CANTERBURY CLUB COMPANY.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 66, 17 August 1874, Page 3

CANTERBURY CLUB COMPANY.

The annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Canterbury Club Company, was held on Saturday at. Mr C. Clark’s auction rooms. There was a very large attendance of shareholders. On the motion of Mr G. A, Reade, Mr John Ollivier was voted to the chair. The chairman said that he would first read the advertisement convening the meeting. [Read.] He would now call upon the secretary to read the minutes of the last meeting. Mr Reade then read the minutes, which were confirmed.

The Chairman then said that he felt he need not enter into a lengthened explanation of the reasons why the members were not in possession of the club ; those reasons had operated against the completion of every building taken in hand at the time their building was. Though saying this, he must say that they did not acquit the contractor altogether of blame, and they would at a future date have to call him to account. However, the contractor now stated that they would be in possession of the building in September, but he (Mr Ollivier) hoped in about a fortnight to meet the members under their own roof. There would then be no need for much delay, as the necessary furniture which the shareholders had instructed their directors to procure was in hand, and therefore so soon as the contractor handed over the building, the directors would at once enter into possession, and no great delay would result in fitting up the club and rendering it ready for the members. He might say that he hoped that the members would make an effort to arrange for sleeping accommodation in the club, which he felt sure was much needed to make the club a success. [Hear, hear.] Therefore he hoped that some effort would be made by the shareholders to supply this want. [Hear, hear.] A want which the directors felt ver.v keenly. He would now read the directors’report for the past year, which was as follows :—“ The directors have to present to the shareholders the following report and balance-sheet. The directors regret that owing to the non-comple-tion of the buildings, notwithstanding that the contract time expired on the 20th of March last, they have been unable to place the Canterbury Club in possession of their club house. The directors have, however, the assurance of the architect, that the building ought to be finished by the end of September next. “ The contractor not being in a position to hand over the club-house to the directors at the due date, notice was given him that the terms of the contract would be strictly enforced. “In anticipation of the building being finished within the contract time, the necessary furniture, including glass, cutlery, plate, and crockery, from England, two billiardtables from Melbourne, and the rest locally procured, has now been ready for a considerable time. A suitable supply of newspapers and magazines has also been arranged for. “ From the accompanying statement of accounts, it will be perceived that calls have been paid to the extent of £554 during the past year. The amount still due on shares allotted to date is £2BO. “ Fifteen shares have been allotted during the year. Some further applications are now in hand, and these will doubtless be rapidly augmented on the opening of the a (jf the original £3OOO loan, £2500 has been received, leaving £SOO still receivable, A further loan of £IOOO was authorised by resolution, passed at a general meeting of shareholders on 26th March last, and has been contracted for, “The sum of £lO3 19s hasj been received on account of members’ subscription to the Canterbury Club for the year commencing Ist August, and probably a further of £SOO will be received under this head during the coming year. “J. Ollivier, “ Chairman.” The chairman then read the abstract of accounts and balance sheet of the company, (July audited by the auditors, which showed

a balance in the Bank of New South Wales, to the credit of the company. Mr A, Thompson asked the chairman how many shares were still unallotted, Mr Ollivier replied that there were still 585 shares unallotted. Mr Ollivier then moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet; Mr A. Thompson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The next business was the election of directors. The following gentlemen were the retiring directors—Messrs W. Montgomery, C. Clark, G. Gould, W. H. Lane, E. J. S. Harman, J. Anderson, A. Garrick, G. Stead, W. Dymock, A. Jameson, and G. A. Eeade. Mr Beswick moved, that the retiring directors be. re-elected. Mr D. Craig seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Pavitt moved that Messrs J. D, Macpherson and David Craig be re-elected as auditors for the ensuing year. Mr George Stead seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The question of providing bedroom accommodation at the Club was then discussed. The chairman said that to complete the building as regarded bedroom accommodation would cost about £6OO, and he would ask the shareholders to put their hands in their pockets to the extent of two shares, which would enable the directors to do the work. Mr Barker and Mr Bridge spoke strongly in favour of the bedroom accommodation being provided at the club. Mr J. Beswick moved— “ That immediate steps be taken by the directors to raise by loan a sufficient sum to procure bedroom accommodation at the club.” Mr Barker seconded the motion.

The chairman pointed out that one of the stipulations of the mortgage existing on the premises was that no more money should be raised on the security of the property except from him.

Mr Bridge said that he should not have taken up shares in the company, only that he had understood that bedroom accommodation would be provided. He also believed that several country shareholders had the same belief. [Hear, hear.] Mr George Stead would desire to correct Mr Bridge in the remark he had just made. There was never any direct promise to the shareholders that bedroom accommodation would be provided. What was said was, that they had the accommodation the skeleton bedrooms—but that the finishing of them would be a matter for further consideration.

Mr Ollivier pointed out that they had the rooms but it would, as he had said, take a a certain amount of additional money to finish them, A project had been mooted to establish what was called a club dormitory in the building opposite the new club, the occupant of which had expressed his willingness to provide bed-room accommodation for members by means of a dormitory there which should be under the control of the club.

After Mr Beswick, Captain Millton, and others had spoken, The Chairman suggested the omission of the words “ by loan.” The motion was then carried as follows : “ That immediate steps be taken by the directors to raise a sufficient sum to provide bedroom accommodation.” Mr Pavitt moved—“ That a cordial vote of thanks be presented to Mr Reade, the hon. secretary, for his assiduity and successful management of the affairs of the Club.” Captain Millton seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Reade said he desired to thank the shareholders present for the very kind manner in which they had acknowledged his exertions.

Mr Bridge moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and board of directors for their services during the past year. Mr A. Thompson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Reade, a vote of thanks was passed to the auditors, Messrs Macpherson and D. Craig. A vote of thanks to Mr Charles Clark, for his kindness in placing his room at the disposal of the company, was carried, and the business of the meeting terminated.