EARLY SETTLERS' JUBILEE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15273, 13 October 1911, Page 7

EARLY SETTLERS' JUBILEE.

_ , i KORKftT 11KN DICKSON, 1 1861, Chi Monday evening a number of tho survivors and a much greater number of their defendants a'r*cniblcd in the (llago Ivtrly Settlers Hall, to celebrate tho jnbilee of the arrival of the ship Robert lion- I <jer.«m (third voyage, 11861). under the command of Captain I.ogan, witli 270 passeuijei*. Tlio arrival of t.lio lioborf Henderson IB'il, marked a time when tlio influx of population was very groat, large numbers turning to Otauo mi mvount of tlic news of ;n>M l-Hng found at UahrieJ's Gully. Iho Otago \\ itnoss of October 12, 1861 r,'cords that During the last 10 days we liaVe bi,] nil accession to our population of 2587 ; 34 ships have arrived with 2!)57 passengers, and 24 sliips hnvuig been desj'jitclml with 70S; our ftroets are tbniti!;c(i for a <lav of two, but somohow the |i.*oplo disappeiir, most of I hem coin;,' to the dijuines; tho olT'ft of tl'.o inllnx of sili'h larue nijinliers of people has lx'On very markcil, and tho iirosontotl 1 y the City of Dimpdin, in its thronped drools and' Ihkv population, is wholly mipredec.entcd in our past history." The vivyatfo from land io land occupied B4 <hiys, i Tlln vessel loft tho Tail of the Bank on tho cvonini; of the lUh July, nml ML'-!i;c(l tho finares on l-'riday. fti'tolier 4, nrrivintr ill tho Heads on Saturday, tlio sth, and passing the Customs on Tuesday, the Stli October, 1661. The baud cf Ethiopian poronaders oausod nnicli aniusemont durins the voyage both to yotin; and old. and ivrhaps the lioaily lanehter on the wcaiiotw when thoy cimhibiitcd tho entertainment did moro roo<l f:han tho contouts of l)r SWnorville's tiuylioitio clic?!. It wiis regrettable that tlu*v were not in evidence on the ocoasion of the jubilee. liavinji lict'ti n sjtn'tnl fi'ttUiro of- tlio voyage.

Mr Alex. Miller (chairman) in his remarks expressed regret that so few original adult passengers wore present. That to him WIK a vory sad side of tho Cathering. as !t. b'iotol the etTi*ot tint" had' in thinning tlio ranks. But. as against this was the (•oillpensalitig advantage that the young piwongors had giwvn up to manhood and v."om;inhood. and their descendants were itlcv:ising._ And looking round him that nidit. it could not l>o denied that ihoy lonked as if the country and climate had a Creed' with them. He ar.d, iio doubt "tI» ;, T follow ivissensrerK, ootild not lioln contrasiihg tho Dimedin of to-<lay with the l'linodin when they arrive.!. There were thou no tnims arid pal.hed streets, but bullot'k <lr:iw and "waggons. The streets, to suv the least of it, were very deceptive. for ono was not very Sure when ho put: his foot down -whel-her iio would not leave his shoo in tho mud. The mud. though not so black as the mud on ths) streets to-day. bad ccrtainly the special quality of adhesiveness.

.Letters were received from Mrs Angus iVl'hail. Tapalmi, and Mrs Marparet DufT (nee Shepherd), Kdievale. ivi-hing Iheir fellow passengers and their do.'centlani's a happy gathering.

Among the paweij?ors tiresent were tho following:—Mr Alex.. Miller, Roslvn: Mrs ('harles RjnitJi street; Mrs Willi,im Wright, Union street; Mrs John Waudi, Bunodin; Mr W. Taylor, Waipahi; Mr Daniel M'Bhefsou, Dunoflin; Mrs Millig.tn (nee Oornian), Matanra Island; Mrs it A. Johnstone (nee Waughl. Qnoen s-treet; Mrs David Wishark (ne<> Bene), ttfant street; Mrs Ait Icon fnee Heidi. Otokia; Mrs Walsh tnee MTherson), Dunedin; Mr Daniel Anderson, Mosgiel; Mrs John Murdoch, St. Clair; Mr Duncan Ross, Litileboiirne; Mr William SutJiorland. I.awrence; Mrs Bosciav (nee Rao), Liwrenco; Mrs Ilor'lert (poo Wrieht), Union street; Mr Adam Wangle St. Kilda; Mrs John Donaldson (nre Watigh), Ivew.

The intervals for renewi'iir* acquaintance with shipmates, and the partaking of refreshments proved to old and young alike a most enjoyable time, and "many were the incidents durin? the voyace recalled and related. and Mrs Rope's kindly supervision added to the homely feeling. The musical portion of Vie programme, arranged by Messrs Phnrles liege and Alew "right, was greatly appreciated, the orchcstha rendering it number °f items diiririg the evening. Mo.«r-i Paget C'.nle and A ; . Martin gavo piano solos, and A. W. \\ ilheluifon and T. Ritchie contributed the vocal items. The gramophone selections the superintendence, of Mr T. Ritchie, of Charles, and Co., were ".11 tliat, could lie desired, ami Mrs Charles Hogg, junr., nhly filled lit" position -if aoMtnpniist. A dance for the defendants followed, and the singitig of " Aiild laiig .syne" brought a most enjoyable reunion to a close.