OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2504, 19 March 1902, Page 11

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting of the Ot i~o Eaily Sttt!ei =l Association, held m the- oflice of tile association, was attended by Ml John Reid (in the chair). Messis W H. Fcrens, A. B Meicei, H F. M Meicer, John Wood, <t C Proudfoot, (tirasurei), L. Langlands I'-caetan >, and Dr YV.ll.

A vote of thanks was passed to Mi Alexander Thom-on for the gift of two framed picture', one lepresenting the " Ferntiee Hci.se, built at Halfway Bush by Mi Join) Gorton m Xfc-19, and restored by ilr Thom=ou m 1900, and tli» other a \iei of Dunedin, taken Irom Stafford stieet in 1840, and a photo of Kn'.tiay and Maelaggan streets m 1861. An enlarged photo of v picture of Dunedin in ISIB, ciraw.i by I\lr J. T Thom=on, and very faithful, although Mr Thomson did not arrive m Ot.'go until 1856, and a photo of a picture m the po=-sc-sio.i cf Mr De Maus, Port Chalmers, showing the fir<-t ship, John Wickhh'c, at anchor at Port Chalmo-s in 1848, and the- Philip Laii><,' just arriving, taken from a paint. m» by Captain Robertson, were produced by Mr Lan^lands, and added to the rapidly increasing collection on view at the office.

The Secretary reported th?t a picnic, promoted by the Taicn residents, under the .mpices of the association, had been held at Wn.gatui on the 13th February, and had proved a great success. Over 2000 persons hael been present, aud the arrangements made by the respective committees of ladies And gent!em*ii -.vere admirable, and well earned out The ladies had provided moie than was necessary m the shape of good things of the bc-st quality, and their committee had" a \ cry arduous task in attending to the wants of so many, but none were neglected, and it speaks volumes for them that in spi*e of the pencils discomfort of a soppy flooi, caused by the accidental bursting of a water pipe, they never once finiched from their self-imposed task, but nobly remained at their post to the last, thus piovmg that the spirit of endurance which was so piomment in the pioneer women still exists in a. younger generation Neveithcless they must have felt \ cry tired at the close, and it might be a matter for consideration whether, on a future occasion, arrangements could not be made to lighten the ktiaxii. iXoft_SYC£, as Uu; was the lirst guther-

ing of the kind, no doubt valuable expenence has been gained. The male committee was al'o fully occupied; none spaied themselves and the indefatigable secretary (Mr Walter Biackie) was eveiywhere, diffusing an atmosphere of cheei fulness wherever he went. As Mr Blackie's name has been mentioned, it might be stated that quite a unique circumstance was that he and ins family present lepresented three generations, nati\e born. It was a \ery hard mattei in such a crowd to ariaiige the grotips for being photographed, especially as so many were eager to be so immortalised, Hi* a perfect group was made of these of the Philip Laing's passengeis (1B48) w-ho were present, with two exceptions, Mis James Cullen (Jane Stevenson) and Walter Watson, who eculd not be fcund at the right moment. Passengers a.nd descendants by the Blundell (1818) were also well repressnted; also the committee oi gentlemen (the ladies nad not time to sit), and the pioofs, of tho-e ai d other miscellaneous kioups showed faithful iikercsses. and reflected j.ieat credit on tho artist (Ml Hick-). A bocial, le Mowed by v dance, took place l'l the evening in the Muriel Hull, I). it as these ha\o alieady been fulh reported it, will suffice to say they weie a .-our«.e oi enjoyment to the many pie-<-ent. The Societal y also lpported that the celebration of the Mxiy-'tcond anniversary of the arrival of ih'* first "octtleis at WaiVouaiti, to take place theiP on -tlie- 10th, was being well worked up b\ the local committees, and a most successful lcunion was anticipated. The arrangements to eelebiat" en Annivcr»pry Day. the 21th C2"Sid falling c,i Sunday), the jubiW of the urmal of <-hip«- Co'ninbia, Maori, ajid Agia were well m band. He stated that, in the ab=encf cf records, it v..is a difficult matter to a-e.Ttaiu the names ai.<3 whereabouts of l-js^cncjcrs .uid de<cerjdant ■„ and fcr the pur\w^c ol ; i cling the invitations, as well aa for ).>i.ii".l enrolled mi tlir register of early Fettlcr", he would be fjlacl if all passengers and descendants by those shi'is who had not aheady done ■-o vould coiiiiiiunioat" with him, al«o, that iis n.am madf a prncticp of habitually attending {no 'n.cetmjrs "ho had no right to do so, he ic.o.-nmeiidcd that a bli icier sciuMny be kept at tlii. door, i"icl admittance lie granted only c-ii picducvion of laid -Aupio\ed. 'J lint>--' Ivpn1 vpn new memb'is were Pinolled. -- 1 lit- "ioliowing deaths were rccoided — Jas. Pc'^it'-ou (83), Wnrjd'antls, Puerua , David Wpriw!'-, Invcrcargill , James Mini (OCJ, Portob»l'o, James G. H. Grant (Gh), Duucdin ; Charlefa George Ziele (63), Duued-u.