LIFE IN THE FORTIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 28 (Supplement)

LIFE IN THE FORTIES.

By ERIC DRIVER, Clevedon <ag« 12).

A small boat was eecu, by the Maoris who were standing on the shore, to ground, on the surf-swept boach at their feet. Tho boat had put off from a barque fully ten minutes before. The barque which had been in the harbour for three stormy days, was evidently sent out from England with immigrants who had come to settle in New Zealand. After landing the immigrants, the boat returned to tho ship to bring back more immigrants who set about their task of pitching camp and making friends with the Maoris. Asssootn t as the sun had gone, a storm was seen suddenly descending upon their enmp. All might long the men ware obliged to stand outside and hold their tents down! This little story tells ns of hardships that came the settler's way and happened not once but many times! - It was no unusual task ior a man to carry a 1 sack of flour on his back through the forest for twenty miles; The , tracks through tho forost were numerous bogholes during most of tho yean . . - The greatest pleasure of the year wouldbe an annual settlers' picnic and a- dance in tho school room to follow. Such luxuries as pictures, good roads and motorcars to go picnicking in were nnbeard of in New Zealand in those days. We can think of the excitement in the Lower Waikato district when in May 1875, the railway was opened from Auckland to Mercer.

It is said and is quite truo that the early settlers worked for our pleasure. What would tho settlor's lives have been like if they had had concrete roads, good motor-cars, tractors and_ other farmmachinery to help them in their work, and largo ocean-going ships to bring them their supplies? The owner of the one piano in a district was thought to be a very lucky person. I have heard a tale about tho only needle in a district. Tho needle was Swallowed by a domestic bird which had to bo killed and tho needle, got out of its crop. These aro only a few of the hardships the early settlers of New Zealand had to face. Every province of New Zealand has its own special anniversary of the -day when its first settlers lauded. Wo should, especially on our own province's anniversary, think of tho pioneers who worked for our good. Wo should show that wo are not selfish, but we should help those who aro worso off than ourselves.