DUNEDIN HARRIERS' ANNUAL MEETING.

Evening Star, Issue 12764, 17 March 1906, Page 1

DUNEDIN HARRIERS' ANNUAL MEETING.

annual meeting ©f the Dnn«dm Harriers was held at the Palace Hotel Tea Booms last evening. There \ras an attendance of, about thirty, and Mr A: Lea Smith presided. The secretary (Mr A. E. Bonnin)read the minntea of the last anaaal meeting, and they tree unanmwmdy adopted. -,

In moving their adoption, Mr Lee Smith' /expressed the pleasure at occupying the poatjoii he: did as president of the club. ' He was always delighted to receive mem--bers of the Harriers Ciub a* his house and afford them "any entertainment, in his power He contrasted the methods of the runs as pursued at Home and in this and gave some personal reminiscences of thesport in the Old Country. He had noticed ic-som© of tbe newspapera some severe'' ' criticisms on athletics and the exceptional enthusiasm which sport caused. Those strictures might bo strictly applied some-' times, especially oil such occasions as -when' recently football team had gone Home and cleared all before-them,' and met with; soccers everywhere but in one instance.-— v (Applause.) But he contended that those' •who took cp this special branch of sport (harriers) had, good opportunities of gaining sound physical and moral health. It was' especially suited to those engaged! in eeden-' tary occupations. Those -who "ran with the hounds" indulged' in a dean • sport- 1 -' there was healthy rivalry without any jealousy. Moreover, the pastime promoted a good, social feeling, and at the same time' it promoted temperance. No man could stand long runs without he led a temperate life. He was justified in saying that the meetings of the harriers were accompanied by a good ; record, iand a spirit dean and'-' pure in every hear.) The last season's work of the club was excellent. The Dunedin Harriers were the pioneer club of the colony, and so successful had they been that though they hod only been established 6even years there were now in addition ten live clubs in the Dunedin district, with a total membership of between 550 and 400.—(Applause.) It was not' merely a flash in the pan, the movement was spreading all over th* colony. He wished all the newly-formed clubs as much success as they themselves had achieved. From statistics before him it appeared that the premier crab of the colony were still holding their own. He had every hope and everv belief that they would go on aswell in tie future as they had done in. the past In one way he regretted their.choice' of himself as president. He could not on account of his age attend so many meetings of the club as he would like. He had I<xL . a very strenuous business life, and 1 that, coupled with other circumstences, made him appreciative of home-life. But they had his good wishes, his good-will, and' he would use every effort to promote the prospects of the club.—(Applause.) He congratulated! the olub on. the condition of their funds, and on their credit balance. He did not think, he ought to com© there that night without signalising the pleasure he felt at having been unanimously elected president of the chib, and he begged their acceptance of his cheque for two guineas as a contribution to their funds, and he hoped) it: would not be his last by. a good many times.—(Applause.) He would move the adoption of the report and balance-sheet as read. The motion was carried unanimouslv.

The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, and lesulted as follows:—President, Mr A. Lee, Smith (re-elected); F. Stanley Batchelor, Messrs J. G-lcndining J. A. Johnstone (re-elected), and Mag-* nus_ Johnstone; captain, Mr D. MclviDo; deputy-captain, Mr Frank Mace; treasurer, Mr A. Cannon; handicappcr, Mr A. T. Murray (re-elected); secretary, Mr A. 13. Bonnin. (re-elected); official timekeeper, Mi H. Gr. Burk; General Committee—Messrs W. M. Shand, P. J. Israel, R, Moore, H. ' Dowiand, P. S. RomeriL and J. Foley; auditors, Messrs R, G. Moore and F. A. ■ Webb. The nomination of Messrs R. W.. Brickweli and D. Melville by the General •Committee for the positions of delegates to the Otago Centre of the N.Z.A-AA. waa ratified and both nominees declared elected. The rules were considered and altered: in, several particulars. Apologies for unavoidable absence wero received from Messrs J. B. Callan and 11. C. Murray. Mr A. G. Harris, an old member or" tne chib, telegraphed liis congratulations and good wishes from Christehurch. The secretary stated that the names of Messrs J. B. Callan and J. T, Praia had been inadvertently omitted from the report. .