The Otago Witness.

Otago Witness, Issue 2895, 8 September 1909, Page 42

The Otago Witness.

THE OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.

♦- The well-thumbed pages of lecal historj were once again reopened at the Earlj Settlers' Hall on. August 31, when the Otagc Early Settlers' Association held its annua M > ? s-.f- "' -,-• . -'■■

social reunion. The meeting 1 .a«. a« usual, was very well attended, the assemblage comprising, in addition to these with wellknown faces, who ar-e unfortunately gi'adually passing away, a large number of c on«, daughters, grandchildren, and. presumably, great-grandchildren, of our makers of history, the nionesra. The formal business of

the meeting was not of a formidable nature. It consisted of making certain alterations in the rules. These were proposed and explained by Mr W. R. Rrugh y (solicitor of the association) apparently to y everybody's satisfaction. An event of the 3 evening was the presentation of a fran.^f! ;1 photograph of the committee holding office

during 1908 to the president (Mr Donald _~e J). In oickmg the presentation, Mr Jehu M'Donald n^nticm-ad that 1908, in addit:cn to bz.ng Diamond Jubilee year, «> th? ; cxv in whioh tha Early Settlers' Hall wa. finished and deck red open. Mi M"D -Id, on behalf cf th? members of the co umitteo of 1908. a!>o presented an rii-

larged photograph of the president to the association. The President replied thanking the committee for its gift, and made a few appropriate remarks of an interesting and retrospective nature. The programme of musical events was well selected and meritorious, the Scottish element largely predominating. Mr A. Wright

opened the programme with a capital rcn- | denng- of " Morag's fairy glen." Miss Crauiey lent additional aest to the perenr.iil l'o.iularitj of "Robin Adair." "'The battla of Stirling; " lost none- of its stirring national fire ai the hands of Mr A. Reid; n:d Burns's "Ye hanks and braes" was "harming;]}' cwng by Miss Freida Maitland.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1909.

" Afton Water " was another of Mr A. Wright's successes ; and Miss Crawley again scored with "'There's a land." Mr A. Reid, with " The two Grenadiers." evoked well-merited applause. Miss Freida Mankind's " Within a mile " formed a suitable climax to an eminently successful entertainment, for which Mrs

John Wood made a highly efficient accompanist. Here an interval was allowed to permit of memberb seeking out old shipmates or their descendants, whom ac yet they had not discovered ; and for an ingathering of breath for a dance for both old and yeung. This item, which was thoroughly enjoyed by both participants

and spectators, tended, among other things, to show that many of the pioneers were still able to "shake a leg" -with the best. The dance was under the direction of Mr John Wood, the energetic and hardworking secretary, to whom in a great measure is due the all-round success of the evening. The museum, which was open

all the evening, proved an irresistible cenitre of attraction. Among the many objects of historic interest is a. picture of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and the " signatures " of British and Maoris. Both were presented to the museum by Mr A. F. M'Domieil, a Maori student, and will repay inspection.