EARLY SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3089, 21 May 1917, Page 6

EARLY SETTLERS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION

The annual meeting of the Early Set-* tiers' and Historical Association of Wellington, was JlcUI on Saturday evening., Mr. J. K. Jeukinson presided over an. attendance of about thirty. / :

In. addressing the gathering, Mr. Jenkinson explained that there had not been a meeting called for tho past two years because the Executive Committee had considered .everyone was so busy helping in all sorts of ways to get the men away to the front and preparing for them to come back that the association had taken a second place. They had decided, to call a meeting, however, as there were a number of matters to be discussed, among them being the Question of sub-* scribing to the War Loan by the pur-i chase of certificates, and also whether the association should meet more often. Another important reason for the meeting was to give opportunity for all to bid farewell, to the association's late secretary, Mr. Lyons, who was to leave for the front shortly.. The chairman a'rso touched on the subject of the previously discussed memorial to the first settlers who landed on Petone beach. He reported that the financial position of the association was very sound. It was decided nnfanimously -that all the available money' belonging to the; association be withdrawn from the bant and invested in War Loan Certificates* Messrs. J. E. Jenkinson and J. Smith! were appointed Trustees. With one dis-* sentient, it was agreed that in future meetings of the association be held every; three months. Some move is also to be made regarding the raising of a monument at Petone beach in honour of the first eettlers, and one member thought they could raise the money required in a week. He knew of one man who would, give .£2OO immediately.

During the evening Mr. J. E. Jenkuw son, on behalf of the members of the' association, presented Jlr. L.yons .(late secretary of the association) with a gold wristlet watch. On making the ■ prc-i eentation, Mr. Jenkinson said that there were fen-, if any, who had not.tasted of the bitter fruits of the world war. The members of the association, because _o£ their connection with those whose spirit,' courage, and determination were the factors that gave them their homes in New; Zealand to-day, had been, and were, pw minent in eending their brave lads toj assist in plucking the brand from the' hand of the cruel and callous foe who' strove to devastate the world. So. day , , passed but a good-bye had to be said to' a soldier going to the front, and as mem' bers of the association they had an op* portunity to bid God speed to a soldier,' and one who had special claims on thein good wishes and prayers. Prom the inv ception of the association, Mr. Lyons had given his work and time ungrudgingly for the success of the association. Hβ knew that Mr. Lyons looked "fox no token of thein- esteem and praise- otheii than their words of farewell, but they; felt they had to ask him to accept a. gold watch as a tangible token of their; good-will.

Corporal Lyons suitably replied, thank-" ing the association for their kind appreciation ,and wishing them every succes3 in the future. He hoped that the association would revive the annual gathering. Towards the end of the meeting Mr< P. Galvin proposed s the toast of the early settlers and their memory. Ho waa not such an old settler himself, he said, having only been here forty years, but he had been going through'old files and had seen the good work,done by. the early settlers, especially for Wellington, city. He wished to couple the names oO Messrs. H. A. AY. MOCenzie," J. H. Collyer, P. Sidey, J. Smith, and Mrs.'Eed-! wood with the toast. Replying to the toast, Mr. H. A. W. MTvenzie read a,' passage dealing with the trip of the first emigrants from England, their land-, ing at Petone. and of the first service held there. Amongst several present ats the first service, was mentioned Mr. William Lyons, the grandfather of the gnesti of the" evening. Messrs. .T. H. Cbllyer, ,T. Smith, F. Sidey, and Mesdames Ked-i wood and Sidey also-replied to tho toast. During the evpiiing musical items were "iven by Mrs. Moore, Miss Upham (2), and Mr. D. Bray. !