DIAMOND JUBILEE

Southland Times, Issue 22817, 17 February 1936, Page 4

DIAMOND JUBILEE

BOROUGH OF WINTON CELEBRATIONS BEGIN CHURCH SERVICES

The Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Winton Borough started yesterday and will be continued throughout the week. The streets and business houses have been specially illuminated, and displays of old-time photographs in the shop windows make an interesting feature. • Special services were held in the churches yesterday.

THE EARLY DAYS

PIONEERS AND THEIR WORK REV. GARDINER’S REMARKS There was an exceptionally large congregation at the morning service of the Presbyterian Church at Winton yesterday, when the Mayor (Mr T Walker) and members of the Winton Borough Council, and the Town Clerk were specially invited to be present During the service, the Rev. A. G. Gardiner made suitable reference to the diamond jubilee anniversary of the borough of Winton, and the difficulties of life over half a century ago, as compared with the present day. Taking as his text Matthew 6-10 “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” the preacher said. “There is no prayer that is more often upon the lips of the Christian people than the prayer of which our text is a part. There are two things to be said of all set forms of prayer. The first is that frequent repetition is very prone to make blunt our appreciation of its reality and urgency. The second is that it would not have taken a set form if it did not enshrine something very real and urgent, and so we shall pause for a little to consider what this most familiar of all set prayers means for ourselves and for the world in which we live. “It speaks of a Kingdom, and if it means anything—it means that love, goodwill, brotherhood and service may become actual in corporate life; and further, that God’s Kingdom can come and His will be done only through living personalities such as we are. Hence, when do use this prayer, we are in effect praying “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth—through us That is what we are in the world for—not merely to submit to things as they are, and vaguely hope for heaven upon earth some day. Christianity is popularly thought to be concerned only with men’s souls. Most frequently do I hope that the Christian Church will always put first things first, and have above all things else —a passion for the souls of men; but I would utterly repudiate the idea that religion is exclusively concerned with a heaven beyond the earth rather than the Kingdom of Heaven upon the earth. There should be no such distinction between secular and sacred life as once prevailed so widely, for all life is the gift of God, and for that reason it should all, in a real sense, be regarded as sacred. “Human personality, the crown of all God’s creative work, is the most sacred thing we know, and there is no sphere where personality is engaged where the religion of Jesus Christ may not penetrate. Christianity is concerned with every human issue, mental and physical, as well as moral and spiritual. It is concerned with all that goes to the making of the environment in which every child of God shall live his or her life. “To-day we begin, in this service the 60th anniversary celebrations of this borough, and one thing we must not forget. This is to record our thankfulness for all the faithful personal service that loyalty to this community has called for during the past 60 years. Do we go too far when we suggest that all loyal, unselfish, pure-motived public service for the well being of brother citizens is to be owned as fulfilling the Master’s words—Tn as much as ye have’ done it unto one of the least of these. My brethren, ye have done it unto Me”? “It is the way of human nature to think very much according to the maxim ‘Distance lends enchantment to i the view.’ We speak of the good old ’ days, or we look forward to the good j time that is to come; we tend to idealize I what is remote from us, either in the I past or in the future, and to be rather i merciless in our judgment upon all | that belongs to the present. | “I want to suggest that there were never such good days as those in which we now live, and that past, present and future should be bound together and not set over against each other. “They are wonderful days in which we now live and especially from the point of view of those amenities that are ours as a result of devoted public service in the sphere of local government. Every phase of our life is touched by some outcome of it. Our streets are clean and well lit. There was a day, and that not so very long before the founding of this borough . when public streets were not cleansed save when an outbreak of cholera or typhus occurred, and then the accumu- I lated filth of years was removed only from the main thoroughfares. “These Days Are Good Days.” “We have libraries and parks and children’s playgrounds; the purity of our food supply is assured by widespread inspection; the citizens of today know nothing of the haunting fear of dread pestilences such as typhus cholera, the plague and other perils which were due in earlier days mostly to ignorance and insanitary conditions These days in which we live are good days, as well as the good old days when the foundations were being laid; but the days to come may be better yet. And our desire to see them better will be quickened as we see that such public service does not lie outside the sphere of religion; it is the bringing of the Kingdom of God to earth in its material aspects. It is in a much greater degree than is generally recognized an outcome of the spirit of Him who said Tn as much . s ye did it unto one of the least of these, My < brethren, ye did it unto Me.’ For we | must not forget that the men and, women who have be< n mainly responsible for all this work for the public good were inspired by the highest j Christian motives. • .

