EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 3

EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

SOCIAL REUNION. Early Settlers’ Hall was crowded on 26th ult. with members of the association and numerous country visitors for the purpose of taking part in a social reunion. The chair was taken by the president (Mr Donald Reid), and the gathering was opened by singing “ God Save the King,” and closed with “ Rule Britannia,” Mies G. Helen Gard’ner taking the verses as a solo, and the audience singing the chorus with demonstrative enthusiasm. Midway in the programme the president gave a brief address in which he congratulated the association on having secured so large a gathering, notwithstanding other attractions, to do honour to the memory of the pioneers who landed in Otago 66 years ago. He reminded the younger members of the association that they had received a great inheritance from the pioneers, and were bound to advance, seeing that they had such worthy progenitors. Ho remarked that the early settlers had provided reserves for many public purposes, but had not left as much as a quarter of an acre to build a hall for themselves and their successors. The aspirations of the association were, however, to extend their usefulness in various directions. They wanted to establish a historical branch to gather up further materials relating to the past history of the settlement, and they wished to have another hall to provide accommodation for meetings and for the proper care of their accumulating collections. Mr Reid then referred to. the troubles in Europe, and in a very spirited manner urged the duty of all not prevented by family considerations to lend their aid by volunteering to light a horde of men who were worse than savages. *' If,” said Mr Reid, *’ the action of the Germans was civilisation, then it was time we went back to barbarism.” These patriotic expressions were very heartily applauded. The evening’s programme included songs by Miss G. Helen Gard’ner, a piano selection of patriotic airs by Miss L. M‘Laren, a sword dance and seantreus by Mies Mabel Louden, and a reel o’ Tulloch and Scotch reel by the Misses Winnie Robinson, Jean Riddle, Neta Frame, and Eileen King. Mr State, the piper, played the necessary music for these clever young ladies, and their efforts gave great pleasure to all. To make up for the absence of some expected contributors to the evening’s entertainment, Mr Jas. Robertson (Mayor of Lawrence), Mr R. L. Christie (president of the Gore Gaelic Society), and Mr John Scott (an old pioneer miner) gave recitations and songs that were listened to with great pleasure. _ Miss L. M’Laren, as accompanist, contributed materially to the success of the soloista. At the close of the concert Mr John Wood moved a vote of thanks to all those who had assisted at the entertainment, and especially to the ladies. Refreshments were handed round, and afterwards dancing was kept up, while old acquaintances engaged in friendly chat* about bygone days.