Pioneer Social Reunion – 1902

Large Gathering at Ballina

Courtesy of Trove Northern Star, Wednesday 21 May 1902

THE social reunion of the pioneers of the Lower Richmond was held at Ballina on Wednesday last, and resulted in a large assemblage of the early settlers, principally from Coraki downwards, and the district northwards as far as the Brunswick, including a few from Lismore. Some disappointment was felt by old residents in other parts of the district not being included in the reunion, but it was explained on Wednesday evening that the promoters foresaw it would be too big an affair to include the whole of the Richmond and Tweed, and they therefore limited it to the lower river. From early in the day visitors were arriving in town, and the fact of so many with gray hairs would strike the casual visitor as being a peculiar incident of the influx. The gathering afforded the occasion for the meeting of old friends who had not met for many a long year, and it was pleasant to hear the hearty greetings and see the beaming countenances of old men thus so auspiciously brought together once more. The stalwart wirey appearance of these old men was just what might have been expected in those who are left of that band of pioneers who have done such yeoman service in settling the district, and not a few of them as far as looks went were still able to handle an axe, and use the maul or cross cut saw. Hard work and hard living have not in these cases brought about decrepitude of frame, and it needed no assurance that such men must have been blessed with a splendid constitution. It was a happy inspiration that led to the reunion being arranged, and the promoters deserve every credit for taking up the movement and carrying it out as successfully as they did. As an altogether new departure, and a tolerably big affair, there was certain to be some points that, with previous experience, might have been better arranged; but these were mere trifles compared with what was achieved. Messrs. T. Russell and G. McClure were the joint hon. secretaries, and we understand they had some good co-operators in town. and country.

The social was held in the Australian Hall, which was decorated with flags and palms. Conspicuous on the walls were axes and cross-cut saws, and a rum cask in the centre of one table was suggestive of the principal item in early gatherings. The Ballina Band playing in front of the hall was an intimation that proceedings were shortly to commence, and soon attracted a crowd. At 8 o’clock the guests and others began to make their way into the building, where two long tables, with cross table at the upper end, had been laid. Side tables on each side had also to be provided to accommodate the large numbers present, numbering over 200. The gallery was occupied by ladies, who took great interest in the proceedings, many of them remaining until the conclusion.

The Mayor of Ballina, Mr. T. Martin, was in the chair, having on his right and left Mr. W. Nolan (Mayor of Coraki), Mr. W. Gollan, of Woodburn, and Alderman W. Webster (Ballina) and Alderman C.B. Street (Ballina) were in the vice chairs.

It was a difficult matter to get the names of all present. The following list is compiled from various sources :- C. Bewers, Ballina ; T. Borton, Lismore ; M. Brosnan, Ballina ; P. Batter, Swan Bay ; T. Casey, Swan Bay ; W. Dixon, Gundurimba ; Jas. Dooley, Ballina ; J Dowd, Ballina ; Thos. Duff, Pimlico : Michael Duffy, Woodburn ; H. Elder, Wardell ; Henry French, Mullumbimby ; Patrick Flood, German Creek ; Matthew Flood, German Creek ; S. Garrard, Lismore ; John Gilmore, Tatham ; Wm. Gollan, Woodburn ; John Gollan, Buckendoon ; Robert Gollan, Dungaruba ; C. Hancock, Pimlico ; A. Hunter, Ballina ; Charles Jarrett, Ballina ; G.H. Jarrett, Newrybar ; J.W. Johnston, Teven ; J. Johnston, Ballina ; Richard King, North Creek ; J. Kirby, sen., Pimlico ; John Malone, Swan Bay ; Thos. Malone, Swan Bay ; C. Marriott, Alstonville ; R. Marshall, Brunswick ; Joseph Maguire, Tintenbar ; Mark Meehan, Kilgin ; John McKinnon, Coraki ; A, McPherson, Swan Bay ; A. McIntyre, Wardell ; E. McPherson, Teven Creek; George McLean, Swan Bay ; V.J. Norris, Lismore ; K. Nolan, Coraki ; W. Nolan, Coraki ; S. Newby, Bungawalbin ; Thos. O’Brien, East Wardell ; James O’Connor, Swan Bay ; John Reardon, Wardell ; Edmund Ross, Ballina ; James Ross, sen., North Creek ; T. Russell, sen., Ballina ; W.J. Reilly, Mullumbimby ; L.G. Snow, Bangalow ; Denis Shannon, Emigrant Creek ; Capt. Storey, Coraki ; E. Saunter, Keith Hall ; John Thomas, Woodburn ; P. Thomas, Ballina ; G. Topfer, sen., Cumbaburra ; H. Williams. Swan Bay ; William Yabsley, Coraki. Among others present were Messrs. D. Munro, T. Russell, G. McClure, Lewis, T. Temperley, E. C. Brander, E. W. Mackay, T.G. Hewitt, – McCoy, A. Fenwick, A.R. Best, and F.C. Currey.

