Preamble.

Believing that a sincere desire existed in the minds of natives of Caithness and Sutherland resident in Otago, that they should become more intimately acquainted with each other in this the land of their adoption, and thus be helpful one to another here, as also unitedly be able to extend a hand of welcome to new arrivals hailing from their native counties on their landing in this Province, an advertisement was inserted in several of the leading newspapers in the Province, requesting those in favour of forming such an Association to place themselves in communication with one of the promoters.

The suggestion having been most favourably received, a preliminary meeting was held in the Provincial Hotel, Port Chalmers, on the 13th December, 1873, Mr. William Elder in the chair, when it was unanimously agreed—"That it was desirable to form 'a Caithness and Sutherland Association of Otago.'"

The gentlemen present then formed themselves into the nucleus of said Association. Messrs. Cormack, Elder, Gunn, and Matheson, were appointed to draw up rules, to be submitted to the first General Meeting, which was appointed to be held on Friday, the 19th December. The following rules are the result of their deliberations, and were adopted as the rules of the Association, at the General Meeting held in the Athenæum, Dunedin, on Friday, 19th December, 1873,—Mr. Wm. B. M'Kay in the chair.