OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13516, 13 February 1906, Page 3

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting of the Otago Early Settlers' Association, held in the office of the association yesterday evening, was attended by Messrs Donald Reid (in the chair), Duthic, Brobnor, Brugh, Orawley, Ferens, Proudfoot (treasurer), and Landlands (secretary). The Secretary reported that Iho sixtysixth anniversary of the settlement' of Waikouaiti was celebrated there with great enthusiasm on the 7lli February under most favourable weather conditions. A large committee (ladies and gentlemen), with Mr Thomas Smith (Mayor) as chairman and Mr Thomas Allcoofc local secretary, was untiring in its efforts to make it an enjoyable time for the visitors, and was most successful. Most liberal arrangements were made to supply the wants of all, and with music, sports, etc., the.day passed all foo quickly. Tho worthy local secretary (Mr Thomas AJlcock), in spite of his years. carried out his duties with undiminished energy, and it is satisfactory to kiiow ho has accepted office as representative of the association to enrol members and receive subscriptions. Some characteristic photos wore taken, which will appear in the Witness next. week.

Tho Balclutha gathering takes place on Friday, tho, 16th. Excursion rates for tliat. date are advortised for tho 8.25 or 8.55 a.m. trains, tickets being available for Te■turn up to and including Monday, liifch February.' It is within the knowledge of tlio secretary that every effort is being made by tho local committee to make this the gathering of the season, and that the neighbouring districts, especially Kaitangatn', are heartily co-operating. The secrotary reported that arrangements for the anniversary gathering on 23rd March were well in hand.

Eight new members were enrolled. The following deatha were recorded;— Alexander Butters, 63 years, fioodwood (1860); Robert Low, 58 yean!. Riveradale (Nelson, 1862) Jnmes Halls _ Lambert, 71 years, Wa,vnrley, late Kensington (Lightning, 1B61) Borthwiek R. Baird, Cork, late Cromwell and Naseby (1861); John Philip Armstrong, 78 Years, Palmerston, late Dunedin (City of Hobart, 1861).

1 Burbank, tho Californian horticultural wizard, has been so remarkably successful in this particular lino that his skill is really little short of marvellous. At his experimental farm at Santo Hosa he has ■ evolved stoneless prunes, has crossed peaches and almonds, plums and apricots, producing distinctively n'ew kinds of fruit, including: the pineapple quinco, having a delicate flavour suggesting its namesake. It is not at all surprising, therefore, that thero should be seedless apples, and it is raoro than, probablo that the samples under notice owe thoir existence to "tho Wizard of Santo Rosa." Upon being opened, the package was found to contain four apples— a fairly largo sample, when it is remembered that only one was sent to King Edward and anothor to Covent Garden oxports a short time ago. Those examined yosterday proved to be well shaped, with an attractive outward appearance, the skin being a rich yellow on the shaded side, the sunny side being a deep brown, streaked with ohocolate-coloured splashes, the whole being dotted with tiny grey spots. The fruit was a nice dessert size,' flattened and cupped at the ends, resembling somewhat a cross- botween the Devonshire Ouarrenden and tho Hoary Morning. On "being cut open it was scon that the apples had passed the limit of their lecoping powers; but as it was stated by gentlemen present that the Californian apple season ends in SepI tombcr, it will bo seen that they must have been pulled about five months ago—a pretty severe test, of their kcepng qualities. The flesh was found to be of tho mealy variety, having a pleasant sub-acid flavour, and there was no sign of a seed to be found in any of them, and very little evidence of tho existence of a core.. The inspection proved interesting in many respects, and the new variety will doifbtloss be given a trial by enterprising orchardists in this colony ere long.