COLLEGE OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 14

COLLEGE OLD BOYS' ASSOCIATION

AJWUAL MEETING. Tho nineteenth annual meeting of the Wel- - 1: igton Collego Old Boys' Association was held in Mr. J. D. A very , s office last night, Mr. M. Myers, president, occupying the chair. In placing the report and balancesheet (a precis of which has Iwcn published) before tho meeting, tho chairman remarked that the number of active members of the associatioi was no fewer than 819, 620 being ordinary members and 190 life members. Ho might tako it that two-thirds' of the above members resided in Wellington, this being a moderate estimate. It was a most unfortunate thing, and showed a' lack of interest in tho affairs of the association, that out of such a largo membership so few could attend the annnal meeting. At the samo time it might bo mentioned that the meeting had been called for the previous evening, and had lapsed for ivant of a quorum, which was- only 15. If tho association was to progress or even to exist, it would be necessary that more interest should bo taken in its affairs. Tbo chairman' expressed regret at tho fact that the- college masters were not present. It might be that old boys did not tako as much interest in tho college as they should do, but it was unfortunate that thero were few things in life that the majority of us did as they should do. More might be done, he thought, in encouraging nev members, as it could not bo expected that tho old hands, who found new interests as the years went by, should still keep tho association going. Boys leaving school should (and perhaps they were) bo taught that it was their duty to keon up an interest in their school, and that by joining tho association and taking an active interest in its affaire they were best able to do this. The one bright spot in the report was the success of the cricket team, which bade fair to repeat its last year's performance again this season. Messrs. E. G. Pilchor, W. Meek, Dcnton, Bethune, and several other members spoke of tho necessity for building up the funds of the association, and encouraging new members to come in and take an activo interest in :tho association. Tho adoption of the report and balance-sheet was agreed to. Officers "for the ensuing year wero elected as follow:—President, Mr. W. H. Denton; committee, Messrs. W. Fi. Bethune, R.sParroch, S. Jacobs, B. L. Salmon, W. L. Meek, E. G. Pilcher, and M. Myers, G. S. Matthews (football club), and F. M. Martin (cricket ciub)'; lion. sec., Mr. H. E. Avcry; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. L. Palethorpe; hon. auditor, Mr. W. H. Morrah. . ' It was decided to place on record the pleasure of tho association in tho success of a fellow old boy, Mr. A. MacDougall, recently chosen Rhodes scholar, and the second student from the college-to gain this distinction. It was decided to recommend'to" the incoming committee that arrangements be made to entertain Mr. MacDougalTbcfore his departura for England. The incoming committee was recommended to mako provision out of income for a donation of £5 ss. to the collego ground fund, and for a donation of £2 2s. for a mathematical prize. On the motion of Mr. Meek, it was decided to forward a letter of sympathy to Mr. D. Lyon, a former president of tho association, who is at present lying seriously and dangerously ill. Several speakers made reference to the interest Mr. Lyon had taken in the association.