EARLY SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 212, 2 June 1921, Page 6

EARLY SETTLERS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION

REPORT ON YEAR’S WORK There was a good attendance of early settlers and members of their families at the annual meeting of the Early Settlers’ Association in Dustin's rooms last night. Air. J. E. Jenkinson presided. The chairman remarked that he did not think there had been a more representative attendance at any other annual meeting of the association. This was very gratifying, particularly when the unpleasantness of the weather was considered. Annual Report. “This past year, in connection with the Dominion Day celebrations," the an. nual report stated, "the suggestion was made by your committee that the several churches in Wellington should be asked to observe the Sunday previous to Dominion Day as a day of commemoration. of our pioneer settlers, and general thanksgiving. Representatives of tho different churches were interviewed, and file suggestion received with such good spirit tbnt we communicated with the representatives of tho different churches throughout New Zealapd, the result being that 'tho Sunday before Dominion Day was devoted to the commemoration oi our pioneer settlers, and a day of thanksgiving throughout Wellington province and the greater part of New Zealand. "A good amount of historical work has been done, and our historical secretary (Mr. Edwards) has secured many interesting historical records. Regret must be expressed that we have not yet been able, for financial reasons, to resuscitate our 'Journal,’ for without it there is the difficulty in letting members know of the historical work done and. records obtained. In the report read at our last annual meeting a request was made that tho association should make special efforts to enhance the historical objects of the association by granting more assistance to the secretary.. Many desirable records,, reminiscences, sketches, publications, etc., could be. obtained if the wherewithal were present and placed at the secretary’s disposal. Owing to the aftermath of tho war, little has been done towards getting a home of our own, but tho hope is expressed that it may come soon. All should strive to bring nbout an increased membership. Instead of a roll of hundreds, we should have thousands. Only thus can wo achieve our aims and objects.” "The proper appreciation of our unwritten history must pave the way for the,successful publication of our ’Journal’ at the right moment,” wrote the secretary (Mr. AV. A. Edwards) in a supplementary report on historical research work. "At the present time I would suggest the occasional publication of a smaller edition or pamphlet of about twenty-four pages, that we may show some result of our work, and encourage others to assist. The compilation of a register of early residents is not proceeding well. We have two or three hundred names only. All members can, and should, assist in this matter. The investigation of the historical topography of tho province—principally the town of Wellington with the identification and marking of places of historical interest should be attended to at once. I would suggest a small committee of willing workers to undertake this in conjunction with our older pioneers whose memory is good to-day.” Wanted—A Home. In mcft-lng the adoption of tho annual report aud balance-sheet, Mr. Jenkinson said that there was one very unsatisfactory point—that tho association still had no home of its own. Under present conditions the work of the association was hampered. Probably no one in Wellington would have put so much energy into the historical work as Mr. W. A. .-•Edwards had done; hut it was time that Mr. Edwards was furnished with an assistant or helped by a special committee. If the association lead a building. Air. Edwards’s work would be greatly facilitated. Pienios held during the past year had been very successful. He hoped that there would be many more “pilgrimages” to spots of interest than there had been in the past. He also thought that the association might entertain distinguished visitors more frequently. Air. F. P. Wilson seconded the motion. The Government, he said, was proposing to spend £100,090 on a memorial to the New Zealand soldiers who had fallen in the late war. He thought that the memory of the fallen would be appropriately honoured by the erection of a monument which would also commemorate the Work of the early' pioneers. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Air. J. E. Jenkinson (returned unopposed); vicepresidents, Alessrs. H. Daysh, W. B. Allan, M. Maxton, N. Small, G. Taylor, E. G. Pilcher, F. P. Wilson, H. Cook, ' and J. Smith, Mesdames AV. Edwards and S. Brown; hon. auditor, Afr. C. D. Morpeth; lion, treasurer, Mr. T. AV. Stace; committee, Alessrs. Edwards. ». H. Bennett, J, Orchiston, E. Vine, R. K. Lyon, Afcsdames H. Cook, E. C. Morris, Aloore. R. Morris, Carter, Vine, M'Gowan.