OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2663, 29 March 1905, Page 79

OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS COLUMN.

FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.

[Conducted by Magisteb, to whom all communications must be addiessed.]

ANNIVERSARY DAY

To-day we arc to celebrate the fiftysoventh anniversary of tho settlement of Otago. though it must bo remembered that there were whites here before the 23rd of March, 1848. These, however, were not connected with the company which may be said to have colonised Otago.

Now, I think we ought to celebrate Anniversary Day far more enthusiastically, and I also think that special lessons on the history of Otago ought to be given to the upper standards in our schools. How many children of old identities know why ilornmgton, St. Clair, Forbury, Gaversham, Anderson's Bay, and other places in and around Dunedin and throughout Otago received those names? I wonder how many seniors know the origin of the name and the history of the locality they are in? Many streets, even, have interesting associations. " Pater" in this week's Witness — and last week's, too — refers to local history, and gives an outline of a history lesson, comparing tho Puritan settlements founded by the Mayflower and by the John Wickliffe. I notice, too, that tho March Zca landia School Paper for Standard IV opens with Mr? Hcinans's poem " The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers," and follows with a lesson entitled " A New Mayflower" ; pictures are given also of Captain Cargill. one of the founders of Otago. and of Princes street in the early days and now.

Surviving Old Identities.

I look upon the svmivors of the John Wickliffe, Philip Laing, "Victory, and the Bhmdell as the blue blood of Otago, and I want their descendants to be proud of their ancestry. Both survivors and those of tho first and second generations succeeding, while there is still time, ought to gather up all authentic information possible and treasure all old books, documents, newspapers, and curios, for they will bp priceless in time to come. How many put aside the Witness Jubilee Number? How many are saving up the Witness and the Times containing the account of the celebration of each anniversary as it comes round? Not so many as should. How many are jotting down details of the Early Days — capital, please, Mr Operator — for future use? Again, not so many as ought.

As one way of stamping Anniversary Day upon our minds, and of making descendants of First Settlers — capitals ag-ain, plea?e, — I am asking the editor to publish the names of the survivors of the first four ships, and I hope that, as each anniversary comes round, the list of survivors will appear until all have " Crossed the Bar." Perhaps children and grandchildren will put by copies and treasure them as heirlooms. I have to thank Mr Langlands, the secretary of the Early Setters' Association, for writing out the lists for me. The work must have cost him considerable trouble.

I wonder how many of the children and grandchildren of the first settlers — indeed, of the survivors themselves — have read Dr Hoeken's " Contributions to the Early History of New Zealand." I know some who have not, more shame to them. You who have not, do it at once, for you are under a great debt of gratitude to the Doctor for the time, money, and enthusiastic hard work he has de-voted to making clearly known the early history of Otago. May he long to continue his good work as historian.

" Colonies Wehe Viewed Yvith .Some-

thing Akix to Abhohrsxce."

In one of the* first chapters the Doctor tells us that colonies '' were viewed y\ ith something akin to abhorrence ; they were troublesome. cumbrous, ■expe.ns.iv© outgrowths, and every obstscle was thrown in the way of fresh settlement. What a different aspect do they present to-day ! Not only are they bright gems in the Crown, but they are recognised as being- important sources of Britain's wealth, greatness, and solid expansion of Empire. They may even prove to be an important element in her future safety. [They have, Doctor. The South African war has taken place since you penned those words. — Magisteiu] Every effort should be made to strengthen those ties which must exist between so great a mother and such fair children." fAnd these words I am happy to cordially support. — Magistee.]

How Dunedijt Received its Name,

It was proposed to call the new town New Edinburgh, and on this I take the* following from Dr Hocken's history: —

" It was found that there was already an unlucky New Edinburgh situated somewhere in the boggy' Isthmus of Darien. Some thought New Reekie quite as good, if not a better name ; others suggested Edina, Ossian, Mooretown, Bruce, Burns, Duncantown, Napiertown, Holvroodfcown, Wal-lace-town ; though it long continued to bear the name New Edinburgh, probably because grateful associations were likely to attract a desired class, ye<t it was christened Dunedin. so early as October 30, 1843 — a namo which was not officially adopted until 1846. The naming arose in this way : A prospectus fell into the hands of Mr William Chambers, one of the editors of the well-known Journal. He. there-upon wrote following letter to the editor of the New Zealand Journal : —

Edinburgh, October 30, 1843. Sir, — If not finally resolved upon, I should strongly recommend a reconsideration of the nanie JN'ew Edinburgh, and the adoption of another infinitely superior aud yet equally allied i,o old Edinburgh. I mean the assumption of the name Dunedin, which is the ancient Celtic appellation of Edinburgh, and is now occasionally applied in poetic compositions und otherwise the northern metropolis. I ■would at all events hope that names of places ■with the prefix "new" should be sparingly had recotirse to. The " news " in North America are an utter abomination, which it has been lately proposed to sweep out of the country. It will be a matter for regret if the New Zealand Company helps to carry out the nuisance to tile territories with which it is

concerned. W. Chambers. " In the opening stanzas of ' The Lay of the Last Minstrel ' occur the linea ;

When the streets of high Dunedin Saw the lance gleam and falchion redden, And heaid the slogan's deadly ye I, Then the chief of Branksomc fell.

" Mr— Sir William — Chamber* not only thus placed the citizens of Dunedin umWcverlastiiio- ob igations, but in 1882 he presented them with a full-length portrait of himself, which hangs in the Council Chamber* near that of Mr Remiie. On later occasions ho showed a warrn^ interest in matters connected with Otago." And with this I shall clo?-e. If you haven't Dr Hoeken's "History of Otago, get it. and as each anniversary marks another milestone parsed think of the early pioneers, many of whom little dreamt that they would be" founding such a magnificent settlement.

Suivivois, by JOHN WICKLIFFE, arrived

Maich 23, 184 S. Mrs W. H CUTTEX (nee Christina Caigill), Andei son's Bay. Mrs J. R. JOHNSTON (nee Maiion Caigill), Krror place. Lieutenant-colonel SPENCER CARGILL, India. JULIUS JEFFREYS. Mrs THOMAS FEIIENS (uee Margaret Westland), Mornmgton. JOHN ROBERT MONSON, Port Chalmsrs. ROBERT SIDEY, Sydney. ALFRED BLATCH, Clifdsu, Southland. Mrs ANN WATTS (nee Blatch) Maungatua. THOMAS H. BLATCH, Wcodside, West Taieri. ADAM BREBNER. Gore. JOHN FINCH, Milton. Mrs ELIZABETH TITCHENER (nee Finch). Caversham.

Per I'HILIP LAING, arrived April 15, 1848. Mts BANXERMAN (nee Jane Biirns), Kaikorai Mrs A. B. LIVINGSTON (nee Annie Burns), Queen street. Mrs HENRY LIVINGSTON (nee Frances Burns). Roslyn. Mi«s AGNES BURNS, George street. Mrs J. T. THOMSON (nee Jane Williamson), Irvercargiil. ALEXANDER liaikorai. JAMES WILLIAMSON, North Taieri. JAMES ADAM, Milton. ROBERT BARR, Invercargill. Mrs CHARLES FINDLAY (nee Elizabeth Barr), Dunedin. GILBERT BUCHANAN, West Taieri. JOHN CALLENDER, Saddle Hill. ALEXANDER CALLENDER, Saddle Hill. JAMES A. CALLENDER, Taieri. PETER CRAWFORD, Green Island. JOHN CHRISTIE, Canterbury. ROBERT CHRISTIE, Mosgiel. ROBERT DALZIEL, Roslyn. WILLIAM DUFF, Waihola. Mrs MARY DUFF (wife), Waihola. ADAM DUFF, Oamaru. Mrs WM. CHURCHILL (nee Annie Hair), Dunedin. THOMAS HASTTE, Oamaru. WILLIAM JAFFRAY, Saddle Hill Mrs JAMES CUNNINGHAM (Kate Mahone) Kaikorai. Mrs HUGH BOWERS (nee Agnes Marshall), Balclutha. MATTHEW MARSHALL, Balclutha. FRANCIS MARSHALL, Mosgiel. WILLIAM MARTIN, Fairneld, Abbotsford. CHARLES M'DONALD, Rcslyn. Miss LETITIA WALLACE, Dunedin. Mrs JM.AWSON (r.ee Mary Millar), Purakanui. Mrs THOMAS HARRISON (nee Agnes Robertson), Pelichet Bay. THOMAS ROBERTSON, Peninsula. Mrs MARION SEATON, Portobsllo. WALTER WATSON, West Taieri. JOHN WINTON, Dunedhi. Mrs WILLIAM WALSH (nee Crawford), Shag Point.

Per Ship VICTORY, July 8, 1848. Mrs W H. MANSFORD, Dunedin. LACHLAN LANGLANDS, DunedLo.

Per Ship BLTJNDEIrL, September 21, IS4B. CHARLES R. CHAPMAN, Dunedin. Mrs JANET WILSON (nee Begg), AnderMrs ROBERT CHRISTIE (nee Janet Law), Glenomaru.

Mrs ALEXANDER CALLENDER (nee Graham B. Low), Saddle Hill. ROBERT LAW, East Taieri. JOHN SIDEY, Caversham. THOMAS SOMERVILLE, Whangarei. Miss ELIZABETH SOMERYILLE, Whangarei. JAMES SOMERVILLE, Fortifications. J. A. D. ADAMS, Dunedin (at present visiting Great Britain). ADAM ANDERSON, Otepopo. WILLIAM BLACK, North-East Valley. HENRY CLARK, Milton. ANDREW ROBERTSON, North-East VaI"ROBERT GIBSON, Mosgiel. Mrs PEARSON (nee Elizabeth Gibson), Mosgiel.

Mrs SWALLOW (nee Margaret Harrison), Eampden.

Mrs ROBERT BLAIR (nee Ann Harrison), East Taieri.

Mrs ROBERT LAW (nee Jean Law), East Taieri.

Mt 3 THOMAS BLACK (iiee Janet Hill), Dunedin. GEORGE POPPLEWELL, Gore. Mrs HENDERSON (nee Elizabeth Popplewell), Gore. JOHN THOMSON, Dunedin. THOMAS THOMSON, Dunedin. JOHN JOHNSTON, Kaitangata.