The Mayor, having called the meeting to order, asked the company to charge their glasses, and proposed the toast of “The King.” He said there were none of his subjects more loyal than were the people of this district so he gave them their King, Edward the VII.

Drunk with “God Save the King.”

The Mayor said the next toast he had to submit was “The Pioneers of the District.” He was sure they would drink it with enthusiasm. At this stage he mentioned he had received apologies from the Member Hon J. Perry, Messrs A. Walls (Newrybar), L.F. Benaud (‘R.R. Herald,’ Coraki), T. Mobbs (Ballina), D. Jarman (Byron Bay), J. Ainsworth (Ballina), and Captain Easton (their former pilot, Ballina). Their sympathy was with the men who had built up this great district of the Richmond, Brunswick, and Tweed. We of the present generation know little of the hardships and privations which those men had to undergo, the difficulties of travelling without roads and without horses. The people of the Brunswick had to walk to the Richmond for rations and carry them back over country without a road. In the face of all difficulties they had succeeded until at the present time the district held the premier position in New South Wales. The people who came to open up the district had hearts like iron. They came on bullock drays or in boats, which were their first means of conveyance, but now they had a railway in one part of the district, and some day they would get the railway here. (Cheers.) We may well take example from those men who had preceded us and the manner in which they pushed on our district and pressed on the harbour works. He had been told that formerly as many as 40 vessels had been bar-bound here at one time. (A voice : 42.) That is not likely to occur again seeing the great improvements which had been made at the entrance. The pioneers had laid the foundation work for the district, which is now the foremost in New South Wales. He would not trespass longer on their time for there were those here tonight who can tell you many anecdotes of old times, that would ask them to drink the health of the pioneers.

Drunk with musical honors, “For they are Jolly Good Fellows.”

Mr. Chas. Jarrett. J.P., responded. He was glad to see such a gathering. It had been the one great wish of his life to see this meeting, and he congratulated Ballina on thus getting the remaining pioneers together before they had all passed away. He could not describe what the early settlers had to face and undergo. There were then no roads to Ballina and all communication was by boats. If you went anywhere on land you had to cut your way through the scrubs. When he came it was seven years after the first pioneers. Getting out the cedar was a work of great danger, and many lives were lost. There was danger from the blacks, and every sawyer had to keep a dog and musket. The latter was the old flint musket, often not as sure as “the shillelagh that never misled fire.” One of the first places worked for timber was up Terrania Creek, and in 1849 a great flood took place, which rose 40 feet in one night, and swept away their timber in all directions, and they were so disgusted with things that they left the place. There was a black north-east gale blowing at sea, and a schooner which had left the Tweed loaded with a cargo of cedar was capsized, but the timber prevented her from sinking. She drifted ashore near the Brunswick. Two timber getters, John Boyd and another man, were travelling along the sea shore, and seeing in the distance some black object thought it was a log which had been cast up by the sea. An aboriginal who was with them, with better eye-sight, told them it was a Marrandoey (a ship). They hastened up to it and found the vessel high on the beach, bottom up, with her masts gone. Passing remarks to one another that all the crew must have been drowned they had got near the stern when to their astonishment they heard sounds from the inside and discovered that someone was imprisoned in the wrecked ship. Sending the blackfellow to the nearest habitation, some miles distant, for an axe, they cut a hole in the bottom of the vessel and liberated two men – the captain and one who had been a passenger. They had had a terrible experience in the vessel before being finally cast up on the beach and left by the receding tide where even a worse fate awaited them had not they been fortunately discovered as they were. As a sequel he related that the passenger chanced to have a gun with him which one of his rescuers was desirous of obtaining, but the reply was that it had cost too much money to give away. He could relate many other incidents, but would not trespass too much on their time. He thanked them for drinking the toast (Cheers.)

