In 1939, a copy of an invitation to the first barn dance held in the Waimeas was donated to the Richmond Centennial Memorial Committee.
Mr Thomas John Thompson, one of Nelson’s early settlers, had preserved his invitation and it was his daughter who presented it to the people of Richmond. The date on it was November 24, 1843.
The invitation was written on white card and was very formal in appearance. It included the names of the members of a “committee of bachelors” responsible for organising the ball, these being - Mr George Tytler, Dr. David Munro, Mr Richard K. Newcome, Mr George Duppa, Mr Alfred Domett, Mr Edward Stafford and Mr James Tytler.
Some of those on the committee went on to hold some prominent positions in Nelson and the wider country.
Dr. David Munro who became Sir David Munro, was elected to New Zealand’s first Parliament of 1854 as the member for Waimea district and Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1861.
Mr Alfred Domett was a future Premier of the Colony, famous in literature as well as politics and responsible among other things for the streets of Napier having been called after poets.
Mr Stafford became Sir Edward Stafford, one of the big personalities in early New Zealand Parliamentary history. He married a daughter of Colonel William Wakefield, the founder of Wellington, and he was in turn Superintendent of Nelson and Premier of New Zealand.
The settlement of Nelson and the country districts was a little over 18 months old and, on arriving, settlers had immediately begun the hard work of breaking land and forging a new life.
The Bachelors Ball was organised to alleviate the ‘dullness of hewing of wood, drawing of water and grubbing the earth’ and ‘to get away from the plodding pork and potato sort of existence’ that early colonial life provided.
The thought of having a social event was of great interest and invited settlers pulled out their good clothes, and on the day they made their way to the ball by boat, cart, horse or by walking.
The distance was about 12 miles of reasonably passable road.
The event was held in John Kerr’s barn which was reported to have become a beautifully decorated ballroom with shrubs and flowers set about to create a sense of taste and elegance.
Alongside the barn were several tents furnishing supper and refreshments, and a retiring room, all elegantly lit up. All had arrived by 9pm and dancing to the best music that could be sourced soon ensued. Dancing was kept up until supper, which was announced at 2am.
Many continued with the entertainments and dancing until dawn of the following day, in particular a very happy party of bachelors who continued to eat and be merry.
At 11am a substantial breakfast was provided for those who had remained overnight, which was still a considerable number. In total about 70 settlers attended the ball.
The ball had done what it was supposed to by bringing some relief to a hard life.
