CLUTHA PIONEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3071, 22 January 1913, Page 9

CLUTHA PIONEERS.

THEIR ANNUAL PICNIC. j ENJOYABLE DAY AT WAREPA. “ Honour to whom honour is due ” is a principTe’’ which finds no finer or more Just cause for exemplification than is supplied by the case of the early pioneers men and women about whose sterling qualities so much has been said and written. A long sequence of years has in the majority of cases passed over the heads of these „ people, and but few pleasures can hold out sufficient attractions to add much joy to their declining years. All have grown old in the service of their country —a service performed without ostentation and display, but as truly a service as much that is done by those who live in the light of the public eye. The one joy which is left to them, however, and of which they take full advantage, is that of a reunion with the comrades of former days, and the commendable object of providing such a reunion is the worthy motive actuating the Clutha Pioneers’ Association, which held its fifth annual picnic in the school grounds at Warepa yesterday. The gathering was a most enjoyable one, despite the fact that the weather conditions left something to be desired, as during the greater part of the day a gale of considerable velocity blew uninterruptedly and must have deterred a good many from being present. The picnic grounds, however, were splendidly sheltered by a fine belt of trees, which did a great deal to minimise the discomfort that was liable to be caused by the wind. A counterattraction also militated against the attendance, which was somewhat below the average of former years. Cordiality and good fellowship marked the whole of the proceedings, and hearty hand-shakes and jovial greetings were everywhere in evidence, and as “ fond memory brought the light of other days around them” the old folks’ faces beamed with joy at the recollection of the stirring times of their boyhood’s years. Among those who saw to the comfort of visitors and also undertook the work of organising the picnic were: Mr J. Aitken Somerville (president), Air John Crawford (vice-president), Mr P. Robertson (vice-president and acting secretary), Mr John Wilson, and a small committee. Those who journeyed to Warepa from Dunedin and Mosgiel were enabled to do so by means of the first express, which was stopped for the occasion. This was, however, the only concession made by the Railway Department, which granted the old people no reduction in fares. Among those who travelled down from Dunedin and Mosgiel were tKb following:—Mr Charles Duke (vice-president Otago Early Settlers’ Association), Mr John Wood (secretary), Mrs Andrew Miller and Miss Mary Miller, Mrs E. Ansoombe (nee Watt), Mrs John M‘Pariane, Mrs J. Watt and Miss M. Watt, Mrs Robert Law, Mrs John Sinclair, Mr T. Aitken, and Mr R. Somerville. Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., was also present. The following is a list of those who signed the old identities’ record book during the day:—Robert Ayson (Royal Albert, 1853), John Wood (Gala, 1860), John Ramage (Storm Cloud, 1860), Charles Duke (Palmyra, 18-58), Sarah Robertson, nee M‘Closkie (1863), Thomas Aitken (Strathallan, 1858), Mrs Ann Watt (Royal Albert, 1853), John Crawford (Robert Henderson, 1856), James Ayson vßoyal Albert, 1853), Christina Ayson, nee Robson (Columbus, 1852), Mrs Robert Law (Blundell, 1848), James Lamond (Robert, Henderson, 1858), Agnes Lamond, nee Geggie (1856), Mrs J. Low (Royal Albert, 1853). In the schoolroom were displayed a collection of some 200 photographs of the early settlers of Warepa and the surrounding districts and of their homes. Groups were also on view of the first committees of the association and its past and present officials These photographs were perhaps the chief centre of interest during the day, and around the more venerable ones rarticularly, there congregated little groups who discussed the life history and qualities of the originals, and speculated shrewdly where their knowledge failed. Outside a whare had been erected with the object of civing the younger generation an idea of the “wattle and °dab” structures which formed the residences of their forefathers. The building was simple in structure, and was composed of a light framework of ribbonwood posts and manuka and grass-tree “wattles”

