OUR PIONEER SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2204, 17 July 1914, Page 8

OUR PIONEER SETTLERS

CAJtNIVAL FOR MEMORIAL FUND. Mr. J. E. Jenkinson presided at the third, annual meeting of the Early Settlers' and Historical Asscciation of ■ Wellington last evening. In his opening remarks, Mr. Jenkinson welcomed.a deputation from the-' New Zealand Natives' Association, which had come to the meeting for the purpose of putting certain proposals before the members with the. object of perpetuating the memory of the-early settlers in the province of Wellington. Mr. Jenkinson went on to say that it was proposed to celebrate the seventyfifth anniversary of the province in a suitable manner, and the New Zealand Natives had willingly come forward to asßist_ the Settlers' Association in this direction. i Mr. C. M'lntyre, secreary of the New Zealand Natives' Association, sug- . gestedthat a buildyig should be'erected on a central site in Wellington as a monument to the early settlers;' The. Natives' Association propose to , place four tablets containing the names-of all the passengers who arrived in the first four ships m Wellington Harbour in the/ entrance to the building. As .the Citi- - zens' Carnival Committee had _ held ■ functions for the purpose of beautifying the city, he suggested that the ■ Car- • nival Committee could not do better, than assist in obtaining the necessary funds, to erect the building because it would be a beauty' spot in the' City of Wellington, as well as a'fitting memorial t-o the early settlers in the Wellington province. He said that the object of " the New Zealand Natives' Association was to preserve the rights of New Zea-land-born peoplo. /It was because of the fact that his association' was composed of the sons and daughters of the early settle?s - that "th«' ! Natives'' A ssociation a should co-operate with the Early Set- -. tiers' - Association .. in mating, the Diamond Jubilee of the Wellington - r •province in January-next year-bril-liant success. In-conclusion Mr. M'lntyre said that the' proposed building would cost about £4000. "If a town, like Wanganui could raise £3000 at a carnival, surely Wellington could raise a corresponding sum or more." Several other speakers expressed the opinion lhat'the scheme was a : good one. Many suggestions were' made concerning the proposals and it was stated that endeavours should be made to enlist the support of tlio New Zealand Club. As the' proposed celebrations are to bo held in Wellington during January several speakers : suggested that the Citizens' Carnival Committee ho asked to co-onerate by holding next year's carnival during that month. It was decided that- a joint committee, representing the Early Settlers' Association and tlio New Zealand Natives' Association should be formed_ tc forward the proposal to hold a carnival in January. - It was further decided : that the two bodies should write to the Mayor suggesting that lie should call a public meeting for the purpose of . making arrangements for holding the carnival on January 22. It was announced that subscriptions . towairds a carnival building fund would • be gladly received and one speaker remarked that if one of the wealthj early settlers would present a site fqi the building it would be thankfully received. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr. J. E. Jenkinson ; vice-presidents. Messrs. F. P. Wili son, G. London, John Smith, L. Stowe, C.M.G., E. Best, C. M. Luke, W. Allen, -E. Tonics; general committee, Messrs. H. N. M'Leod, W. A. Edwards, L. M'Kenzie; F. M. Luckie, R. Hosie, W. E. Moore. R, A. Wright, V. J. Bro,gan. H. A. W. M'Kenzie, W. Mcyrick, ' J. Flyaer, Mesdames W. A. Edwards, E. J. Moore, E. Redward, J. M. Dawson, E. M. Snelson, and P. Galvin; lion, auditor, Mr. C. D. Morpeth; hon secretary, Mr. R. K. Lyon.