TE ROTI. SURPRISE PARTY (From Our Own Correspondent.)
On Thursday evening last Mr and Mrs Michael Kelly and family, who recently flitted into their fine new residence near the Skeet road, were tendered a genuine surprise by close on sixty of their friends, young and old. The party met at 8 p.m. and immediately proceeded to the new house. Needless to say, the crowd was welcomed with a hospitality characteristic of the true sons and daughters of Erin. The large dining-room was speedily emptied of furniture and embellishments, and dancing was indulged in by the lads and lasses, excellent music being supplied by Mrs J. Eggers, Miss Broderick, Messrs E. C. Stratton and J. Gillespie. The elder folks f ound their pastime at the euchre and crib tables, and the pleasure of all was enhanced by the vocal and elocutisnary items renr'aj-ori at intervals by Messrs A. Gieffff E C Stratton, and, J. Lester. The Ladies of tho party had brought along well-filled baskets, which were liberally sampled at supper time, the words of a wellknown line of a famous Scottish poet "The mirth and the fun grew fast and furious," just about fits the state of affairs as the " wee short cors ayont the twal appeared "on the dial, and it was close on 4 a.m. ere the party thought of Auld Lang Syn" At an interval in the Jig Mr J. Eggers, on behalf of the guests the wish that Mr and Mrs Kelly and family "would long live to enjoy life in their new residence. He briefly referred to the esteem in which the family was held by their many friends and led off the conclusion of his remarks with -'For they arc jolly good fellows," which was heartily taken up and sung. Mr M.Kelly, junr., briefly and fittingly replied on behalf of the family.
THEN AND NOW
Mrs Kelly, who is frequently referred to as tho mother of To Roti, is well known to bo a woman above the average in education and ability, and a chat with her on the early days in Taranaki is always extremely interesting and educative. "Your Own" was fortunate ouough to obtain an audience with her at a spare half-hour, arid gleaned much information of a reminiscent order re the pioneering days in Taranaki. Mr and Mrs Kelly left the County Kildare (Ireland) shortly after being married, and arrived in Australia in 1877. They came on to New Zealand the following year, residing in Wanganui until 1879, waiting the time for Taranaki land "coming out." Nearly all the land between Eltham and Normanby was sold by the New Zealand Government 29 years ago, and Mr Kelly secured 75 acres adjoininc: the railway line^ then in course of construction. Mr and Mrs Kelly came up by passenger train as far as the line was then opened for that purpose, and thence on to Te Roti by ballast train. Although the prospect was not particularly inviting dense bush covering the land their motto was, as a Scotchman would say, "A stoot hert for a stey brae." Mr Kelly set to work with axe and saw and soon built a small cottage on a clearing. The price of dairy produce was not encouraging at that early time, and what little was produced was sold to the grocer for about a third the price now obtaining. Even at that unremunerative price it was not a cash transaction, but the value had to be taken out in goods. By-andbye the co-operative packing factory started on Mr C. Stewart's place, and handled the early settlers' dairy produce for two seasons. Mr Bates, of Normanby, and Messrs Robbins and Peirard also had 12 months each in buying and selling. Some sixteen years ago the well-known Chinese merchant, Chew Chong, who had the Jubilee Factory running at Eltham^ opened a branch at Te Roti, at the back of the railway station. The settlers now obtained better prices 3d per gallon for milk and the dairying industry became more hopeful. About five years afterwards the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile opened a creamery not far from where the Te Roti school now stands. They operated for twelve months or so, paying out very fair prices, in fact some months almost as much as at the present time obtains. The Mangatoki settlers, at which place the company's main factory was running, now decided to start on the cooperative principle, and the Te Roti branch was closed. Meantime the Eltham Co-op, had opened a creamery in Te Roti, and placed the butter industry of the district on a solid foundation. Such is briefly the history of dairying matters during the last 30 years. The present day speaks for itself.
Mr and Mrs Kelly were blessed with a large family, ten out of twelve born to them being now alive, and that they are a happy and prosperous family one visit to their home will prove. They have now 250 acres of the best land in the district, besides 80 acres on the Campbell road, Eltham, The fine new residence they now occupy was built by Messrs Ryan & Sons, of Manaia, the architectural work being done by Mr Gillman, of Hawera. It may be mentioned that very soon" after Mr and Mrs Kelly settled in Te Roti a number of other pioneers came along, and shared in the struggles and subsequent triumphs of opening up the country. Prominent pioneers were Messrs W. A. Cleaver, Broderick, J. Cleaver, P. O'Connor, Chas. Stewart, Hogan, McCutchan Bros., T. Robson, Quin and Pitton. All of these early settlers have proved their worth in changing the primeval forest into a land of peace and plenty. Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, 28 September 1909, Page 8
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