PIONEER HORSES

Evening Star, Issue 23564, 1 May 1940, Page 11

PIONEER HORSES

WOMEN OF EARLY OTAGO "AN HONOURED INHERITANCE " Remembrance of the achievements of the women of early Otago was the keynote of the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Association’s first annual meeting held last night in First Church Hall. Dr Siedeherg-MTvinnon presided over a fairly large attendance, and both she and Mrs W. 11. Elliott (Clarendon), the speaker of the evening, discoursed interestingly on the work of the women of Otago, particularly of those who built the province from its early beginnings. Dr Sicdeberg-M'Kinnon, who moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet quoted one of the Centennial writers, who said; “ Don’t let posterity ho ashamed of ns.” Posterity, she thought, would bo ashamed of the women of this generation if they allowed the Centennial year to pass without showing that they remembered and understood the silent struggle of their own ancestors without making an cfort to erect a memorial in their honour. “ Our heritage comes from those fine old spirits,” she said. “ Let us honour them, and in doing so give a lead to the generations which will follow. THEIR SHINING COURAGE. “ True history was not made in towns, but in the wilderness that had to be subdued by the shining courage of the pioneer women,” said Mrs Eiliott, who reviewed the early history of Otago, laying particular stress on the part played by the pioneer women. ‘‘ The foundations they helped to lay in the forming of this province can be traced in the many homos scattered over the length and breadth of tho land, where their influence - is'still felt and their example treasured as an honoured inheritance.” Mrs Elliott gave a brief resume of the characteristics of some of the leading women of that early day-—Mrs Cargill, Mrs Burns, Mrs Valpy, and Mrs Mary Stewart (Wellington, one of the few surviving settlers), and a large number of others. It was' worthy of note that the first women’s organisations founded were of a spiritual and philanthropic nature. At the present time there were nearly 50 such organisations ill tho city, some with international affiliations and some with rural branches, giving to country women the opportunity to co-oporato in the work for the betterment of women and children. Educationally, tho traditions of the pioneers were also carried on, and were represented in such organisations as the Homo Science School, the Plnnket Society with its Karitane Hospital, the Y.W.C.A., and the St. John Ambulance Association. The W.D.F.U. and the women’s institutes carried on in country districts. “ Otago can feel justly proud of her women to-day,” continued tho speaker. “ Changing world conditions have given them more scope for their activities.” QUALITIES HANDED ON. The young women of to-day possessed all the attributes of initiative, independence, ability, and that would assume the older generation of women that tho future of the province was in safe keeping. “It must not bn supposed,” stressed Mrs Elliott, “ that all pioneering has ended and that all primitive conditions have been replaced by comfort and convenience. There are many women still carrying on the fine traditions of their mothers and grandmothers in back-country districts. Distances may he less, medical aid more attainable, and conditions generally not so terrifying, but the same spirit and mobility of character, the self-sacrifice and cheerfulness in adversity will be found to-day as prominent as in the early days. Women are still helping, as they helped in the past, to make Otago.” •