WAIKOUAITI OLD IDENTITIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 16

WAIKOUAITI OLD IDENTITIES.

ANNUAL GATHERING

The annual gathering of the Waikouaiti Old Identities Association was held on the Domain on Wednesday in ideal weather.

The attendance was not as good' as could have been desired, contributing factors to this being the threatening weather in the morning, and an excursion to limaru. A good many very old identities, however, were present, and a 'dy enjoyable afternoon was passed, fw very old men, whose appearance and agility would indicate a good prospect of their passing the century, were present, these being Mr W. M'Dougall, of Waikouaiti. and Mr M Kean. of Palmerston, whose ages are 93 and 95 respectively. lhe Mayor _ (Mr G. J. L. Kerr) welcomed the visitors, but regretted that there were not more present. One pleasing feature of this year’s picnic, he said, was the fact that during last year the association had lost no members by death. fair Thomas _ Mackenzie expressed his pleasure at being able to be present at the gathering, and on seeing so many of the old people present. He spoke reminiscently of his associations with Waikouaiti and its people, and expressed re* gret at the removal by death of many faces well known at similar gatherings in past years. Particularly he would mention the late Air Allcock, who for many j ears had been the life and soul of the association. He recounted several humorous incidents in connection with “ ls as High Commisioner in the Did Country, and spoke optimistically of the indications for prosperity in the future.

Air E. H. Clark thanked the committee for its kind invitation to Mrs Clark and himself to be present. He referred to the debt the present generation owed to the pioneers. He favoured gather!P". S ’ s' 1 ” 1 as th* B one, as connecting links between the past and the present. Messrs Knight, Ferens and Brown also

In the evening a well-attended concert was given in the Town Hall bv Mr Heaths party.