THE PIONEERS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11953, 25 May 1933, Page 5

THE PIONEERS

«0- ANP WIK);''BLAZED • THE TRAIL”

(ANNUAL REUNION

W TRIBUTES from younger genH ERATTON

¥ : . •'Hardships, trials and tribulations : jcro tho lot of til© early settlers'of i§ p oV erty Bay, but Time no. doubt B'j cognised, their eburagd, for it hai' |4! mR- very kiijdly tiuth'tho groat’ ma|2 4 ftjfe, if ono could judge‘from the | jjfrry gathering of v . pioneers at ‘ the C;j aD oual reunion. - which; Avn's 'held ’fix ;g.! e . Afashnic" Hail" yesjerda^'.‘Rlie ?i : buiW ,n S Fas crowded to ';'capacity, py jind if was eatimated that bijtvteeh i SCO and 350, early settlers and tiieir • :e !dtivrp Fore' present.- ail, -o say, enjoying ’themselves greatly. :,.N Old friends' wore root. and" huthofdu'a and at times tragic incidents' werb galled, and it was evident that tho t exchange of reminiscences played ho trail part in tho success of the gath4, (-ring- Hie function had; been drrangv c d by the women’s organisations of the district, the committee being as follows: Mcsdamcs W. E. Goffe, A. pullert, T. A. Crawdord, J. Blair, A. • Cnthberr, L. Balfour, D. (G. RObert?on, J Johnstone, El G. Atatthews, -^yColeman. D. Blair. P. Barry, Pfoalep. Ayhvard, Leggett , Jones, Keany, Brnco, Baty, Ea'irlie and

Quigley. Poring an interval afternoon tea and dainties were handed' round and n-ere much enjoyed. The Girl Guides were in attendance and assisted ibe committee in dispensing hospitality to the guests. • Community singing of old-timo songs, nndor the. leadership of Mrs P. Barry, was a feature of the reunion, and all joined heartily in tho choruses so popular in the early days Miss A. L. Rees presided and briefly welcomed iho pioneers, mentioning that a broadcast, of the proceedings had been arranged so that those unable to attend might possibly have an opportunity of listening in. The Mayor, Mr John Jackson, expressed Ms pleasure at being present that day. Judging from the looks of the majority of those present, Nature had been kind to them. He expressly welcomed the inmates of the Old People’s Home. They had born© their share of the trials and tribulations of the early days, but Fate had not been so kind, to them as to others. Still their groat work was generally recognised, and assistance had been provided for them in their old To those men and women especially Gisborne extended the hand of good' fellowship and best washes. At the conclusion of the Mayor’s address, Mrs P. Barry presented a bouquet to the Mayoress. During the proceedings the Mayor referred to the diamond wedding of Mr. and Airs. 'Monk which was celebrated that day. He was glad they had such a highly esteemed couple with them that day. They appeared to • have won tho secret, of Nature foUtirnc appeared to have .stood still Jfth them, and he washed them, every happiness and the best of health. Miss Af. Barry, daughter* of ■ Airs. Phil Barry, on behalf of the ladies’ 1 organisations, i hen handed Airs. Monk a beautiful bouquet, the recipient briefly responding. Mr. R. F. Gambrill, after paying a tribute to the pioneers, said they could rest assured that- the : ideals they worked for were not in rain. Tho work done by the early settlers was beyond all praise, and the present generation would, he knew, carry it. on. They heard a lot of the younger generation these days, and people wondered if they had. the spirit, of their forefathers. Speaking from his own knowledge he knew ; what this generation did in 1014, and they carried out tho ideals of ( their forefathers. He had been in touch with, boys who had grown up; .A®e 1014. and he could give the pioneers a message that they would , carry on tho work of the old settlers, j They would face the present difficulties just as the pioneers faced their hardships, and: they would carry on and see this country through. Mr. D. AY. Coleman, ALP., said! the old people must he pleased to be entertained and to .see their work was appreciated, and also •to find .hat rimy themselves were not forgotten. The pioneers had blazed the trail and had made Gisborne the fine town it was to-day. There were no bitumen roads when tho early settlers came here. They suffered hardships and privations and the people of the present day were reaping the benefit. The speaker was particularly pleased to see amongst them that day 'Airs. Luttrell, who had the honor of driving the first peg in for the town of Gisborne. Although over SO years of ago Airs. Luttrell was still hale and hearty and appeared in perfect health. “If u G had some old-time dancos,” said All Coleman, "I have no doubt we would have found Airs. Luttrell joining in them as she did a few years ago. (Laughter). He endorsed the rcr marks of Air. Gambrill that the people of to-day appreciated the worths pioneers had done fifty or fiß-A Who years ago. The generation o to- day recognised the work of e pioneers and honored them for 1 > and would carry it on. The problems of to-day were difficnlt, but 4’ e 5 would bo surmounted just as were in 1914. Air. Coleman concluded by wishing the pioneers-the b^ s of health and comfort in the evening of their lives, and trusted that their closing days would be peaceful, nnc that all would meet again at the reunion next year. Air. j. B. Poyntpr said ho was pleased to meet * the pioneers o years standing, and humorously c a lenged anyone to stand up and say they had been longer in the Bay than 58 years. , Quite a number, both men and women, rose to their feet amid general laughter. Mr. Poynter said ha must quality his statement. Ho meant he did u° think thero wak'jmybne fii the room who had. been born: in' Poverty Ilay. longer than 58 years ago.. osa w o had been here longer than that, mus have come to the district rc | m ° er parts, and he must class them as immigrants. (More laughter). . x ' 1.