“Prison reform owes its initiation, to John Howard and Elizabeth Fry. Wil-

liam Tuke was the man who began to care for the insane. Lord Shaftesbury’s name will ever be remembered in connection with work for under-privileged children. The new conscience that developed in connection with slums owes its beginning to William Booth, the founder of the Salvation A.-my. These are but representative )f a multitude who were animated by the spirit of Him who took a towel and washed His disciples’ feet as an act of humble service to encourage them ,o do the same. “In our 1 own day many splendid men and women have become alienated from organized religion, and seek to realize their ideals in their ow; way and by their own strength, but you cannot without disaster, kick away the ladder by which you have climbed. It is not a sign of failure if much that used to be done by the Christian Church in the way of social service is now carried through by State or municipal action. That is rather a sign of triumph in the gradual nermeation of the national conscience by Christian conceptions of duty and service. A teacher has not failed when a pupil ceases to need his detailed guidance. “Without the Christir.i background; without an abiding faith in God our > hands must grow slack and our efforts I fail. No man can go on from year to I year trying to serve his day and generation without the conviction that the I universe is God’s,' not a huge machine I material and indifferent. If we ourI selves are going to render effective service for our own day and for the days to come—we need a glowing faith in our own souls.” EARLY PIONEERS MESSRS LIDDELL, MOORE AND WILSON. I BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES. | At this week’s jubilee celebrations of i the Winton Borough, the 'proceedings j are likely to be followed with great i interest by Messrs Andrew Liddell, I Robert Wilson and C. D. Moore—a trio i of the earliest residents of the town. All three have been associated with the borough for a period extending over i 60 years, and in this time have seen 1 the many changes of colonial life. From almost a clearing in the bush they have seen the town progress into one of the leading country centres of the province. ■ It is pleasing to note that all three have I enjoyed good health, and still are pos--1 sessed of all their faculties, and take a I keen interest in every-day affairs. The i three gentlemen mentioned were not | only connected with the early days of I the borough, and at different times | filled the office of mayor, but the ’ jubilee meeting of the Winton Jockey i Club this week will also hold considerable interest for them, as in the ■ early days they were associated with | the club, all three being past pre|sidents. It may also be mentioned that , the sons of the early pioneers meni tioned have taken a keen interest in ■ civic affairs, and a representative of j each family has served on the local i council. | MR ANDREW LIDDELL. I Mr Andrew Liddell, J.P., a former i Mayor of Winton, was bom at Paisley, i Scotland, in 1842, and is the eldest I surviving son of Mr John Liddell of ! that town. After receiving his education his first employment was rope spinning, i after which he was employed at a silk mill, and subsequently apprenticed, in 11854, to the saddlery trade, at which he continued until he left Scotland for i Port Chalmers by the ship Palmyra, which arrived there in February, 1858. Mr Liddell experienced many changes incidental to early colonial life, including visits to Auckland, Nelson and the West Coast goldfields. He went to Canterbury in 1869 and entered into business as a saddler in Cashel street, Christchurch, but removed to Winton in 1883, where he built up one of the j largest saddlery establishments in the 1 district. Mr Liddell was a large imI porter of ropes, tarpaulins, horse covers, | canvas, oils etc. He was elected to I the Borough Council in 1892, and duri ing his term of office, a handsome | athenaeum building (in those days) was erected. Mr Liddell was chairman of the Winton Literary Institute, treasurer of the Lodge- Winton, and a member I of the order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity. He was married in 1873 to a daughter of Frederick Staples, of Linwood, Christchurch. Although now in his 95th year, Mr Andrew Liddell is a wonderful example of the early pioneers, still being hale and hearty and often travelling in various parts of the Dominion. Besides being a past member of the council, he served as Mayor during the years 1896 and 1898, and also • took a keen interest in various local activities. He was one of the early presidents of the Winton Jockey Club, and his name I appears among the past stewards in various capacities. MR ROBERT WILSON. Mr Robert Wilson, who was the seventh mayor of Winton, was bom in Midlothian, Scotland, in 1851, and was educated at Tranent parish school, Haddingtonshire, learning the blacksmith trade under Mr William Kirkwood, the celebrated agricultural implement maker of Lothian Bridge, Dalkeith. Mr Wilson later travelled over the south portion of Scotland, engaged in his calling. In 1874, he arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship Parsee and obtained work with Messrs Morgan and McGregor. Their first great contract was to make and fit boilers for the s.s. Comerang in which Mr Wilson took nart. He afterwards started business in Winton as blacksmith and implementmaker, his specialty being drain ploughs, which were sent to many parts of the Dominion. Mr Wilson always took a keen interest in sporting matters He was the promdter of the Winton Caledonian Society which was formed in 1881. During his mayoralty he saw the completion of the drainage scheme and the formation of the principal back streets. In 1873, he was married to a daughter of Mr Robert Noble, teacher of New Battle Parish School, Midlothian. Scotland.

