HAMILTON'S JUBILEE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIV, Issue 3225, 29 May 1924, Page 4

HAMILTON'S JUBILEE

GATHERING OF PIONEERS. AN IMPRESSIVE- FUNCTION. Hamilton’s diamond jubilee is being celebrated in conjunction with the Winter Show. On Tuesday last there was a notable gathering of old identities and their descendants, some 150 assembling at the Hamilton Theatre. Among, those present were Mr Sam Stoele, ffirother of Captain Steele, of the Fourth Waikato, who arrived at Hamilton in 18(54; and the following representatives from Cambridge, viz: Mesdames Sharp and Cameron, Messrs H. and E. WJfor Webber, all well-known local residents, f Mr and Mrs R. Waite, of Pukckura, wore invited to attend, but were unable to be present. Speeches were .given by the Mayor (Mr ,T. R. Few), Mr H. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, Hon. R. F. Bolland, while, at the request of the Mayor, several old identities ami their relations spoke most interestingly of their experiences in the olden daj'S. Included among the speakers were Messrs R. Thompson, son of Mr Alex. Thompson, of the Waikato Militia; Mr Sam. Steele, brother of Captain Steele, Fourth Waikato; Mr McCullough, eldest son of four genera- > tions; Mr Robt. Webber, Leamington; and Mr Davidson, of To Awamutu. Afterwards the.guests were entertained at lunch at the Town Hall, where the- were met by His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady .Tellicoe, who made a most appropriate speech, ami also ii in an s formal. talk with the old identities, with whom he shook hands and made himself most agreeable. The oldest lady present, Mrs Munro, who is 88 years of age, was presented with a lovely bouquet by Lady Jellieoe. In the course of his remarks, Mr R. Webber, of Leamington, gave some most interesting details connected with the settlement of Hamilton. A great many of the Fourth Waikato Regiment, he said, were recruited in Melbourne, among the number being Messrs James Cahlervvood, G. Mclntyre, and Webber (father of Messrs H. and R. W. Webber, of this district). At that time, Mr R. W ebber was a boy of nine, months. On arrival in New Zealand, Mr and Mrs Webber and their family journeyed to Hamilton by barge boat up the Waikato Raver, the only means of transit at that time. Mrs W’cbber died on the journey up the river, and was taken to Hamilton, and interred there, being, we understand, the first European woman to be buried in that district. .Mr H. Webber has resided during the whole of the sixty years since 1864 in the Hamilton and Cambridge district-,, but Mr R. Webber has resided in various .parts, though the greater part of his also been spent in this district. He.an.jL, his brother shared in the exciting and- 5 strenuous times of the Maori war, and * endured many hardships in their young days.