WAIKOUAITI EARLY SETTLERS

Otago Witness, Issue 8184, 24 March 1915, Page 9

WAIKOUAITI EARLY SETTLERS

SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF SETTLEMENT. A SUCCESSFUL REUNION. The Waikouaiti Early Settlers’ Association was favoured witn pleasant weather on the lYth ior its lourteeiun annual reun.on of early settlers and then- descendants. The gathering took place at the northern end of tne racecourse, where the .racing club’s buildings piovided very convenient accommodation tor visitors. Many of those present came long distances by train or motor or buggy ; and the parent association in Dunedin and the Fort Chalmers Association were both well represented. The second express irom Duneum made a special stop to enable passengers to alight at Vy'aikouaiti, and the hrst express irom the north also stepped for their convenience. The occas.on was notable as marking the seventyfilth anniversary of the foundation of settlement at Waikouaiti by the coming of the Magnet in 1040. One of the passengers by this vessel (Mrs Wooisey) was actually present at the gathering. By the middle of the afternoon a crowd of 000 or OUO had gathered, including a number who had motored out Irom rjunedin. The Fort Chalmers Old Identities’ Association was represented by its president (Mr John Mill!, vice-presidents (Mrs Wooisey, and Mosers W. U. Fail, K. ivnewstubb, and D. A. De Maus), the secretary (Mr John M‘Lachlan) and assistant secretary (Mr A. Leek). Among other visitors present. on the grounds were Messrs E. F. Lee, R. Scott, and J. M. Dickson, M.P.’s, Mr John Wood (secretary of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association), and Mr R. W. Wheeler (Mayor of Palmerston). The following is the list of earlj- settlers and descendants whose names were entered in the record book provided for the purpose : 1840. —Mary Wooisey (Magnet), Elizabeth M‘Kinlay, descendant (Magnet), Alfred Kennard, descendant (Magnet). 1848. —Mrs Walsh (Philip Laing). 1849. —E. Knewstubb (Mary), James Strain (Ajax), Eliza Allcock, nee Woolley (Ajax). 1806. —Mrs Sinclair Peden (Strathmore).

1857. —Margaret Carson (Maori), Elizabeth Jett's (Maori). 1858. —John Maxwell (Jura), D. M‘Gregor (Robert Henderson), John Allan (Strathallan), Mr and Mrs T. White (Jura), Robert Millar (Robert Henderson), Thomas Robertson (Jura), Thomas Johnston (Lord Woolsley), Edward Morris (Nourmanal), William Hall urn (Gloucester), Roderick Cameron (Pirate), James Young , (Lord Woolsley), Mary Valentine (Jura), Margaret Cowan (Jura), Elizabeth Broadfoot (Strathallan), Jans Gilmour (Gloucester), Thomas White (Jura), Margaret White (Jura), Grace White (Jura), Janet M‘Donald (Jura). 1859. —Anthony Milligan (Alpine), James Carson (Sevilla), Isabella Gillespie (Sevilla), Mary Milne (Sevilla), Walter Park (Alpine). 1860. William M'Dougall (Pladda), William Souter (Silistria), John Wood (Gala), James Coupar (Bruce). 1861. D. M'Laren (Storm Cloud), Robert Templeton (Gil Bias), Robert Hagan (Storm), James M‘Gill, descendant (Storm Cloud), Thomas Allcock (Yasila). 1862. W. G. Fail (Lightning), Alexander Leek (Sevilla), James Gilmore (Bombay), John M‘Kean (Robert Henderson), R. Scott (Black Swan), John Mill (Sara M.), Ellen Walker (Victory), Janet Kennard (Pladda),* Johan Miller (Silistria), James Flannery (Eureka), John Bethune (William lies), John Inglis (Victory). 1863. James M. Dickson (Alhambra), Alice E. Young (Aldinga), James Bruce (Ben Lomond), Janet Townsend (Viola), William Thorburn (Silistria). 1864-.—Andrew M'Kerrow (Dunedin), D. T Fleming (Lady Milton), John M‘Lachlan (Edward P. Bouverie), George Gilmore (Chile), Mary Jane Buddy (Ben Lomond), William Robertson (Resolute). 1865. —Alexander Cable (Pariah), Henry Apps (Hindustan). 1866. —D. A. De Mans (Caribou), Isabella Dodds (Caribou). During the afternoon the Palmerston Citizens’ Band, under the direction of Mr J. Appleby, discoused bright patriotic music that was greatly appreciated. Every advantage was taken of the occasion to secure contributions for the sufferers in Belgium, and largo flower and sweet stalls did excellent business, with the aid of many juvenile saleswomen, who were busy in and out among the crowd. A great number of children were, of course, on the grounds, and a series of races and contests for them aroused much interest and amusement among other’s besides those directly taking part.

