THE SETTLEMENT OF OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3862, 20 March 1928, Page 64

THE SETTLEMENT OF OTAGO.

EIGHTIETH ANNIVERSARY: MARCH 23, 1928. SURVIVORS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. Wq append a list, as accurate as we can make it, of the survivors of the earliest settiers, together with a list of the survivors of those who arrived in Otago in the presettlement days and remained in New Zealand:— MAGNET. Arrived at Waikouaiti in March, 1840. Mrs WOOLSEY (Mary Coleman), Port Chalmers. JOHN WICKLIFFE. Arrived at Port Chalmers on March 23, „ - 1848. Mrs J. R. JOHNSTON (Marion Cargill), Dunedin. Mrs GRIFFITHS (Elizabeth Moslev), Stirling. <• PHILIP LAING. Arrived at Port Chahners on April 15, 1848. Miss AGNES BURNS, Dunedin. Mrs AV ILLI AM ALLAN (Marion Seaton), Dunedin. Mrs CHARLES FINDLAY (Elizabeth Barr), Dunedin. DAVID BUCHANAN, Kelso. ADAM ROBERT DUFF, Waihoia Mrs J. L. SOUTER (Marion Duff) Sydney. THOMAS M‘KAY, Wingatui. WALTER WATSON. Invercargill. Mrs M. STEWART (nee Sinclair), Papakura, Auckland. BLUNDELL. Arrived at Fort < palmers on September 21, 1848. CHARLES R. CHAPMAN, Dunedin. J. A. D. ADAMS, Roslyn. Mrs ROBERT LAW (Jean Harrison), Mosgiel. Mrs JAMES PARLANE (Mary Harrison!, Mosgiel. Miss ELIZABETH SOMERVILLE, Rangiatea. JAMES ANDERSON, Auckland. Mrs FRASER (Ann Black), Tim.nu. Mrs HENDERSON (Elizabeth Popplewell), Wellington. JOHN JOHNS’! - '-Ve’lington. BERNICIA. Arrived at Port ; .-as on December 12, 1848. DAVID ANDERSON, Makotuku, North Island. PETER ANDERSON, Hastings.

SETTLERS AT WAIKOUAITI. ANNUAL GATHERING AND PICNIC. “ Reanimate Otago pioneers to fame undying through the dying years." This, the motto of the Otago Earh Settlers’ Association, is descriptive of the spirit in evidence on Wednesday at the old identities’ picnic, held on the Waikouaiti :acecourse. Every summer the pioneers of the district gather on a spot that, for them, is hallowed by memories of past labours and achievements, ana although the years take toll of their numbers, tire reunions are none the less heartv and enjoyable. Perfect weather favoured the old folk when they arrived at the picnic place in the early afternoon after a morning drive through nearby portions o' ’be dis trict Tire gathering included n >.•>>, and representative muster of pioneers and their descendants, and there v,»u e -<> present representatives of various early settlers’ associations. A full programme embracing a childrens’ sports meeting, a formal function in the afternoon, and a concert in the evening, had been arranged, while a touch of gaiety was added by the presence of several Waikouaiti bandsmen. , GAPS IN THE RANKS. Such a function is not • without its pathos, and laughter was often perilously close to tears when, in the course of their chatting, the men and women of the pioneer days called to mind comrades who had journeyed on. Tire gaps in their ranks had become enlarged during the past 12 months, but those who remained spoke confidently of the future, and whispered proudly of their years. In a sunny corner sat three venerable men. drawn together by a-common bond of age. Each was active and well, taking a keen and happy interest in the affairs of the moment, yet each was more than 90 years of age. Mr William NDDougall, who stepped ashore in New Zealand from the ship Pladda in 1860 is in his ninety : third year. Mr John M’Kean, who arrived in the Onieo two years later, is 93. and Mr John Aitkenhead, whd was a shipmate of Mt M’Kean. .has reached the ripe age of 96 years.

“ Dunedin was a wee place with muddy streets when I arrived.” said another old pioneer nodding reflectively and fingering a iaunty sprig of heather in the lapel of his Coat. “ And Waikouaiti! Waikouaiti seemed to be in the backblocks. although it was the earliest settlement of nil It was first neopled by the passengers of the Magnet, which arrived on March 17, 1840. Only one of the original settlers, - .is alive to-day,and her name is Mrs Wolsey, a Dunedin resident. I remember . .

