PIONEERS FOREGATHER

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 10

PIONEERS FOREGATHER

JUBILEE FESTIVITIES AT MANAIA

REUNION OF THE EARLY SETTLERS

FINE ASSEMBLY IN THE TOWN HALL

PERHAPS the most important of the events associated with the Manaia Jubilee Carnival was the gathering yesterday at the Town Hall of early settlers and citizens for the Reunion Luncheon. Among the 250 persons who took their seats at the tables were many men and-women who had journeyed considerable distances to revisit the home of their early years, and it was a bright and happy gathering, the speakers recalling the history of the past and individuals finding pleasure in the renewal of old friendships.

The day’s celebration included a hockey tournament, in which a very large number of teams took part,' and the principal honours were gained by Manaia representatives. In the evening a fine concert was given. To-day’s programme includes a (Jisplay by the school children at 1 p.m. and the jubilee ball at night.

OLD FRIENDS AT LUNCHEON

A DAY OF REMINISCENCES.

PLEASANT THOUGHTS OF THE PAST

There was a gathering of about 250 old and present residents at the Manaia Jubilee luncheon, held in the Town Hall yesterday, and the function was a. great success. It served to bring together many of the old -residents who had not seen each other for years, and gave them an opportunity to exchange happy reminiscences. Mr. A. H. Yarrow, chairman of the town board, presided at the: head of four tows of tables extending down the whole length of the hall, and under artistic decorations the scene was very colourful. During the dinner pleasing old-time airs were played by Mr. and Mrs. Antoni Bonetti. After the toast of “The King’’ had been honoured, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., proposed the toast of “The Manaia Town Board.’.’ The progress of Manaia, he said, was what might be called a great 1 achievement in its development from’ a rough condition to its present state. He was indeed pleased to see present so many of the pioneers who had assisted in the development of the county., >He greatly appreciated the honour'.of being M.P. of the district. He well' remembered when the laiyl ©f the district was being sold by public auction. -Then it was a great, growing district, and now it was a great dairying centre. During all these years the town of Manaia had gone steadily forward and was now what might be termed celebrating its golden wedding. But there was this difference,, that whereas the latter was celebrated at the end of life, the jubilee of a town was but its beginning. Here were all the evidences of civilisation’s progress, though at the present time the country was under black clouds of depression. They must not lack confidence to face the future; with confidence they could reconstruct their lives and methods of business. Fear was the greatest enemy they had, and they had to get rid of it.

TROUBLES SURMOUNTED.

During the past 50 years there had been many black days. First there were the Maori troubles, but these had been happily surmounted, and among them that day were representatives of the native race. He was glad to see them joined at the tables in peace and harmony with the pakeha. The pioneers had every- confidence that their difficulties would be overcome, and the present residents must take a lesson from the early settlers and go forward in the same belief. Manaia had been rich in the names of its people, many of whom stood out as landmarks of the nation and gave cause for pride. To-day there was a wonderfully developed district, the land was fertile, the streams were there, and there were good roads and other facilities. If they could not carry through with all these advantages the fatflt' would lie with themselves. The progress of the past 50 years should be but the prelude to still greater progress. Responding, Mr. Yarrow said he felt it a great honour to be chairman of the town board and to be its principal representative at the jubilee gathering. He felt still more proud that he was merely taking over the reins from the early members, whose w’ork had built up the town to what it was to-day—-the hub of the Waimate Plains. Manaia and others were meeting many obstacles', but the people of the past had encountered much greater difficulties than those of to-day and had surmounted them. It was by the co-operation of the pioneers that this had been done, that same co-operation was forthcoming today the town of Manaia would be kept on' the map for at least another 50 years. He would like to see the Maori race take an interest in local body work and he was sure their co-operation would be welcome.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SCHOOL.

In the absence of the Hon. R. Masters the toast of “Manaia School” was proposed by Mr. A. Lees, member of the Taranaki Education Board. He referred to the transfer of the Manaia district from the Wanganui Board to Taranaki, and mentioned the active part taken in that matter by Mr. Masters, who was then chairman of the Taranaki board, and also by Mr. S. G. Smith and Mr. C. A. Wilkinson. It was largely due to their efforts that Manaia district was brought under the Taranaki board. A graphic; description of past teachers and committees had already appeared in the Press, and he was safe in saying that they had been very fortunate in the type" of teacher and committeeman that had served the district. Where the parents had taken an interest there was always progress in a school, and the- progress of Manaia school and district had gone hand-in-hand. Mr. Lees paid tribute to the capable teachers of the past who, although they had not had the advantages of to-day, had instructed their pupils very well and had moulded their character so that they were able worthily to take their part in the life of the community.

