Diaries and Old Letters for Centennial History of Otago Pioneer Women

Evening Star, Issue 25893, 10 September 1946, Page 9

Diaries and Old Letters for Centennial History of Otago Pioneer Women

TOPICS FOR WOMEN

A book dealing with the women of Otago during its hundred years of existence is to be written by Mrs F. G. Soper, a member of the Historical Committee of the Centennial Association, and the early Settlers’ Association has already begun to -gather data for the publication. Records of the early days recall the courage and fortitude of the pioneers, and many anecdotes illustrative of these qualities have already been .collected, There is the story of the ivoman who walked from Clutha to Dunedin, in three days, carrying an eight-month-old child, in order' that the child might be christened. Her mission accomplished, she made tile return journey on foot also. A shepherd’s wife, suffering greatly, and with no assistance available, was taken 30 miles, on a bitterly cold night, in » six-horse wagon, to meet the doctor. Her twin babies died, but she herself survived. The wives of the early missionaries at Waikouaiti attended to their household under primitive conditions, and, at the same time, assisted in the mission school, instructing the Maori women in sewing/cooking, and the care of children. One admires the self-sacrifice of those women who, often leaving a family of small children, trudged weary miles, regardless of the •weather, to attend to a sick, neighbour. In these days of speedy transport and communication it is difficult to imagine the feelings of those who, leaving Home for the new' and comparatively unknown country, prepared themselves for a long sea voyage, under trying conditions. Among the Early Settlers’ Association’s records are some diaries, kept by women during the voyage, and from these one gleans something of the thoughts that passed through their minds. It seemed a complete break with the Homeland and its associations, and there crowded in on them thoughts of relations and friends, the graves they were leaving behind them,, the thought that if ever they , did again look upon Scotland the grass would be green over many they had left full of life and hopes. As one woman expressed it, 44 How dear did

every friend, even every acquaintance, seem.” Tile same writer, noting an outbreak of sickness among the. children on board, wrote, ” Very little makes us afraid here.” In an article circulated throughout Scotland male emigrants were urged to marry before setting out. 44 The married .man has many advantages over the single—not only is his happiness enhanced and his labour cheered, but beside this an active woman does many things for her husband which he can find neither the time nor the inclination to dp for himself. We should say, therefore, to all intending emigrants. 4 Get married before going out, as the cheaper and better course.’ ” The following advertisement indicates that this advice was not always-heeded:— The ‘ Otago Daily Times ’ of 1866 records the death, at Nokomai of a woman,killed by a fall of earth, 44 leaving three young children totally unprovided for. Melbourne papers will please copy, in the hopes that this may meet the eye of her husband, who is believed to be now in Victoria.” History does not toll us the fate of the children. Few people to-dav realise the extra work done by the housewife of early Otago. . The preparing of rennet and making of cheese, the making of candles by mould or dipping, cooking for large families with a camp oyeii, washing in small creeks or at best outside, the manufacture of soap, asiitg wood ash in place of caustic, sometimes evaporating sea water to obtain salt, were all part of the ordinary day’s work. From letters published in the ‘ Otago Journal ’ and elsewhere we know something of what tho men thought of conditions in the young settlement, but little is recorded of the feelings of the women. Miss M. M. Pryde, of the Early Settlers’ Association, is appealing to anyone who possesses diaries or letters written by women in the early days to make them available for placing on record the achievements of the pibneer women of Otago. Miss NOreen Murray is collecting data on women’s organisations.