ALBERTLAND PIONEERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18565, 24 November 1923, Page 12

ALBERTLAND PIONEERS

yvt' i;; -1 \< v -~ r — Hjwaungaturoto reunion. v.:::;!' OLD FRIENDSHIPS RENEWED

TRIALS OF EARLY DAY^

MET WITH UNDAUNTED COURAGE.

fay TKUXJRAPH. — REPORTER. ] . MAUNGATUROTO, Friday. Stirring memories of days long gone by were recalled at the re-union of - r land pioneers, which took place to-day ft, Maungaturoto in connection with the diamond jubilee celebration of the local congregational Church. •The weather this morning was threatening and this deterred many of the pioneer settlers of the surrounding districts a Paparoa, Matekoho and Port Albert from attending. , Maungatnroto was we represented, however, and several Avell-Wyn A uck landers were also present. Twenty of the original Albert landers lined up or the photograph which was taken in the aftercoon, practically every ship connected with the Albertland land scheme uu represented. Among those-present was Mr. Anthony Massev, the hrst white baby born at Maungaturotom days gone b^ The re-union, which was held iniCO junction with a fair in aid of the Cong re gational Church fund, took place m the local hall and was opened with » bnet service. The Rev. Harry Johnson, of the Mount Eden Congregational Church, extended to those present the hearty greetings of Auckland Congregationalists. He congratulated the old folk on their splendid pioneering work m the sixties o which their descendants to the third and fourth generations were now reaping the fruit. Homes in the Bush. Homes in the Bush. A welcome was also extended by the Rev. Stewart Wright, minister of the local Congregational Church, who made special reference to the heroic Work of the pioneer wives of the Albertland settlers. In many respects, ho said, their lot was even harder than that of the men, for they bore the responsibility .of the children and the home and they suffered a loneliness in their little, isolated bush whares unknown to their busy husbands The pioneer settlers began absolutely at bedrock, continued the speaker. When they arrived on their holdings they found not a single yard of cultivated ground. When tilled it- yielded abundantly, but there .was no market for the settlers' produce. Butter was; sold at 6d a lb., a tec of mutton at the same price, while it often took as long as three weeks to get supplies from Auckland. All the Kaipara settlements went through very hard times until the introduction of cold storage and the establishment of the butter factory, about 'AO years ago. Then things began to mend, and life eased up at last for those who had struggled so long and bravely. Now, in their declining years, they were enjoying a well-deserved prosperity, won through their early days of toil. Mr. J. Kirk, one of the original Maungatnroto settlers, spoke of the many Difficulties which confronted the pioneer settlers of the district. They came from behind the counters and benches of the uhops and factories and business houses of the Old Country, to conditions undreamed of in the security of English .homes, but they went forward with undaunted courage, built homes of nikau leaves in the heart of th« bush, and felled and split the timber for tho paling shanties that followed the nikau whares- Now, 60 years afterwards, many of them were living in comfortable villas in prosperous townships,: built on the site of the virgin' bush. . J . -Old Friendships Renewed.

.*• Tho-'scena in the hall throughout the i day was '.an animated ; one, old friendships ; being renewed and - many stirring episodes of by-gone years recalled as the pioneers and ..the- children and . grandchildren gathered together over their caps of tea. The •chool children; were given » : half-holiday In honour of the day, sports and games being held a during the afternoon. The celebrations •; concluded with a concert 'in the evening, at which brief addresses were given " by old settlers. - An enjoyable musical programme, which included several V- items by the . school children, brought to a close a day that will live long in memories of the Albertland pioneers. .. "' ' Special' services in connection - with the Maungaturoto Congregational Church diamond jubilee will be held on Sunday.

Records of the Early Days. , An effort is being made by the Albertland Records Association to compile . * permanent record of ; the earlv history of the Albertlanc! settlements. The fact that comparatively few of the brave emigrant parties of the " sixties" now remain to tell" first hand the story of • bygone days makes the work of compilation a rather difficult s one, butV committees have been formed ,at < P&paroa, Matakohe, Maungavuroto, arid Port Albert to interview the old settlers and obtain from them, where mssible, records of personal incidents and public > movements connected t with the growth of the various- settlements, a considerable quantity of data has already been secured.; ■

-i. It is hoped ! that to-day 'a reunion will Bsrve to " ¥ quicken interest in the movement and induce settlers who may have left _ the district to ;, contribute personal ' reminiscences of life in the stirrinp davs of the past. . .