OTAGO PUBLIC SERVICE CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 10342, 16 June 1897, Page 1

OTAGO PUBLIC SERVICE CLUB.

With* view to fottariog aoaial intamave* •mug tfae Jmsmbers and furthering tit iattfitte at the (XvOjervaaiav.. of Jfanedin have intb * vejjy strong' body, and the first annual meeting of the club wu held in their room in the old Police Barracks, Maobggaa stfeet, last evening. !Tho»e members who foftiated the movement are to be congratr-lated-on the tact and good taste display* d by them in having obtained anch rait-* able quartera. The rooms are well funis! Ed and-amply provided with newspapers, mag • zincs, etc. The billiard room—a very eon - fortable place, indeed—should prove a gre c attraction daring the water months, whi't the reading room $s also sore to receive a fair share of patronage. With inch afna Soite of rooms the tinb will, no doubt, have a most prosperous career, and it only now remains with members to increase their membership, and by this time next year the Otago Public Service Grab should be one of the most, flourishing institutions of its kind in New Zealand. Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., presided over, the meeting, and there was a Urge number of members present, lit Justice Williams and Mr M. J. 8. Mac kenzie, M.H.R., apologised for their non attendance.

The rates were read and adopted, and it was decided to send copies to each member. The subscription was fixed at 10s for the first year. The Secretary read a report of a committee wsieh had been set up to make arrangements for the engagement of snitab'e club rooms, etc. The Committee reported that rooms in the old Police Barracks, Mat - laggan street, had been seemed, while a billiard table had also been bought. Regal r supplies .of papers were promised by Means Darton, Marryatt, Finnegan, Henderaor, and Crimes. It was proposed to hold a monthly entertainment for the preset season, to which members might bring thi r lady friends. It was also proposed to fmro a whist dub. The Committee desired o thank several outude gentlemen who assist* d to start the clnb, and to Messrs Willian s and Qlossop their thanks were specially du . The membership stood at 100. The 001eluding paragraph of the report* rt\t-: "Members have paly to take auffieiei t interest in the clnb and to work together with a little enthusiasm to make it the mo t successful of its kind, and an object less* n to the Civil servants throughout New Zealand." The following office-bearers were unanimously elected : President, Mr C. C. Graham (Otlicial Assignee); vice-presidents —Messrs E. Cook (Chief Postmaster), J. G. Ballard (loc*l officer in charge of the Telephone Department), 0. W. Chamberlain (Collector of Customs), A. M'Kerrow (Public Lands Valuer), C. 8. Nixon (Customs Department), J. Hay (Chief Surveyor), T. Arthur (District Traffic Manager), W. Black (Public Works Department), J. A. Millar, H. 3. Fish, and M. J. S. Mackenzie (M.H.8.8); hon. secretary, Mr A. Marryatt; hon. treasurer, Mr B. J Finnegan; Committee of Management—Messrs J. Waters, G. Darton, £. G. Monk, W. Hay M'Keozte, A. Clothier, G. Craig, and A. Williams. After special votes of thanks were accorded Messrs R. Williams, the interim committee, and the secretary (Mr A. Marryatt), the Chairman declared the club open. A euchre tournament was then held, Mr P. Williams winning first prize (a handsome pipe). Mr Millar captured the booby prize.