OTAGO'S EARLY SETTLERS

Evening Star, Issue 11642, 31 August 1901, Page 3

OTAGO'S EARLY SETTLERS

The annual gathering of members of the Otago Early Settlers'. Association, held in the Victona Hall last night, was very largely attended, the fine weather enabling many oi the surviving 'pioneers to venture out and join with their descendants in making the meeting profitable and pleasant. Mr Donald Reid, the president, took the chair, but was unable to speak, owing to an attack of influenza, and he had to get Mr E. B. Cargill to carry out the active duties. Both these members are old identities, Mr Keid having arrived per Mary in 1849 and Mr Cargill in 1857; but there were several present who could give' both gentlemen a start in respect to colonial experience, the company including several "first ship" settlers. We saw at the meeting Mr Jas. Smith, of Greenfield, who came to Nelson in 1842 and reached Otago in 1848; Mr W. Martin, who arrived at Wellington in 1840 and came South fifteen years later; also Mrs Bannerman and Mrs Henry Livingston, daughters of the Rev. Thos. Burns and passengers with him by the Philip Laing; and besides these there were in attendance Mrs Churchill, Mrs Findiay, Mrs Walsh, Mrs Sinclair, and Mr Robert Barr, who came by the Philip Laing; Mr T. Somerville (Blundell) and Mr L. Langlands (Victory), dating from 1848; Mrs Charles Reid (Mary), Mr Jas. M'Neill of Balclutha (Mooltan),, and Mr G. Calder (Mariner), 1849); Mr W. Baskett (Maori), Miss Dalrymple, and Mr T. C. De Lacy (Royal Albert), 1853; Mr John Reid (Pudsey Dawson) and the Rev. W. Bannerman (Stately), 1854. This is by no means a comprehensive list of the old identities present, but it will serve to give an idea of the representative nature of the assemblage and to recall names that are respectfully associated with the formation of the Otago settlement, and the laying of foundations that will never be obliterated, come what may. . The proceedings commenced with a duet for violin (Mr Hunter) and pianoforte (Miss M. Coombs), the piece chosen being a selections of airs from 'La Traviata.' Mr Cargill then gave a short address in the course of which he expressed his appreciation of the work of the Association, and paid a tribute of respect to the early settlers who had laid the foundation of colonial life broad and deep and established institutions that now gave the people equal opportunities with those of the Old Country. Our old settlers were fast passing away, but it was to bo hoped that their descendants would lay to heart the principles of rectitude and industry and the fear of, God and all that went to make a people strong and great. The speaker concluded by relating that on one occasion, when standing as a candidate for the Provincial Council, he advised the colonists not to be led away from their habits and forms by the example of the new-comers from Victoria who were then rushing into Otago. He. counselled his hearers to value their identity—to stick to their old identity as something to be proud of. Mr Cargill did not expressly say that that was the origin of the phrase "old identity," but he left it to be\inferred. Miss Doris Black played a violin solo, accompanied by her sister Elsie, and was thanked by a hearty round of applause, after which Mr J. P. Armstrong gave a short address, recounting his recollections of persons and places that he saw when he first came from Victoria, forty .years ago this month. " One of the first men I met," said the speaker, "was Mr Julius Vogel, who looked at me but didn't see me."— (Laughter.) 'He found the people here mostly Scotch; "and I may tell you," added Mr Armstrong, " that I'm an Irishman."—(Roars of laughter.) But his forefathers were Scotch, and when thev emigrated to Ireland they were very little better than the Scotchmen of their time. —(Laughter.) He found the people here, however, very kind and considerate. When he got into the Provincial Council he followed Mr Donald Reid, and felt that in doing so he could not go wrong, for Mr Reid was an honest man—(applause)— and everybody believed in him, as they still did.—(Renewed applause.) He had often made it his business to go round the churches, and he might say that he had never found a minister with so much dignity in the pulpit as the Rev. Thos. Burns had.—(Applause.) Mr Cargill had told the meeting something about the term 'old identity," and he (Mr Armstrong) might add that the first he ever knew of the "old identity" being coutrasted with the "new iniquity" was in a prayer by the Rev. T. Burns! [This we believe to be a mistake on Mr Armstrong's part. The phrase "new iniquity" was first uttered by Dr Burns—the Dr Robert Burns who is still gaol surgeon.—Ed. E.S.] Tea and sandwiches were then handed round and time afforded for the renewing of old friendships. Later in the evening Miss Logie and Mr Wilhelmson sang and Mr John Blair gave a short address.