THRIVING TOWN IN 1869

Southland Times, Issue 23392, 27 December 1937, Page 5

THRIVING TOWN IN 1869

MEMORIES OF BANK ACCOUNTANT OREPUKI GOLD FIELD IN WORK Visitors to Riverton for the centenary celebrations include many persons who were associated with the small community in the very early years and have since moved away to distant parts or who have taken up residence in other parts of Southland. Prominent among those present at the unveiling of the memorial yesterday were the aged descendants of the first settlers, associates of Captain John Howell, who settled with him at Riverton. Vivid recollections of Riverton as a thriving town in 1869 are possessed by Mr Thomas Taylor, of Christchurch, who was accountant at the Riverton branch of the Bank of Otago for three years from that date. With the Orepuki gold field in full work at that time, Riverton was a busy centre and much gold was handled by the bank. The staff consisted of Mr John Bell, the manager, and Mr Taylor. Mr Bell was described by Mr Taylor as the best gold buyer he had ever worked with, and he learned so much from him that he was retained in districts where goldbuying knowledge was required until he retired from the banking service in 1918. Except for a visit in the year of his retirement Mr Taylor has not visited Riverton since he was transferred in 1872, and he is looking forward to a happy time meeting many old friends at the centenary celebrations. Although not of the older generation of pioneering settlers, Judge JF. O. Y. Acheson., of the Native

Land Court, Auckland, is one of the prominent visitors. Riverton was his birthplace and he is naturally keenly interested in the centenary. He was one of the distinguished scholars educated at the Southland Boys’ High School and in addition to his study of the law, in which he took the degree of master with honours, he has been a close student of Maori history and his book “Plume of .the Arawas” is regarded as an important contribution to Maori history. As a judge of the Native Land Court he has 20,000 Maoris under his care and he has not forgotten his interest in the tribes of the south. At the ceremony yesterday he was invited to speak on behalf of the native race and he will be taking a prominent part in subsequent functions. The distinction of being one of the two first European male children bom in Southland is possessed by Mr H. S. Pankhurst, of Longwood, who was born at Riverton 81 years ago and named after Captains Howell and Stevens. His family came to Riverton from Melbourne about 1853 or 1854. His early recollections of Riverton are of a very small community, which rapidly grew and became very busy. He has lived all his life in the district and still takes an active interest in its progress.