CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Evening Star, Issue 12883, 4 August 1906, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

A special meeting of the Caledonian Society was held in the Excelsior Hotel last evening for the puropse of confirming amended rules, Mr R Mackenzie (president) occupying the chair

Mr A. Sligj referred in sympathetic terms to the death of the wife of Mr J. B. Thomson. He said she was known to be exenipbiry a wife, a mother, and a woman, and he moved that a letter be sent to Mr Thomson expressing sympathy and condolence with him at the loss he had suffered. —Mr Forrest seconded the motion.—Mr R. Chisholm said that when he was recently in Glasgow he attended a so'cal meeting of a society that looked after the interests of factory girls, at which the labors of the deceased lady were mentioned in very appreciative terms.—The members present carried the motion standing. Mr Sligo also referred to the death of Mr Donald M'Lennan, a past president of the Caledonian Society of Oamaru, and a man of big heart and in every way honorable. Ho tiad played an important part in the early history of North Otago. He moved that a letter of condolence be sent to the deceased gentleman's family.—Dr Gordon Macdonald seconded the motion, remarking that he had known the deceased gentleman for about twenty years. He had worked his way up from nothing, and such men they ought to be proud of.—The motion was carried.

Mr Forrest explained that the present meeting was being held in the Excelsior Hotel because a larger attendance of members was expected than their usual place of meeting (the secretary's office) would accommodate.—Mr Sligo "said he had noticed that some remarks had been made in the Press condemning their meeting in a hotel. That matter had been considered, and Mr Mackenzie himself had objected to the meeting being held at his hotel, but consented to the arrangement to save the society expense. It was a very strange thing if they could not meet in a respectable notel to transact their business.—(Applause.)—A vote of thanks was carried to Mr Mackenzie for granting the use of a room for the meeting. Thj Chairman explained that the amended rules bad been very carefully considered by various committees, but were open to discussion and amendment by members. Rule 2 set out that one of the objects of the society should include giving facilities for teaching youths in elementary and technical subiects.—Mr R. Chisholm pointed out that tiiere was less necessity at the present time for the society to afford facilities for teaching youths in elementary and technical schools, because there was an excellent technical school now established in Dunedin. He suggested that under the head of education the rule should read "by establishing scholarships" for the education of youths." —The amendment was seconded by Mr A. Sligo and carried. Several verbal amendments were made, principally -in the rules relating to sports. In the section dealing with bagpipe music clause 2 as proposed read : "No first prize shall be awarded unless there be three or mora competitors, and no second prize unless there be two or more competitors." This was amended by the restoration of the old rule, as follows:-^"Prize money: Two competitors or no first prize, three or no second fouT or no third prize. Exemption* : Bagpipe music and dancing; but should only one piper or dancer come forward for the bagpipe or dancing competition, he will, if competent, be entitled to, and shall receive, the first prize. In the case of an insufficiency of competitors in any event, the judges (or directors) shall be empowered to judge the individual's performance, to increase the numbers if practicable with or without entry money, and award the prizes as they sfiall deem proper." The rules as amended were then adopted.