THE "ORIENTAL" PIONEERS.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 151, 29 June 1891, Page 4

THE "ORIENTAL" PIONEERS.

¥ TO THE EDITOR. Sir— Will you please kindly permit mo to place boforo your readers a matter of_ some importance to tho colony, and which, I beb'evo, will bo road with considerable interest by many of tho residents _of tho Wellington and Taranaki provincial districts. It is my good fortune to bo at this time, with some other friends here, looking forward in anxious anticipation of seoing tho 22nd day of October noxt, which will complete the fiftieth year since tho arrival of the good ship Oriental into Wellington from the Old Country, on board of which ship, commanded by that good Yorkshireman, Captain Willson, I with many others came, and among those wore many who havo laboured well to advance tho intorest and improve the state of tho different parts of the country in which their lot has fallen. It is true that many of the original or heads of tbo families have been removed by death, but at tho present time thoro are many still now residents in Wellington branches from tho old stocks, aud some of tho older ones. I would montion tho respective families of tho Wiltons and those of tho brothers now in and around Mastorton with thoir largo families, and a great many othors ; Now, sir, in Mastorton wo havo beon considering that wo should unite togothoras many as possible, and on tho day above mentioned hold a jubiloo festival or ioliday cither in Masterton or Wollington, so as to bring togotber tho various families and thoir representatives, which it may be hoped would prove tho happiest and pleasanteßt day ever realised by any ono who is entitled to tako a part. I think, sir, that the Railway Commissioners would not refuse to givo a free, or, at any rate, mako a considorablo reduction in tho passenger rates to those persons who would traVol on the occasion to or from Wellington to Masterton, as may be arranged. I hopo that this matter may bo taken up by my Oriental passenger friends in Wellington, and that something may bo done in time to mako it a day to be long remembered by all interested. My good friend Mr. -nrr-WMK>,w-«.<~»ia,_witii_oijrE«lf v be clad to see our Jubilee matters well workedup ana enjoyed in its best senso. I am, &c, Thomas William Shute. Mastorton, 17th Juno.