THE PIONEERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11756, 21 July 1916, Page 6

THE PIONEERS.

KEEPING THEIR RECORDS. WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. Tho committee of tho Early Colonists' Association met at Canterbury College this afternoon. Mr J. O. Adams, chairman of. tho Board of Governors of Canterbury College, presided and there wero also present—Dr J. Right, ami Messrs F. O. B. Bishop, E. W.. Seager, J. J. Dougall, J. Hay, E. Loveli-Smitji and E. Pavitt. Tho chairman expressed regret afc the death of Mr W. Guise Brittan and Mr J. E. Marsh. A motion of regrot at tho death of those gentlemen was carried, members standing. Tho chairman said that the collection in tho Museum should not be restricted to tho early days, but should inclu-ie documents and papers bearing on historical affair.? in the present time. Ho mentioned specially journals published on troopships that convey eel New Zealand soldiers to the front._ The room set apart for tho section in tho Museum contained many exhibits of interest:. It was possible; that tho section, by the courtesy of tho Diocesan Synod, would obtain the iirst printing press used in New Zealand. Tho original cross on tho Anglican Cathedral was an interesting addition to the collection. Members of the committee should try to obtain similar exhibits. The correspondence, of Messrs Godley, Wakefield, Fox and other prominent pioneers was in the. committee's hands. The committee also had a letter from the late Lord Kitchener, expressing satisfaction at his visit to the Museum. In Inter years that letter would have a high historical interest. There must bo a good deal of historical material belonging to both the early days and to the present time which fit present was iu private hands, but which should find a resting place in tho section. Mr Seager said that, ho had a large number of lantern slides representing historica.l incidents from the time of the landing of the early settlers 'in 1850. He would be pleased to present the slides to the section The chairman said that tho com-" mitteo was very gratified at tho offer. The slides would be useful to anybody who prepared a lecture on the early days. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Seager. The secretary (Mr R.. Speight) said that arrangements were being made to prepare an index of the large number of Mr Godley's letters in the section and also a precis of the contents. Dr Hight said that the letters in the section already had been >used by students at Canterbury College in connection with research. Next year a student intended to take the life of Mr W. Rollcston in hand, and other work of a similar character would bo done later on. The committee afterwards inspected the room set apart for tho section in the Museum.