EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 5

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION

. <, THE ANNUAL MEETL\6. 'The annual meeting of Ihe Early Settlers' and Historical Association was held lai-tevening in Godber's Room, G'u'ba Street. ' The vice-president of the association (Jlr. John Smith) was in the ehaiiv There was n very htrgo attendance of members. The chairman apologised for the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr. J. Ev Jenkinson). .The annual report (already published) and tho balance-sheet were submitted. The' latter showed a deficit on the year of «C 8 ■*».'■ The expenditure, for the year wns Jci'l 11s.

In moving thai: the report be adopted tho chairman said that it was fairly satisfactory, considering that they had passed through a war period. He was sorry that' the subscriptions had not coino in more freely, but noiv that they had a secretary who would attend to the matter members would be able to iind out exactly what they owe. He was strongly in favour of an obelisk being erected to the memory of the early settlers, and he thought Koro Koro was the placo to erect it", for it was there that the settlers first landed The report wiiß adopted. Jlr. John Dnysh, of the Wairarapa, spoke strongly in favour of erecting an early settlers liall,,rtnd suggested that with some assistance from Wellington io conr:u°s the W«imm|ia, they would bo able to collect a fair amount of money from the early settlers in that , district for this purpose, and in concluding he moved: "-Thai: it be the aim of the association during the coming year to collect such n,'sum.of money to build mi early settlers' hall in AVollington."

The chairman explained that the nssociatiou was pledged to tho erection of a memorial on Petone Beach, and they must hold lo that. The housing question was a larger one, imd ho reminded them that they were to have the use of the lecture hall in the museum to be built in tho distant future.

Mr. Shtnsill, who landed in Port Lyfctelton sixty-two years ogo, said that at a previous meeting n Potono resident favoured tho erection of the hall in preference to the erection of en obelisk. He was in favour of the hall as being' more suitable aud more valuable as a' memorial.

Mr. C. W. Tanner also favoured the erection of a hiiJl, but pointed out that the cost would be over ,£20,000. He thought that the association w<is not in a position to find that amount just now oven with the assistance of those in the country. It was a matter that the association should keep in view The orection of an obelisk cu.Petono Beach would not bo expensive If it were a simple affair, as it should lie. The association, however, must keep in view the larger proposition of erecting a hall Mrs. Moore «iko favoured the immediate erection of an obelisk on the Petone Beach.

Mv. Waters also strongly favoured the erection of the o'belisk at Koro Koro, and said that the'late Mr T.'M'Kenzie was the first man to land there, nnd lie carried the speaker's mother (then Miss Luxford) nrfiore at that point. Colonel Macintosh moved as an amendment: "TJiat the matter bo referred Iβ the executive with a request that they report to n meeting aa lo the best course to pursue." This lapsed for want of a seconder.

After somo further discussion it was docidod to proceed with tho erection of tho obelisk os the first work of the association. ' Tlio election of officers resulted as follows:—President. Mr. J. EATonkinson; vice-presidents, Mrs. L. M. Dftvrson, Mrs. Itedwnrd, iMts. Ttfwnrd*. Sirs. Karle. Mrs. Carter, niul Mrs. 13. Drown, and Messrs. L. G. West, it. B. ITnrcnurt, J, Smith, H. Daysh, L. M'Kenzie, L. Stowe, P. I*. Wilson. C. M. Luke, and Noil Smallj committee, Mrs. C. Morris, Mrs. Skley, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. H. Morris, Mrs. Vine, Major Vir.o, Messrs. 11. Cooke, Moore, T. Smith.. Bmild. I. Clarke, nnd Orchifon; secretary. Mr. W. A. Edwards; treasurer, Mr. T. 'Staco. A veto of thanks was accorded the City Council, and the librarian for allowing the association the use of a room in the library.