OUR EARLY HISTORY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1396, 23 March 1912, Page 6

OUR EARLY HISTORY.

A RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. meeting of those interested in forming a Historical and Early Settlors' Bociation was hold at. tho town' Hall last e l' c "l n p- Mr. John Smith, Acting-Jlayor of Wellington, presided, ancl there were about thirty people present. Tho chairman explained what the aims of tho society would be?—to collect as much information us possible likely to be of mho to compilers of Hie liistorv ut' tins country. J'he movement was Starting a little late, perhaps, but a great dual might yet be dons. Jlt. H. Baillie, acting as secretary, explained that the jieg 011 which tho meeting hung was the jubilee fund, nov: vested in tne City Council. Ifo had boon asked to report on a proposal to expend , Ibis fund in establishing an Early Settlers' Section ill the Public Library. JIo reported that the conditions attached to I lie fund would Ueop t!io expenditure within rather narrow lines. Among other things it provided for tho collection off autographs of those who came in the ships : sent out by tho Kew Zealand ' Company. As it was now over seventy years sines those vessels Arrived, it was evident that .very few autographs could he secured, except from documents. Twenty years ago it would not'liavo been difficult to get ijuifo a number of tho pioneers . to sign a mil. Ho outlined other lines ni' possible activity, hut he.suggested that it was scarcely necessary to duplicato matter already well collected aiul arranged in' tho Parliamentary Library and in tho Museum. Tho meeting had been called at tho suggestion of the Library Committr'a that ho should imiko inquiry as to whether it would bo possiblo to form a historical society in Wellington. A pre-. • liminary meeting was called, • and it was resolved: "That tho Deputy-Mayor bs requested to call a public meeting for the purpose of forming a Historical Association." It was also recommended (hat tho following should bo tho objects of tho association Tho arousing of public interest in lliel 'history of New Zealand; collection, true-' ing, mi indexing of documents relating! tt> that history; I perpetuation of the) memories of the early settlers; assisting tho City Council in fulfilling the condi-. tions attaching to the jubilee fund. There wa»a good deal of discussion with vicgard to tile designation and scone of the proposed association, 0110 or two of tho speakers advocating such a constitution os would embrace within its sphere of activity resuirches into N<r.v /.calami history. .Mr. It. Jl'Nal) said that he had been occupied for a period of liftmen years in studying the history of ~\'ew Zealand from the Treaty of 'Wuitiing;. Even this liad involved the learning ot a new language, and several trips round the world, and now he would probably have to jettison two-thirds of tho material lie had collected. He was suro that members would 5o surprised at the wide field that would 5e opened up by th'' study of early Now calami hi.-lory. They would discover slid less ramifications, sproadiijg into many European countries, and leading into wide fields of research. The chairman explained that tie society would open with some .£IOO, ("crived from a fund which would be handed" over by the City Council, and which had been v established, to attain, just such ends as were the objects that had been set forth. It uas then resolved, on the motion of the I ton. J. C. Jonliinson, M.L.C., that all present at tho meeting constitute themselves m-rjyrs of a "Historical Association," v.-lt'.-, power to add to their number. The iji'ptimr then nroceeded to elect offuers. Mr. Klsdon ficsi was clectcd first president of the society. Othe.r officers were elected as follow:—Vice-presidents, Mc.-.m?. F. ['. Wilson, J.. Smith, G. T. London, and T,. P. Stone: committee, 3lr«r#. G. M'Morran, L. M'Kcnzie, W. A. Kdwards, 1!. K. Lyon, W. TT. Bonnott, A. Ilamiltim, H. N. M'Leod, tho Hon. J. E. ,T' nVinson, and Dr. Cameron. The committee has power to add to its number. It is prr.po.-od that the society shall is-up a magazine for the diffusion of the w 1 1- done by members. Mr, 11, Baillie, win is acting as secretary teinpoTarilv, will l;e glad to receive any old documents or photographs.