EARLY SETTLERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 11

EARLY SETTLERS.

RECORDS OF THE PAST. HISTORICAL SOCIETY FORMED. AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETDTG. Definite steps in the matter of going into £he early history of the Dominion were taken at a meeting called- for the purpose fit the Town Hall last evening. The Acting-Mayor (Mr. John Smith) presided over- a gathering of about thirty ladies- and gentlemen, all of whoa, appeared to be very enthusiastic. The chairman expfaiued the objects of the meeting. They might, he said, be rather Jate in starting, but one warf astounded when one remembered- how much nad happened in 70 years. la a long iist of naniee he had, only two were living to-day. Promises of a6si6iar.ee had been received from several quarters. Mr H. Baillie, who. acted as secretary, read apologies from Mcfsre. B. Tveqiear, W. T. Dunn. \Greytovrn), W. fl. "Bennett, Len M'Kenzie, A. Hamilton, J. J. Tame, Will Lawson. and S. Percy Smith, for absence. The lastnamed stated Ihat some years ago Dr. Hocken and he discussed the question, and agreed that suoh a society as proposed would meet a want. They agreed that a periodical should, be published. CITY LIBRARIAN'S SUGGESTIONS. Mr. Baillie said that the peg on which the meeting hung was the Jubilee Fund now vested in the City Council. He read a report to the chairman of the Library Committee of the City Council, submitting suggestions as to the disposal of the money now held io trust for the promotion of aa_ old settler's section, in connection with the library. The conditions attached to the fund, he said, would keep ", the expenditure within rather narrow limits. Among other things it provided for the collection of autographs of those who came in, the ships sent- out -by the New Zealand Company. As it was now over 70 years since those vessels arrived, it was evident that very few autographs could be secured except from documents. Twenty years ago it -would not have been difficult to get quite a number of the pioneers to sign a roll. With the aid of the local press, a list of th© survivors, or their descendants now living, might be secured, and by the same, means photographs or portraits might be obtained. A few oil paintings of prominent officials of the early days wejre presented by tht> late' Thomas Mackenzie to the Library, beyond doubt intended to form the nucleus of the portrait collection.^ For the 'want of wall space, these pictures were sent to .the Town. Hall, where they now hang. Photographs of Wellington, at various periods would be - especially interesting and could probably be et cureiL. Books dealing with, the New Zealand Company's settlements might be' purchased, but was fy wise for the committee to spend money in order to duplicate or triplicate other valuable collections now in the city? The Parliamentary Library was making a specialty of all literature relating to New Zealand. There was the Carter collection in the Museum, and there was the unrivalled collection of Mr. Turnbull, tvhich h^ hoped would eventually be passed over to one of our Wellington institutions. Mr. Baillie suggested that the City Council should encourage the formation of an Qld Settlers' or an Historical Association on the lilies of the Otago Early. Settlers' Association, which was established in; 1898. There had lately- been call® for such an institution througE the columns of the local press. It would be desirable for the council to -.pproach the Government in connection vith the movement lately started by it to form such a collection. It wonM. be preferable to have one good collection. ! The Government already possessed many Irstorkal documents such a» the passen- | jrer L ; sts of the early ships with, he thought, their logs. OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION. At a previous meeting of those inteiested, the objects of the association i v.ere tabulated as follow :— (1) The arousing of public interest in, the history oi New Zealand; (2) the collection of documents relating to;that history; (3) the tracing and indexing of such documents ; (4) the perpetuation of the memories of the early settlers; and (5) to assist the City Council in fulfillingthe conditions attaching to the Jubilee Fund. Mr. H- N. M'Leod moved that a society, to be called the Historical .Association of Wellington, be formed. He commented on the difficulty of securing authentic records of the past, and Baid that the opportunities for recording information were passing rapidly.- In his opinion early steps should be taken in the direction indicated. Mr. F. P. Wilson, in seconding the motion, referred "to the study of the history of New Zealand, which should he taken up. MR. M'NAB'S VIEWS. Ml R. M'Nab said the investigation of the. history- of 2few Zealand was a very attractive proposition, but, speaking from experience, he coold say that a period of New Zealand history was enough for a lifetime. The amount of material facing anyone was enormous. It the association desired to go into the history of New Zealand it -would need the -attention of as many members as Wellington could provide. - He- hopedtbe early pre-Government history of the country would not be neglected. The period up to the Treaty of Waitangi -was enough to occupy him. for fifteen years, to learn a new language, to take several trips round the world, and to collect an enormous amount of material, two-thirds of which had to be jettisoned. _He suggested the formation of a committee to Bring a scheme before a future meeting. Dr. R. A. Cameron emphasised the necessity of having' a social side to the society and entertaining the old settlers. .I«r. G. W. Russell, M.P., said that wlth*ihe exception of the chairman, he was probably the earliest settler in Wellington present, having arrived in 1865. Perhaps a body of a .scientific type should Lie set up to enable specialisation to be undertaken. Societies should be established in each province, to prevent any possible jealousy. A meeting had been called in Cbristchurch to see- if anything could ho done on the lines adopted ir» connection with the Mitchell Library hi Sydney, and much, success had been achieved. He advocated the expenditure of money by the Library Committee if results uromiecd'to be good. A study of the streets of Wellington would prove advisable. The Native history of Wellington, too, would be of interest. Mr. Geo. Hunter, M.P. for Waipawa, would probably be able to supply early photographs 'of the Wellington harbour front More the days of the reclamation. Support of Mr. Russell's views was expressed by Mr. G. T. London. yir. (i. Laureiusun, M.P.. wished the proiert every succee*. It \vii4 d«cidcd that the name of the *a»ociation b& Vet Early Settlers and liUiorical Asfcociaiioa of Wellington. . At the suggesiion of the non. J. E. tfenkinson, those present became the first fti-'-.-iibersv of the acs^ciation. Mr. Baiilie will gladly receive any terords ci ibe pabt, -which nu/ be left *'■, \bb Libi'dry. \ ■ ' GFiriinsr.s elected. The foUowirg officers were elected : — Pitifident, Mr. Lisdon Beat ; vico-preal- '

donts, Messrs. F. P. Wilson, John Smith, G. T. London, and L. P. Stowe ; ccinmittee, Messrs. G. MacMorran, W. A. Edwards, R. K. Lyon, Len. M'Kenzie, W. H. Bennett, A. Hamilton, H. I N. M'Leod, Dr. Cameron, and the Hon. J. E. Jenkinson.