Mr Wilson was one of the early band

of officials of the Jockey Club, and besides occupying the chair and filling the office of secretary, it is understood that he filled the role of clerk of scales for some 30 years. He is interestingly reminiscent of the first days and early fortunes of the club. MR C. D. MOORE. Mr Charles Daniel Moore, who has held office as Mayor of Winton for fourteen terms, served almost continuously for a lengthy period as a member of the Borough Council. Mr Moore was borne in the Isle of Man in 1850, and arrived in Melbourne in 1864. He afterwards came to New Zealand and resided in the North.lsland until 1872, when he removed to Invercargill. In 1875, Mr Moore took up residence in Winton, where for many years he was in business as a butcher and baker, and later his sons carried on the butchery business. He was at one time proprietor of a block of buildings containing two shops and an hotel. Mr Moore was married in 1876 to a daughter of Mr Francis Jack, of Winton. Mr Moore’s association with the borough is just as lengthy as with the Winton Jockey Club. Immediately on taking up residence in Winton he interested himself in the welfare of the Winton J.C., and down through the years has held the post of president, starter, treasurer, judge and other important offices. Mr Moore is now a life member of the club, and each year looks forward to the annual race fixture. MAYORS AND TOWN CLERKS. DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS. The detailed list of Mayors and Town Clerks for the borough during the past 60 years have been compiled as follows:— Mayors. T McWilliam 1876-1878 D. McLeod 1878-1880 A. Devereux 1880 D. McLeod 1880-1881 C. D. Moore 1881-1884 J. McArthur 1884-1886 R. Jamieson 1886-1888 J. Gilmour 1888-1890 C Wentworth 1890-1891 R. Wilson 1891-1892 A. McArthur 1892-1894 E R. Kidd 1894-1896 A. Liddell 1896-1898 T' McWilliam 1898-1899 C. D. Moore 1899-1910 R. Jamieson 1910-1911 J. P. McWilliam 1911-1913 R Wilson 1913-1915 T. Walker 1915-1923 J, , A. Broom 1923-1932 W. Hamilton 1932-1933 T. Walker 1933-1935 Town Clerks. J. L S. Keen (acting short time). C. D. Moore 1876-1879 W. Pirie (acting short time) 1879 J. K. Lea 1879-1887 W. Russell 1887-1909 W. Cowie 1909-1915 J. A. Broom 1915-1920 Miss I. G. Russell 1920-1935 AN EARLY REFERENCE HAPPENINGS OF THIRTY YEARS AGO. A good deal has already been published in the Southland Times, dealing with the early days of settlement at Winton, but the following reference, written over 30 years ago, will be of interest: “Winton is a picturesque town situated on the Invercargill-Kingston railway and on the great north road leading to Lake Wakatipu, and is surrounded by undulating country, at one time covered with bush. It is said to have been named after a man of that name, who was the first, or amongst the first, to drive stock across the country. The first portion of the township was surveyed, in 1862, and further extended in 1863. The up-set price of quarter acre sections was £l6, but was reduced on the third survey, some years later, to £8 per section. At the end of 1863, the first sod of the railway line from Invercargill was turned, and the work prosecuted with vigour until April, 1864, when it was suddenly stopped, and caused from 150 to 200 men employed at the Winton end to be thrown out of work. This was a great blow to Winton, especially as the work of construction was not resumed again for seven years. At this time the Provincial Government of Southland became bankrupt and was politically re-united to Otago. However, when the railway was completed from Bluff to Winton, in 1871, the town and district again became thriving. Then there was another change, for, with the introduction of the public works policy of Sir Julius Vogel, the railway was extended to Lake Wakatipu, which reduced Winton from the status of a terminus to a side station, and its fortune fell once more. “Nevertheless, Winton’s progress has been sure, though slow, and with natural vitality, as well as surrounding country not to be surpassed in New Zealand, it cannot fail to become in time a town of considerable importance. About 1876, Winton was created a municipality, and Mr T. McWilliam, one of the oldest residents, was first mayor, and held the office for three years in succession. A considerable revenue is derived from town reserves, with which, together with rates, material improvements have been effected in footpaths, streets and drainage. Winton has three or four churches, several public halls, hotels, a branch of the Bank of New Zealand, several large stores, a flourishing flour mill, and a meat and rabbit-preserving establishment. The local industries include sawmilling, brick and tile manufacturing, and a well-appointed modern dairy factory. Winton railway station and post office combined stands at an altitude of 160 feet above sea level; the flag railway station at Gap Road, one mile nearer Invercargill, is 147 feet above the sea. Monthly stock sales are held in Winton at the yards of the local Sale Yards Company. To the westwards of the borough flows the Oreti, beyond which are the agricultural settlements of the Oreti plains, Drummond and Heddon Bush. To the eastward is the farming district of North Forest Hill, and the branch line of the railway to Hedgehope, thirteen miles distant. Winton creek, a tributary of the Oreti, flows through the borough. There are four river boards in the district, namely: Winton, West Winton, Upper Winton and Lochiel; and these bodies have their offices in the borough. Some of the best wheat-growing country in Southland surrounds Winton, and a fine stretch of limestone formation extends from Forest Hill to Centre Bush. Winton has a Government District High School, and a Roman Catholic denominational school. “Winton was formed into a municipality in 1876, and Mr Thomas McWilliam as the first Mayor, presided at the inaugural meeting of the council on February 1 in that year, with Mr F. G. S. Keen as Town Clerk. Winton has an area of only 162 acres. The borough has borrowed £BOO, under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, at 4| per cent., by the payment of which the debt will be extinguished in twenty-six years. The total population ;s 474; the number of ratepayers 118; the number of rateable properties 160; and there are one hundred dwellings in the borough. The unimproved value of rateable properties in the borough on March 31, 1903, was £17,803, on which a rate of 2Jd. in the £ was levied. The main thoroughfare and back streets are formed and gravelled, and there are fifty-eight chains of asphalted footpaths, and fifty chains of gravelled footpaths. There are one hundred and ninty-six chains of' covered drains, eighty chains of open I

