OLD IDENTITIES’ MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 15516, 11 June 1914, Page 3

OLD IDENTITIES’ MEETING

Th© third quarterly meeting of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association was held in the Town Hall last night, the president (Mr J. Mill) occupying the chair. There was a good attendance, and the genial atmosphere of friendship made the meeting very pleasant. The principal feature of the pleasing programme wee a-n interesting review by Air I). A. De Mans of the ©any clays, illustrated by a valuable set of lantern slides, screened by Air 1 expressed pleasure at such a large attendance, and said it was gratifying to sec people present from a distance. . The presence of young people was appreciated. These features of the meeting augured well for the success of the association. ~ ■ ~ The Secretary (Mr J. M’Lachlan) said there- was still'room for more entries in the members’ roll book, and notes for inclusion in same would be welcomed by tbs secretary (Mr A. Leek). A local lady had forwarded an interesting letter containing a description of earlv-dav experiences. The Ladies’ Committee were supplying a cup of tea, and that pleasant feature would be continued by courtesy of local ladies during the winter meetings. The next meeting would ba their first annual meeting, arid the committee intended to make it specially interesting. Since the previous meeting" two pioneers had passed a-way, and unfortunately some of the old people were not in the best of health at present. The committee acknowledged with thanks a portrait of himself from Air W. G. Fail; a present of eight chairs and a hearth rug from Mrs Ritchie, and from Air James James Fairley a photograph of the late Rev. Dr Stuart, also a photograph of the late Rev. William Johnstone. Messrs Hunter and Cohn Alacandrew had written to say that they were giving the association a portrait of their father the late Hon. James Alacandrev. Alessrs Alacandrew were present, and Air H. Alacandrew said he regarded it as a privilege to ask the association to accept a portrait of his honored father. It seemed appropriate that the association should prefer their request through their secretary, Air A Ixwk who was a, personal friend of his father’s. His father's name was well known amongst old settlers. Right up to his death he enjoyed the confidence of the people of Pore, Chalmers. (Hear, hear.) He made their interests nod the interests of the whole of the colony his mission in life to promote. It was with pleasure that he presented his father's portrait to the Old Identities’ Association. (Applause.) Air C. Alacandrew spoke in similar terms, and referring to early days said he came down to Port Chalmers over 63 years ago to open the first Presbyterian Chui'ch at the Port. Tho President. i>u returning thanks for the portrait, spoke in eulogistic terms of the late Air Alacandrew', and detailed many of the services he rendered to Port Chalmers, including- procuring for them the borough reserve of 3.000 acres at Dunback. In 1870 Air Macandrew moved in the General Assembly for free education, the cost of education at that time being £1 per school child per year. Air Alacandrew was a man whose memory they should reverence. Personally, Air Alill was in dcbled to Air Alacandrew' for his start in life. The association would prize Air Macanclrew’s portrait as one of their most valuable possessions. "Mr D. A. Dc Alans cave an account o f his pioneer experiences. On October 9 1666, his mother and one of his sisters ac compaimcd him to the railway station in Edinburgh, and got tickets for Greenock. Next dav he joined the ship Caribou at the Tail" of the Bank. A goodly numbe of passengers were already aboard. He bade uood-bve to his relatives, and the ship got under weigh. The sea and tinsurroundings were new and novel to Mr D© Alans, and he remembered it al; clearly. The last present ho had was from "his cousin, and consisted of onionand tobacco, but the ship sailed away before these corn-forts arrived on hoard. (LauMiter ) The Caribou, which was commanded by Captain Mitchell, was afterwards burned at sea in 1869. Air Du Mans's shipmates included Mr G. L Denniston and Air Chisholm. The monotonv of the vovage was relieved by marr incidents whlih Air Dn Alans described very entertainingly. On the 10th of February the Caribou arrived at Otagi Heads. ‘Then the lantern slides of pioneerday scenes wrn the audience's warm appreciation. A programme of vocal and instrument?.' items was contributed by Aliases Shanks and Booth. Air Robb, Air Aleyer. MisMTvenzie, Miss Pat on, Airs J. Alorgan. Miss Casev, Miss Dodds, and Mrs White.