THE PIONEERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13303, 9 October 1906, Page 6

THE PIONEERS.

REUNION CELEBRATIONS TOMORROW. Ox one day in each year the pioneers of Auckland, the men and women who came out to . this , fair ; young land to carve • out homes for themselves in the days when settlement i existed only on the fringes, of a wilderness, hold a thanksgiving for the prosperity that followed in their footsteps, .the fruits of the earth their labour gave to mankind, and the peace that the years have brought. After the recognition of the mercies and blessings they have received, they have a reunion, at which old friends can meet old friends again, and chat over the days "when Auckland was young." On October 10, 1842, the ship Duchess of Argyle and the -barque Jane Gilford dropped anchor in the beautiful harbour of the Waitemata, and landed over 600 passengers, who were to join the ranks of the little band then engaged in founding what was destined to become the queen city, and those passengers then agreed to hold a reunion every 10 years. That movement was the beginning of the annual celebrations now the feature of the year to the old people. It is,

indeed, scarcely possible in these days of modem conveniences and prosperity to. realise all the difficulties and troubles that beset the pioneers in the early days. ,; Auckland was a village by the shore, where hundreds of native canoes were drawn up every week, and behind the village was a succession of fern-clad ridges; there were no roads and no railways, and later on there came the dread days when the shadow of war lay over the land. But the pioneers came from a good old stock, and they faced their hardships and their battles with the wilderness, and their wars with the Maoris, with stout hearts, and to-day, in the autumn time of their lives, they have their reward in seeing their children and their children's children enjoying the fruits of those brave struggles of the early days. And the descendants : combine to make " the Pioneers' Day" one that will be a green spot in every memory. Each year the ranks of the pioneers grow less and less, new wrinkles appear on wellknown faces, and the " silver threads among the gold" are more and more numerous; but the descendants come forward to fill up the vacant places, and as October 10 comes round _ there is always sure to be a happy gathering. • • To-morrow is the 64th anniversary of the arrival of the ship Duchess of Argyle and the barque Jane Gifford, and, in accordance with the custom which has become, by reason of association, a tradition in Auckland, the pioneers will assemble at St. Andrew's Church at eleven a.m. for the thanksgiving services, and, in pursuance of time-honoured custom, the service will open with "All People that on Earth do "Dwell." The Rev. R. F. Macnicol (chairman of the gathering) will address a few words to the old people, and the tbankssiving prayer will be offered by the Rev. B. F. Rc-thwell. Addresses will be delivered by the Rev. David Bruce, D.D. (whose name is a household word to the people who lived in Auckland in the early days), and by the R«v. W. Beatty, M.A., of ;. St. Mark's, Remuera. During the service the solo "The Better Land "will be sung by Mrs. J. W. Stewart, and the solo " Jerusalem " by Mr. Wilfred Manning. The hymns used for the occasion will be "O God, of Bethel," "The God of Abraham. Praise," "Lead, Kindly 5 Light,"' and the National Anthem. At the conclusion of the service, Pipe-Major W. J. Elmslie will lead the march of the pioneers to the Choral; Hall, where the social gathering j is to be held, refreshments being first pro- ! vided. The Hon. E. Mitch elson will pre- i side at the social reunion, and addresses will ! be delivered by His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers), the Rev. W. Watkin, Rabbi Goldstein, and Mr. A. J. Black. Various part-songs will be sung by the old colonists' reunion choir, and various vocal solos, humorous sketches, etc., will be contributed by willing, friends of the movement, the proceedings closing With the old favourite numbers, "Home, Sweet Home," and " Auld Lang Syne."