EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4301, 4 January 1875, Page 3

EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

; TO Tltß i»JTOE. liil'.,—Tile Early Settlors’ Association, greatly to the TagrSt-Vt Ha numerous ft)ends, had, practically, only > ■ p«e Cay’s existence. - f y' ' The reason why Oils was so*,; and that that which had earned so much laborious thought and active exertion should expire, after sketching out a commendable plan (or future Uiiefuifleis, with a single dinner at the ' Odd Follow' Hall, Ual beeiij, and will I suppose always ho,« mystery alula source of regret to many of the old Battlers and their descendants in Wellington and its country districts, ■ In fact, T feel certain that this •wbefatfoit had tlio best wishes of nearly every settler, whether hit. had Hived many: or few years amongst us. It was /airily hum shed Irjto (jsistenco in a most auspidims andpromi.dng manner,, and there it appears to have ended. Without any desire to express an opinion as to the cause or causes of this somewhat extraordinary failure of the life of a society, which, altogether apart from the proposed benevolent portion of its suggested scheme, was one that present and future settlers would have regarded with respect and honor, wish to ask you and my follow-settlers, fa the forth-

coming Anniversary Bay of this the “ first and principal settlement” of the New Zealand Company to pass away without a meeting of some of the few early settlers and their friends ?, Surely not. In a very few short years those who landed at Petoni from the first shins cannot be amongst us. Say what one will, those who left Britaiu iu 1830. 1840, and 1841, especially to found in a wild and strange land an off-shoot of our beloved Fatherland, showed courage and adventure of no mean character, and which entitles such an enterprise, undertaken in those days under then existing circumstances, truly to Lord Bacon’s term, “an heroic work.” A slight retrospect of the thirty-five past years of the difficulties, the trials, and the positive dangers, that were met with honest industry and unanswering faith, have been indeed richly rewarded. Recent arrivals can form no adequate conception of what all these were. But the great result has justified the sacrifices ami troubles of the first settlers of New Zealand. We now see our happy land peopled north and south, east and west, with hundreds of thousands of people of our race. With no distant prospect of our population being greatly increased, the fertile lands bcin<» made more productive to the comfort and sustenance of our fellow-creatures, and means of communication by the iron horse between every part and parcel of the country being rapidly developed—which is certain of adding to our advancement in wealth and in influence] — it is pardonable, I think, for old settlers on an anniversary day to be thus thinking of the past, the present, and the future. None amongst the few that are left of this said band, I feel persuaded, claim any peculiar merit from having been early* arrivals, and assisted in the good work of winning so fair a portion to the old land from whence we came: , but very many think, and rightly so too I submit, that no anniversary day of the foundation of this settlement, which is tliat of the colony itself, should pass awaj; without an opportunity being afforded of as many of the early settlers meeting together as can do so for the purpose of commemorating that which is perhaps the greatest historical event of New Zealand since its discovery by Tasman or Captain Cook. Certain lam that in a short time hence, the sons and grandsons of some of us will do so, and boast with pride that their fathers and grandfathers saw and passed through some of the troubles* and trials of the early settlement of this glorious country. Nothing that involves much expense should be thought of or allowed to carry out my suggestion. Managed by five or six whose good judgment and hearts are interested iu the subject, a pleasing and satisfactory meeting could be accomplished. All details of every description should be left to their discretion and arrangement. It is, I think, also a fortunate circumstance that the committee of the Caledonian Society resolved to conclude the sports, which were interrupted on New Year’s Day by the weather, on that day, thus ensuring a larger attendance of people from the country on that day than would otherwise be the case, and enabling every one, after the conclusion of the games, to join in the celebration of the foundation of Wellington. Early and recent settlers might for once meet, and all join in a wish for the future prosperity of our adopted country and the birthplace of our children. An apology is due to you and your readers for thus attempting to revive an Interest in ‘Wellington settlers for every 22nd January ; but trusting what I have feebly written may not pass without some useful action being taken, I am, &c , A Wellington Colonist of over Thirty Years;