ANNIVERSARY DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24255, 25 March 1940, Page 5

ANNIVERSARY DAY

FOUNDATION OF OTAGO COMMEMORATIVE FUNCTIONS 7 S V. >• 6 i; .. . . '• • , 1 ' * it' . - • . ' . BULLOCK WAGON DAYS RECALLED ■v' ■ ’; J . *• * . The customary commemorative gatherings and functions to ■mark the ninety-second anniversary of the establishment of Otago were held at the week-end, and were marked by enthusiastic participation on the part of old identities and descendants of all ages of those who arrived in the port of Otago in the first five ships to reach these shores from Scotland with emigrants chosen and aponsored by the Otago Association. On Saturday ‘afternoon a reunion of old folks was held in the Early Settlers’ Hall, at which the picturesque and eventful bullock wagon days were recalled in a brief address by Mr R. T. Stewart. A social gathering and concert was held in the evening, and yesterday special anniversary services, conducted by the Rev. W. Allen Stevely, were held in First Church, which was itself founded in the first year of the settlement’s history. ~

AFTERNOON REUNION OLD IDENTITIES FOREGATHER BULLOCK DRIVERS OF EARLY DAYS As has been the case for many years past, the afternoon function in the Early Settlers’ Hall, which caters particularly for the older generation, was largely attended, the hall being full to overflowing. Memories of the land of their birth were evoked for many by the donning by some of the older people of the bonnet, the plaid and the Glengarry, and in the hum of conversation and laughter which comprised, the general reminiscing there were graphic recollections and picturesque descriptions of life and manners of another day and country, ■ . The president of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association (Mr W, J. Strong) occupied the chair, and in some opening remarks referred to the regularity with which the occasitpn had been recognised by the association at annual functions through the years._ He also mentioned the commemorative tablet let into the pavement at Water street to mark the actual landing place of the first settlers in 1848. and suggested that a great many people were ignorant of its existence or significance. Mr Strong also told the meeting that about three weeks ago - he had visited Mrs Ann Fraser, the only survivor of the first 500 immigrants, at her home in Timaru. They would be glad to know that she was still hale and heartv. and in full possession of her faculties. Her only trouble was that she could not move about much, hut she was keenly interested in the celebrations that day The - chairman also preferred ; tp. the success of the anneal for funds to repair -the association’s buildings , and said that the necessary renovations had all been-carried out effectively, In addition thrush the generosity-of an old friend of'the association thev had been able to nut a new floor in tne R a Webb, president of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ Association, conveyed the greetings of the sister organisation in the northern city, and remarked that Otago and Canterbury had many things'in common. " Both owed_their colonisation to Edward Gibbon Wakefield, and they had been settled by chosen emigrants under the sponsorship. of a religious order. In Canterbury there were -still three of the original settlers ' alive —the Rev. F. Brittain, Mr Richard Evans, and Mrs Clothier, who was now resident in Otago. Greetings were also extended by representatives of the Port Chalmers and Waikouaiti Old Identities’ Association. Old Bullock Wagon Days Mr R. T. Stewart prefaced his talk on the bullock team days with a tribute to the memory of the gallant and sturdy pioneers who, he said, had founded the province on righteousness, justice, and liberty. They had left their descendants a heritage of which they could justly he proud, but in addition they had handed on to their children and their children’s children the responsibility of keeping the province true to its origins and the ideals of those who suffered so much to build it; , . The speaker then went on to emphasise how great a part the bullock wagons and their drivers had played in the development of the province in its infancy. When building materials, supplies, and goods of all kinds were needed in the centres springing up throughout the province, the only means of haulage was the slow and rumbling bullock, and when in the early sixties the discovery of gold in Central Otago sent population figures in Otago bounding skywards, the demand for bullock teams and drivers outstripped the supply, and it became a very lucrative, though hazardous calling. Into Gabriel’s Gully and the other diggings the slow, but sure, bullock-drawn covered wagons made their way week in and week out, summer and winter, fording rivers and traversing plains following old wheel tracks and tussocky ridges. They had to make their own way. and many of the road routes in use to-day were carved out by the bullock teams of those early days. Mr Stewart spoke of the men in charge of these teams. They were a mixed lot. but for the most part reliable. honest and God-fearing mem hers of the new community Many people had some very lurid ideas about a. bullock driver’s language but for every man who distinguished himself by his vocabulary there was another who could compel attention by the exemplary manner of his living. The sneaker then went on to give his hearers a list of some of the better known drivers of the 50’s and 60’s, On the south route there were Alex, and Duncan McLaren, who took the first consignment of flour and merchandise to the diggings at Gabriel’s Gully in 1861. A daughter of the latter was in the audience that afternoon. Others were Adam Swann. Bill McLellan Robert McLellan. Robert Cotton. Sam Henry. J. and K. Claffy who at the ages of five and seven made the journey from Sydney to Gabriel’s Gully bv themselves, with their father’s address sewn on to the back of their coats. .George McFarlane, Jack Tye. Michael Hunt. Bob Carr Fred Deem. Ted Ottray and Peter Lloyd were others on the south road. On the north route well-known personalities included Hugh Baxter. James Samuel, Charles Brown. Dennis Daly. Tom Gowland. A. and L. Mathewson. Andrew Wright, and James Ramsay. Of the last-named the story was told how he-lost his team and wagon in-a flooded river and got to the bank himself with difficulty to find his whip lying pn the river’s edge. With a gesture and expression of acute disgust he flung his whip after the team and told thea'iver fn take the lot. Mr Stewart said that there were only very few survivors of these old drivers, but the list he had given was incomplete because it did not cover fully the first 10 or 12 years of the settlement of Otago. Anybody knowing interest!* 1 ® details of the earliest of the

