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The “Timaru Herald” 14th December 1925 shows
(From Our Own Correspondent)
75th Anniversary of Province
The 75th anniversary of the arrival at Lyttelton of the first four ships of the Canterbury settlement was commemorated in Temuka yesterday morning, when a special service organized by the Mayor and councilors, and attended by many pioneers, was held in the Methodist Church. Amongst those present were the Mayor (Mr G. B. Cartwright), Councillors W. F. Evans, J. B. Sinclair, A. H. Fenn, A. W. Buzan, D. White, D. McInnes, J. S. Lee, T. Gunnion, and the Town Clerk (Mr A. J. Macpherson). Councillor J. J. Ellis, represented the Geraldine County Council.
The pioneers gathered at the Post Office, and amongst their number was Mrs L. H. Rooke, who arrived at Lyttelton in the ship “Cressay” (one of the first four ships), seventy five years ago. The old folk were motored to the church, headed by the Pipe Band and Mayor and Councilors.
There was a very large congregation, and the service, which was a most impressive one, commenced with the hymn. “O God Our Help in Ages Past.” The Psalm was the 103rd, commencing “Bless the Lord, O My Soul.” The preacher, the Rev. R Richards, in referring to the pioneers, said: We meet to celebrate a diamond jubilee, to witness that three quarters of a century have rolled by since the pilgrim band of old pioneers laid the foundations of future greatness in this southern province. Many of that stalwart band have long since gone to their eternal rest, but we are proudly and affectionately greet the old pioneers who are with us today, and pray for the continuance of Divine blessing upon them and their work. No one can think upon the early beginnings of the province without realizing how rapid has been the growth within so short a time, without paying a tribute to those early settlers whose tireless energy and dauntless perseverance overcame every obstacle and converted a waste into a wonderland. With simple tools and many a makeshift implement they made clearing in the tussocky country or back in the hills; they took up land, built themselves houses, and made a home in the wilderness. They were men of energy and strong heart, who pushed their way through many difficulties. We of the younger generation hail them today with glowing veneration. We realize that other men laboured, and we are entered into their labours. May we have grace and courage to carry on not unworthily the work they have handed down to us. Do we sufficiently consider our history, and the great heritage which is ours? And, at last, what is the secret of our progress? Is it the genius of race, the accident of locality, the foresight of our founders? Is it not rather, in all these things, the good governance of God? The warp and woof of our national life, from pioneer days down to the present is founded upon Divine and Biblical concepts, and our colonizing greatness is not so much the result of cleverness as of God’s over ruling love. Our pioneers were great men, great in their religion as in other things, and they teach us that our one supreme need today is to consider our attitude towards God, the God of our fathers.
The sermon was on the soul’s glory, based on the words. “We are changed from glory to glory.” The preacher spoke of the last glory of humanity according to Jewish conceptions, and of the power of religion to impart a new glory and dignity. There was a threefold glory chain in Christian thought, and each link was very different from the common ideas of men generally. They were the innate glory of human life, as opposed to the pessimistic views of many writers and thinkers. There was also the glory of going on, and old age was not to be looked upon as evil, but as a glorious thing in itself. Lastly there was the glory of the hereafter. Many of our obituary notices were distinctly gloomy, and we were often inclined to look upon death as a doubtful adventure at best. But in the Christian vision there was no doubt, but a great glory.
Thanks are due to those who place their cars at the disposal of the pioneers.
The Pioneers
The following is a list of those to whom the Council sent invitations, many of whom attended the service: