OLD IDENTITIES PICNIC.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 12

OLD IDENTITIES PICNIC.

AN OUTING AT WINGATUI,

The many early settlers residing on tho Taieri Plain and in the surrounding districts hold their annual picnic on Ahe Wingatui RaoceourGo on Thursday. The local committee, with Mr J. .J. Kamsay as an energetic secretary, and the secretary of the Otago Early Settlers' Association (Mr L. Lang lands), bad made complete arrangements for the day, and the> msi tors found, on their arm al, that the way had been nicely paved to their comfort and enjoyment. Quite a number travelled from Dunedin by special train, and sottlers and their families came from all over the plain and from over the hills. The sight in. the paddock was a picture in itself. There were about 60 tiap-> standing around, and under the gum trees the horsos were tethered to tho fence, waiting patiently while their owners were making merry on the green or drinking tea in a quiet corner and chatting of old times with friends they had not met for years. From first to last the proceedings v. ere lovial and free, and when pome of the old folk, in recalling the cloys of their youth, had become. ju?t a wca bit cxc.ted, a gcMitlo shower from the heavens came upon them and cooled their ardour. Seme of them, really did seem to forget that they aro getting up in years. A well-known farmer who went to the Taicii when it was houseless vras seen dancing on the lawn to tho music of tho bagpipes, outstaying a friend who was considerably his junior; and a lady of 70 summers took part in a foot race, showing good speed until heads were turned for home, when, on account of some, jostling, she fell, and thereafter vras out of the running. There were races for tho juveniles (boys and girls>), a tug of war, rides on the motor car, and other diversions which helped to pass the day -pleasantly Everybody had brought their own baskets of edibles, and the committee' provided sugar

and tea. The racecourse lends it&olf splendidly for the purposes of a picnic. If 0119 gets tired of walking on the lawn or wandering in the paddocks there are plenty of beats Rear at hand, and the outlook across the plain is 0110 that cannot but be admired.

Among the many visitors was Mr Donald Reid, M.H.R. for the Taieri. There woro aLo very early settlers p.-csc-ni, including a few — there- are not so very many nov. — who came to Otago before tho fifties.

Tho comniittse in charge of affairs consisted of Mr D. Reid (prc-sul MesdamcS Rhand (Keith Hall) and Aitkcn. Messrs T. Aitken (Mayor of Mc^glei), W. Blnekie, A. Clieyne, F. Choyne, W. C. Todd H. H. IP£.fis W. Allan, J. Gow, F. Wright, ,T. Turnbull, A. Twocd, W. C. Chords. "\V. L. Christi". Andrew Aitken, James Shand. -T. Kirkland, L. Langlauds. A. Goie'on Smith, J. J. Kamsay, and Dr Allar.

Th-e pipers wore Messrs Biuce (Mcmor.s-) anel Dow (Wesr Taieri). The Oldsmobde motor car was lent for the occa-ion by Messrs Hayward and Gsirau. Duuedin.

Shortly bpfore 2 o'clock Mr D. Rrid, «n., president of the association, addressed afew words to the gathering. lie extended l a hearty welcome to the visitor 5 . He was. pleased to sea such a cheerful-lookmi? gathering as they had present, and he hoped) that these gatherings would become, men and more popular. They cculd not forjret that evr ry time they met the ranks ■of the» early pion*cr« were being pra dually thinned! down. Since- their last mechmg rrany had! gone to their long rertinjr-place — men andl women who bed don& noble work in tho early coloni^in? of the country. They hixrl left a good amd noble record behind th-"rr. One of th° objects of their rw iticn w?? to kr«p t!ie m-emorv grren of such dc c orvii><^ people, and to hold them up ".5 r-n examp'o to ilie younger generation. He might -mention the nam?s of Mr Blair. Mr Jam^a Smith (of Greenfields), and Mr E. B. Cnig-.F, who had left them within the part yc-ar. A gathering such as they hsd tbit day tcrved to renew old friendships and create* new ones. They should ail f"cl proud \o belong to the Otago Early Settlors' Association. — (Applause.) He ?=kcd tli^ir support in the work the association had in hand in, erecting a central meeting place in town, where curies and historical records could be» c tored. They intended to have a vrluaHio historical museum. They had secured a sifr% second to 110110 in the town, and they wo aid' prob-ihly bo appealing again for funds w ith which to erect the building. If it were not for the exertions of Mr 1.-angland^ he did not know what they would do. In ccichidmg, Mr Reid in\itcd all present to attend a meeting at Mo^giel in tho evening.