BROTHERS' PRIDE REUNION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10221, 15 December 1893, Page 3

BROTHERS' PRIDE REUNION.

Yesterday comewhat of a novelty in the way of picnics was held by a reunion amongst the surviving passengers and their families who camo to tho colony in tho ship Brothers’ Pride, which arrived in Lyttelton harbour ca Dec. 9, thirty years ago, after an eventful passage of 140 days. That the voyage waa full ot incidents can beet be judged from the details which Mr H. B. Kirk, one of the promoters of th© gathering, contributed to these columns yesterday. Thegatheringtooktheform of a picnic, and some two hundred and fifty shipmates, or th© children of shipmates, journeyed to Lyttelton and embarked upon the steamer John Anderson for Diamond Harbour. In the beautiful grounds attached to the commodious accommodation house which stands there, one and all soon set to work to’ enjoy themselves. After the wants of fcho inner man had been amply provided for a meeting was formed on the lawn. Mrs W. Baber, a lady close upon eightyon© years of age, was escorted up the steps. In & firm voice she expressed the pleasure it gave her to be present and see so many of the faces of those who bad come to the Colony in the ship. Sh© hoped they would all meet again twelve months hence, and celebrate the occasion again, and she lived in hope of being there with them. (Applause.) Mr Whitelaw then addressed a few words to tho assemblage. He said it was very gratifying to him to be present on such an interesting occasion. There was one very important thing they should do and do right heartily, and that wca to pass a vote of thanks to Messrs Kirk and Hanson for promoting the outing which they were that day celebrating. It was indeeda happy idea to have thought of spending a day together so close to tho spot where they had first landed. (Applause). Thirty years ago last Saturday, a goodly number of those present, together with many more who were still in their midst but who had been prevented from various causes from attending the gathering, had first landed at few miles from where they now stood. The occasion’ was one that called up a great deal of what was interesting and much that was satisfactory, which had transpired during the years which had since passed away. He waa pleased to have been given the opportunity of spending a day of rejoicing with hia former shipmates. (Hear, hear). Ho wbil remembered one little incident of their dreary life in quarantine. He waa enjoying a few hours stolen liberty when he came upon the very spot they ware now standing. That was whan the beautiful harbour upon, which thoy could now look was in embryo, before Canterbury could boait of a Hue of railway and before the Lyttelton tunnel was opened. In the course of hia stolen liberty he had fallen across tho gentleman who then owned that part cf tb© country, who waa a Justice of tho Peace, and who had welcomed, him in one breath and in tho next had intimated that if he did his duty ha (the Justice) would have him committed for breach of the regulations. (Laughter.) However, the gentleman did not, in that instance at all events, do hia duty, and instead of the speaker being committed he was engaged to do soma building work. He thought they could coagratulats themselves in that, if none of their shipmates had risen to positions of very high standing publicly, yet none of them had done anything of. which they need feel ashamed. (Applause.) He considered they had proved themselves a very creditable band of pioneers, and he hoped that tha idea which had baen originated, of meeting in this way, would be made an annual one. Ha would move—“ That a very hearty vote of thanka be accorded to Messrs Kirk and Hanson for having originated the idea.” Mr Samuel Baliffi seconded the motion, and express© 1 the hope that a similar gathering would bo held yearly. He for one was very well pleased that ho should have come to the colony, and he thought few if any of his shipmates could disagree with him.

Mr Robert A nderson sold he had great pleasure in endorsing what the previous sneakers had stated. For his own part ha had pitched hia tent not many miles from the spot where they landed, and there he had lived ever since. (Applause.) The motion was thsu put and carried amid cheers.

Mr Kirk said he had great pleasure in returning thanks to Mr Whitelaw and the other speakers for the motion they had carried. Ha would do everything he could to make the gathering an annual one. (Hoar, bear.) Mr Kaasoa also responded, and said Mr Kkk deserved ail tha credit for having originated the idea. They bad stood shoulder to shoulder in the many misfortunes which had befallen their voyage to New Zealand, but he trusted the thought of those misfortunes would not that day have acy effect upon their pleasures. Ha waa extremely glad to see such a gathering, end he hoped that twelve months hence they would all meet again and spend a 3 jolly a day. “The gathering then dispersed with cheers. Later in the afternoon a large number of tho voyagers and tbeic families embarked upon tha steamer, and were taken down to Camp S.y far the purpose of viewing the spot where thirty years ago they gained their first experience of life under the .Southern Cross. * Tho buildings used as tha station in tnoao days have since bsea removed, but portions of an old hut are yet to be seen, and the graveyard where those who died in quarantine were buried still remains. The steamer slor.ly returned to Diamond Harbour, and tha whole company spent the remainder of the afternoon there.