Gisborne Mutual Improvement Society.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 141, 25 June 1901, Page 3

Gisborne Mutual Improvement Society.

SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

The seventeenth annual meeting of the above Society was held in the Wesley school-room last evening, there being a large attendance. Mr B. Johnston (vicePresident) occupied the chair. The Hon. Secretary and Treasurer (Mr M. G. Nasmith, junr.) presented the report and balance-sheet for the year ending June. The report was as follows : The funds of the Society are in a very sound state, as will be seen from the balance-sheet to be laid before you this evening. The receipts totalled j£63 19s 4d and the expenditure J£63 8s 4d, which , leaves a balance in hand of 11s to commence the new year with. The reduction of the debt on the piano has been kept steadily in view by the committee during the past year, and I have much pleasure in stating that they have been enabled to further reduce it by the sum of ill, leaving the debt remaining at M. The Society is indebted to Mrs W. F. Somervillo for her donation to the piano fund, and to Mrs Jones and Miss Georgeson and Miss McDowell for the amounts collected by them for the fund. The past year has also been a very successful one as regards the advancement of the Society in matters | of mutual improvement, excellent lectures, debates, etc., having taken place. During the year lectures were given by Messrs H. Hill, C. A. DeLautour, W. L. Bees, E. H. Mann, and Kev. H. AV. AVilliams, and addresses by Messrs B. E. Stevens, AV. D. Lysnar, and Bev. F, B. Oldham, all of which were very profitable to members. Papers were given by Airs Trimble, Miss Lewis, Bev. Canon AVebb, and Messrs AV H. Trimble and E. D. Smith, which evoked good discussions. Three debates have been held during the year; a Shakesperian evening and an evening with Longfellow have been spent; a parliamentary election has been held; a mock trial has taken place ; and an evening devoted to correspondence on a particular subject was held. The Journal has been read six times during tho year, and the contributions have been of superior quality. The subjects brought before the Society during last year were of a manifold character, some being of a scientific nature, others historical, social, biographical, literary, and others of a varied nature. A gentlemen’s evening was held during tho year, also a ladies’ evening. The annual conversazione took place in the Academy of Music on August 27th, and was a most successful fnnetion. The annual picnic was held in Mr E. Cameron’s paddock at Toanga, on November 9th, and was also a great success. In the evening the picnickers gathered in tho Academy of Music. The opening social for tho present session was hold on April loth in the Academy of Music, and tho departure from the usual opening proved a success. The Society has had 33 meetings during tho year, thore being a crowded attendance at nearly every meeting. The total membership of tho Society now stands at 118, which is the largest membership the Society has had. A record number of new members joined, being 89, whilo we have lost 20 members —12 by resignation, six having left the district, and two (Messrs AV. Parker and F. Shugar) by death. The lato Mr Parker had at one time been a very prominent member of the Society, and tho older members will no doubt remember the splendid locturo Mr Parker gave in 1898, during the Spanish-American AVar, on “ A Trip to Frisco.” The late Air Shugar, who was a new member, being only elected a few weeks before his fatal illness, gave promise of becoming a very useful member, and his demise, as well as Air Parkor’s, was keenly felt. In conclusion, the Society wishes to thank all who have assisted in any way during tho past year, and hope that tho ensuing year may bo as profitable to members as tho j past

On the proposition of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Gaudin, '(he report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, Mr R. N. Jones; VicePresidents, Messrs R. Johnston and J. Peekover; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr M. G. Nasmith, jun.; editor of Journal, Mr W. J. P. Gaudin; business committee, Misses Jones, Somervoll, Sievwright, and Gcorgeson ; Messrs H. PI. Armstrong, W. Driller, and 0. H. Ferris. The Journal was then read by the Editor. It contained articles on “ Some of the reasons why young members do not express their opinions during the debates of the Mutual,” “ The democratic acceptance of titles,” “On the verge of Criticism,” “ The Zulu War,” and “ Eating to live, and living to Eat.” Some of the papers evoked exceedingly good discussions. Noxt Monday evening a debate on “ Should girls play Hookey ?” will tako place, three members taking the affirmative, and three the negative. Mr H. H. Armstrong will open the debate in the affirmative.