Mr. Henry French J.P., said if he could not call himself one of the pioneers, for he was very young when he arrived, he was the son of an old pioneer. He came to the river with his parents in the year 1842, in the schooner Northumberland, Captain Chandler. They came from the Macleay River, where the schooner had called in for the party. The schooner Sally, the first vessel to enter the river, had been here before them. He had a vivid recollection of crossing the bar, and hearing it said before they came it that there was a block on the bar. They dropped anchor in the river a little below where they were at the present moment, and there was not a single habitation at that day in Ballina. In going up the river they came to a sudden stop at what is now known as Pimlico Island. Some bottled ale called Pimlico ale was opened on the occasion, and that is how it got the name that it has to this day. Proceeding up the river he remembered next passing an island, and the overhanging scrub was so close that the yards caught in some boughs, breaking them, and they fell on the deck. The place was known to early traders as the Devil’s Elbow but it is now known as Swan Bay. The next place he remembered was Codrington, where Mr. Daniel Cameron’s farm is situated. That was the first place the timber getters who came from the Clarence settled, and that was when the first pine was cut. From there they shifted to Old Camp Creek, since called Pearce’s Creek, others going up near to Gundurimba, in order to secure fresh water. There had been a long period of dry weather, and the water was salt up to near Gundurimba. The blacks were very numerous at the latter place, and a large number assembled opposite the camp. One man was induced to swim across the river, and while doing so, some of the whites in the most wanton manner fired their guns at the man in the water. The bullets struck very close to him, but he was pleased to say never touched him. The next settlement was at Prospect Hill, to which place his parents shifted. They next removed to Ballina, which was a very different place then to what it is now. He remembered being on one occasion without boots there for three months, until a vessel arrived, and when he got the long-looked for boots, his father suggested sleeping with them. They were taken off, and he remembered they could not be got on again next day. He was very pleased to be present at this gathering, which had been mooted nearly 20 years ago. It had taken a longtime to bring it off, and he thanked them for their kind invitation to be present. (Applause.)

Mr. V.J. Norris (Lismore) said he first landed in Ballina, from the schooner Josephine, and when he remembered that event it made his heart leap for joy that evening to see the gathering of pioneers. If he was not one of the oldest hands he knew most of them of the dead and living. One the he oldest of them was old Mr. William Yabsley, and he was glad to see his son there to-night. He (the speaker) was now an old man of 75, and the first time he saw the latter was 55 years ago, and he hoped there were many more years in store for Mr. Yabsley when he (Mr. Norris) got the invitation to come from the Mayor of Lismore (Mr. Lockett) he did not intend coming, but he had changed his mind, and was pleased he had done so. Mr. Lockett was prevented by business from coming himself. When he heard that Messrs. Coleman, Currie, Stocks and others were not to be here he felt disappointed. The day he landed at Ballina he first saw poor old William Smith, who died very recently. C. Jarrett sen., and Mr. J. Eyles. He (the speaker) came here just from the old country, and expecting to see cities like they had in England. When he landed he was dressed up with a bell-topper hat, frill shirt and tail coat. The first man he met was old Dan Woods with torn moleskin trousers and his legs too far through them. He was rather astonished to hear the old man ask Eyles for his account and see the latter hand over £250 to the man with the tattered clothes. He asked himself, what sort of a place is this I have got to? He was not long there until they commenced to ask who the swell was, and someone coming behind him knocked his hat over his eyes. Another fellow was cutting off the tails of his coat when old Paddy Mace took his part and said that if any one touched his reverence again he, Paddy, would pitch the offender outside.” (Laughter.) Manny Davis was there also, and old Molly Macs, whom he had to thank for many kindnesses. The next sight he saw that day was old Dan Withers wheeling old Bob Chadwick in a wheelbarrow, and then upsetting him in a hole. (Laughter.) He was sorry that the first sod of the water works had not been tamed. If he was an inhabitant of Ballina he would endeavour to do all he could to lick that Lismore. (Cheers.) With their water supply they could go in for electricity, and light their town with it. My advice to you gentlemen is “Go ahead, don’t go backward.” (Cheers.)

Mr. R. Best sang ” Good Old Jeff.”

