NEWS AND COMMENT May 2,1924. The pioneers of Wasco county who were in the Oregon country prior to 1883, gathered at The Dalles to participate in the annual Wasco County Pio- neers' Association meeting. May 2, 1924. The eighty-first anniversary of the or- ganization of the first American civil government west of the Rocky Mountains was commemorated at Old Cham- poeg, thirty-three miles south of Portland, on the east bank of the Willamette river. A special steamer was char- tered to carry the pioneers to the celebration. Judge P. H. D'Arcy, ex-president of the Oregon Pioneer Association, was chairman of the day. June 9, 1924. The commencement exercises at Pa- cific University had as their principal feature, a pilgrim- age to the grave of Dr. Sidney Harper March, first presi- dnt of the institution, who died in 1879, and that of Pro- fessor Joseph W Marsh, prominent in the eary history of the University. Following the baccalaureate address in the morning, the pilgrimage proceeded to the little cemetery, where wreaths were placed upon the graves. Several ad- dresses were delivered during the afternoon. June 4, 1924. The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Yamhill County Pioneer Association was held in con- junction with the Carlton Flower Show, at the city hall of Carlton. About two hundred and fifty pioneers from Yamhill and other counties were present. The annual address was given by Judge Thomas A. McBride, chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Several other speakers, among them Mr. George H. Himes, curator of the Oregon Historical Society, spoke briefly upon different phases of pioneer life. July 4, 1924. Mrs. Sarah Helmich of Albany, who crossed the plains in 1845, celebrated her one hundred first birthday anniversary.