In 1914 many of the old boys went forth to war, showing loyalty to their school and country. • . On behalf of the Taranaki Education Board, he conveyed congratulations on the success of the Manaia school. Mr. Smith, who was ill, and other members of the board, very much regretted their inability to be present. Mr. Lees said he would like to place on record the very high state of efficiency the Manaia school had attained. He hoped and believed that it would continue to pro* gress, since it gave every facility, except in specialised training, for an education to equip boys and girls for everyday life. The secondary department had progressed since it was opened in 1925 and now had a roll of 55. Mr. Bridge had taken a great interest in the school and although very busy as an early settler he had always found time to work for the benefit of the school. It was most appropriate that he was chairman of the committee at the time of the school jubilee. Mr. Bridge, in reply, said he was proud to honour the members of the school committee who had- laboured so willingly and well and had brought the school up to its present high standard. Beginning with a roll of 60, it now had over 300 pupils. He also included the teachers, who had faithfully carried, out their duties, with the results that the boys and girls had been able to take their place in local and national life with honour to themselves. One of the first pupils, Mr. J. S. McKay, was now chairman of the Hawera Hospital Board and the Riverdale Dairy Company and a member, of the Waimate County Council. There was Mr. W. S. Glenn, who had filled many positions with honour, including membership of an All Black football team and of Parliament. Miss C. Mitchell, another pupil, had been chairwoman of the Waimate Ladies’ Patriotic Committee and had held other positions. He trusted that the future committees and staffs would also have the pleasure of turning out pupils fit to take their place in the lite of the community with credit to themselves and the district.

WORK OF LOCAL BODIES.

“When the pioneers came here they had countless difficulties to overcome,” said Mr. H. G. Dickie,. M.P., in proposing the toast of “Local Bodies.” As a gauge of the advance that those hardy spirits had made possible, he had just motored from . Patea in under an hour. The people of the district had indeed something about which to rejoice. They owed a great deal to. local body men, who had done much for the district, and done it gratuitously. Mr. E. Long, chairman of the Waimate West County Council, represented one of the bestroaded counties in the Dominion. In Taranaki they were justly proud of their roads, as those could assure them who could recall the roads of 40 years ago. Then one. knew the width of the road, but not the depth. The improvement in the roads was entirely due to the local bodies. The roads had been raised to such a standard that experts had come from all over New Zealand to study the example set by the province, Replying. Mr. Long expressed appreciation of Mr. Dickie’s tribute. Members of local bodies to-day were too much inclined, he thought, to think of what they had done, but they had done nothing compared with what the old settlers had done. It was not the makers of the bitumen roads who deserved the credit; it was the pioneers who had overcome great difficulties in. making mud roads. They had stumped the roads and been glad to have bridle tracks. When they had no money they would send their children into the bush to gather fungus to exchange for food. If a monument was erected it should be to Chew Chong, who had helped the settlers greatly. As far as the roads were concerned, the plains had been a difficult district to road because it was so flat. The plains had more production than any other part of New Zealand, and perhaps of the whole world. This meant increased internal traffic and thus more expense in maintaining the roads. The jubilee also commemorated the birth of local government in the district, which took place in 1881, and the first land sale in the same year.

The Mayor of Hawera, Mr. E. A. Pacey, also replied. Hawera, said Mr. Pacey, had recently had a jubilee, and he hoped Manaia’s was proving as successful. By the time the diamond jubilee came round he hoped Manaia would be a borough and Hawera a city. He was confident that a better time was coming. As far as local bodies were concerned he admitted the pioneers had done good work, but so had local body men. He believed there was no other district which would carry so many cows to the acre and had such a big proportion of tarred roads. With the population of the dairying districts armies of workmen would be necessary to keep metal roads in order. Mr.' Pacey also paid a tribute to the work of the Government and members of Parliament. The district was to be congratulated on the amenities it had. The settlers had rallied round the South Taranaki Power Board, which had been a great boon. “Many of'them have gone to their eternal rest, but many are with us today,said Mr. J. W. Snowdon, in pro-

