CHURCHMEN'S CLUB.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 6849, 6 September 1887, Page 5

CHURCHMEN'S CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Churchmen's Club was held last night. The Iter. H. T. Purcliast was voted to the chair.

The proceedings were opened by singing a hymn, followed by a short prayer. The Committee's report stated that there were now 250 members on the list, but, on account of the dribbling manner in which subscriptions had been paid, they had not felt themselves justified in incurring any but actual necessary expenses. Owing to the liberality of certain members of the Club, a bagatelle board had been placed in the rooms, and had proved a source of very great attraction and amusement. It was proposed to bring up the question of procuring a billiard table for the Club, as it would be a means of largely increasing the number of members, the strictest by-laws would, of course, be made against gambling in any form whatever. The report recommended that the life subscription be altered to £'101(H; ordinary members, £1 Is, with an extra fee of os. It went on to strongly urjze the adoption of these alterations, as, unless they were carried, there would l>e no alternative but to wind up the Club. The Canterbury Chess Club had met in the smoking-room of the Club twice a week, and had proved excellent tenants, Iweides materially augmenting the funds of the Club. Owing to the want of funds the Committee had been unable to have any social evenings, but they recommended the new Committee to institute these, if they saw their way clear. The thanks of" the Club were due to several members and friends for regularly supplying papers, periodicals, &c, during the'past year. They had approved of thirty-eight new members, and IUO had been removed from the list through death, resignation, or leaving the colony. The balance-sheet showed the receipts for the past year to have been £147 8s : expenditure, £150 Ks; leaving a debit balance of £3. The assets, estimated at £tfS 18s 6d, and liabilities, £70 Is, also left a balance on the wrong side of £1 2s yd."

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Tne following officers were then elected for the ensuing year iv the place of those who retired by rotation:- Committee—On the clerical side. Rev. W. A. Pascoe was re-elected, and Yen. Archdeacon Lingard was appointed in the place of Rev. F. Knowles. Messrs J. W. Jacques and E. J. Greenstreet took the place of the two retiring members among the laity. Mr Henry Lake was elected Hon. Treasurer. and Mr W. Blake Secretary.

The report and l>alance-sheet were adopted. A resolution was proposed in favor of procuring a billiard table as soon as the Committee saw their way clear financially to do so. Several letters were read with regard to the matter, including one from the Most Rev. the Primate, President of the Club, stating that he had no objection to the plan, providing that all gambling in the use of it be effectually prohibited. After considerable discussion the motion was carried, and an amendment providing that half the cost be specially subscriljed was lost.

A vote of thanks was then accorded to the retiring officers, and the meeting terminated. A special meeting was then held to make some slight alterations in the rules. The subscriptions were fixed as follows— Life members, £10 10a ; ordinary members, £1 Is; entrance fee, ss. Further alterations were then made in rules 9. 9a, and 10, it being resolved to post up the names of members not forthcoming with their snbscriptions three months after due. A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman, and the meeting adjourned.