Mr. W. Yabsley, J.P., Coraki, said he felt it a great honor to take part in that great meeting that day, which reminded him of Darwin’s Survival of the Fittest. He felt it a great compliment to be invited, and the only regret he had was that he did not on the same day see the first sod go up-side-down. The pioneers had worked hard for the present generation, whether they had worked well or not. They had found it a howling wilderness, they left it a paradise. When they came the land was covered with long grass, infested with dingoes, snakes, ticks, and large areas of the country a dense scrub, the river was full of snags, rocks, sandbanks, mud-flats, now what a change there was. The first few years of his life he had spent running about Ballina, and then he was taken up the river. He hoped to see the young people carry on the work so well begun by the pioneers, and if it had not been for them it would still be a wilderness, where as it was now one of the richest districts in New South Wales. He hoped to live to see the first sod of a railway turned leading to Ballina.- (Cheers) – and that work extended to other parts of the district. Ballina was always one of the most hospitable places he knew, and from having been one of the worst bars on the coast would soon be one of the best. He had expected to see some of the old pioneers old decrepit men ; on the contrary, he found them active and vigorous. As for himself he felt as good a man as ever was. (Cheers.) He had shaken hands that day with men that he had not seen for 40 years. He had lived five years in Ballina, and the last 50 years at Coraki. He hoped the young men would make the district 50 times better than it is. Some of the first vessels coming to the Richmond would only carry 700 tons of timber but people began to acquire larger vessels that had been getting larger and larger. That reminded him of a story that Mr. Norris had forgotten to mention of his early experiences when he was working with a party of squarers. When stepping backwards one of their axes caught and partly squared him. (Laughter.)

Mr. E. Ross, J.P., said he felt very happy in being present that evening. In his early career he came from Sydney to the Richmond via the Clarence in 1855. He paid £6 for his passage and 5s. for his dog by the steamer Grafton (Captain Wigmore). He landed at the hotel kept by Mr. Collie, and stopped there two days. He there first saw a man cracking a stock-whip. There were more blacks than whites in Grafton then. There were no roads, and Grafton consisted of five huts. He and others started for Casino, riding, and on the way only met two men and a bullock team. His horse bolted with him and they parted company. One of his companions exchanged horses, and so they got to Sandy Creek for the night (? Myrtle Creek.) Next day they got to Casino, where there was one hotel, kept by John Meanly. It was built of slabs and bark roof. Meanly had a contract for slaughtering cattle at Tomki for boiling. There was no Court-house, and the Court was held in a room in the public house. Going into this room and speaking to another man, a man came to him and told him he was a constable, and he must be orderly. His reply was that he (the constable) was not very orderly himself. He first heard himself called a “new chum” there, and was invited to have “a ball” (a drink.) After two or three days he came on to Lismore and entered the service of Mr. Wilson. There was no road, and it seemed to him it was a bog nearly all the way. He saw more whites here to-night than there were in the whole of the Clarence and Richmond. There were no vessels trading up to Lismore then, and his first work was to assist in boiling cattle for their fat. He had to watch the fires and wheel the boiled meat into the river, and he looked on his work as white slavery. One job he had to do was to take two boats down to the vessel at the Heads with hides and bring back stores. He had blacks with him, who used to land and find their “tucker,” in the shape of paddymelons and “boorabees.” At Ballina, when leaving, he helped himself to half a damper he saw exposed, but before he got his boat away a black gin ran down and recovered the damper. (This must have been another damper to Mr. Ross.- Ed.) We got up to Broadwater, but the boats got aground and we had to throw the salt overboard to get off. It was Mr. Johnson (Tyagarah Jack), whom he saw here tonight, who cut the first track from Lismore to Ballina, part of which was through the Three-mile Scrub. Then Mr. Thomas Borton took the first mail, and, although so many years ago, he did not look so old tonight. Many a time he had to put his saddle on his head and swim the creeks. (Applause.) He (the speaker) had driven bullocks and done all kinds of work. It had been said that the old hands were all drunkards, but that was not true. He himself was not one, and there were many more like him. He would conclude by adding that he had resided on the Richmond ever since that time.

Mr. Ross then sang a song, and was loudly encored.

Mr. J.W. Johnson also sang a song, for which he was loudly applauded.

