CANTERBURY PILGRIMS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18032, 26 March 1924, Page 11

CANTERBURY PILGRIMS.

first quarterly gathering. A SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION. The first quarterly soci.il gathering held by the Canterbury Pilgrims' Association in tho Jellicoe Ilall last night gave ample evidence that the Association has become firmly established. The gathering was restricted to members, and the seating accommodation proved inadequate to meet the demands made upon it, a number of those present being under tho necessity of standing. The qualifications for membership are fairly wide. Naturally foundation members are those who arrived in Canterbury prior to January Ist, 1854, and their children or grandchildren; ordinary members are those who arrived prior to January Ist, 1871, and their children and grandchildrenassociate members are those persons who undertake to actively promote the objects of the Association; and life members are those who subscribe live guineas or more to the funds of the Association.

Mr J. A. Flesher, Mayor of Christ church, who is president of the Association, presided at hist night's gathering) and in some introductory remarks said that it gave him pleasure to seo such si large attendance at the inaugural quarterly meeting of the Association. It spoko well for the success of future gatherings of a similar character. It was intended to bring back to the memories of members, by picturp. song, and story, their experiences of the • early settlement of Canterbury. On" the present occasion a series of views, illustrative of the early days, would be shown, and would be explained by Dr. J. Hight and the Eev. F. W. Brittan. The membership of the Association now totalled 250—(applause) —and could be easily increased if each member induced one person to join. The membership was extending from the North Cape to the Bluff of those who were pioneers in Canterbury. Mr Flesher announced that membership badges were being provided,' and it was hoped that they would be available before the next quarterly gathering. Apologies for absence had been received from Mr K C. Bishop and from Mr F. J. Hamilton —the last-mentiohed being a descendant of the first Collector of Customs.

The views of early Christcliiirch were then shown, Dr. Hight stating that they represented a small proportion of collections made by Mr Beken and by himself. He hoped that members of the audience who possessed any information regarding the persons, or scepes," pictured would convey it, as it was becoming a matter of great urgency to obtain from early settlers any information they could give regarding the early days. • The slides consisted of reproductions of early pictures of the Canterbury Plains in the vicinity of Christchurch, of the arrival of the first four ships, of scenes at ■Lyttelton, and of portraits of the men prominently connected with the Canterbury settlement. These were explained by Dr. Hight, the Rev. F. W. Brittan adding interesting details from his own recollections of what he had been told, aa he was only a child when, with his parents, he landed from one of the first four ships. Following the slides descriptive of the pioneering days was a series picturing. the . principal buildings O of the.embryo city in the years 1859-60. The slides were followed with keen interest, many of those present being able to recognise the old landmarks in the different pictures. - 1 A short musical programme was given, songs being rendered by Mrs Waters and Mr T. M. Charters. The accompaniments were payed by Mrs M. J. Gresson, who was responsible for the programme, : and who supervised the arrangements for the - refreshments. .