NOTABLE CEREMONY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 8

NOTABLE CEREMONY

MT. STEWART MEMORIAL. HONOURING THE PIONEERS. Ideally situated, in that from it can he seen six counties, and affording a panoramic view of smiling farmland and industrial activity which with the advancement of . the Dominion have superseded virgin forest, is Alt. Stewart, where, in the presence of a very largo gathering, the district Centennial memorial was dedicated and unveiled on Saturday afternoon. The dedication prayer was pronounced by Rev. J. Hubbard, Ai.A., 8.D., and the honour of tin veiling tho memorial was accorded lion. j. G. Cohbe, ALP. Air T. L. Scddon, chairman of the Zone E Centennial Committee, presided and addresses were given by Air Seddon, Air J. Linldatcr (chairman of tho Alt. Stewart Executive Committee), Air AV. E. Barber (chairman of tho Alanawatu County Council), ALr Cobbe and Mr AV. J. Croucher. Rev. P. H. Leonard (representing tho Maori people) read a short passago from the fourth chapter of the Book of Joshua, and finally the Benediction was pronounced by Von. Archdeacon F. FI. Petrie, M.A. Tho unveiling of tlie Sandon Old Boys’ Association’s edifice, which is associated with tlie main memorial,_ was performed by Air Croucher (president of the association), to whom very much of the credit for the erection of tho Centennial memorial is due. It was lie who conceived the idea of tho memorial being placed on Alt. Stewart and it was largely due to his persistency and unswerving determination that tho organisation prepared the way for the ceremony on Saturday. There were times when interest apparently lagged and little progress was made with the project which is now an accomplished fact. In Air Seddon tho, committee of Zone E had a chairman ■ who was equally anxious to sec tho l project materialise, while Air Linklater, as chairman of tho executive, ■: also played an important part towards] the successful conclusion of a worthy! undertaking. j The Old Boys’ Association section of i the memorial structure takes the form ! of a handsome direction indicator and sundial, located adjacent to the base of the memorial proper, but separated by tho road giving access to the monu- I ment, a.nd constitutes a decidedly j pleasing finish to the whole work. THE EARLY SETTLERS. | The roll of early settlers was read! by the secretary and treasurer, Air (J. tl. Tate (town clerk of Feilding), the names called being as follow: Messrs D. AicKenzie, S. Hirst, T. Hirst, J. Hirst, G. Hedges, R. Burt, R. Pearce,j VV. Scarrow, R. Dallison, C. Edwards, G. AVilliams, D. Hughey, G. Phillips, G. Farmer, A. Farmer, J. Roberts, H. Sanson, T. Sanson, A. A'Court, J. Prisk, G. Grace, T. Harris, Jas. Harris, S. Fagan, J. A. Bailey, G. Hirst, G. Stent, T. Alasters, J. Alartin, J. Risk, J. Bull, Jas. Speedy, T. Henson, R. AV. Bishop. Airs London and her, brother, Air J. Kennedy, Atatthews Bros, and Sons, Alessrs H. Bowater, J. Tompkins, J. Young, It. Cameron, J. Orr, Hansen, D. Speedy, A. Bruce, It. Port, W. Masters, J. H. Gibbs, T. Verry, Af. Read, AI. Kew, J. Alatthews, IT. Short, Jos. .Bowater, Naim and Son, FI. 13. and AV. A. Ellerm, Alajor Afcßarnett, Alessrs S. Henson and Sons, Alnnro, 11. Heaton. AA r . Aloore, T. Smith. T. Gifford, B. S. Penny, W. Davis, W. Penny, AA T . Payne, It. E. Pearce. W. Creighton, F\ Lumsden. B. C. Eglinton, .T. AloCutclian, A. AfcNab, A. AlcFlardie, AV. Frocklington and Sons, A. Gust. J. Simpson, W. Klatt, A. Natzke and J. Shonrock. THE COALMITTEES. Tho committees connected with the erection of the memorial were.—Zone E: Messrs T. L. Seddon (representing Feilding Borough Council, chairman), V. E. Smith and G. J. Fitzpatrick (Feilding Chamber of Commerce), FV Purnell (Alarton Borough Council), Iv. W. Dalrymple (Rangitikei County Council). L. T. McLean (Kiwitea County Council), A. Campbell (Oroua County Council), D. AV’. Reid and A. Tv. Drew (Alanawatu County Council), S. J. Strahan (Pohangina County Council). L. J. Thompson (Ilunterville Town Board), J. E. AValker (Bulls Town Board!. Executive committee: Alessrs J. Linklater (chairman), T. L. Seddon. F. Purnell, A. Campbell. D. AV. Reid, A. K. Drew, AL E. Smith, G. L. Marshall. K. AV. Dalrymple, AV. J. Croucher, K. At. Pearce and FI. AL Bond. CHOICE OF SITE.

