PIONEER WOMEN OF N.Z.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19777, 3 November 1938, Page 17

PIONEER WOMEN OF N.Z.

LIFE IN YOUNG COLONY GRUELLING YEARS G. 13. LANCASTER’S STORY Just over a hundred years ago an English county family, impoverished by the long wars on the Continent, decided to seek their fortunes in the distant new colony, New Zealand — land of the “Long White Cloud.” The four men of the house of Lovel were gathered together in the library ol Lovel Old Hall. Peregrine, “one ol the black Lovels, with a long, lean elegance denied to John, who, being a year the elder, unfortunately,, had the title,” read out a list of necessities and generally ordered the proceedings. “But we must take a cow, Peregrine,” said John. “We cannot take a cow,” said Peregrine, glancing ,up with those black eyes, which, thought Jermyn, were always too close together. “Buxom pioneer's wife, Caroline.” said Major Henry. .. . “Good stuff in Sally, too. . . .”

And so the argument and the talk wont on, and finally all was arranged. Peregrine’s wife, Sally, was only fifteen, but lie gave little thought to her comfort. She, accompanied by her sister, Darien, must take the best -f things, show respect to her elders, and learn what she could from the experienced though somewhat unencouraging Caroline. After a voyage fraught with the perils and inconveniences of that distant year, their ship reached New Zealand', and Peregrine Lovel stepped ashore at "The Beach,” some distance south of Auckland, firmly determined that his family should become rich both in goods and in the esteem of their fellows in this new country. Gruelling- Years

The tale of Sally’s struggle to remain not only comparatively. content, but barely alive, during those first gruelling years of her wifehood is told with great sympathy and insight. Through the rich and colourful texture of Mrs. Lancaster’s descriptions of the youthful colony, one catches a frequent glimpse of the girlish figure moving about her primitive home or tending her infant

sons. To Peregrine’s - satisfaction, Sally bore him several sons, against John’s three daughters. She b u re him a daughter, too, but Tiffany stood always outside his orbit oi understanding—aloof and slightly enigmatic.

The rigid conventionality of English village life was transplanted piecemeal into this virgin soil. The women, however reduced in spirits and circumstance they became, never failed to observe the niceties ol etiquette as between equals. They were forced to do their own washing, but, on the day that the horrid deed was perpetrated, the blinds were kepi, discreetly drawn to give lair warning to the over-casual caller! Development of Grace

As Mrs. Lancaster trenchantly and convincingly points out—by these conditions the women were either made or irrevocably marred. Sally, completely subservient to her Mi. Lovel" for a number of years, slowly developed the courage to emeige,. even to find a true romance for her starved heart. She was made c. line metal, equal to the most severe testing, as her career and subsequent decision in regard to her lover proved. lier children learned to adore her; even the grim Peregrine realised eventually that he had quite fortuitously, gained for himself a woman of great worth.

Darien, Sally’s sister, provides an extraordinarily interesting study. Diametrically opposed in character and outlook to the younger girl, she curbed the feelings of defiance and rebellion aroused by her brother-in-law as best she could for Sally s sake, and, when she could no longer harness her ardent spirit, she hid from him for a long time her wilder flights. In her maturity she became one of New Zealand's best-known figures—a person to be reckoned with in both Islands.

Host of Characters

The Maoris are presented in ‘promenade” in a manner which not only does them justice, but also Ininas them (always a somewhat remote people), within easy compass )[ the render’s imagination. The naughty chiefs, the warriors, the laders, the half-castes, and the veak lings are, here, living people wdh moral and territorial rights which demanded a delicate handling the >' did not always receive, there was bound to be a clash, soon7. 1 between the colonists and emit 1 mil f bese proud people regard the English as Hosts of vividly-drawn subsidiary