I.

(From the Otago Daily Times, January 23, 1903)

Picnic at Balclutha.

The reunion of early settlers at Balclutha on Wednesday, held under the auspices of the Otago Early Settlers' Association, was an unqualified success. The energetic secretary (Mr L. Langlands), who was mainly responsible for the gathering, deserves credit for its success, inasmuch as about 500 Old Identities and their descendants gathered together on the Show ground. The local committee also did all that was necessary to provide refreshments, of which there was an abundance. Mr J. W. Wilson, chairman of the local committee, had associated with him Messrs Sinclair Wright, Samuel Wright, J. Hogg, W. Shiels, R. R. Grigor, John McNeil, and Peter Nelson (secretary), all of whom worked hard to make the gathering a success. A good number went by the express for the south from Dunedin, and at various points en route others were picked up. Arrived at Balclutha, a number of vehicles were in waiting, and a procession was formed to the Show ground, where the day was to be spent in friendly chats amongst shipmates who had not met for many years in not a few cases. After the lapse of half a century and over, it is really surprising the number of original immigrants who put in an appearance yesterday.

The oldest of the Old Identities on the ground was Mr John Martin, who arrived in Wellington in 1841 and came down to Otago with Mr Kettle, surveyor, in 1847. Mr Alex. Grigor was the first schoolmaster in the Clutha having been appointed a schoolmaster by the Otago Association in Edinburgh in 1858. Mr R. Grigor is one of the oldest surveyors in Otago, if not in the colony.

The Molyneux district, as it was generally called, was one of the first rural districts to be settled, the first settlers landing there in 1849. Prior to the arrival of the Otago pioneers Messrs Wilsher and Russel occupied land at what is now known as Wilsher Bay. In March, 1849, Mr George Hay, together with his wife and family, went round to the Molyneux in a boat designated the Jumping Jackass, built by Mr Roebuch, and fastened with nails cut out of the iron hoops off the barrels used for whale oil. About the same time Messrs Redpath and Shiels, with their families, landed at Wilsher Bay in a boat called the Radymanthus. The earliest settlers in the Molyneux district were Messrs Hay, Archbold brothers (2), F. Pillans, Redpath, Ramage, John Shepherd (afterwards first chief constable in Dunedin), Ferguson, Fuller, W. Mosley, and John Shaw. Messrs Fuller and the Chalmers brothers were the first settlers in South Molyneux. Mrs George Hay is still living, and is now in her eighty-eighth year. Of her sons, two (William and George) are still in the district, and one (John) is chief surveyor at Invercargill. When the early settlers first took up their abode in the Molyneux the only communication with Dunedin page 4 was by open boat, which landed at Wilsher Bay, and from there ploughs and other agricultural implements, as well as household supplies, had to be carried by the settlers themselves to the river, several miles away, to be boated again to their destination. Nothing could be greater than the contrast between then and now, and some of the first settlers still speak with pride of the hardships they endured when laying the foundation of a prosperous settlement. It was interesting on Wednesday to the younger generation to witness the hearty hand-clasps and cordial greetings with which the old pioneers renewed the acquaintance of long ago. Age may have sapped their strength, but it has not cooled the indomitable spirit which brought them through the trials and difficulties of early colonisation in New Zealand. One Old Identity—Mr John Finn—donned the garb which was fashionable at the beginning of the settlement, and appeared in orthodox blue shirt and white moleskin trousers. After refreshments had been served and sufficient time allowed to permit of old friends to exchange greetings, several of the visitors addressed the crowd.

Mr John Reid (ex-president) read the following letter of apology from Mr D. Reid (president):—"Dunedin, January 22, 1902.—Dear Mr Reid,—Will you kindly make apology for my absence at the Early Settlers' picnic to be held at Balclutha to-day. I am sorry at not being able to be present, as I am sure it will prove a grand, harmonious, and enjoyable gathering. Many have been hopefully looking forward to it with much expectation. Our early pioneers have but few opportunities of meeting together and renewing old friendships, enjoying social intercourse, and reviving pleasant memories of the past. Such meetings as you inaugurate today must surely be of great benefit to all. It is a grand thing to have these meetings in the localities where many of the old pioneers reside, who could not spare the time or bear the fatigue of attending the central gathering at Dunedin. it is right and commendable, and a duty laid on us to keep green the memory of our early pioneers; and their children and grandchildren, the men and women of to-day, should make this gathering an annual affair, and resolve to keep one day every year as 'Pioneer Day,' in memory of the worthy band who under considerable difficulties and discouragements. laid the foundation of our free and liberal institutions on a firm basis. Given a fine day which I trust you may have, and I am sure you will be a happy party. I congratulate you on your first 'pioneer picnic,' and wish you great success.—Yours truly, Donald Reid."