Royntsa* -concluded by stating that round the-room aU'-who had beeA % *? e . < M: nc1 '’ 40 Years or : OVcr : to' sign their'-names. ' Next year it v was intended to' have a separate ' list .of those of 50 years’ residence, ad well as thbso of 40 years. The idem' was to have a register of tho pioneers' of ,ie district. He hoped all present would sign the list that day. Air. oviiter concluded by extending his best wishos to all tho pioneers, especially to Airs. Luttrell.

■ . The fprms were then sent round the room, apd'over M names weib bigiied in the brief time available.

The list is as follows

F, Fihucano, Mrs: M. Finuca.no, J. H. Britten, ■Q. Oairieron, Gi' VY. Goppih, : P. Rie©; AlVsy E.' E. Ghrisp. H. DeGosta,' Airs. E. Little, E. A. Russell; M. Parker; R. Foster,. B. Hirdp Geo. Henderson, AI. Talbot, vv. B, Carter, Mrs.* G. B, Carter, M. C. Paltridge, f. E‘. Lysnar, Par- '^ e \V J- E. McLeod, E. A. Russell, I§• H. Lysnar, Mrs! .T. Bennett, Mrs. '£• v ßl a **V Mrs. E. Aylward, Miss' A. ; E. Roberts;''Mrs.' E, Smith, Alts. C., J. Wilson; Airs: A. E. White, J. Blake, A. J. Cooper, Airs. F. AlcFarlane, E, Luttrell, C. Watsan, T. : Burns, : L. Penfold, A. Penfold, E. O’Neill, S. Hhipin, B. Boyle, R. Robb, W. IT. Pritchard, T. AVeeks, I: Hepburn, S. Luttrell; F. ML Gold- . smith, N. Blakely. Ar. Roderick, Aliss Brooke Taylor, AT. TJron, L. Sharp, Airs. P. Galloway, Airs O. Fairlie, Mrs. AY. J. Baty, Airs.' A. Friar, Mrs E. Thompson, Airs. J. Callahan, Airs. iL AlcGuffie, Airs. AY. Lougher, C. J. Coppin, Airs. S. Alette, Airs. L. Denham, Airs. K. Harris, Airs. AY. Warner, Airs. Bruce AA r att, Airs. A. Habgood, Mrs. F. Tietjen, AI. Read Bloomfield, E. Trafford, Airs. AA Toolhouse, T. R, AlcComb, Mrs. T. Alc- : Coomb, Airs. D. Blair, Mrs. R. E. Morris, F. Atoore, Airs. D. Olding, Mrs. A. Thompson, Airs. AI. Russell, Miss A. L. Rees, Airs. B. Lewis, Airs C. Shanks, E. Hall, A. AY*. Elliott, J. Camerson, F.' B. AlcKenzie, AI. Roche, T. Geary, J. AI. Jolms, S. Riddell, E. iiamer, j. Aluldoon, E. Airs. J. Olliver, Aliss AA r . J. Rosie, Mrs. J. J. Jackson, Airs. G. Stubbs, Airs. Alillor, Airs. A. Pilgrim, J. R,. Shaw, Airs. J. R. Shaw, Airs. J. Faulkner, Airs. R. Preston, E. Habgood, Airs. A. Friar, Airs. Newton. Alanv other names could .not. be obtained as the suggestion was an impromptu and hurried one. At intervals during the afternoon an excellent musical programme was given under the leadership of Airs. Phil Barry, the accompanists being Airs. Fairlie and Aliss, Kenny. Songs were contributed by Alisses Sheila Alunro, Dorothy Hayes, Dorothy Sharpe, Alarie Mcßreen, AEesdamcs Fairlie and Douglas Blair; Alasters Noel Mahon and AY. Dunsrnore and tho Alanutuke Girl Guides. Airs. Phil Barry sang “Days of Old,” the music find lyric being composed by Airs. Douglas Blair. Recitations were given by Alisses Alarie Alcßreen and .Stella Brad field, an Irish jig by Aliss Sheila Alunro, ballet by Aliss Keany’s pupils, and a poi. dance by the Alanutuke Girl Guides.