EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17321, 22 May 1918, Page 2

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. The twenty-first annual meeting of the Otago Early Settlers' Association was held in tne Early Settlers' Hail last night. The vice-president (Mr John DuthieJ occupied the chair, and there waa a fair attendance. Mr G. L. Denniston moved—That all persons who arrived in Otago up to and including December 31, 13t>8, and their descendants, be eligible for membership ,of the association, and that Rule 6 bo altered accordingly." Rule 6, he explained, fixed the date at December 31, 1664. It had originally been fixed at 1861, and then it was found necessary 'to extend it to 186+. The proposal was now to extend it to 1863. It was clear that the date must be a moving one. If they kept to the original date, in the course of time the membership would be extinct. He thought the limit proposed was a very reasonable one —50 years ago. Dr Fulton seconded-the motion. He had been against the previous alteration, but he was always open to conviction. It would do' the association good, and extend the membership. He pointed out tha't, even though all the old -pioneers dropped out, the association would be carried on by their descendants. Were they going to keep on extending the date indefinitely, or might this be regarded as final? Mr Denniston eaid he did not think that was a question they need bother about that nighty The motion was carried unanimously. The Chairman, in. moving the adoption of the annual report, stated that the association was still progressing. It had added over 150 to the membership during the year, and the amount of subscriptions received was a record in the history of the association. This was the result of the energetic work of their secretary (Mr W. Paterson). Air D. Reid, jun., seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The Treasurer (Mr G. O. Proudfoot) submitted a financial statement showinc assets amounting to £5071 5s 5d and liabilities to 2s 6d. The receipts for the year amounted to £357 15s 6d, arid the expenditure to £324 15s Id, showing a profit of £33 Os sd. —The report was adopted, Mr Denniston congratulating the association on having in charge of_ its finances such a diligent and enthusiastic treasurer as Mr Proudfoot. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Mr Donald Reid; vice-presidents— Messrs J. Du'thie, W. Crawley, D. Reid. iun.. W. H. Ferens, G. L. Denniston, and Dr Fulton; lion, treasurer, Mr G. C. Proudfoot; committee—Messrs G. Calder, J. J. Clark. W. Nicolson, J. Hope, E. C. Hazlett, A. _ MTCinnon, J. Loiidon, G. S. M. M'Dermid, W. D. Stewart, J. Brown, Mesdames Hayward and Bamos; hon. auditors, Messrs H. F. M. Mercer and R. A. Duihie. In moving that Mr Dorald Reid be reelected as president, Dr Fulton said that Mr Reid had been at the forefront of the association since it had been formed, and they simply could not do without him. They should certainly consider him their life president.—Mr Ferens, who seconded the motion, paid a similar tribute to tho president. Mr J. Hope moved that 'the matter of printing a complete membershir) list bo referred to the incoming committee, and this was carr : ed. Votes of thanks were accorded to the press, to the ladies of the association, to tho auditors, and to all those who had assisted to carry on the work of the association.