OLD COLONISTS' REUNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 300, 18 December 1911, Page 2

OLD COLONISTS' REUNION.

A THANKSGIVING SERVICE. IN THE NEW TOWN HALL. The annual re-union of old colonists was held in Auckland to-day. In the forenoon a thanksgiving service was held in the new Town Hall, and in the afternoon a, social garnering was held to commemorate the tounoing of Auckland, and the anniversary of the arrival of the pioneer colonists by the ships ''.Duchess of Argyle, June Gilford, Brilliant, and other pioneer vessels. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr) presided on each occasion, aud it was estimated that at least old. colonists and their descendants took part in the thanksgiving servioo in the morning..

These reunions are the result of a compact made when, on 10th October, 1542,. sonie <iso passengers landed in Auckland ffoni the Old' Country by the ship Duchess of Argyle and' the barque J&ne Gilford. For many years, and up till last year, the thanksgiving service was held in old St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Which " was" build by vhe early pioneers, a great many of whom were from -Scotland. A social reunion at the end of the thanksgiving service was held in ihe Choral Hall, Symonds-street, but both these buildings were invariably too small to accommodate all wTio weVc entitled t'o receive invitations. A distinctive feature of" the old colonists' reunion this year is the fact that it is being held in conjunction with the series of celebrations in connection with the opening of the neiy Town Hall. The reunion Was postponed from 10th October until to-day, so that the increasing number of colonists, of fifty years and upwards, might have- suita'ble accommodation, and 'be able to takepart in the opening of the'-Town Hall. The thanksgiving service comprised, in addition to addresses by Jus .Worship the Mayor (Mr. Parr), Canon Haselden, Rev. A. C. Lawry, and the Rev. Isaac Jolly, the opening and closing voluntaries on the biw organ by Mr. Maughan. Barnett, the 100 t- Psalm, lesson from the 84th, Psalm, the Lord's Prayer by the congregation, the hymns, "0 God,' our Help in Ages Past," and "0, God of Bethel," the solo, "Queen of Angels," by Mips Fanny Montgomery, arid "TKe Song of Thanksgiving," by Mr. Ernest Parkes, and the violin solo "Sonata in A" (Handel) l>y Miss Ina Bosworth. In his address' the Mayor said that he himself was the son ofgan early- settler, and he could appreciate" the trials and tribulations of the pioneer settlers. He referred to the fact that the thanksgiving service of the old colonists that day was the first' reTigibus service held in the new Town Hall, and said that it would havebeen lamentable-if the series of celebrations had concluded Without some recognition of the work accomplished! for Auckland by the early pioneers. Mr; Parr also spoke of the industrial problems that hacl to be. faced to-day, and compared these ivith the trials of the early settlers. He concluded an earnest address by congratulating the Old Colonists' Association upon the success of their reunion. Canon Haselden, who arrived in Auckland 51 years ago, gave an nterestng adressdi full of reninscences that commaded the attention of the large congregation. He referred to the pioneer-work accomplished by the Rev. S. Mdrsden and to the wonderful Courage of those who first settled' in this.'country. The Rev. A. C. Lawry (the son of one of the earliest colonists) and the Bev. Isaac Jolly also delivered appropriate addresses. Tlie large congregation having sung "God Save the King"," the Rev. Gedrge' Brown. M.A. (ihe-only survivor of the original five Presbyterian ministers to come to Auckland) pronounced the Benediction-

At the conclusion of the thanksgiving I service those present were provided with I lunch in the supper room adjoining the big hall, and in the afternoon a social gathering was held. The programme included organ selections by Mr. Maughaii. Barrett; addresses by his Excellency the Governor (Lord v lslington), by his Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Parr), Mb Lordship the Bishop of Auckland, by the Iter. W. Gittos, and by Rabbi Goldstein; part songs by the 2\.Z. Old Colonists' Choral Association; solos by Mr. J. Wallace Atkinson, Mr. Wiliam Walter, and M'iss Grace Lambourne; a character sketch by Mr. J.< S. Rowe; and a humorous sketch by Mr. Allan McElwain. A note in the official programme referred to a suggestion by the Hon. E. Mitehelson (president of the Old Colonists' Association) that the original Auckland quartet of 45 years ago, consisting of Messrs. James Howc>n, J. H. Skinner. Edward Bartley, and John Henderson, should give an item on this occasion, but owing to the disability of one theo thers declined. Tri the double quartets there were .associated with the first four Messrs. Henry Brett (the donor of the Town Hall organ), G. L. Farrow (now residing in England). Edward Harker, W. Fhilcox. R. C. Carr. and J. G. Culpan. It wpitld have been a keenly appreciated item if all theso old singers, who so charmed their listeners in the early days, could have been brought together on this occasion. .