The South Island group numbered some 12 to 14 pioneers. Harold Gill organized the group, which Jim Tait, in time, joined.

Jim was a serious-minded young man who responded to the invitation to hear a transcription lecture by J. F. Rutherford in the Civic Theatre in Christchurch. On arriving there, Jim was introduced to Harold Gill. Harold asked if he could see Jim Tait outside the Civic Theatre the following evening, since he had heard that Jim was really interested in the things he had heard. The next evening Jim rushed through milking the cows and rode his bicycle the six miles to the Civic Theatre. They sat in Harold’s car and talked. Said Gill finally: “If you are sure this is God’s organization then you need to go pioneering now!”

“What do you mean by ‘pioneering’?” Jim asked.

So the arrangement for the pioneer group was explained to Jim. Would he leave his secular occupation and the security it represented in such depressed times? He decided to leave and described what happened:

“Brother Gill called at home for me as arranged. The day was hot and a strong Northwest wind was blowing. I was dressed in a navy blue suit and a brand new hat. My belongings along with my bicycle were fastened onto his car. I said good-bye to my parents and left to join the group of pioneers, still not knowing fully what pioneering really involved. One thing I did really believe . . . I was joining myself to God’s organization.”

Interestingly, it wasn’t until 1933, after pioneering a whole year with the group, that Jim Tait was baptized in the sea one cold October day. On the second time around the island, Jim tried to save enough from his literature placements to purchase a set of artificial teeth. As they completed their tour, he found that he had just the required amount, £25 ($50.00, U.S.). How pleased he was that Jehovah had prospered him in this way to enable him to meet this need! Then, before he could buy the teeth, he received a letter from the Society asking him if he would like to go to the Chatham Islands, virgin territory at that time.

The Chatham Islands are located some 500 miles (800 km) east of Christchurch, being considered part of New Zealand. They then had a population of around 800 Maoris engaged principally in farming and fishing. People there lived primitively, not having seen so much as a bicycle. The only form of transport was by horseback. Jim would have to travel by ship from Lyttelton to Waitangi, a small port on the Chathams’ main island, and he was to pay his own fare​—exactly £25!

SERVING IN THE CHATHAM ISLANDS

So off Jim went to the Chatham Islands, his artificial teeth still a fond hope for the future. He arrived with several cartons of books and booklets. He explained:

“There was not a person on the island that I knew. No one to meet me. Everyone was riding a horse. There were no roads and no motorized vehicles of any sort. I approached a farmer and rented the use of a horse. I made holding bags out of sacks and filled these with books and hung them on the sides of the saddle. I had another sack on my back with my shaving gear and towel, as I set off to cover the island with the Kingdom message.

“People were curious and at night there was always someone who would take me in. How grateful I was for such provision by Jehovah! Some days I rode many miles and would call on only one or two homes. Once I received the strangest directions for reaching a remote sheep station 25 miles [40 km] away. For instance, one landmark was a heap of dry bones where a bullock had died. Here a change of direction was to take me to a particular point for entering a shallow lake, which was to be traversed for four miles [6 km] in a straight line, lest by straying off course the horse and I should become bogged down in a kind of quicksand. I began wondering, Will Jehovah provide for me tonight? Will I be accepted at the homestead? What if they will not take me in?

“It was dark when I tied my horse to the rails at the house. With my bag of books, I went up to the door and knocked. A woman opened the door, took a look at me and gasped: ‘Jim Tait! What are you doing here?’ Yes, it was a young woman who, as a child, had gone to school with me. I was made very welcome. Jehovah God had provided for me again. How happy I was! Nearly all my books were placed at the homestead and next day I made the return journey to Waitangi.”

After spending two months witnessing in the Chatham Islands, and placing many cartons of books, Jim returned to Lyttelton, the port of Christchurch. He balanced up his expenses with the contributions from the literature and found that he still had exactly £25. So he was able to purchase his artificial teeth! Years later at an assembly he had the joy of meeting a sister with a young family who recalled first seeing him when he called at their home in the Chatham Islands.