ANNUAL MEETINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1891, Page 5

ANNUAL MEETINGS.

The Burns Club held their annual meet ing on Feb. 26, when the report and balancesheets were presented. The former presents some interesting features, including the retirement of Mr Macdonald and Mr Peace, President and Secretary, which positions had been filled by Mr James Stewart, C.E. (President), Mr John Parkerf Vice-president) in his stead, and Mr Alex. Murchie in tho seat of Mr Peace as member of the Committee. The Club has been registered under the Friendly Societies' Act, which has resulted in the drawing up and passing of a new set of rules. The following officers were elected : — President, Mr James Stewart; vice-presidents, Messrs Fowlds, J. Lyell, and G. Lankbam ; treasurer, Mr R. Geddes : secretary, Mr J. Home ; committee, Messrs G. Carter, Alexander Murchie, J. Moncur, James Robertson, and J. Parker. Messrs Sommerville and Forbes were elected auditors.

The annual convention of the Women's Christian Temperance Union closed at Christchurch on March 9th. The following national officers were elected :—President, Mrs Fulton ; corresponding secretary, Miss J. Fulton ; recording secretary. Miss L. Kirk ; treasurer, Mrs Rimmer. It was decided to address the Synod on the subject of using unfermented wine at the euchari9t. Returns from 19 branches of the Union gave a total membership of 530, and four branches of the Young Women's Union, with 91 members. The next Convention meets in Auckland the last week in March, 1892. On the 10th a public meeting under the auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, presided over by the Mayor, passed a resolution that the present system of the treatment of habitual drunkards is unsatisfactory, and | recommending the establishment of an mll ebriate asylum.

The annual meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in the Social Hall of that institution on March 6th, Mr J. L. Wilson, president, in the chair. Tho annual report was read by Mr Buddie. It was stated that the usual work of the Association had been well sustained during tho year, and in various ways extended. The aim of the Committee on entering upon the year's campaign was to wipe off a second mortgage of £1,500, towards which the late Mr John Proberb contributed £500, and

the balance had been raised. There had been an increase of 21 members during the year, making a total of 154, but the library subscribers had fallen from 96 to 51, and the subscribers of the reading-room remained at 21. The lecture course was nob a success, but, the concert given by Herr Schmitt realised £12. The Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening meetings continued to maintain interest. The balance-sheet showed that the year's expenditurehadheen £800 5s lid, and the receipts £556 16s Bd, leaving a balance of £243 9s 3d which had been transferred to the floating debt account. The report and balancesheot were adopted, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President: Mr J. L. Wilson. Executive Committee: Messrs R. S. Abel, A. J. Bridgewater, W. Callendor, John Dougla _ C. Doble, Jamos George, L. Kekwick, Dr. Knight, A. Knight, S. Macauley, W. Robson, R. R. Rigg, J. Smythe, and W. Shackelford. Hon. treasurers : Messrs F. Whitelaw and G. A. Bubtle. Hon. secretaries : Thomas Buddie and W. Norrie. Auditors : Messrs Nutter and W. F. Lawry. The following wero added to the list of vice-Presidonts :—Messrs P. Cheal, W. J. Hemery, and W. Pv. Vines.

The annual meeting of the Acclimatisation Society took place on March 16, Mr J. Burtt in the chair. The secretary read the annual report. The financial position of tho Society is on the whole satisfactory. The total revenue for tho year has been excluding bank balances £294 lis lid, against! £256 14s lOd on the previous year. The largest portion is contributed by tha game licenses, which have yielded £274, being £8 in excess of last year's proceeds. It is a satisfactory fact that tho reduction of the license fee to £1 has not prejudically affected the union of tho Society, bub has on the other hand rather increased it. The expenditure has been as careful as is consistentwibh the efficient workingof the society. The total amount has been £253 ]8s 9d, leaving a balance in hand of £215 lis 2d, the whole of which is deposited in the Bank. The experience of the Society in fish breeding during the past year has been of a somewhat chequered character. The drought and subsequent floods had resulted in the loss of more than threequarters of the fish. The drought broke up, and, washing a considerable quantity of dust into the ponds, rosulted in the smothering of a large proportion of the fish. Encouraging reports have been received about the trout liberated in the Papiteri streams, also in the Waipu river, and those in Lake Takapuna had done remarkably well. The removal of the fish hatchery from the Domain had been under consideration, but up to the present no suitable locality had been found. Some crabs had been introduced from Fiji. Thoy had, thanks bo the officers of the Taupo, been landed in good condition, and had been liberated on Rangitoto, where they would do well, it was hoped. The English wild ducks presented by Captain Whitney had done well in Lake Takapuna.

On Feb. 27th the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Auckland Scripture Gift Association was held in the depot, Highstreet. The annual report and balancesheet were read and adopted. The following were elected as members of Committee for the ensuing year :—Messrs John Douglas, A. Thorne, A. C. Caughey. J. W. Shackelford, J. Longmore, G. S. Rountree, S. Rout, Secretary, A. Thorne; Treasurer, S. Rout.