EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 70

EARLY SETTLERS’ ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of jhe Otago Early Settlers’ Association was held on Tuesday evening. The president (Mr J. J. Mallard) presided over an attendance of about 25 members. In moving the adoption of the annual report, the president said the committee might congratulate itself on a successful year. It was very gratifying to see the continued interest that was being taken in the association, which was evidenced by the increase of 71 in the membership roll during the year. A pleasing item in the accounts was the reduction of the debt to the City Council. Thanks to the bequest of Mrs Blakely, the balance of which was received during the year, the association was enabled to pay to the City Council the sum of £lOOO, which left only £1250 owing. In the course of two or three years the association ought to be free of that debt. It would then start to build up a reserve for needed alterations. One alteration required was in connection with the stage. The association was gaining in popularity, and in the short time he had been connected with it he had noticed that members of the old families in the district were recognising the association as a suitable place where they could safely deposit interesting data in respect to the early settlement of the province. Only that afternoori a very interesting picture came to hand in “ Vauxhall in the Sixties.” The old wharf was shown, with the rotunda on the hill. Tor himself, he had only.a hazy idea of V auxhall in those days. Mr James Brown seconded the motion, and expressed the hope that the debt would be paid off as soon as possible; He. trusted the premises would be enlarged, because many exhibits were still coining to hand. The motion was agreed to. The treasurer (Mr E. Webster) read the annual balance sheet, which showed a very satisfactory position. After paying the City Corporation £lOOO off the purchase of the building and paying rates £147 and general expenses," tlie balance sheet shows a small profit, but receipts for the year show that owing to bad times the subscriptions were a little short. Ihe president moved the adoption of the balance sheet. Mr Crosby Morris seconded the motion. He was of opinion that they ought to be very careful in their expenditure until they were clear of their liabilities on the hall. In two years they would probably have wiped off the indebtedness to the City Corporation. After that had been done improvements might be made to the hall, and the roof in the main hall certainly required attention as the light was not sufficient, many of the exhibits not being seen to advantage. As well as making the roof safe as far as leakage was concerned they ought to improve the light from that source.

Mr J. W. Paton thought the time was not far distant when they must consider an alteration of the hall for the anniversary celebration, as it was not, large enough for that occasion. The motion was carried. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow:—President, Mr J. J. Mallard (re-elected); vice-presi-dents—Messrs James Brown, John Hope. E. C. Hazlett, Crosby Morris, William Nicolson, J. W. Patton; treasurer, Mr E. Webster (re-elected) ; committee—Messrs W. Blackie, H. Baron, D. J. Calder A Eccles, W. H. Ferens, G. S. ’ m’ M’Dermid, R. S. J. A. Macdonald, J. A. Paterson, C. C. Robertson, J. C. H. Somerville, R. 11. Steel, James Wallace; hon. auditors, Messrs H. F. M. Mercer and R. A. Duthie. Votes of thanks were accorded the retiring officers, the secretary (Mr W. Paterson ) and his staff, Mr D. Tannock’ the Ladies’ Committee, and others who had assisted during the year.