PONGAROA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1939, Page 7

PONGAROA

EARLY SETTLERS’ REUNION

FARMERS’ UNION GATHERING

(“Times-ylge” Special.)

In place of the monthly mooting the Pongaroa branch of the Farmers' Union last Tuesday night held a pioneers' night when, although the weather was threatening. St Andrews’ Hall was crowded with early settlers and their descendants.

Mr J. Murray, who presided, extended a hearty welcome to the guests and expressed great, pleasure at seeing so many present. He briefly explained the circumstances that influenced the Farmers’ Union to invite them to be present, stating that since the hydroelectrical power had become available in Pongaroa, members at their monthly meetings were making comparisons with the present conditions and those that obtained when they first came to the district, so much so that it. was decided to hold a pioneers’ night, invite all the old settlers to be present and give them an opportunity to discuss their trials and tribulations of former days. The gathering was a happy one. Reminiscences and conditions of the early days of the settlement were given and elaborated by the older folk, and listened to with absorbed interest by the younger members. A large table at one end of the hall was covered with old-time photographs and exhibits of Pongaroa and settlers. These were most interesting. They served also to call to memory others that had since died. Members of the fairer sex exhibited with pride photos of the tiny slab whares with earth floors and no windows of any sort where they spent their early years pioneering in the bush, and how when they were permitted the extravagance of a wooden floor it was generally necessary to start the morning cleaning up with a spade before reaching the broom stage. Those present heard from the early settlers how the men spent, their first nights in Pongaroa in the open bush, of the shortage of flour when the supply of the whole settlement was down to one bag. and the single men were refused a supply by the storekeeper and had to continue felling bush while living on porridge, the flour being supplied only to the married men and very sparingly in paper bag lots. The gathering was one which will long remain green in the memories of those present.