PORT PIONEERS FOREGATHER

Evening Star, Issue 17792, 14 October 1921, Page 2

PORT PIONEERS FOREGATHER

THE DAYS GONE BY. In tho mayor’s room at Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon a number of pioneer residents met at tho invitation of Air Isaac Stevenson, and a very pleasant time they had recounting personal experiences in days gone by. A similar gathering took place about fourteen years ago, and Mr Stevenson, in welcoming his guests to the present reunion, expressed pleasure at the fact that two of those, who participated previously were again present—Captain G. Welch and Mr W. G. Fail. After Mr D. A. Do Mans had been voted to the chair, Captain Welch called on those present to honor a toast to their host, and that was accompanied by the singing of “For he's a jolly good fellow.” Reminiscence was a feature, of the gathering. Captain Welch said lie was horn at Great Yarmouth, .England, on November 5, 1829. and on that day a. great storm prevailed, and . heavy seas caused deep erosion on the foreshore similar to what occurred at St. Clair last winter. At fourteen years of age ho was apprenticed to the sea, and sailed From Sunderland in the barque Pascyo Grenfell for Cuba, to load ore for Swansea. On the return passage tho ore shifted through one of the Uunkways ■ giving way, and the vessel heeled over alarmingly. At the time ho was in the forecastle cooking a piece of pork, but was called away, and one of the men proceeded with the cooking, The thwartship bulkhead carried away, and the forecastle went on lire. Several of the crew were unable to get out of the burning apartment, and they screamed frightfully. Mnnv other incidents occurred in his chocquerrd seafaring career. In 1862 he commanded his own ship, the Elizabeth Filter, and in her he brought diggers for the Dunstan from Sydney to Dunedin. Mr Fail was born in (Surrey in 1834. sailed for Melbourne from ’tendon in 1854, and came across to New Zealand in 1862. Mr William John King was horn in 1842. came out in the early sixties, and took part in the Maori War, Mr John Mill was horn in Fife-shire in 1845. and arrived here, in 1862. He recalled Mr (Stevenson’s term as Mayor of Port Chalmers, and complimented him on the fact that In'.s son was now mayor. Air Moisey was born in Torquay in 1844, ami arrived in Otago in 1861 in the Chariot of Flame. Mr W. Powell, horn in Acomh in 1846, landed at Port Chalmers in 1876. Mr Alexander Farquharson, horn in Midlothian in 1858, came out in the (Sevilla in 1862.

Mr John Hempsced. horn in Staffordshire in 1850. came out in the ship Strathfeldy in 1858. Mr Ernest Godfred was born in Liverpool in 18*18, followed a seafaring career, and experienced the privations and hardships of responding to flic call of tho son, in those days. Mr D. A. Do Mans was born in Edinburgh in 1847. He thanked Mr Stevenson for entertaining them again, and he was looking forward to another old identity picnic at Mount Royal. Mr J. M‘Lachlan proposed a, vote of thanks to Mr (Stevenson, also to the mayoress for her help on various occasions.