OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 28

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

A committee meeting, held in the office of the association on the 9th, w>s attended? by Mr John Duthie (in the chair) and Messrs Donald Reid, Charles Duke, -William Barron, W. H. Ferens, G. L. Deoniston, G. C. Proud* foot (treasurer), and L. Luiglands (incretaryjv Votes of thanks were passed as follows "-sn To the directors of Trustees, Executors, »ndL Ag-ency Company of New Zealand (Limited),, executors under the will of ihe lat« Arthur Berverly, for presentation of (i) portrait of Mr Beverly, (2) framed diploma; a-nd (for Early Setters' Museum) (S) honorary medoJJ presented by New Zealand Exhibition^ 1865;, (4) medal, value- £10 10s, presented by RoyaJ Scottish Society of Arts to Mr Beverly aa. gainer of the Makdougall Brisbane prise, 27/11/65; (5) George 111 5s piece; (6) Evil. India Company's rupee, 1835, reign of Wily ii«m IV; (7) token of membership of iTrea and Easy Club, Edinburgh, oi on« Thomas Collin, admitted 3/1/1788 ; (8) old capper coin ; (9) old silver coin (Victoria). To Mr Johru Outrun (Royal terrace), for plan, of proposed improvement* in Octagon c«rri«d out by MrOutram in 1863, showing space left for Cor gill's Monument, erected there in 1864. To Miss Watson: (HirapcLen), for portrait of her brother, Robert Watson, sub- manager of Castle Rock Station,, accidentally drowned mi the Oreti Rivex. Southland, on 14th November, 1905. 'arrived by the Alpine, 1869. To MSra Ina Jeffrie* (Forbury road), for lithogr*ph*cl plan of Dunedin, 1864, by Fergusson ancL Mitchell.

The Secretary reported that the jubilee ot the arrival of the ship George Canning, from* London, was celebrated in the Victoria H«Uh on 28th November by the survivors and descendants of passengers by that vessel. .As most enjoyable evening was spent, many notable recognitions taking place of shipmates parted since landing. The ladies, a large number of whom were present, including some friends, had provided a profusion of good things, and by their exertions left nothing wanting to make the meeting ths success it was. Twenty-five years ago the arrival of this ship was celebrated, and it was a matter of regret at this meeting to note how many faces were missing since thai first celebration.

The George Canning was th« first snip sent out by the then n«wly-appointed immigration agent (Mr James Adam, Milton), under the Government regulations of assisted passengers. Celebrating' the jubilee of arrival of eailyi ships by the association had to be reluctantly abandoned through want of room, as it ia one of tho functions of ihe association to make arrangements for the reunion of early settlers; but "it is purposed, when the n«w hall is open, to celebrate the jubike of each" ship according to date of arrival. Twelve new members were enrolled. The following deaths were recorded:—* Maurice Joel (79), St. Clair, Dec., 1661; Hugbt Craig (58), Lawrence. Daniel HanMn, 1663; Alexander Aitcheson (75), Otepopo, 1862; John Hood (TO), Oamaru, Lady Egida, 1860; John Martin (70), Cover Hill, Milton. I*ady Nugent, ' Wellington, 1841. Kate Kearney, Otago, 1845, the oldest ii&abitant, And son of Robert Martin, se"n., the first settler on Tokomairiro Plain; Mra James Ke«y (n*« Brown. 60), Queenstown, Lady Egidia, 1861; Mrs William Robertson, Oteramiks, South* land, Strathelian, 1858.