Mr. William Gollan, J.P., said it afforded him great pleasure to see such a large and respectable gathering, and to make one of the early pioneers assembled there that evening. Down south they had heard so much of the Richmond River that they sent up two delegates to report on the district. They took three months, and went through every hole and corner, and took back with them samples of the soil. When they gave in their report, people began to flock here, and have been coming ever since. When he came, in the year 1866, there were no roads. It was the practice to land at Iluka and turn off the coast at Jerusalem Creek, striking the Richmond River at Woodburn (Rocky Mouth in those days.- Ed.) The scrub overhung the bank to such an extent at that time that in the evening the water looked as black as ink. A man who had been an officer in the army (Captain Marsh.- Ed.) had selected just below Woodburn with his nephew (? brother). The latter was pulling corn and carrying it on his back with a bag, which was a new thing to me. After going down the river to Ballina, and then up to Casino, we decided to select at Woodburn, as nearest to the Clarence River and likely to become a place of importance. The two men who came to inspect the district were the father of Mr. George McLean, present this evening, and my brother Mr. James Gollan, both of them now dead. They had to cut an opening through the scrub to the river and carry everything on their shoulders. After they came there it rained for six solid weeks, and there was a young man over there from the Clarence, who was rigged out with knee breeches, leggings, and blucher boots. He wore out the leggings going through the long grass paying visits to a young lady down the river. After all she would have nothing to do with him, and he went back to the Clarence disgusted. There being no wharf at Iluka in those days, they had to have their horses brought up by steamer, put on a plank in the gangway, and then tip it up, throwing them overboard. Then they swam ashore. It often took three months to get supplies from Sydney, and settlers were hard pushed in the matter of clothing. On one occasion he had fixed a frame by the fire to dry a shirt which he had washed. The wind blew it into the fire, and the loss was a serious one to him. Another incident he remembered of early settlement was that they had a tortoise-shell cat, and one day they missed the cat, but that cat did not come back. In front of their hut they found a big carpet snake, and when they killed it then cut it open the mystery of the cat was solved. They had to go to Casino in the early days for their mail, but in time got their mail from the Clarence. The pioneers were men of pluck and perseverance to accomplish what they have. Many of the men had disappeared, by death and removals, and the young men had to take up the work and push on the district to keep it what it is, namely the greatest in New South Wales. He hoped such a gathering, the first in the history of the district, would be often repeated. (Applause.)

Mr. David Shannon danced an Irish jig with as much activity as if he had been a young man of 20 instead of 70 years, and was loudly applauded.

Alderman W. Webster, J.P., said, although he was not one of the pioneers, he had resided here for 49 years, and things were very different now to what they were then. He came to the river with his parents in the schooner Margaret and Mary, which, doubtless, many of the old hands remembered, and the father of Mr. Ainsworth came at the same time. In the early 40’s his (Mr. Webster’s) father came to spy out the land with Messrs. Hamilton and E.D. Ogilvie. He afterwards decided to come here to live. He wished the old man could have lived to see this gathering. He had seen the progress of the district from the old days of the slide, and people cannot now imagine what it was to have to travel in those days. He did not call the service of those days “white slavery.” His first billet was 5s per week, and he had learnt to drive bullocks and to break in a young horse. (Cheers.) When he first came to the district, in going up the river, the first settlement was at Wardell, and the next you came to was where Mr. W. Yabsley, sen., was living. He had a great respect for Mr. W. Yabsley, senior and junior, and he hoped it had been mutual. Ever since he had been able to take a part in public affairs he had done what he could to help on the progress of the district, but for doing so he had often been sat and jumped on. He was very pleased to see such a gathering, and it was one of the proudest moments of his life to be there that evening. He often wished to have some of the good old pioneers to help on the wheels of progress. He did not intend to go backwards. (Cheers.) They were all jolly good fellows.

Mr. John Jarrett gave some of his reminiscences at the age of 15 which, rendering by the merriment at the other end of the hall, were very amusing: but in our position we unfortunately could not hear all the words correctly.

Mr. W Webster said Mr. Jarrett had omitted one of his best stories. and he would therefore give it for him. On one occasion when Mr. Jarret was at work sorting timber he left his horse grazing near the beach when suddenly he saw the animal galloping away along the beach. After going two or three miles, back he came, and running out to stop him ” Strike – me,”‘ said he. “if there was not an iguana in the saddle holding the reins, and his tail flogging the horse, which accounted for his speed.” (Great laughter.)

Mr. N. Nolan, Mayor of Coraki, proposed “Prosperity to the District.” He referred to the work of the pioneers and hoped the young generation will follow, so that the Richmond River would become a household word and the most prominent district in the North Coast.

The toast was drunk enthusiastically.

Mr. T. Russell, esq., responded. His opening remarks were very inaudible. He said he spoke as one whose recollection went back 40 years. If a shivoo was got up in any part of the district at that time they were all at it. They were not burdened with worldly goods, but they were rich in courage, rich in strength, and rich in endurance, and we would never see the like of them again. This gathering was the greatest tribute they could give the pioneers and old hands. (Cheers.)