‘•By dedicating and unveiling this memorial,” said Mr Seddon, “we desire to honour the memory and commemorate the achievements of ttie early settlers of the district. Like the men oi old, certain settlers were moved to set up a memorial to those who had blazed the pioneer trail in this district. Some years ago a man made it his heart’s desire to see that memorial accomplished. About live years ago the interest of the local bodies was obtained and many settlers supported the idea. There never seemed to be any doubt about the site. This commanding eminence, known to the Maori as Piki Kotuku, and to us as Mount Stewart, after John Tiffen Stewart, a Public Works engineer who made a preliminary survey lor the purchase of the llangitikei-Manawatu Block, was by common consent the site chosen. Steeped in native legend, it is as well of historic association in that in 1844 Wakefield, in the course of a journey from llangitikei to the Manawatu, is thought to have passed somewhere near this place and surveyed the magnificent panorama before him, Again, in 1871, Colonel. Feilding viewed from Mount Stewart the land he was afterwards to acquire as tbe Manchester Block, and of which the town of Feilding, named after him, was to become the most important centre. It is of geographical importance in that apparently by accident rather than design it is the central point of the Wellington province. From this natural vantage point we can see the accomplishments of those whom to-day we honour. In less than a century the face of Nature has been transformed, though not always to advantage, and forest and plain, uninhabited except for a few scattered native villages and some European settlements on the coast, have given way to verdant pasture or waving crops, prosperous farms and useful industries, some compensation for Man’s destruction of Nature’s primal beauty. Many of those who bore the heat and burden of the day have now gone to their long home and we and the generations to come will reap the fruits of their labours. Their works remain, an imperishable monument to their names. Not bv bread alone did theyi work and live. I bey realised that-J Man’s needs could not be satisfied by material things alone, and they did not forget Him from Whom cometh every” good gilt. His Spirit sustained and ( guided them. 1 “As the Centennial Year approached and there was a national movement to suitably celebrate the first, hundred years of our growing, fresh thought was given to those who had laid the foundations of our development. It was originally decided to have three! provincial memorials, one on Mount 1 Stewart, one on Mount Victoria, Wcll-j

ington, and one on Petono Beach, bul changes took place and the memoria on Petone Beach was finally decider upon as the provincial memorial. “Tlie plan for a memorial on Alou.nt Stewart survived as a district memorial, and "it is, I believe, unique m that it is the only district memorial in tlie province That district without i exaggeration contains some of the finest country in the Dominion, compris- ] ing as it does the Oroua, Alanawatu, , Pohangina. Kiwitea and Rangitikei , counties, the Feilding and Alarton boroughs ajid the Huntcrville, Alangaweka and Bulls town districts. AVitliout boast or conceit, I can also say that this district was the home of some of New Zealand’s finest pioneer men and women. In token of our gratitude and respect we have therefore built this memorial, and that man, j Air AAL J. Croucher, who first conceived the idea, is with us to-day. To Air Croucher and those who helped him in the initial stages of this undertaking to-dav must be a proud occasion. AVo owe those men a debt of gratitude for the driving force and the continued enthusiasm which, through difficult ! times, they displayed and which has now reached its consummation in this splendid memorial. j “The architect and designer was Air H. AL Bond, engineer to the Alana- . watu County Council,” Air Seddon added. “He has given freely his time j aii(l services, The contractor (Air AA'iljkinson) has built faithfully and well, j and being an early settler has refused ! to make any profit out of the building. I The cost lias been borne as follows: I Bv the local bodies in the zone, £550; bv tho Sandon Old Boys’ Association, £100: by private donations, particularly in. the Rangitikei County and the Palmerston North and- Kairanga districts, £250; by government subsidy, £250. INSPIRATION FROAI THE PAST. “Alay this memorial be as enduring as the ideals of those it commemorates. Alay it be to us a lasting source of encouragement and inspira- ! lion ; encouragement that wc following their good example may overcome our ! difficulties and help to restore a world ] which seems