OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3036, 22 May 1912, Page 33

OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

I Tho fourteenth annual meeting of members of tiie Otago Early Settlers' Association was held in the Early Settlers' Hall on the 20th. There were about a dozen members present, including several ladies. The president (Mr Donald Reid) was in the chair. Four apologies for nori-attendanoe were received. In moving the adoption of the report the President said it showed that the asodiation was keeping pace with the times—in other words, its membership was well maintained, in fact it was gaining as they went ■ on. At one time it was -prtoicted tnat the association would only last a short time and then die out, but instead of that he thought it was spreading its roots and taking a firmer hold. It was pleasing to notice the encouragement they were getting from the general public, as well as from those who belonged to the association. The amount of enthusiasm thrown into the proceedings on the part of the younger people was in every respect most satisfactory, and when one looked at the contributions they were receiving for their museum, which was almost filled to the door with a most valuable collection of portraits and other historical articles, all of which would become more valuable as the years went by, they could not but admit that their success was most encouraging. Several people had expressed to him the great pleasure they had had in spending an hour in "the. gallery and communing, as it were, with those who were gone —those who had been the founders of this beautiful little settlement. The financial support accorded the association by the general public in the way of utilising the hall and in other ways was also gratuying. The amount of devotion shown, the time given, and the enthusiasm thrown into the business proved that the association had the (jood wishes of the bulk of the people and the warm support of those who claimed to be the representatives of the early settlers. The young people's gatherings were the means of spreading interest in the association una of keeping the members together.— plause.) ._ . Mr John Duthie seconded the motion, and mentioned that the first bequest was left to the association this year—a sum of £IOO.-^-(Applause.) The' President added that this was the first liberality shown to the association, and he hoped it would show others what their duty was towards the institution, so as to keep in memory the people who had done so much in founding Otago. The motion was carried unanimously. The balance sheet was submitted by Mr G. C. Proudfoot (hon. treasurer). The association had at* the credit of profit and loss a sum of £276 more than it had last year. Last year the sum of £133 was spent on the gallery. Mr C. Duke referred to the very gratifying report from the treasurer. It was a report that showed most i noon testa biy that the association had come to stay. , Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follow: —President, Mr Donald Reid; vice-presidents—Messrs John Reid, W. Barron, Charles Duke, John Duthie, Dr Fulton, Dr Will; committee —Messrs W. Crawley, W. H. Ferems, John Hope, A. F. M'Donnell Donald Reid, jun. W. D. Stewart, 6. L. Denniston, T. Somerville, John Wood, Mrs C. H. Hayward/Mrs M. Barnes, Mrs Sinclair Peden; hon. treasurer, Mr G. C. Proudfoot; auditors—Messrs H. F. M. Mercer and Robert A. Duthie. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring committee, the treasurer, the auditors, , the ladies, and the press.

Mr J. Wood (secretary) wishes it to be known that the association is in need of two copies of the Otago Witness—July 20 and July 27, 1910—to complete its files.