Wotch On The Rhine

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1940, Page 2

Wotch On The Rhine

and Southland were largely identical, except that at the extreme southern end of New Zealand a nikau wharc would not have been sufficiently warm to withstand the rigours of the climate. He had been born in a hut with a clay floor. There was . the same hospitality among' the settlers., too, wherever one went in the early days. A Drop of Milk. As an example of this, he quoted the arrival of his wife and himseli with nine young children in the Mangakahia 30 years ago. Dusk was falling as they approached their new home, while along the road a man could be seen driving a cow. It was Mr Donald McLeod, of Titoki, who said: "I thought a drop of milk might be handy to you considering you have young children." Speaking of the amenities handed down by pioneers of local administration and others, Mr Jones said it was for ihe pioneers of the present to contribute in their turn to the welfare ol New Zealand. The Whangarei Centennial Zone Committee had been pleased to make a donation to the present reunion, Mr. Jones said. Before the war, efforts were being made to compile in Centennial year a history of Northland. Nothing could be more authentic than experiences actually gleaned from those taking part, and it was a thousand pities if these were not recorded. Without the spirit of self-sacrifice and courage to go forth into the wilds as manifested by the pioneer men and their helpmates of Northland, the Empire would never have been built, said Mr. A. J. Murdoch. Election of Officers. A number of most interesting anecdotes of the early days were then given by members. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. T. O’Carroll; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. F. Eiliott and A. Reed: committee, Messrs. J. A. S. Wilson, F. Cutforth, Thos. Worthington and J. A. Finlayson. Especial tribute was paid to the great services rendered to the association by the secretary-treasurer (Mr. W. M. Fraser), who was re-elected to the position. Before proceedings opened ali stood as a mark of respect., to the passing of Mr. F. Higginson, who had been a member of the committee, and Mr. H. | W. Crawford, auditor of the association | since its inception. k ! System of Mutual Help. , By a system of mutual help, extend- I ing even to the sharing of tools and j equipment, the early settlers had built | up one of the finest countries in the j world. Mr. E. L. Whimp confirmed the remarks of Messrs. Elliott and O’Carroll and Jones, who had expressed the opinion that the young folk of today would be capable of overcoming the same difficulties as their forefathers conquered should the necessity arise. They had proved it 25 years ago, and today their sons, of the same material, were shouldering a rifle and i going to do it again. | Both he and his wife agreed that there were no more pleasant or inspiring functions than the annual reunion of early Whangarei settlers. j The ladies who had arranged and j waited on the tables and relieved the j committee of ali details regarding the : commissariat, were thanked on the call of Mr. O’Carroll. I