to have gone mad to san- ! ity and reason. AVe have entered this ] Centennial year with the knowledge | that thero lies before us the gravest j task which has perhaps ever faced our nation. AA’e must prepare for a grim | struggle, for to me it is idle to think 1 that the Nazi leaders are going to be I persuaded by sweet reason to end their degrading regime. AA’e have drawn the sword as the only way to reason and peace and we will not sheath it until j we have accomplished that. AVe believe that the democracy we are defending, imperfect though it be, is the first step towards Christian brotherhood and represents the ideals for which Alan- | kind has heroically striven through the | ages. It is worth defending, not only for what it is, but for what it may become. A source of inspiration'' it must also be in that it reminds us not only of Alan’s material achievements, but also of the things of the Spirit without which there can bo no real progress. And as 1 feel its mute eloquence I know that it has a message ! for us. Those for whom it stands would with common voice say to us in the words of the poet: “ ‘For all we thought, and loved and did, And hoped and suffer'd, is but seed.’ “Seed, however, which in us we trust will bring forth'fruit, perhaps an hundredfold,” Air Seddon concluded. DESERVED TRIBUTES PAID. Air J. Linklater, as chairman of the executive, said he felt greatly honoured to have the opportunity of speaking. “Aly first duty is to thank everyone who has helped to make this memorial an accomplished fact,’’ he proceeded. “Although I cannot make mention of everyone connected with this great work I am sure you all must agree with me when I say that the inspiration of erecting a memorial on Alt. Stewart came in tho first place from Air AV. J. Croucher, who is president of the Sandon Old Boys’ Association, and I wish to pay a well-deserved tribute to him here for the great amount of work, time and energy lie has expended in having the memorial completed. Air Bond has been a very energetic and valuable architect and may well I'eel proud of his work. I feel we owe him a, great debt of gratitude for all lie lias done not only in designing the memorial but also with many other matters in connection with it. Mr YAL AY’ilkinson, of Feilding, the builder, has completed his work nobly and well at a price that docs not allow any profit to himself. This is his contribution towards the appreciation of the pioneers and we gratefully acknowledge his contribution. Then there is the Mayor of Feilding (Mr Seddon), who has been a tower of strength and lias helped in every possible way. Alay I take this opportunity of thanking my committee for the loyal way in which they have supported me. I can say without hesitation that I have been associated with a very enthusiastic committee. To all local bodies who have been so sympathetic towards this work I want to record our appreciation. Without their financial assistance it would not have been possible to complete this memorial. It has been erected in the Manawatu County and I know that I am expressing the desire of those associated with me when I ask'the Alanawatu Council to undertake the supervision of the memorial in future years. Too often a fine memorial has been neglected through lack of supervision and we make this request because we know it will be veil cared for if vested in that council. I am very grateful that this memorial to our pioneers lias been completed because I believe that the early settlers richly deserve and should receive tlie adequate recognition this edifice represents, and no more fitting monument could have been conceived to mark the Centennial of this Dominion. AY c have raised an artificial monument to them on this fine site, but the real live memorial to them is the beautilul farms and homesteads you seo around 5 °Mr Linklater said that be had travelled over practically the whole Dominion and did not know of any better or more productive land than that before the gathering’s *yiew. The condition of that land to-day was due to the courageous efforts of the men and women who had gone before them. He was proud of the fact that he was the son of a pioneer and that Airs Linklater, also, was the daughter of a pioneering family of Palmerston North. ’The many incidents and tales of pioneering life would fill a large book but no eloquence of the speakers or of anyone, lie suggested, was capable ol adequately doing justice to the work of the pioneers. They came from the Old AY'orld to a new land and ill their work, despite tribulations and privations, grew up to love the land of their , adoption. 1 ~ , , In conclusion, Air Linklater thanked those present for attending in such large numbers to honour our pioneers, and lie wished tho older people in the gathering every happiness and contentment in the autumn of their lives., A CENTURY OF HARD WORK. j Air Barber expressed pleasure at being associated with the proceedings