teamsters would greatly assist the association in its efforts to get complete records if they would forward the information to the secretary Deceased Members Just before the afternoon tea was served, the chairman referred to the absence of two regular figures ’at the annual functions Mrs White who had died during the year aged 94 years and Mr J. Williamson. As a tribute to their memories, and the memories of all members who had died,in the past twelve months, the gathering stood in silence for a minute. The performers for the afternoon included Miss Jean McClay. Mr lan Collins. Miss Norma Brown. Mrs Alex. Cblsholm, and Mrs John T. Leech, who acted as accompanist. r EVENING FUNCTION The hall was again packed in the evening when a social gathering Was held, with musical and elocutionary interludes: Mr Strong was again in the chair, and in extending a welcome to those present repeated his brief remarks of the afternoon. Among the speakers in the evening were the deputy mayor (Mr D. C. Cameron), who represented the Mayor, and apologised for his absence through beirig out of town. Mr Cameron conveyed the greetings and congratulations of the city of Dunedin to the association,'and expressed the hope that the celebrations would be happily remembered by all who had taken part ip them. Mr E.. R. Webb, president of the Canterbury Pilgrims’ Association, again spoke, and said that since the afternoon he had seen enough of the work, and activities of the Otago Association to be frankly envious. The Canterbury Association could learn'a great deal from the organisation ,in Dunedin. From what he had learned and had observed for himself, he was convinced that -ixiuch of the association’s success was due to the’secretary, Mr W. Paterson, who seemed to be tireless, and to a succession of able and enthusiastic presidents. Mr John Langmuir, president of the Taumarunui Pioneers’ Association, extended greetings and congratulations from the North Island organisation, and said that he had returned to his home town, Dunedin, after 40 years, and was greatly impressed by the changes and progress that had taken place. The evening gathering was followed by supper and the concluding item was the singing of the old Scottish favourite, “Auld Lang Syne.”