Mr Reid said he had not much to add to what their worthy president had expressed in his letter, but hoped they would be privileged to enjoy many more days such as that which called them together at Balclutha.

Mr J. W. Thomson, M.H.R., expressed his pleasure at being present, and was pleased to see such a large gathering. He would not begin by addressing them in the usual style, but preferred to call them fellow settlers—old fellow settlers who had borne the heat and burden of the day for many years. He congratulated them on being present that day in such numbers, after well-nigh on 54 years since the first of them landed on these shores. He paid a very high tribute to the enterprise of the early settlers, who came to this land, taking a leap in the dark. The people did not know what they were coming to, but that did not deter them from doing their best when they did come. When the diggings broke out it soon became known, that New Zealand was destined to become a country of importance, which the early settlers had helped to make it. He hoped, as Mr Reid had suggested, the gathering of Old Identities would be an annual affair, and that "Pioneer Day" would come to be recognised as a regular holiday. Such a meeting as that was not so much for the purpose of meeting one another of those belonging to the district as for meeting those they had not seen for 10, or 20, or 30 years.—(Cheers.)

Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., said he also claimed to be an Old Identity, having landed in the Robert Henderson in 1858. But if he were an Irishman he would have a grievance, and that was that he was brought here against his will.—(Laughter.) He was glad to meet his old friends of the Clutha.—(Cheers.) A quarter of a century ago he came among them as a young man, and he was glad to think that the descendants of the early settlers were worthy of the parents who name here from Scotland in the early days. He had been to Scotland since, and he felt sure that the very best people came here in the early days.—(Laughter and cheers.) Those who came first brought with them to this young country the best traditions of their race. And they had produced a race willing to stand together shoulder to shoulder in defence of the Old Land. Mr Mackenzie called for three cheers for Mr Chamberlain, which were heartily given. Continuing, he said New Zealand had been asked to send out another contingent, and while all must deplore the fact that so many young men were being sent out of the colony, they must be proud that these young men were so ready to go to the front to fight the enemies of their country. The moral effect was the greatest Europe had ever witnessed.—(Cheers.)

Mr James Allen, M.H.R., said anyone standing there that day must feel proud that he belonged to the race of Britishers. If anything made our enemies envious it was that the Britishers were the best colonisers in the world. Those who came to New Zealand first had a hard struggle to fight, but they did not flinch. They had fashioned into a noble land the wild country to which they came in the early days. That had made us the envy of the world, and our successful colonisation was the cause of the gibes and jeers of Germany to-day. And those who came after the pioneers were worthy representatives of their fathers and mothers, and were willing to show to the world that they were part of the old stock ready to hew out homes in any other colony. He hoped the names of the early settlers and the ships they came in would be handed down to posterity. He hoped to see their sons flourish as a bay tree, and their daughters become the corner stone of a temple in the land. He wished prosperity to the sons and daughters of the early settlers and to their grandchildren. If the younger generation did not forget what their fathers and mothers were, this colony would so flourish as to outstrip any part of the globe not colonised by people of our race.—(Cheers.) He wished all present a pleasant reunion, and hoped they would go back to their homes feeling that they had had a good time, and for the rest of the year remember the day spent there.—(Cheers.)

Messrs John M'Neil and William Hay also briefly addressed the people, after which Mr J. W. Wilson proposed a hearty vote of thanks to those who had gathered there to the picnic.

Mr George Calder, one of the vice-presidents, moved a vote of thanks to the committee for the excellent manner in which they had provided for the comfort of all present.

Children's races were got off at intervals, and the music of four sets of bagpipes helped to enliven the proceedings. Altogether a very enjoyable day was spent, and the local committee were indefatigable in their efforts to entertain the visitors. Showers of rain commenced to fall at 3 o'clock, and an hour later the grounds were vacant, all having left to catch the train or to make for home, voting the reunion a thorough success.