Mr. George Jarrett said as long as he knew the previous speaker he was the same old Thomas Russell, and a gentleman. He (the speaker) came here a young fellow of 18 years of age, and had a share of hard work and living. While on the Brunswick if they heard of the arrival of a vessel they went in to see if they could get any beef, and if they got one piece they were satisfied. He had worked for Mr. E. Ross, who was a good master. (Mr. Ross: You could drive bullocks all right, George.) In those days they used to throw in a pound each and have a dance, which was the only fun they could get.

Mr. McCoy sang, “But the cat came back,” which was well rendered and received with applause.

Mr. W. J. Reilly, Mullumbimby, said he was pleased to see here old residents like R. King,

H. French, and C. Jarrett. He went to the Brunswick River in 1873, having first come to the Richmond shortly after landing from the old country. He saw great progress everywhere, which was due to the old pioneers, and he had no doubt young Australia would follow in the footsteps of their fathers. (Applause.)

Mr. W. Dixon next spoke, but in his position his back was to the reporter, and it was utterly impossible to hear what was said. We could just catch that Mr. Dixon was one of the early school teachers of the district.

Mr. E. Ross sung “Uncle Ned.”

Alderman C. B. Street, J.P., said if they did not hear him at the other end of the table, they would understand his position when others had been speaking at the opposite end. He proposed the toast of “Absent Pioneers.” All that could be said would fail to do adequate justice to the men who had laid the foundation of the settlement of the district. We miss the faces of many who have fought the battles of the district. One name he could not omit mentioning – Mr. W. Clements, who had done a great deal for this part of the district- (Applause ) He personally would ever remember Mr. Clements with gratitude. Twice he (Mr. Street) had left Ballina, but he had always come back to the bosom of his family. Having regard to the old pioneers, the bald places on whose pates suggested the advisableness of early roosts, he would not detain them longer, but give them “Absent Friends,” and he knew something of their goodness of heart.

Drunk with “They are jolly good fellows.”

Mr. John McKinnon, J.P., said he was pleased to be present, and considered it was a happy idea to arrange this gathering. He hoped it would not be the last. It would be impossible to get all present together again, but the gathering might still be held. Speaking as an agriculturist, he considered sugar cane helped the pioneers, and was the only crop he knew that could have carried them through. It pulled us through although dairying is now taking its place. He hoped it would continue to prosper. They wanted railways in all parts of the districts. (Hear, hear.) He hoped the pioneers he saw there would be spared for many years to come. (Cheers.)

Mr. A. Hunter said he was the first to bring the telegraph to Ballina, and he came there in 1875. He had done as much for Ballina as any man.

Captain Storey proposed “The Press,” to which they owed a great deal, as also to the shipping trade He also paid a tribute to the early pioneers.

The toast having been honored was responded to by Mr. T. Temperley ( R.R. Times), Mr. T.G. Hewitt (Northern Star), and Mr. E.W. Brander (N.C. Beacon).

Mr. W. Webster proposed the health of “The Mayor,” which was briefly responded to by the Mayor, who expressed the pleasure he had in presiding.

The proceedings closed about midnight with singing “Auld Lang Syne “and many hand-shakings.

Several flashlight photographs were taken during the evening, and groups of photos, of the early settlers were taken during the day by Mr. Hartmann and Mr. F. C. Curry.

Messrs. Fenwick’s steamer Sarah Hixson, on Thursday morning, had a number of the up-river passengers on board, and these were cheered on leaving, those on board returning the compliment. Thus practically closed a remarkable gathering, and one in which, as was said at the social, Ballina people, while doing honor to the pioneers, had done honor to the town.

We may add that the want of light, the interruption to the sound caused by flags hung rather low, and then the speakers not being accustomed to address large audiences, did not raise their voices sufficiently, made the task of reporting very difficult. We offer the suggestion that on all such occasions special consideration should be given to the seating of the Press, who need to hear everyone.

Ballina Pioneers
Although this photo was taken in the 1890s, and not at the reunion,
it contains many of the names mentioned.
Back row: Ray Best, Thomas Russell, George Martin, Capt Lewis, ? , Stan Gibbons.
Middle row: Joseph Eyles, Steve King
Front row: John W Johnson senr., James Ainsworth

Families