OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 37

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The,annual meeting of the Otago 'Early Settlers' Association was held in the Early Settlers' Hall on May 30, and was well attended. Ma- Donald Reid (president of the association) was chairman. BErORT AND BALANCE SHEET. The annual report was taken as read, and on the motion of the president was unanimously adopted. The committee has pleasure in meeting the members on the sixty-second year of the settlement of Otago and the twelfth year of their existence as an association and in congratulating them on the continued success of the association. Since last annual meeting Mr John Wood has. been appointed successor to Mr L. Langlands, who so successfully, with great energy and devotion, carried on the duties of secretary for over 10 years. The alteration of rules as approved at the last annual meeting has been agreed to ,by the Government Registrar; and members will be asked to pass the resolution already recommended to elect Mr Langlands a life member of the association. Thanks are accorded to the City Corporation reserves staff (under Mr Tannock) for the splendid results of their labours in the flower plots round the association's building. The various picnics held during the year have proved both enjoyable and successful. The sixty-second anniversary of the settlement of Otago was celebrated in the hall on March 23. There was a very large attendance of members and descendants, the meeting being presided over by Mr Donald Reid (president). The arrangements made by the ladies of the association for supplying and serving the refreshments were excellent, thereby contributing greatly to the sociability and enjoyment of the gathering.. The social hall has fully justified the commendations of last year, as_ the following extract from a letter received from Mr Frederick Moore, of London, testifies:-—" S.s. Warrimoo, Wellington, N.Z. July 16, 1909,—Dear Sir,—Just before, quitting New Zealand I take this opportunity of telling you that I was more than the Early Settlers' HallIt is an excellent place for sound, and I fell it will frequently be in demand by concert givers when they realise its many gocd qualities.—l remain, yours truly (signed), Frederick Moore." The Descendants' Clubs mentioned in the last report as having been formed have completed their first year of existence, and brought together quite a number of the younger generation. As a result of social evenings held during last winter the treasurer of the association has received a donation of £35 towards the reduction of the debb on the building, thus giving a most tangible proof of the interest in the work of the association. The Young Ladies' Club, under the presidency of Mrs C. H. Bayward, with the assistance of the Young Men's Club, proposes to hold a sale of work in the month of November—the proceeds to go towards procuring proper fixtures for the museum and portrait gallery, The committee is pleased to notice that country members and their families when visiting Dunedin find the ball and waiting rooms very convenient. The committee combined with the Otago Motor Association in a motor gymkhana and floral fete on February 12. Unfortunately the weather was not suitable, and the result financially was not the success anticipated. The museum and portrait gallery have been a source of great and increasing interest to members, their descendants, and the general public, thus clearly demonstrating that the work oi the association in collecting portraits of oarlv se,ttlers and of mementoes and pictures of early Otago is much appreciated. The committee, while thanking friends and members who have presented enlarged portraits of early settlers, vet hope to see many more forwarded to adorn the walls of the gallery, and thus commemorate the memories of the men and women who helped to make Otago. The committee regrets to report that again a very large number of early settlers have rvassed away during the year and joined the great majority. Though they are now removed, the lessons of their exemplarv and Christian lives remain and bear good fruit; their high sense of honour and nnriflitness and their many generous and kindly acts live after them, and are held in grateful remembrance. It will be gratifying to members to know that the financial position of the association has materially improved during tho post year and that the total debit on rhp 30th of April last has been reduced to £l4l 14s 9d. The statement of the treasurer (Mr Proudfoot) -showed that the amount of assets in excess of liabilities was £4210. The President commented favourably on the state of the balance sheet. He regretted, however, that there was still a sum remaining unpaid in connection with the erection of the hall. It was certainly only a small balance (£141), but. he was sure that the burden would not be lightly regarded by the pioneers in whose memory

" the hall was erected. He thought they might get some energetic ladies to do a little collecting one Saturday afternoon. He was sure that they would gather tha whole lot in v/:.i3 half-hour, and then the hall would be clear. He moved the adoption of- the bala-no© sheet. Mr John Duthie seconded the motion. The Secretary (Mr Wood) said that there ■ was an excellent chance of the debt being cleared off very soon. A number of do* K-'endants who had as yet contributed -nothing towards the erection of the hall were desiTous of giving something, and he had little doubt that the whole debt would be cleared off in the course of a few months. Then, too, there was a sale of work pend- : ing, which promised to make money. j The motion was carried. THE LATE DR HOCKEN. The President referred in feeling terms to the loss which the province and Do- : minion had sustained in the death of Dr Hocken. Ho had taken a great interest; in handing down the history of New Zealand, and his book, which dealt largely with Otago, would always be interesting ' to anyone who wanted to read the early [ history of the province. Dr Hocken had : shown himself indefatigable in gathering | mementoes and relics of the past, and in: his historical documents he had provided a great fund of useful., valuable, and instruct tive information relating to New Zealand and other colonies. It was well known thaf at one time Dr Hocken would have joined with the association in erecting a building to be shared equally by the association and Dr Hccken's collection. However, opinions had changed, and Dr Hocken did not see (it to house his collection with that of the association. He (the president) was not sure that a mistake was not made. On the other hand, perhaps it was just as well that the early settlers' collection of mementoes should relate only to the early i%ttlers. They had lest a fine patriotic rr?an in Dr Hocken. Looking at the bequests he had made to various literary, charitable, and educational objects, and the manner in whioh he had spread those bequests over different things, they had undoubted proof of his patriotism and the careful wav in which he had considered the disposal of those funds. He had been, too, a geed and useful member of tha Early Settlers' Association. OFFICE-BEARERS. The following office-bearers were ap- ' pointed :--President, Mr Donald " Reid (unanimously re-elected); vice-nreeidents— Messrs Wm. Barron, Charles Duke. John Duthie, John Reid. Dr Fulton, and Dr Will: committee—Messrs Wm. Crawley. G. L Demiston, W. H. Ferens, J. M'lndoe, D Reid, inn.. W. D. Stewart. T. Somerville, J. H. Walker, J. Wood, J. Hope, Mrs Barnes, and Mrs Havward; treasurer, Mr G. C. Proudfcot (unanimouslv reelected); auditors. Messrs Hector Mercer end Charles Westwood (unanimously reelected). Votes of tha.nks were accorded the ladie. of the association for valuable services rendered, to the hon. <=ecrptary, to the retiring committee, and to the press.