OLD IDENTITIES’ PICNIC

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 6

OLD IDENTITIES’ PICNIC

The annual picnic of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association was held on the 21st. at the invitation of Mr Isaac Stevenson on his estate at Mount Royal. A special train left Port Chalmers at 10 a.m. with members, visitors, and friends, and stopped at Mihiwaka, Purakanui, and Waikouaiti to pick up members. A thick drizzly rain set in on setting out and it looked as if the Picnic Committee would have to make arrangements for holding an indoor entertainment, but on arrival at Mount Royal much to everyone's surprise, practically no rain was tailing and the ground was quite dry. On arrival teapots were put in requisition, and parties were formed under the hedges and trees, and soon everyone was engaged in enjoying a good meal. Headed by the Pert Chalmers Pipe Band the party was met at the entrance to the grounds by Mr Isaao Stevenson who welcomed all to Mount Royal, and hoped all would enjoy themselves thoroughly. It gave him great pleasure to see so many faces present, and he was proud Port Chalmers had an Old Identities’ Association. Mr J. M'D. Stevenson, Mayor of Port Chalmers, assured the visitors that if they got as much pleasure in coming as ho got in seeing them there, they would be amply repaid. Mr J. M’Laeblan (secretary) thanked the visitors from other associations for their presence, the members for turning out in such force and the various committees for the excellent work they had done that day. He thanked Mr and Mrs Stevenson and family' for all their goodness to the association and felt sure it was the most favoured institution in Otago that day, owing to kindnesses received from such men as Mr John Mill, Mr John M‘D. Stevenson, and Mr Isaac Stevenson. The association, although formed only about eight years, had made rapid strides, the membership to-day being over 300 Each year it had held its annual picnic and four quarterly meetings, and the committee had met monthly. This could not be done unless there was a good working and energetic committee, and lice members in the association, such as Air Do Mans, the Dunedin quartette party, Mr T. Ritchie (Dunedin), Miss Mackie (the accompaniste), and many' friends outside the association. Speeches were made by Mr Love (president of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association), Mr Calder (president of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association). Mr Allcock (secretary of the Waikouaiti Early Settlers’ Association), Mr John Mill (first president of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association), Mr Knight (a member of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association), Mr De Mans (late president of the Port Chalmers Old Identities’ Association), and Mr Paterson (a member of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association).