EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 53

EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL. REPORT. The committee of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association, in presenting its annual report for the rear ended April 30, 1920. stated that this yeai was the 28th anniversary of the founding of the association. and the seventy-eiglitn anniversary of the province. The record of the year’s work was satisfactory. as would be seen by the financial statement. The committee had every reason to bo satisfied with the results and with the prospects for the future. During the past year, by death and otherwise, 166 members had been lost and during the same period there have been enrolled 226 new members. 63 being early settlers and 163 descendants —a gain of (0 for the year. The membership now stood it 2260. The museum and portrait gallery were of ever-increasing interest to the members and the general public. So many new portraits, pictures and other interesting articles had been added during the past year that more room was urgently required. The usuaJ old identity re-union picnics were held this year at Port Chalmers. Balclutha. and Waikouaiti, and an enjoyable time was spent in meeting and chatting with old friends. Anniversary services were held in First Church on Sunday. March 21. Dr Merrington preached, and he used the “Philip Laing” Bible lent by the association There was a large attendance at both the morning and evening services, 99 early settlers having handed in their names. Successful anniversary re unions were held in the Otago Early Settlers’ Hall on the afternoons and evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday. March 23 and 24. The afternoon gatherings were chiefly for the old folks and were again a great success.

The Tuesday afternoon meeting was opened with the old familiar hymn “O God of Bethel,” as sung by the pioneers when they arrived in 1848. During the afternoon the lion. R. F. Bollard visited the hall and addressed the gathering, his remarks being appreciated by those present. The evening gathering was also successful. Wednesday's meetings were also successful. In connection with the observance of Anniversary Day, the committee regretted that the Otago University (which practically owed its origin to the provision made by the founders of the province), the John M’Glashan and Columba Colleges (Presbyterian). Archerfield and St. Hilda’s secondary schools, did not observe the holiday. but carried on work as usual. A cesolution passed by the committee was sent to those bodies, and it was hoped that in future years they would recognise th© ocoasion. A motion expressing the good wishes of the meeting for all absent, old identities was carried bv acclamation. Thß committee referred with regret to the many pioneer men and women of Otago who had passed away since the last meeting. Their individual merits could not be recorded. but they would be remembered for the many kindnesses rendered during their long and serviceable lives. The committee wished to thank Mr Tan nock and the City Reserves staff for the admirable wav in which the flower plots and borders about the Early Settlers’ Hall were kept; to the press the committee tendered it? sincere thanks for the consideration extended to the association by publishing its monthly reports and in many other way? assisting it in its work. The committee also desired to thank the ladies and those who had helped to carry on successfully the work of the association during the cast year