OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS

Evening Star, Issue 17062, 5 June 1919, Page 2

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS

THE ASSOCIATION'S MUSEUM. No. IY.—The Porthaits. Dr John Hislop was our first inspector of schools. Keith Ramsay, who came out by the Jura in 1862, took a leading part in developing Dunedin's coastal trade with the southern ports, and in many other ways he was a most active citizen. James M'Kerrow ia remembered as the chief surveyor. Sir Thomas Mackenzie would have a grievance against this museum if he were the sort of man (he is not) to cherish a grievance, for the only portrait of him that we can see is a somewhat faded carte-de-visite taken about the time when ho was pushing his way into business as a voung man. It wa3 in after years that he became known as an explorer, and it is quite recently that he has found his true calling as the most efficient, the most wide awake, and the most approachable of our High Commissioners. Colonists who visit England say that he is as obliging to the poorest as to the richest. Sir Bobert Stout appears in official rob-63; wo also find a portrait of him in top-hat and morning coat; and his presence is plain in a number of cartoons. His appearance seems to be proof against change. To-day he is only a little'older than when ho fought in tHe political arexsa. Though ho has shifted his resii dence, ho is still one oi ours. James W. Thomson was a Clutha fanner of more than local prominence. Hugh Gourley was for a lifetime before the public in various capacities, including tho mayoralty of Dnnedin. In his ripe age ho practically governed St. Kilo! a through the period when that suburb was chiefly noted for pul»s and ditches. He was a wise and careful man. C. H. Street was largely concerned with the founding of the Perpetual Trustees Company. Henry Harraway, a Bedfordshire man, who was a passenger by the Lightning in 186 L helped to make 'Green Island by setting up his mill there. He was in every way a striking personality. Ha was proud of his big family. We see 18 of them in a group, and three had then died. Ten boys and tho father made ur> a cricket team. The name is not likely to die ont. John Reid, who came by the Pudney Dawson in 1854, founded the firm of John Reid and Sons, and was at one time president of the Early Settlers' Association. John Edie and his wife, passengers bv the Aldinga in 1863, save the name to Edierale. At their diamond jubilee all of their children, numbering nine, assembled to be photographed with the parents. There had been no deaths. A rare record. John Logan, who came by the Constantino in 1854, opened the first bookseller's shop in Dnnedin, at the corner of the Arcade, and he was clerk to the Otago Superir.tendenfc for 28 years. He was father of Lady Stout.* Vincent Pyke served the community in many tv-ays —as lawmaker, authority on mining and horticulture, novelist, and journalist—and when at his zenith, instead of looking about for ease, ho took up the formidable task of worrying everybody till he got the Otago Contra! Railway built through_the Gorge. When put to it_ha _could write very last. He was contributing a story to his weekly, the ' Southern Mercury,' when, looking in in the afternoon to ask if everything was right, he got the facer from the printer that not a line of his tale had come to hand. Mr Pyke said things that did no good. He also did something—a feat. He asked to be locked in a room in the office for three hours, and at the end of that time he knocked to be let out, and produced the whole -week's instalment of the story, neatly written. Tho printer asked what he "should do if there was a bit over when in tvpa, for the folio-win? page had been made up. " Clip it out where you_ like," was the answer. "I'm off." As it panned out, there woro only five line 3 too many, and tho printer who cannot cut out five lines has something to learn.

Judge Bathgate and Judge Ward are both in the gallery. Sir Dillon Bell was in his day one of our Parliamentary orators, peldom seen without a good flower in his hudtonhole—a person of distinction, but, with, all his nicety _of person and dress, he was not too big to run aftar a fish-hawker who was passing the Criterion Hotel and carry to him a wriggly barracouta that, had slid off the basket. Octcvius and Janet Harwnnd were the first couple married, in Dunedin. He arrived in 1837 j she came by the Philip Laing. To J. B. Bradshaw we owe tihe first agitation on behalf of the eight-hours' systemJulius Yogel had no " Sir " to his name when this photograph, was taken. He was in later life denounced as a man who was ruining the country by borrowing for his Public Works and Railway policy, and we see him,* in a cartoon, driving a conch which is stopped at ths edge of a •precipice by a young man named James Allen—now Sir James. It was James Allen's initial feat in politics to beat "Robert Stout for Dunedin East on a wet day, when the crowd said ' : We want Stout in. but we'll vote for Allen, so as to give Stout a hint to break with Vogel." From these " greats " to Edward Devina is a, bitr jump, but they stand quite neighborly in this gallery. " Ca-bbage-tree Ned" looks just as he did as he started eff early in the morning from Manse street with the six greys for Waikouaiti. His whin is in the museum.

George Bell, who " made " tho ' Evening Star,' is represented: and others well remembered are H. S. Fish, Dr Hulrne, S. Slesinsrer, Dr J. G. Smith (of Balcl'.itha"). David Prc-udfoot, and W. J. M. Laraach.