posing the toast of ‘'Old Identities and Old Scholars.” Could they in their wildest dreams have imagined the present condition of . the country? Many of the old scholars of the school had made their mark. There were such men as Mr. B. McCarthy, a former dux of the school, and Mr. J. S. McKay. Then there were the old pioneers, among them Mr. J. J. Patterson, who from the local blacksmith had become the largest dairy farmer in the woi Id. There were many old pioneers present, one nearly 100 years of age., Mr. McCarthy, as an old boy of the school, recalled that he was one of the first scholars and a son of active pioneers. His parents had played their part in developing the district. The pioneers had had to clear the land and brin<r it into cultivation. If they came empty-handed they brought the priceless gifts of grit and determination. The result could be seen in the fertile countryside and the amenities it enjoyed. Mr. McCarthy referred to the splendid services of the Rev. G. Wilkes, who as the first schoolmaster had laid valuable foundations; of Mr. J. C. Yorke, a man of culture, who had done magnificent local body work. He was pleased to see representatives of the Maori race present because of the pleasant memories of the chiefs Manaia, Ngatai and Pihama. Mr. W. T. Wells supported Mr. McCarthy. He was proud to be alive to meet so many of his old friends, people he had lost sight of for years. They had seen bad times in the past; he had lived through slumps. He had the areatest faith that the country would come through if all pulled together. The farm hands had met the slump better than any other class of workers. He wished everybody good luck. Mr. Paterson said he was pleased to meet so many old friends and thanked various speakers for their kind references to him.

ONE OF HIS HAPPIEST DAYS. Mr. W. 9- Glenn said it was one of the happiest days of his life to come back and meet his old friends, pakeha and Maori. He recalled the old Maori War games at school when one side was led by Mr. D. J. Hughes and the other by the late Mr. Henry McLean. At the school he had learnt sportsmanship. He had great affection for the old school, if not for education’s sake. The breaking in of the country was a tremendous proposition. B. McCarthy and Mary McGovern were th'e first pupils to win scholarships, but they were not the only ones. The school had a splendid record in war and peace. The present generation should not worry about their fight; their predecessors had been through it before and had won. Mr. W. Young also spoke, referring to the early ’Bo’s on the plains, when his father made an attempt; to exterminate the pigs. The town was named after Manaia, who had been friendly disposed to the pakehas. Mr. Young told several stories of life in the district at that time. Mrs. J. Campbell, an old pupil, proposed the toast “The Old Teachers,” statina that she owed a great deal in life io the teaching of her late master, Mr. J. K. Law; also to her Sunday school teacher, Mr. A. G. Bennett. Mrs. C. Benton, in reply, referring to the old days said they were the happiest of their lives. Their pleasures were simple’ and their wants few. Mr. J. K. Law (headmaster for 21 years) was recognised as one of the most capable teachers in the Dominion. Mr. Glenn was not such a bad pupil as he claimed, but wts one of the smartest in the school.

Proposing the toast of the Native race, Mr. jT A. Hansen eaid the Maoris were truly a wonderful pfcople. They had shown their loyalty in the Great War. They had taken an active part in Parliament, notably the late. Sir James Carroll, one of the finest orators New Zealand had ever' produced, and the late Sir Maui Pomare, and in Bishop Bennett they had a leader. The Maoris were great athletes, especially on the Rpgby field, as shown by 'Nepia. They were great musicians. ■He took the opportunity of thanking the Maoris for the way they had assisted in the jubilee celebrations, having spared neither time nor expense.

“NOW WE ARE ONE.”

Chief Nganeko replied in his Native tongue, Mr. Rangi Phillips translating. Words could not express his feelings at attending Manaia’s 50th anniversary. The work they had done for the jubilee had prevented .the young Maoris from forgetting their Native customs. “In tHe olden times we differed; now we are one,” went on the chief. “We must pull together.” He said a cause of difference was too high a rate on the land, bft never again would there be any Maori disturbance. The old settlers should not have come across the Waingongoro River and taken the land. The Maoris had little land left now. Mr. McCarthy’s father was the man who had adopted his grandfather. Chief Whakatutu also used Mr. Phillips’ services, saying Maori and pakeha were working together and in place. The Maoris joined in the jubilee to recall the olden days. The jubilee committee had helped them more than they had expected. He had good feelings in his heart for the way the Europeans had helped in recalling old customs. Mr. A. J. Christie proposed the toast of the Press. He ■ congratulated the newspapers on the jubilee supplements, which were a credit to themselves and a compliment to Manaia. Messrs. T. C. List and P. Bond replied. The setting of the tables and the waiting were done by old pupils of the high school.