drains and fbrty-five chains of outfall drains. Winton is the centre of an extensive and wealthy agricultural district Council for 1904-05: Mr C. D. Moore J.P. (Mayor), and Messrs P. A. Blythe, J. P. McWilliam, R. Smith, R. Wilson, J. M. Kennedy, W. D. Hirst, C. Williamson and A. Liddell, councillors. The borough is lighted by about twenty kerosene lamps. The office of the council at the corner of Weymess and Meldrum streets, is of wood and iron, and stands on a section of half an acre of land. Winton has a recreation ground of about eight acres, which has been cleared of bush, ploughed and planted. The Athenaeum building in the main street, is the property of the borough, which grants its use to the committee in charge of the institution. The total outlay on the drainage of the borough, up to 1904, was £1350, and on street work £3350. Mr W. Russell is town clerk.” (It will be gleaned that since 1903 the town has made considerable progress, and flourished into one of the leading country centres in the province). ARRANGEMENTS IN HAND MEETING OF JUBILEE COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the committee in connection with this week’s jubilee celebrations, the Mayor, Mr Thomas Walker, presided over an attendance of 25. The various committees reported that arrangements for this week’s functions were well in hand. It was reported that a loud speaker was being secured to announce the results at the sports on the Wednesday afternoon, and also to supply part of the music for the dancing on the streets on the Saturday evening. It was suggested that competitions be held on the Central bowling green, and probably the croquet green on the Saturday evening, and both these lawns be specially illuminated for the occasion. Messrs H. Liddell and V. J. Lea were appointed in charge of the dancing on the streets on the Saturday evening, while the parking of cars was left in the hands of Mr N. Metzger. WEEK’S PROGRAMME FUNCTIONS FROM DAY TO DAY. The official programme drawn up for the week’s functions is as follows: To-day (Monday): Free. Tuesday: Flower Show. Wednesday: Parade (fancy dress, pets, decorated vehicles, trades display) commencing at 1 p.m., and marching to sports grounds. Sports at 1.45 p.m. Banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday: Whippet racing in evening. - T Friday: Winton J.C. Jubilee races. Jubilee Ball in Radio Theatre in evening. Saturday: Winton J.C. Jubilee races. Gala festivities on the street in evening.