DOMINION DAY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 1, 26 September 1944, Page 6

DOMINION DAY

Early Settlers Celebrate 37th Anniversary

PRAISE OF PIONEERS

One of the most notable gatherings of members of the Early Settlers and Historical Society of Wellington was held yesterday in celebration of the 37 th anniversary of Dominion Day. Mr. Justice Blair occupied the chair, and among those present were Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner for the united Kingdom, Dr. W. A. Riddell, High Commissioner for Canada, Mr. K. R. Patton, Minister for the United States, Mr. t'eng Wang, Consul for China, Count K. V o<lzicki, Consul-General for Poland, and Madame de la Troubotiille, representing the Consul for Free France, and Lady Homare, who with Mr. llapi Love, represented the Maori people. An apology for absence was received from the Prime Minister, who was to have been present. Mr. W. Toomath, the society’s secretary, introduced some of the oldest settlers present. First there was Mr. 11. J. Poole, Lower Hutt, who arrived in Wellington from Dorsetshir.e (England) with but a shilling in his pocket. He was a lusty lad. and as strong young men were wanted at the time, he soon found himself in the Buckle Street barracks, qualifying as a member of the Armed Constabulary. Then there were the two daughters of George Allen, who first came to Wellington iu 1838 as a ship's carpenter, and returned Inter-to settle as a boat builder on Thorndon Ouay, where his children were born. Their brother, Mr. W. B. Allen, now 97 years old, was not able to be present, due to indisposition; it was the first gathering he had missed for 16 years. Mr. llapi Love, who spoke on behalt of the Maori people, said he was a descendant of a pioneer, as well as from the Maori race, and ns such was pleased to be present. He thought it was fitting that he should be there, as his people were connected with Petone, and the good feeling between them and pakchas was still ns strong as it was when they had met the pioneer settlers on the beach at Pito-one back in 183(1 and 1840. The mayor of Wellington, Mr. Appleton, spoke of the happy. circumstances in which they were meeting, when victory was in sight, thanks in a measure to the deeds ’of the New Zealanders, Maori and pakeha. on the fields of battle in Europe. Those . qualities of daring, courage, and tenacity were surely inherited from the pioneers of this country. , The mayor of Lower Hutt. Mr. Andrews, said he was proud to be present to pay respect to the pioneers, just as he was proud of their history, and the spirit they had by their example given to those who followed them. The mayor of Petone. Mr. Green, said the early settlers of New Zealand were the salt of the earth, and it was to their indomitable spirit, that we owed the great progress this country had made. The mayor of Upper Hutt. Mr. Blewman, and the mayor of Eastbourne, Mr. Wise, spoke briefly in similar strain. A Presentation. Sir Harry Batterbee said he had been pearly five years, iu New Zealand, and they were among the happiest years of his’ life, for nowhere had he received greater kindnesses and courtesy than in this country, which' he thought was largely due to those, inherited qualities which taught the early settlers to share with others what little they had. He had read lately a good deal about the early times, and was pretty sure that the spirit in which the pioneers had hewn their way through the primal forests existed in the way their descendants had hewn their way through Nor 1,11 Africa and Italy. It wag that same dauntless courage and tenacity which would , now be needed to build a new world. Sir Harry concluded by presenting the society with portraits of the King and Queen, just received from England. Dr. Riddell claimed kinship with the society, for he was the child of pioneer settlers of Canada, who had hewn their way through a primitive country in the same way as the first settlers of New Zealand. There was something in these pioneers, he said, which we could not appreciate enough. ' It was a great pleasure to him to be allowed to pay a tribute to the early settlers and their Dominion, which was regarded as one of the brightest gems in tlie Empire’s crown. Mr. Wang Feng said he had listened with interest and pleasure to all that had been said about what New Zealand had accomplished in the last 100 years, lie was afraid that if he spoke of the history of China, which went back 4000 years, it would take him hours and hours, and hours. But he was very happy to be present at such a notable anniversary. Due to being called away, Mr. Patton, and Count Wodzieki, did not speak.