OLD IDENTITIES' ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3316, 3 October 1917, Page 26

OLD IDENTITIES' ASSOCIATION

MEETING AT PORT CHALMERS. Despite the inclemency of the weather on Thursday night there was a good attendance at the fourth annual meeting of the Port Chalmers Old Identities' Association, which was held in the Town Hall. ) Mr G. L. Asher (president) was in the chair, and the Mayor (Mr J. Tait) and several councillors occupied seats on the platform. The. annual report noted an increasing interest in the association. They had lost many members by death, and others wiio had left the district; but the membership had increased bv 41. Monthly meetings had been held. They had also held three quarterly meetings during the voar. Thanks were duo for the success of these meetings to the Ladies' Committ-o, # who had during the winter meetings provided tea, to the friends who had supplied refreshments, and to Miss Pairley for her.kindness in furnishing crockery, etc.: also to the pianist (Mrs Lightborne) and those who had contributed musical and other items from time to time. They recorded with regret the deaths of Mr 'Stuart Ross M'Donald, Mr W. Isbister, Mr T. Jack, and Mr R. Thomson on active service, and of the following other members of the association i Mr John Bosworth Taylor (Wyndham). Mrs Gibson, Mr H. Batey, Mr G. R. Murray, Mrs Dry, Mr T. Hughes, Mr J. Shearer, Mrs Abernethy, Mrs Story, Master James Fullarton. Miss M. Thomson, Mr \V. M. Inncs, and Captain Strang. At the monthly meeting last November Mr John Mill and Mrs D. Woolsey had been elected life members. On February 17 the first picnic had been held at Portobello. at which Waikouaiti was represented. Thanks were due to Mr John Mill and Mr J. M'D. Stevenson, who had provided steamers for the occasion, and to Mr J. M. Dickson M.P., who had provided the ground and hall and looked after the wants of the picnickers. The following donations had been received: —From J. M. Dickson. M.P., photo as requested; from Mr T. Scollay, Mayor, photo as requested; from the late J. Bosworth Taylor, first roll Naval Volunteers: from, Mr N. Murray, photo first coastal vessel, s.s. Wellington, in floating dock, also photo of Dr Burns, first Presbyterian minister in Otago: from Captain Strang, photo ship Robert Henderson. The thanks of the association were due to Messrs J. B. Robertson (Melbourne), S. Gill (Portobello), and D. A. De Maus for their contributions of early history at the quarterly meetings during the year. The balance sheet showed a credit of £25 Is sd. , .

Tho Chairman moved the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, and said that tho audited accounts for_ the year, which were not available that night, would be submitted on another occasion. Mr J. M'Lachlan said many causes had contributed to the success of the association. Mr Lock and Mr Fail were officers who had rendered .useful service. . Tho Ladies' Committee was always ready to promote the interests of tho "association, which had tho support of the community. Ho suggested that members might be a little move prompt in making their contributions, which a little forethought would enable them to do. The report was adopted. Tho following office-bearers were elected: President. Mr D. A. De Mans; vice-presi-dents —Messrs Fail. Maw*on. Stevenson, and Tsbister: committee —Mesdames Basire, T,ove, Thomson, and Pickard. and Messrs Pickard. Love, Fullarton, Osborne, Harland. Jackson, and Jones; secretary and assistant secretary. Messrs J. M. Laohland and A. Lock (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr F. Knewstubb; auditor. Mr J. Pickard (reelected).

Mr D. A. Do Mans acknowledged his appreciation of the honour conferred on liim in his election to the chair. lie complimented _ the retiring president on tho canable dischar.sro of the duties of that office during the past year. An enjovablo musical programme helped to make the gathering successful, and tho Ladies' Committee handed round tea, as is tho custom at the annual meetings.