EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23504, 19 May 1938, Page 6

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION

i ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Otago Early Settlers' Association states, inter alia:— * Membership.—At the beginning of the year our membership numbered 2945, composed of early settlers arid, descendants. Twelve persons thought fit to resign from the association, and 75 members (32 early settlers and 43 descendants) passed away. During the year the death of 26 early settlers aged 90 years and upwards was recorded. These, however, were not all members of the association. On the other hand 281 new members were enrolled. Thirteen were early settlers and 268 descendants. Three members of the association expressed a wish to become life members and were enrolled accordingly. Consequently our roll number of stands at 3091, which means a gain of 233 members for the year just concluded. . Of the several hundreds of passengers who arrived.in Otago in the first five ships in 1848, only three are still living. There are two survivors of the passengers by the Philip Laing, Mrs Souter (nee Duff), of Sydney, and Mrs M. Stewart (nee Sinclair), of Wellington, and one of the> Blundell, Mrs Ann Fraser (nee Black), who lives at Timaru. t Anniversary Celebrations. The ninetieth anniversary of the foundation of the province was duly commemorated by services in First Church and by other successful functions. Attendance of Public—The year just concluded was a successful one in many ways. The attendance of the public interested in our historical' exhibition depicting pictures, portraits and objects of great variety connected with the early days in Otago, continues to increase as the association becomes better known. It is gratifying to note the number of'pupils from most of the schools in the city that visit our museum from time to time. A party of 120 South Canterbury farmers and another ot 60 Australian farmers who happened to "be in Dunedin forgathered in one of our halls and enjoyed a social evening, The combined party was conducted over parts of the museum bv the secretary and other members •of the committee, and all were loud in their praise of the interesting collection of exhibits on view.