FIRM FOUNDATION HERITAGE OF THE PIONEERS ANNIVERSARY SERVICES ADDRESS BY REV. W. A. STEVELY Easter, services in First Church, which also celebrated the ninetysecond anniversary of the church and the province, were attended by members of the Early Settlers’ Association, and the evening service also by members of the City. Council and their wives, the Deputy Mayor (Mr D. C Cameron) representing the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who was out of town. There were crowded ' congregations, and both services wei*e at once impressive and inspiring. The music, under the direction of the choirmaster, Mr Alfred Walmsley. with 1 Miss' Mavis Macdonald at the organ, was as usual an important factor in the effectiveness of the services. In addition to the inspiring congregational singing, the morning service of praise included the triumphant solo “O King Most Glorious.” from Stainer’s “ Crucifixion.” which was sung by Mr Alfred Walmsley. and in the evening the anthem was “ Eye Hath not Seen,” Mrs Barnett and Mr A, Walmsley sang “ O Divine Redeemer.” Both services were conducted by the Rev W Allen Stevely A Glorious Returning At the morning service Mr Stevely took as his text Luke xxiv, 23: “And they rose up the same hou* and returned to Jerusalem.’ It became clear, he said, that this was a return to Scripture, a returning to fellowship, and a return to witnessing. It was a glorious Eastei return to the Word ox God. and it kindled the fire again in their hearts. Ninety-two years ago Dr Thomas Burns took the Bible with him on the Philip Laing. It was wanted on the voyage; it was needed 'to lav the best foundations for the settlement: it was needed to-day. His Majesty King George VI, in a beautiful paragraph on the first page of the New Testaments issued to the navy, the army, and the air force, commended tbe Book heartily to all engaged in the defence of the Empire. Might Easter give this glorious return to everyone. Touching on the return to fellowship, the speaker said that a splendid fellowship was one of the great marks of the early Church, and this was the Divine idea) for the world —not that the peoples of the earth should dwell in chronic antagonism, but that there should be international fellowship and goodwill. “At this anniversary.” Mr Stevely concluded, “ we acknowledge our debt to the pioneers and honour them especially for their recognition of the fact that character is the strongest of national foundations. That character was nourished and sustained by the Bible. Christian fellowship, and lipyal witness. May we return to the things which inspired them courageous and strong—to those things which are still needed for the highest prosperity and progress, and which become real to all who know that the Redeemer liveth.” The Strength of a Nation Tix the evening, Mr Stevely spoke on “The King’s Broadcast” and in opening referred! to the quotation from Miss

L. Haskins’s “God Knows” —“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the years ” —which was incorporated by his Majesty in his address. These beautiful words, the preacher said had become prophetic. The choice of them denoted the quality of the King’s mind and heart, and in similar fashion this centenary year, with all the special celebrations, had helped the people to appreciate more fully their indebtedness to the faith, vision and courage of the men and women who laid the foundation of the nation. The future was dark, and the only light of the world’s darkness was Jesus Christ. . “ The pioneers,” Mr Stevely proceeded. “ built this, and other churches, that the Gospel light might shine upon our land, That great coloniser Dr Burns, believed that true prosperity was a spiritual thing, and that the fellowship of God-fearing men and women was the strength of a nation and was like a light burning in a dark place. We cannot manage the world by ourselves, and we cannot truly live without Him Who is the Light. The pioneers recognised this, and the first thing thev did when they arrived was to put their hand into the hand of God. They then raised their hearts to God in this prayer: ‘ God of our fathers! be the God of their succeeding race.’ “Amidst all the darkness, peril and uncertainty of these days.” Mr Stevely concluded. “ let us do likewise. Let us put our hand into the hand of God That shall be to us better than light, and safer than a known wav It is our only hope” Early Settlers Present

The following is a list of the early settlers who were present at the services:—James Kay. Stately, 1854; W Paterson, Jura 1858; Alexander Garry Strathfieldsaye, 1858; Mrs A. Carrington (nee Myall), Evening Star, 1860. Mrs J. D. Low (nee Myall) Evening Star. 1860; Mrs I. Brown (nee Hay) Robert Henderson 1860: Mrs A. Her bert (nee Wrignt) Robert Henderson 1861: Mrs J. Cunningham (nee McLachlan). Pladda, 1862; Mrs M, A. Taylor (nee Roy). Grasmere 1862; Murray G. Thomson p.s. Geelong. 1862; F. W. Knight, s.s. Aldinga, 1862; Louis Westland. Royal Sovereign: 1862; Mrs Peter Dick (nee Farrant), s.s, Aldinga 1863; Robert V Tily, Emma Prescott, 1863; Mrs W. H. Adams (nee Dagger) Nelson, 1863; Mrs R. Smith (nee Dagger), Nelson, 1863; Mrs C. Hall, Lahore." 1364; Andrew McKinnon. Andrew Jackson, 1864: Peter Nelson Hamilla Mitchell. 1864: John Clarke. Hamilla Mitchell, 1864; W. H Adams. Thracian 1865; Andrew E. Selby, Schleswic Bride; Andrew McLean, Resolute, 1864; Mrs I. MacKechnie (nee Cameron). Robert Henderson). 1867.