All arrangements for the picnic were carried out by a local committee, with Mr T. Allcock at its head. Refreshments were generously provided for visitors from midday onwards. The function must he regarded as a decided success—a fact for which credit is due in the first place to the secretary. A number of speeches were given from the balcony of the totalisator. Mr T. Allcock opened the proceedings by extending a. hearty welcome to all present from the Waikouaiti early settlers. Mr J. M. Dickson, M.P., expressed his great pleasure at being present, and said it was a very good thing to hold these gatherings. Ho had a profound admiration for many of the early settlers, when they considered what they had done for this coun-

try in making up their minds to come out so far when it was practically unknown. One of his most intimate friends, until her death abodt a year ago, was an old lady who landed'at Nelson away back in 183 y, and was there at the time of the Wairau massacre. She had lived at the Otago Heads, and had been for six months there without flour. During that time she and her children had lived on nothing but potatoes and fish and wild pig. When tho fly a r did arrive the children left the scones she had baked from it and went back to the toasted potatoes. He did not know how we would get on to-day if we were in the same position.

Mr J. (Jr. L. Kerr (Mayor of Waikouaiti) expressed his pleasure at seeing such a largo attendance, and welcomed tho visitors. Ho referred to tho good work dene by the old identities, and said they were to be congratulated upon mapping out tho country and making roads and bridges, and, last, but not least, sending their, sons to the front to fight for King and country. Referring to St. Patrick’s, Day, he claimed tho absence of snakes and reptiles from the' dstrict as a proof that St. Patrick was one of tho earliest p'oneers. Ho congratulated tho ladies on the excellent work they had done for the Belgian Relief Fund. At this stage Mr Allcock read a number of apologies ho had received, including messages from the Prime Minister, tiro lion. James Alien, Mr C. E. Sta'thain, M.P., Mr Donald Reid (president of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association), Mr A. Fleming, and Mr E. Clark

Mr E. P. Leo, M.P., expressed the hearty wishes of tho company for the good health and happy remaining years of the pioneers among them. While speaking of the old identities ho said they ought not to forget the young identities who were fighting to keep safe the dominion which the old identities had helped to build up. It must be a great source of satisfaction to the old people that their country was being fought for by their descendants. Mr R. Scott, M.P., spoke of how greatly the old settlers wore admired by those who had known them for the past half-century, and understood the troubles they came through and the hardships they faced. Ho hoped that they would always continue to keep these annual gatherings going, so that they might be a source of enjoyment and a means of honouring and perpetuating tho memory of tho pioneers as ong as tho country lasts. Mr John Mill spoke briefly of what the early settlers had done for the country. Referring to what New Zealand was now doing for the Mother Country, Mr Mill said that that was only fair, in view of what England had done for us in 1860, when we were in sore straits, and England had sent out 10,000 soldiers. Mr W. Souter referred to the recent prosperity and progress of Waikouaiti, and said that no doubt the water scheme had a great deal to do with that. He delivered a message of greeting from the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie. Mr R. W. Wheeler claimed to be one of those who realised to the full what we owed to the people who had come out here to settle the country. He expressed the heartiest good wishes of the gathering to the pioneers still remaining with them. Mr John M‘Lachlan told of tho recent formation of tho Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association and the good purposes it was serving in bringing -together its members in pleasant social intercourse. Mr D. T. Fleming (of the Clutha Early Settlers’ Association) also addressed the gathering, and spoke of the highly important place Waikouaiti had occupied in the very earliest settlement of the southern portion of the dominion. It was becoming and proper that we should meet to perpetuate and honour the memory of the men and women who had braved all the disadvantages and drawbacks of tho early times. The Clutha Association, he said, had taken in hand the compilation of a book embodying all the early incidents in the history of settlement in that district, and he was strongly of opinion that a similar record should be made of the history of other districts.

Mr J. Wood referred to the fact that they had with them one of the passengers who came to Waikouaiti in the Magnet 75 years ago. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Mayor of Waikouaiti (Mr Kerr) and to the secretary (Mr Allcock), for whom vigorous cheers w-ere given. A popular entertainment, m which the programme was given by Mr Verdi Mackenzie and other Dunedin performers, was held in the Athemeum Hall in the evening. Among Ihose present were Messrs W. D. Stewart and E. .P. Lee, M.P.’s. The concert was followed by a dance.