The farewell church parade at Knox Church of the No 1
Battalion, Otago Rifle Volunteers on February 27, with the
battalion preparing to move off after the service. - Otago
Witness, 9.3.1910.
A Reunion, under the auspices of the Waikouaiti Early
Settlers' Association, was held at Waikouaiti yesterday in
celebration of the seventieth anniversary of the foundation of
the settlement.
The sun and the greenwood tree wove unwonted patterns of
shine and shadow impartially on heads white as the snows of
Earnslaw; on curls honey-brown or golden.
Some of the patriarchs took snuff; others smoked calumet, the
peace pipe, speaking and nodding thoughtfully between whiffs.
The damsel, conscious of having "milked her 23" before
breakfast, wore an air of relaxation, together with a frock
of the Second Empire and soulful head-gear.
"Mamma" was reminiscent in a matronly way, kept a wary eye on
the wildly oscillating swings, and took an active interest in
the billy.
The sky was deeply, dizzily, blue; and the smoke of many camp
fires rose thereto in lazy, wonderful spirals.
Everywhere was the hum of conversation; children chivied each
other, feeling not the heat, and myriads of insects fought
terrific but indecisive battles in mid-air, ever where the
New Zealand ensign hung gracefully as though draped.
It was just the day for a picnic, and Waikouaiti, as a
settlement, was three score years and ten.
Noticeable in this large gathering-a record by the way- was
the absence of any discordant element.
No one scolded, none bustled.
There was the right-hand of fellowship, heartily given and
gripped, as is customary with the pioneers.
Old men looked, and looked again, as though awaiting a
presence, and then gazed absently and wistfully out to the
mist, where sky and ocean meet in the veil of destiny.
Doubtless there were memories bringing their throng of unseen
visitants.
There were old settlers, or descendants from practically
everywhere; and one, Mrs MacDonald (nee Johnson), from the
borders of New South Wales and Victoria.
Participants from Dunedin had to leave by an early train, as
it would appear to have been decreed that never under any
circumstances must the second express stop at Waikouaiti.
The morning was devoted to renewal of acquaintanceships and
inter-change of family news; picnic parties arranged
themselves beneath trees or dotted the landscape with white
table cloths and edibles.
The afternoon was given over to athletics, each event being
ushered in by a violent ringing of a bell, clamorous and
dimly suggestive of dinner.
The events in this (the athletic) section of the programme
were watched with interest, and competed for zealously.
• ODT, 10.3.1910.
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