covered with totara bark, and it lacked only the clay “ dabs ” to be an authentic representation of an early settler’s home. In lieu of the glaes panes that were then a luxury, the window w r as covered by a piece of w'hite calico w'hich admitted the light, but served to keep out the rain and hail. This whare was used by Mr Robert Ayson as a book-stall which he sold copies of Mr James Wilson’s compilation of reminiscences of the early resii dents of the district. Aboqt 3 o’clock a short time was devoted to speech-making and some interesting addresses were delivered. Mr Somerville (president) said he was very pleased to see so many present despite the unpleasant weather. Their gatherings had always been a success, but the committee took* no credit for that fact, recognising that it was the people who came to the picnics that made them a success. On behalf of the association he thanked all who had helped .it in any way in the past. During the past year they had published the book for which they had been collecting information for a long time, but they felt some disappointment that the copies were not being sold more rapidly. They had received 1000 copies from the printer, but had only sold some 600. Even if the whole of the 1000 copies were sold they would make a profit of only about £lO. In conclusion, he would remind them that the association was not in a particularly strong financial position, and any donations towards that day’s expenses would be gratefully received. Mr Charles Duke (Dunedin) said he was very pleased to be with them again. From the tone of the chairman’s remarks he had inferred that they had come to the last picnic in Warepa, but he did not take that view of the matter, or believe that those picnics would die out. It had been a pleasure and an honour for him to represent the Otago Early Settlers Association at many picnics and functions from Invercargill to South Canterbury, and he believed they would continue to do as much good in the future as they had done in the past. If the people only met and shook hands a great deal was accomplished, and he hoped they were not going to let that sort of thing die out. In tne past they had always put life and spirit and energy into their gatherings 1 , and ho trusted they were not going to allow them to become defunct. Personally, he was not satisfied with visiting the Warepa picnic alone, but- he journeyed north and south as well. He had a very warm place in his heart for the people of Warepa, and they had always received him well. —(Applause, and “Hear, hear.”) t Mr Malcolm also expressed his great pleasure at being present, if only to congratulate those who had borne the heat and burden of the day upon the success of their settlement and their efforts generally. He had heard discussions at gatherings of that kind as to whether the generation of yesterday was not better than the generation of to-day. He had heard it claimed that the present generation was in every way as good as the past generation. Well, he wanted to remind the risi ing generation that it owed everything I to its forbears, and they had evidence in that day’s proceedings as to the stamp j of men their forbears were. The past ’ generation had been a grand one, and now all it could do was to sit still and see their work progressing in the hands of their descendants. On this account it behoved the present generation to recogi niso its responsibilities and to take up I the work of its forbears with energy and enthusiasm. I Mr John Wood, in a breezy and humoi rous speech, infused a great deal of good humour into the proceedings, and enj livened them not a little. It had always 1 griven him great pleasure, he said, to , attend the Warepa picnics, for they had ; always been extremely pleasant gatherI ings. His earliest recollection of Warepa dated back to 186(L, in w-hich year his father had travelled^through the district, and on his return home had spoken of the kindness and hospitality with which ; he had been treated. In 1860 also the | Rev. Mr Bannerman, the first minister at Warepa, load been met by the speaker’s father fishing upon the banks of a river in Morayshire. When next they met Mr Bannerman had become a fisher of men and women on the banka of the Clutha, and they all knew how successful his fishing had been, and how his memory was revered. They had with them that day a number of early settlers of the locality, notably the Aysons, whose mother had been a pioneer of Otago, and he would

like to know whore were the homes to-day that could show the same hospitality to strangers as the Aysons had done. The whare which had been erected on the ground was a most interesting structure, and when it was dismantled he hoped it would be sent in to the Early Settlers’ Museum in Dunedin. —(Laughter.) The collection of photographs in the schoolroom was most interesting, and well repaid any attention devoted to it. Mr Wood then proceeded to lament the lack of stamina and energy in the present generation, as compared with the previous one, and ascribed the present compulsory system of military training to the lack of control which parents now exercised over their children. In conclusion, he apologised for the absence from the picnic, on account of illness, of Mrs Hayward and Mrs N. Barnes, members of the Ladies’ Committee of the Early Settlers’ Association. Mr John Wilson, who was the last speaker, said the Warepa picnics had always been a source of great pleasure to him, and as he had travelled about 700 miles (from Taranaki) to be present on that occasion, it showed he was still interested in their gatherings. It was a cause for regret that since their last annual picnic several of the old residents had passed away, and he missed the familiar faces of Mr Matthew Marshall, Mrs Robert Sutherland, and Mrs Grigor. Another thing that grieved him was the incredulity of the young people as to what their forefathers had endured, and also the irreverence with which they treated the older generation. In conclusion, he moved a very hearty vote of thanks to all those who assisted in any way towards making the picnic a success. —(Applause.) A hearty vote of thanks to the Committee of Management was carried, on the motion of Mr G. W. Woods. At frequent intervals during the day tea was dispensed by a strong committee of ladies, who had kindly arranged to look after this important matter, and their hospitality was keenly appreciated.