fc and said that the hundred years of I settlement had been full of hard work, 1 privation, initiative and achievement. “When I look back on the days when } I first- came to this district, 53 years - ago, and compare the conditions then l with those of to-day, I. am sure that 1 New Zealand and the Manawatu have ; done well,'’ he said. After relating the - early constitution of the Manawatu • County, Mr Barber said roads and , bridges were necessary if the country i was to develop, and he recalled that ; surveyors largely followed the old • native tracks in laying down the lines ■ of roads, many of which were to-day ; main highways. To the engineers,- ' staffs and labourers of the pioneer local ' bodies he paid tribute for their niag-l ■ nificent contribution to the progress i > of the district. Mr Barber went on I to. refer to the advent of the railway, • mentioning that the Wellington-- ' Manawatu Baihvay Company brought! . tlie railway to the Manawatu, while ; 50 years ago the Sandon -Carnarvon > - Road Board laid the Sanson tramline ' which continued to serve the district. Tire land of the Manawatu, said Mr j '< Barber, was of two kinds. To the north i it was open country carrying fern, | • flax, ti-tree and toi toi, wlulc the heavy bush land extended from Awa- ' huri through to Bongotea and Glen • Oroua, and then there was the largo sand dune area on the coast li.ne. Each i type of land called for a different ■ breaking-iu process. Men who could | , use an axe, pick and shovel were the I typo required for this work and! through combined effort the land was : ■ made ready for the plough. Later j drainage work was undertaken and from individual beginnings drainage! ■ boards were formed and many success- \ fill schemes were developed. The plant-; ■ ing of trees and marani grass helped i largely to overcome the problem of: drifting sand and quite a large area; of the one time sand dune country was, to-day grazing sheep'and cattle for the j world’s markets. In the early days the district waul noted for its wheat production and it! was once possible to count as many as ! 500 wheat stacks within a very small j | radius. Air Barber referred to the con-! trilmtion to the development in tliej early days of the swagger who carried j his swag from farm to farm and en- ! gaged in the heaviest of work. He : would never be forgotten. Touching on! the development of refrigeration, Mr! Barber mentioned the birth of dairy factories and the growth of dairying, j Before co-operative dairy factories - came into' being dairy farmers receiv- I ed about 4Jd per lb for their home-! made butter, but in 1883 when the 7 factories started our butter realised in i London 111-d ner lb. Shipping had contributed to the development of the country. I Concluding, the speaker expressed : pleasure at the representative gather- ! ing of pioneers and congratulated the | organisers in deciding on Alt. Stow- - art as the site for the memorial. “The 1 pioneers have left a-lasting monument of their work and I feel sure that this memorial is a fitting testimony of - the great part they have played in this district.” (Applause.) A prayer of dedication was offered : by Bev. J. Hubbard. PEIDE IN THE PAST. “Wc have met for the purpose of dedicating a monument erected, in honour ot those splendid men and women who, when tlie smiling country wo see around us to-day was a wilderness, faced the isolation, hardship, j floods, fires and other difficulties endured by pioneer settlers, and laid the foundations of our present prosperity,” said Air Cobbe. “ r J fie original settlers of ibis district were of a splendid type; they were upright, courageous and hard-working. They j depended upon their own efforts and ! did not lean upon a Government or , anyone else. This monument serves a , double purpose. It is not only a token ’ lof respect to the original settlers; it is also a reminder to their descendants that their country expects them to i maintain the high reputation left by

