CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 19708, 8 November 1927, Page 4

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

jc. ANNUAL meeting

BUSINESS —AHD TKEff HAGGIS

Last night in the Embassy Salon, Moray place, about 50 members of the Caledonian Society of Otago attended the annual meeting of that body. As each one entered he dipped into a box placed at the door, and took therefrom a sprig of heather, with winch he adorned his buttonhole. Thus decorated, he was ready to listen to the past year’s history, also to the-bagpipes and the ‘Address to the Haggis,’'and afterwards to the excellent programme of musical and other items. Convened primarily to mark the end and the beginning of .a year’s activities, it soon resolved itself into a social gathering, and ended, as it had begun, in true friendly Scottish stylo. The retiring president (Mr J. S. Douglas) occupied the chair at the outset, and ha proposed the adoption ot the annual report and balance-sheet. The report recorded a surplus of -£'29'] on the year’s operations, which, in accordance with the policy of the society, had been used to make further improvements at the grounds and to the plant and equipment. The Works Committee (Messrs 11. D. Vcitch, H. Divers, W. J. Du If, and A. A, Campbell) had again carried out their duties excellently, and steady progress at a minimum cost had been made in the tilling l in of the grounds. The directors had made commitments totalling £372 for alterations to the entrance at Anderson’s Bay road,_ repairs to the Cameron street entrance’ and repairs to fences. The report wont on to say; “In its endeavor to assist similar bodies and sports associations, the following donations were made during the year:—N.Z.A.A, Association (Utago Centre), £10; Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club, £3 3s; Piping and Dancing Association, £3 3s; u total of £l3 6s. The grouids have again been used by different organisations for holding athletic meetings, and the greater part of the revenue of the society comes from this source. During the year the free use of the grounds was granted to the following:—St. Hilda’s Collegiate School, John M'Glashan College, Girl Guides’ Association, Ladies’ Amateur Athletic Club, Otago Centre N.Z.A.A. Association (evening meetings), Dunedin Civil Service H- and A.A. Club, the Christian Brothers’ School, the St. Hilda Band, and to the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association for the purpose of entertaining the children of the various orphanages. The society’s own .sports meeting was not held this year. It was decided to postpone the meeting from November hist until February or March, in the hope that better weather conditions would then prevail. So many other functions were, however, held in these months that a suitable day was not available, and the meeting was reluctantly abandoned. The matter has this year been referred to the Games Committee, which will submit its recommendations to the directors in due course. The council' of Dunedin Scottish societies has boon properly established, Sind has carried out successfully all functions it has undertaken. ft is confidently expected that tho council will servo to bind the Scottish societies closer together. It has already boon shown that tho council lias tho cooperation and goodwill of the different Scottish societies of Dunedin. The membership now stands at 181. It is pleasing to be able to record an increase in members, but it is a matter for regret that tho present membership is not more commensurate with tho size of thq city ” Tho Chairman referred to the deaths of Mr D. Duncan (a life director), Mr Wm. Jeffery (a. director), and Mr J. Spencer (an old member), and a vote of sympathy with the relatives of deceased was carried in silence. Air Douglas also referred to the presence that evening of a very old and esteemed member, Mr Joseph Sparrow. Continuing, the Chairman said that the society, it was pleasing to note, was still going ahead, and had made more members than they lost during tho past year. He eulogised the fine work done by the Works Committee, of which Mr R. I). Vcitch was chairman. Under this committee u cycle track had been improved, and would, he hoped, bo second to none in the dominion. It was expected that cyclists would appreciate this, and that now tho daylight savin" period had commenced (the efforts of Mr T. IC. Sidey in this connection were worthy of the highest commendation) they would sec some fine racing. It was felt, said Mr Douglas, that since its own annual sports had lapsed the society had sunk somewhat into tho background, but it was safe to say that it was always doing good work, and would eventually be able to perform a public duty in handing over to the city a sports ground that would be worthy of the society. This time had not yet come, of course, but it was anticipated that the society would be-able to carry on for years yet in promoting sports gatherings. The society was always anxious to meet sister sports societies and to allow them tho use of its ground at reasonable rales, while those who could not afford to pay were always assisted. In conclusion, Air Douglas expressed to his fellow-direc-tors his deep appreciation of their kindness and loyal support during his two years of office. The motion was seconded by Mr T. AI. Gillies, who said that lie felt that the society was going to reap the benefit of the improvements which had been carried out on the grounds. The finances, too, were in better position than they had been for some time, and he hoped they would improve still further.

Tho motion was carried unanimously. The following new directors were declared elected :—Messrs J. Budge, AGoodley, B. S. Irwin, James Milne, W. Rudkin, A. Smellie, W. Al'Lachlan, WG. Burt, H. S. Hungcrford, F. Johnston, J. A. M'Kinnou, Alex. Sligo, J. C. Smith, and D. Tannoek. Air T. M. Gillies was elected president, Messrs R. D. Veitch and Geo. Hay vice-presidents, Air Chas, Speight hon. treasurer, Alossrs W. E. C, Reid and Co. secretaries, and Air J. A. Hopcraft, F.P.A.N.Z., auditor. Air Vcitch said that ho would like to express his thanks to the members of the Works Committee, who had assisted him in carrying out the work at the grounds; also to Air Afaxwcll (the groundsman) and his family, who were all deeply interested in the welfare of the society. Air Williamson, too, was ever ready to give information and assistance. Air Vcitch went on to give a detailed accountof the work that had been carried out at the “Gale,” and added that the sports meetings held there were being well attended, and the impetus that had been, given by the popularising of these meetings would be of benefit to the society.

Mr W. J. Duff, on behalf of the Otago Centre of tho N.Z.A.A.A., thanked the society for its kindly interest and assistance. The association, he said, was thankful to have the use of tho grounds, which were second to none in New Zealand. He hoped that, during the corning season, there would be big fields and highly successful meetings. The new president (Mr T. M. Gillies) was installed with Highland honors by Mr Roderick M'Kenaie, who, after the pipers (playing ‘The Road to the Isles’) had conducted the new president to his chair, delivered a felicitous little snoech.

Mr Gillies presented the past president (Air J. S. Douglas) with a gold medallion as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the members and as a reminder of his term of office. “ Lang may your him reck,” said Mr Gillies, as ho handed over the gift, and Mr Douglas replied in appropriate terms.

That concluded the business part of the gathering, and tho social part was begun with the toast of “The King,” Then the skirl of the pipes was heard in the ante room, and through the parted curtains marched four kilted pipers. Behind them marched the twa APKcnzies—Roderick and Colin—-each bearing a great dish of haggis, while in between, walked the president. Thus they twice circled the room, the dishes were solemnly placed on the table, and Air Janies Brown was called upon to recite 1 The Address.’ This lie did, after remarking that it was just sixty years ago that he first recited this poem of Burns's. It was at a Caledonian Society gathering, and he had on Die occasion Avon first prize for his recitation.

The subsequent toast list included “Kindred Societies’ 1 (proposed by Air R. M'Keuzie and replied to by Alessrs AA r , H.APLeod, AA'. Nicholson. A. AlacKay. and Pipe-major Smith; “ The President” (proposed by Air A. H. Tonkinson): “ New Directors ” (proposed hv Atr A. Gillies and responded to by Air A. Gnodlet); and “The Performers” 1 proposed by Air Jas. Brown). The musical programme was contributed to by Alessrs W. 11. M'Keuzie, F. G. Duncan, T. Ritchie, Richards, and A. Burk. Air AA r . R. Brough also told some excellent •stories.

Tlie gathering broke up te tho strains of ‘ Auld Lang Syne’ and the National Anthem.,