A BUSY LIFE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 January 1932, Page 4

A BUSY LIFE

PIONEER IN 86th YEAR. ALFREDTON SETTLEMENT. Closely associated with the early settlement of the Alfredton and Tiraumea districts, and for ten years in in Masterton, Mr Eli Smith, J.P., despite the hardships inseparable in the lives of pioneers and the difficulties attendant on the necessity to home out of the virgin bush, is now in the 86th year of an active and, at times, a strenuous life. Ho retired only recently but he still takes a keen interest in. public and political affairs which have engaged his attention for so many years. He was a member of the old Wairarapa North County Council for no less than 16 years and for a time its chairman. A Liberal in politics, Mr Smith played a not unimportant part in that sphere of public service, being chairman of district committees. Although he holds strong convictions he, however, is always ready to listen to the other fellow and respect* his opinions. In discussion Mr Smith by his long experience of public matters contributes something of value to the deliberations. This was a tangible form by his colleagues of the Wairarapa North County Council and settlers of the district, when he resigned his seat on the council in 1902 on selling out his holding, by the presenta-Hw tion of a suitably inscribed gold watch. At the time of his resignation he was chairman of the finance committee. Among Mr Smith’s other public positions was chairman of the constituted board of review which heard evidence in connection with objections to valuations in view of land and income tax. On severing his connection with the Alfredton district he went Home, where he remained for seven months and on his return settled in Masterton.

Born at-Jjong Ilitchington, Warwickshire, England, in 1846 Mr Smith with his wife and young family set out from Plymouth in the year 1873 for New Zealand, arriving in February of lowing year. “When our ship arrived at Port Chalmers I was carried ashore on a stretcher,” said Mr Smith when chatting about some of his experiences with a “Daily Times” reporter. “Fever broke out among the members of a North of Ireland family,” he said, and, soon after leaving Plymouth it spread rapidly amongst the passengers. As a result twenty-six deaths occurred on board ship. I myself had been asked to assist the doctor with the feverstricken passengers and two days’ sail out from Port Chalmers I went down with it myself. As I have already stated by first introduction to New Zealand was on a stretcher.”

On his recovery Mr Smith settled in the Hutt Valley at Silverstream. There he remained for a period of nine and was mostly engaged in sub-contract-ing. For a time he acted as an overseer on railway works when the line was being extended from Upper Hutt to ICaitoke. When that was completed he with his family essayed the then by no means easy journey into the FortyMile Bush where he later took up a property in the Tiraumea near Alfrcdton. At that time Alfredton had a place on a surveyor’s map but settlement, as we know it in the townships to-day, was non-existent. Arriving in ISSO Mr Smith leased a house at Eketahuna for his wife and family, he himself going out to a bush-felling contract which lasted about twelve Referring to his journey from the HuYt Valley to his new home Mr Smith ffil he passed through Masterton just alter the cutting of the second Waipoua River channel from a point opposite Hope Street to the rear of the site of the present Masterton Public Hospital. There were no bridges over the two channels at this point then. He has lived to see the southern channel put out of action and the waters of the Waipoua again diverted to the northern channel.

Mr Smith described further experiences associated with his early years in the Alfredton district. Some wcfe ><‘ grave, others gay, and a number of them will form the subject matter of a further article.