EARLY SETTLERS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 129, 2 June 1928, Page 7

EARLY SETTLERS

ANNUAL MEETING BOLTON STREET CHAPEL Members of the Early Heltlcrs' Association met in tho Dominion Farmers' Institute last night. The 13th annual reports and balance-sheet were read and adopted, and officers, for the ensuing year were elected. Sir R. D. D. MacLcan was re-elected president, intimating that he would accept office for only one more year. Tho following were the other officccrs elected: —Vice-presidents, Mrs. Carter, Professor F. P. Wilson, Sir John Luke, Sir George Hunter, Mr. G. A. Troup, and Mr. E. G. Pileher; council, Messrs. C: W. Tanner, K. Smith, C. ,T. Tandy, S. J. White, W. Freeman, A. C. Cheesemaii, and W. S. M'Gowan. Mr. W. Tooinath was re-elected secretary, with Mr. D. M'Kay as treasurer. ■ Reference was made during the evening, as well as in the annual report, to the Bolton Street Chapel. This, said Sir Douglas Mac Lean, used to be a disgrace to Wellington, but he was glad to say that the association had taken the matter in hand. In the cemetery, besides tho chapel, were buried many men whose names were well known in the Dominion. Mr. Pileher later on said that they had gone on with the reconstruction work, hoping to get sufficient money to "complete it. A tender to restore the building for £158 had been accepted, and tho work was been carried out most satisfactory. There was, however, a deficiency in . the funds to meet payment. It was mentioned by the secretary that a gift of an engraved.plate had been received for the chapel.. This bore the words, "Old St. Paul's Church, restored and dedicated by the Early Settlers' Association in loving member of tho Pioneers," and would be placed in a suitable position on the" walls. A pulpit had been given by a daughter of Archdeacon Faneourt, and Mrs. Stevenson had given seats for the chapel in addition to restoring the altar. Discussion on the, balance-shoot showed that the past year had been an awkward one; the association, however, was in a better position financially than it had been for some time past. The'hall, it was stated, had proved too costly to maintain, and the hope was expressed that it would be possible for the Government to set aside some space in the Dominion Museum for aftjU'arly settlers' gallery in which could urn displayed pictures and relics of thiS*rarly days. v The hope having been expressed that the association would get an increased membership, Mr. Toomath said that 50 years' residence in New Zealand qualified for membership. Any descendants or connections by marriage of settlers in the country before 31st December 1870, and residents after .1862 might become honorary members. The report showed the accession of 25 new members and the loss of two by .resignation. During the past year the following members had died: —Mrs. Pinfold, Mrs. Bethune, Mrs. Sinclair, Mrs. -Earle, Mrs. Fitzgerald, Mr. T. Bassett, Mr. D. Asher, Mr. J. B. Harcourt, and Mr. H. Card. "The thanks of the association," concluded the report, "are due to Sir R. D. Douglas Mac Lean for his most generous donation to funds in all directions; to Mr. and Mrs. .Chisholm, Sir George' and Lady Hunter, Sir Harold Beauchamp, Mrs. Logan, Mrs. Kerslakc, and Hector M'Leod for gifts of pictures; to Mrs. Fitzgerald, who left a posthumous gift of a piece of. tho Orpheus in tho form of a book carved from a piece of tho hull of that vessel; to the Social Circle for their efforts in entertaining the members of the association throughout the year and for holding the fair; to Lady Stout, Mrs. S. Brown, Professor AVilson, and Mr. White for their donations; to the artists who assisted at our social functions, and. to tho Press whose columns are always open to us."