those who have gone but whose work remains. Unless we take pride in the deeds of the past and emulate the enterprise and courage of our forefathers, we are not likely to do much that will be of value in the future. The site selected for this memorial is in every way suitable. It was from this spot in 1871 that Colonel Feilding viewed the vast forest-clad countryside and decided on the purchase of the area which is now Feilding and district. To the south-west lay the stage on which were fought some of the battles of the famous warrior Te Itauparaha. To-day the land forms a very rich area of New Zealand. Continuing, Mr Cobbe said that it was pleasant to sec so many representatives of the old pioneering families present. He wondered whether, with all of our modern advantages, we were any happier than those early settlers. They looked forward with confidence to a better future; they had so-much to do and had little time for grumbling. The district had made wonderful progress and settlers to-day had much to be thankful for. It was our duty to honour and respect the memorv of the men and women who blazed the trail and who made conditions easier for those who Succeeded them. “As we unveil this memorial, may we each determine to do our duty, that, when we pass away, we may. like our old pioneers, leave such footprints in the sands of time that tfiose who follow us shall glad’v tread the path we trod,” .Mr Cobl>c continued. “And at this time, when the Empire is engaged in a life and death struggle, the object of each of us should bo our Empire, our whole Empire and nothing but our Empire, ever remembering the words of the Great American who said ‘God grants liberty only to those who love it and arc always ready to guard and defend it.’ I believe the descendants of our early settlers are as willing and ready to guard and defend the safety of those they iovo and the freedom of New Zealand as ever their fathers were.” (Applause.} Mr Coliho then unveiled the memorial, the inscription upon which reads: — ISiO Centennial Memorial 19-10 To the Glory of God and In Commemoration of our Early Settlers. A BRIGHT GEM. “By contrast with the previous! speakers, I am on mv native heath, | speaking to my kith and kin who like myself were reared within a few miles of Mt. Stewart; this is our home country, where every nook and cranny recalls half-forgotten memories when j wc make, as we are making to-day a pilgrimage to the scenes of our youth,” i said Mr Croucher, who unveiled the Sandon Old Boys’ Association memorial following the other ceremony. | “Our minds arc once again stir-, red by the promptings of love and remembrance of the cherished spot which we will ever regard 1 as home. With, such feelings uppermost at this moment it is difficult—nay, impossible—for mo to find language and appropriate expression tc> adequately cover a few sentences in a theme having for its purpose the offering of homage and gratitude to the parent stock from which wc derived our infant nurture' and the material possessions they subsequently bequeathed to us. Fully conscious of my short ,

)[ comings, such remarks as I have to c make will be addressed more pnrticut. 1 larly to my follow descendants of the n I pioneers of Sandon. I feel then that -s L will be rightly interpreting your n wishes as well as those, of all absent friends who have contributed to this c memorial by first of all expressing o thanks to Almighty God, Who so orn dained that our forefathers should did rect their stops to this part of His lair y Domain, there to labour in the intert ests of posterity and in the cstablish(i ment of colonisation in this our island . s jhomc in the Antipodes. AVe offer y j thanks also to the men and women ot j,! such high moral character and indomit'able courage who traversed the peril- | oils seas of tliat day from the Alother’s: land and founded homes for us in what „ | is regarded as the brightest gem of the • I great Commonwealth ot the British 1. Empire. tl “By providential good fortune there e are present to-day, Air J. H. Gibbs, Alts T. Vcrry and Airs J. Brisk, with 0 Airs A)'. Erecklington and Airs G. „ Shonroek who are now the sole surriviving representatives of the original j settlers of Sandon. Those venerable and revered personalities arc in all truth members of an aristocracy of a 1 noble order which has, by precept, and 3 example, implanted for all time an in--3 delible imprint on the character of the 31 people of this, our country, which has k | now reached nationhood. Alav J. then, j as your representative, and in all , j humility tender through them our j -grateful thanks to the men and women 3 jof a past generation who have created j the priceless heritage now in the enlijoyment of all who have followed on. ,IJ u reverent homage we bestow our 'j thanks to all those who in the full -vigour of their manhood so well and [i truly completed their self-imposed [-I task. Life’s duty done, the great ma- | jorjty now lie peacably at rest in the \ i consecrated acre on yonder hill not G far distant. Maybe at this hour their * I immortal spirits are hovering around this hallowed spot which 11ns now been .dedicated to their memory by their dc- | - cendants, who, by the erection of the f | symbol now