., (p), Archibald Morrison (d). Bruce.—Robert Angus (p; John Allan (p). Gala.—Mrs Tanslev, nee Tough (p), Mrs E. Spcnce, nee Tough (p;, Joseph Robertson (p), John Wood (p). PJada.—Mrs J. Edwards (p), -Mrs Henderson (p), Mrs Lawrence (d>, Mrs Hugh Cunningham (p), Andrew Aitkenliead (p). 1861.

Lady Edigia.—Lewis Mathesoir (p), Mrs 1 tooth (p), John Scott (p). Oineo.—James Main (p). " Morning Star.-—Wm. Griflitlis {\*f. '■ Nelson.—Tlios. Lochhead (p). Airedale.—Samuel E. Green (p/.. 18G2. Scorsbie.—Mrs A. Petrie (p).

Selestria.—Mrs John Anderson (p), D. Sutherland (pj, C. J. Wood (d), v Plada.—George Barker (p), Mrs T. B. Muir (p). Aboukir.—'John Sinclair (p). Nelson.—John Low (p), Duncan McFarlane (p). Edna.—Mrs Riddle (d), Miss Kiddle (d), Mrs J. Cunningham (d). Wave Queen.—D. G. Algie (d). 1868.

Ben Lomond.—Donald Sutherland (p) Sarah M.—Mrs Leishman (p). Chariot of Fame.—Wm. Casser'iev (p) Daniel Rankin.—A. Twaddle 1866. Viola. —James Hutton (p). 1868. Helens Lee—Tlios. McDona'Jl (p).