THE EARLY SETTLERS' PICNIC.

Evening Star, Issue 11682, 14 February 1902, Page 7

THE EARLY SETTLERS' PICNIC.

At the. conclusion of luncheon yesterday the company were addressed from the stand by Mr Donald Reid, sen., who read letters 01 apology from the Rev. W. Will, the Hon. George M'Lean, and Mr J. Hazlett. He was extremely well pleased to see such a splendid gathering of early settlers and their descendants. The Taieri Committee deserved thanks for all the trouble they had gone to to make successful the gathering that day. It was a grand turn-out, and they had to thank the Hon. George M'Lean and the Jockey Club #for placing their grounds at their disposal free of charge.—■ (Applause.) They ou;/ht to keep up these reunions out of respect to (he memory of the pioneer settlers, who hail borne the brunt of ihc day for fifty-four years. He believed gatherings such as these did good to keep in remembrance the people who were fast passing away. When he looked across the plain and remembered what -t was like forty-five years ago lie could hardly express his gratitude to the pioneers who began the good work, the result of which they saw that day. They had laid thw foundations of the liberal institutions we enjoy as their successors, and it behoved us to strive to keep green the remembnuice of these worthv pioneers. The pioneers left a record woriny of emulation. They were honest, loyal people, willing to do good wherever they could, and the results of their energy were to be seen today . —(Applause.) Mr Caracross. M.H.R., felt it an honor to be allowed to address the early settlers. He. could scarcely claim to be an "Old Identity," and rather thought he belonged to the "New Iniquity." 'having come to the colony in 1862. However, he remembered some of the old worthies of Dunedin well, amongst others Donald Ross and " Craigielee " ISarr. With this knowledge he thought he might claim to be a bit. of an " Old Identity " after all. He need not repeat the. story, so often told, of Mr Monson and the prisoners whom he is said to have threatened to lock out; but he heard that the first gaoler had actually kicked out % prisoner of the. feminine persuasion who proved recalcitrant. He thought it a good thing to acknowledge what we owe to the pioneers—those brave men and brave women who left the Old Land and came here to lay the foundations of the institutions whose Itenefits we enjoy to-day. It had been said of English settlers that their firs! thoughts were of recreations of different kinds. Not so the Otago pioneers; their first thoughts were of kirk and school. How largely we enjoyed the benefits of their forethought thre was no need for him to point out. The grit of the Old Identities was ween in their descendants—»n the hoys who were .«) willing to go and fight for their country ni South Africa. He felt very gratified to see such a gathering, and hoped these reunions would go on; but they would have U alter the date that distinguished Old Identities, and then they would always have them among them.— (Applause.) The following are the rcnults of the sports :

Bovs under 11. —Findluy 1, Williamson'."'. Girls under 14.—Louie Hendry 1, Chrissv Turnbull 2. Old Men's Race—Chas. Duke 1, W. Rankin 2. Women's Race. Mrs Walter Smith 1, Mrs Rankin 2, Mrs Smith 7>. Boys under 10.— Elder 1. M'Ginnis 2. < Jirls under 10.— K. M'Ginnis 1, K. Gow 2. Tug-of-war (Married v. Tjnmarried).— Victory for married men. Egg-and-ladle Race for Men— Smeaton 1, Emerv 2. Ladies'' Race.—Mrs Woolcox 1, Miss Hagan 2. ± menu-needle Race.—Smeaton 1, Smeaton 2, Brocket 5.

Married Ladies' Race.--Mrs Kenton 1, Mrs Ellis 2, Mrs Smeaton 3. Young Men's Race.—J. Christie 1, Smellie 2, Mowat-3. Gentlemen's Committee Race.—J. Gow 1, H. lnglis 2, Dr Allan 3. Bandsmen's Race.—Wilkie 1, M'Cregor 2. Tn the evening there was a "social" ,n the. public hall at Mosgiel, with Mr Donald Reid presiding, and he was supported by Messrs Aitken (mayor of tie borough), Jaffray, Langlands, Marshall, Callender, Charters, Ban', Kirkland, Thomson, Anderson, and Tweed. Short addresses were delivered by the chairman and Mr William. Jaffray (the " G.O.M. of the Plain"). To the musical programme, which proved very enjovable, Miss Chisholm, Messrs Broadley and *G. B. Anderson contributed songs; Misses Renton and Wilkie piano solos; Messrs T. Parlanc and F. Bastings recitations ; Messrs Meiklejohn and M'Lean bagpipe selections; while Misses Wilkie, Findlay, and Chisholm, officiated as accompanists. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the Committee of Management, and to the D.J.O. for the use of the grounds.