being unveiled, come once G again under their boneficicnt influence 'land by that inspiration arc more ! ! strongly fortified to perform their part | I j in fulfilling their ordinary duty and in I combating the crisis which is now be- !! setting the Empire to which we owe I I allegiance; To the children and the '- youth who are assembled here on the '; eventful occasion our prayer is that I they may all he imbbed with, courage, 1; independence and righteousness, so ■'that while diligently performing their ■! several duties in whatever sphere a s'changing world may direct them, they 11 will remain true to the spirit and tra- -: (lition of those whom we now seek to i ! honour, | “Around us on every hand, over I : hill and vale, there is spread a glorious ■ ! panorama of verdant fields and trim > homesteads supporting flourishing -towns and villages; everywhere beaV- > ing evidence of the transformation of - the untamed wilderness of IS7I and , now thriving in peace ami contented 7 wellbeing. Those arc the silent yet imi : prossivc monuments that hear eloquent | and perpetual testimony to f lic early 1 settlers, artisans, and all others in every walk of life who created for us the beloved county which wc proudly call home. “A spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the ! rest. “Let us too, at this time, pay a ! 1 special tribute io the self-sacrificing , women of old who participated in this great adventure. The mothers were then, and are still, the sustaining and uplifting influence that spurs mankind on to its highest effort. They are the '■ real home-builders, and it is they who mould the character of the nation whoso strength, integrity and well-or-dered happiness are centred in and governed by the home life of its people. This is woman’s exclusive domain and on this day of thanksgiving let us humbly acknowledge all we owe to them.

THE PATRIOTIC ANSWER. “The noble heritage of which wc have become heirs is now assailed by the forces of disruption by a ruchlesctiemy opposed to all tiic national ideals winch are by us held most dear, and it is our plain duty ro defend our possessions by every means in our power. We must all be animated by the same courage and tenacity of purpose which' sustained our forebears in tlieir jjeaceful conquest over the primeval forces in the early days of settlement, otherwise we are betraying a sacred trust and deserve to go down to posterity unwept, unlionoured and unsung. “The Roll of Honour of the Sandon Old Boys’ Association which enshrouds our memorial to the pioneers, records the answer of pupils of our oid school to the challenge of 1914-1 S; and onco again in 1940 this district, in common with every part of the Dominion, is providing its quota of defenders of our rights aiid privileges. They are preserving the inheritance which has been won bv those we are honouring, and it -is-.fitting that the flag bearing the names of those who have made the supreme sacrifice on the battlefields should occupy its present position ot honour to those who by the employment of the arts of peace won for us this glorious country. “This is a proud day for us. for we see the realisation of a dream which has been dominant in the minds of members of the Old Boys’ Association for many years, and now that success has crowned' our efforts we tender qur thanks to all who have , made its eonsummation possible. To mv fellow Sandonitos mv sineerest thanks are offered for tho distinguished honour accorded mo on this great occasion. In conclusion, may I pass nil to tho association tho responsibility for the upkeep of this, our tribute, to those''who were the builders in the past? And now. with your joint assistance we will, by the Grace of God. draw aside the treasured emblem. To the Glory of God and in honour and gratitude to the pioneers of Sandon wo their descendants, on this beautiful natural viewpoint overlooking the scenes of tlieir endeavours, unveil this our humble tribute to tlieir memory,” Mr Croucher concluded. The New Zealand Ensign -which forms the 801 l of Honour of the Random OUI Bovs’ Association was then hoisted to'the peak of a flagstaff adjacent to the memorial. At the conclusion of tho ceremony the memorials wore inspected by those I present, and the official party and the settlers’ were entertained at afternoon tea served in a large marmiee nearby. Music was provided by the Feilding Municipal Band. Although rather elully, the weather (was fine and this most interesting i gathering will he long remembered by ’ those present, who listened with marked attention to the speakers. A puhI lie address loudspeaker system was used for the benefit of those unable to ' -ret up close to the platform, owing to the large attendance.