His recollections were typical of many others that served to. pass away the time. Scraps of history and pioneering -romance were retailed with a simplicity that enhanced their charm, and a mental roll cv’l of old friends was taken.

OLD SETTLERS PRESENT. Among the earlv pioneers who were present were the following, the name of each ship and the dates of arrival being given :— Mr George Bro«n (Pladda, 1861) Mr F. W. Knight (Aldinga, 1862), Mr W. Paterson, Mr John Maxwell, and Mr William Maxwell (Jura, 1858), Mr Peter Jenkins (Challenger 1856), Mrs Peter Jenkins (Etherial, 1854), Mr William M’Dougall (Pladda, 1860), Mr John Aitkenhead (Omeo, 1862), Mr John M‘Kean (Robert Henderson, 1862), Mrs B. L. Atkinson (Sarah M., 1862), Mrs J. Lewisham (Sarah M., 1862), Mrs John Leishman (Pladda, 1862) Mr James Chapman (Silistria, 1867), Mr and Mrs George Apes (Hindustan, 1860), Mr Harry Bland (Adjmeer, 1864), Mr Duncan M'Gregor (Robert Henderson, 1858), Mr James Purdie (Nelson, 1863) Mrs Benjamin Hallett (Black Swan, 1861), Mr William Hallum (Gloucester, 1858). Mrs M. Robertson (Silistria, 1862), Mr W Nicholson (Lady Emma, 1863). • “ A WONDERFUL HERITAGE.” Mr G. L. J. Kerr. Mayor of Waikouaiti, presided at the formal gathering held " during the afternoon, and announced that the gathering marked th e eighty-fifth anniversary of the arrival of the first Settlers in the district. Whatever the cause of their coming, they had worked earnestly and well, and their descendants had been left with a wonderful heritage. There were advantages and disadvantages in the lives of the pioneers, but, on the whole, their lot had been no easy one. and they had conquered only after many hard struggles. A gathering such as that being held brought together the remnants of their dwindling numbers—numbers that had been depleted seriously during the past two months, when no fewer than eight of the old identities had passed away.

Mr J. Bitchener, M.P. for Waitaki. laid emphasis On the fact that the excellent weather, combined with the enthusiasm of the people, had resulted in the gathering being one of the most successful he had attended. It was on such occasions that recollections turned to the early pioneer days, and the question was, what had been done in the years that had passed since settlers first landed in the province? The record of the pioneers was a magnificent one, and would never be forgotten. He congratulated the people of the district on their keeping up of old traditions by holding an “ identities’ ” picnic each year, and he regretted that this was not done in many parts of the Dominion. It was well to remember, too, that the women among the remaining pioneers were deserving of special honour. for they had taken a great and pluckv part in early work and endeavours. No part of New Zealand was more prominent in the records of the early settlers than Waikouaiti, hut after conquering the district many had drifted further afield, where there would not be the same incentive to band together and renew old associations. In conclusion, he said that the young peonlg of the present dav had much for which to thank the older generations. If the v followed in the footsteps that had been made, they would not go wrong. GROWTH OF THE ASSOCIATION.

After expressing hi s pleasure at being present among the pioneers of the trict. Mr William Nicholson, president of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, said that the body he represented had now a large, membership extending from Auckland to Bluff, and in practically every overseas country. New Zealanders of the Present day had stepped into a noble heritage, and he had always been struck with the excellent types of men and women who were to be found among the remaining numbers of the pioneers The country owed a great deal to their wise and farseeing plan of settlement and government, and he honed that the day was very far distant when their memories would he allowed to fade. The association was now controlled by a large committee, the members of which was largely composed of th o descendants of pioneers and it was to these descendants in all parts of the country that the association looked for sunport in the carrying on of the work and the traditions

Mr E. H Clark, M.L.C.. assured his hearers that after a recent journey round New Zealand lie had become convinced that no district in the country contained a finer class of people than ’was to be found in Waikouaiti. He appreciated to the fullest what th«> old pioneers had done for Otago and New Zealand generally, and he would say to the younger peopl’e that it was better to help the old generation now than to erect monuments to their memories afterwards. Other speakers were Mr F. W. Knight, who referred to the changing conditions he had witnessed during the 66 years he had been in New Zealand, and Mr A. E. Knewsttrbb. . who dealt briefly with the wonts and aims of the kindred association at Port Chalmers. Votes of thank s for the chairman and the visitors concluded th e function, after which afternoon tga was served.