EARLY SETTLERS

Evening Post, Issue 122, 26 May 1933, Page 5

EARLY SETTLERS

REUNION OF PIONEERS

MR. JUDD'S 98TH BIRTHDAY]

Though the passing years have loft their mark physically, they have not diminished the cheery spirit of tho old pioneers, and when the members of tho Early Settlers' Association met yes-' tcrday for their annual reunion the; passage of time was forogtten in memories of the past. The function took the form of a birthday celebra*. tion in honour of Mr. George Judd) who was 98 yesterday. Unfortunately, Mr. Judd was indisposed and was mn able to attend but, with the aid of wireless, he was able to hear the whola proceedings and receive congratulations from a number of the old The senior vice-president of the association, Mrs. Carter, presided with thai assistance of Mr. E. W. Toomath. Mr. Toomath said he had called upon Mr. Judd tho previous day and had found him a perfect picture of manhood despite his illness. Ho . vva» bright-eyed and grateful that he had been able to. write his name as-he had done on the pages of New Zealand history. Mr. Toomath read a brief re\ sume of Mr. Judd's career, telling how he had come out from England in 1840. with his parents in the Martha Bidgeway. For several years he remained in the Hutt Valley,- and theu went to the South Island, where h9 followed a variety of- occupations, including working in the gold diggings. He roturned to Wellington in 1868 anil had not left it since. MESSAGES FROM HOME. The following letters were then road by Mr. Toomath from Lord Jellicoe and Lady Frances Fergusson (on behalf of Lady Alice Fergusson):— St. Lawrence Hall, • . St. Lawrence, Isle of Wight. ...'.. : . 14/4/33. • Dear Mrs. Carter, It was so i very kind of the early;; settlers to send us a piece of Wellington's- ninety-third birthday cake. We only wish that we could, .have been, present at the gathering; I can well imagine the interest it created in Wellington. Our,--rccollection of meeting* with the-early settlers, who showed such splendid courage arid resource in the flays when they started New Zealand on her great path arc-so happy,l With our warmest good wishes foi; tho future, Tours very sincerely, "f Jellicoa. • v Kilkorraoj ■ Maybole, Ayrshire, :\ March 22, 1933. ] Dear Mrs. Carter, j My mother-in-law, Lady Alice For* gusson, has asked me to write for her} to thank you for remembering her and: for sending "from the early settlers ■., 'ah piece of their ninety-third birthday? cake. She greatly appreciated your kin dt thought and she was very pleased iv hear news of Mrs. Eagle, Mrs. Judd,r: and Mrs. Cornford, and other friendsj Lady Alice is making a very good recovery from her serious motor acci« dent, but the doctor does not yet allow .her to write herself, as she is still easily tired. She is getting on so well that we hope she will shortly ba restored to her former health ■ and: strength. Will you please convey her thank* and gdod' wishes to the members of, thai1 Early Settlers' Association, v , , " I am"youfs"sinc^eiyj-':--; :r-'.-,'';'''.^; ] ■ ■,:-• v-u-v ■:-;,. s; :;:;;: FranisesTForgussoji. \ After 'Sergeant-Major; Edwin Bezar^'veteran of the Crimea and Maori Wars,-' had given a few of his reminiscences; afternoon tea was served, and pieces of Mr. Judd's birthday cake were dis- j tributed. Tho old people were also t entertained by the following:—Miss Pauline Bogers, pianoforte solo, and Mrs. McLeod and Mr. Bichard Maun- I der, songs. Miss Bogers acted as ao« I companist for the singers.