ST. COLUMBA CLUB

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1935, Page 2

ST. COLUMBA CLUB

ANNUAL REPORT. The following annual report of th; St. Columba Literary and Debating Club is to be. presented by the Presi dent (Mr. L. B. Phillips), at the an nual meeting to be held at the club rooms this evening:— The record of the club for the yeai 1934-35 has been a memorable one and I venture to say the most success ful one, viewed from all aspects, that the club has experienced during the past decade. Your executive ha? every reason to be proud of the re suits obtained, and trusts that mem bers will display the same energy and enthusiasm during the next twelve months. During- the year the annua general Communion breakfast waheld and was attended by a laTge number of club members and friends The breakfast is now firmly establish ed, and is looked forward to by al' members. Your club was represent ed at the annual festival of the AVest Coast Competitions Society, and was successful in annexing both the sen ior and junior championship cups. Th’..was most gratifying, and was the re suit of hard work on the part of those members who competed. Two of out members, Messrs J. Gilbert and A. Gilligan, were successful in winning the senior and junior individual championships respectively; other member? namely. M. Daly, Al. Kelly and L. Phil lips, also met with success in various sections, and to a'l those who participated we offer our congratulations The usual inter-club debates were held and pleasant evenings were spent, both entertaining and being entertained b\ the Trinity and United Clubs, the Run anga Club and the St. Mary’s Club ot Hokitika. Your executive feels that these inter-club debates and social evenings should be encouraged, am that steps should be taken to make them fore frequent than in the past.

The thirtieth anniversary of tin foundation of the club was marked by a re-union of past ami present members, and this function proved a great success, there being a record attendance of club supporters ami also visitors from other parts of New Zealand. To mark the success of your teams at the Competitions, the animal banquet was held, ami representatives were present from tie* Competitions Society and the United and Trinity Clubs. This function was we'l patronised ami enjoyed by all. It has been the aim of your executive to cater for all tastes and amusements. With this end in view, card' and ping-pong tables were purchased and the billiard table was levelled and repaired. These facilities were mad” full use of, and members derived many a goodnight’s entertainment, 'i’he executive has given serious thought to the matter of purchasing new cues and billiard balls, and considers that this can be done at a very early date. To complete the year’s working your club was given the honour of conducting the annual conference an I olic Clubs and Societies of New Zencompetitions of the Federated Cathland, which were held at Easter time, and it is most gratifying to know ihat owing to the combined efforts of your members, this year’s gathering was a record one, and was acclaimed by all visitors and delegates as the most successful one to date. We feel that much of the success of the conference was due to the trojan work done by the Rev. Fr. J. Holohan, your Spiritual Director, and Mr J. J. Mcllroy, your energetic secretary. The club also owes a debt of gratitude to those other member who did such good work; to the Children of Mary, and the Ladies’ Committee, who not only raised funds which enabled us to completely paint, and renovate the rooms, but also assisted with the actual running of the function; to those well-wishers who made donations towards the funds, etc., for the repairs and renovations; and lastly, but by no means least, we feel greatly indebted, and wish to place on record our thanks and appreciation to the voluntary workers who assisted with painting, renovating and the general doing up of the club rooms, in preparation for the conference. Taken all through, we feel that the club is now in a most flourishing position. The balance sheet shows that, despite the fact that the year’s programme entailed very heavy expenditure, your club is now entirely freefrom debt, and also has rooms and facilities for enjoyment that arc second to none in New Zealand, and it behoves all members and intending members to make the most of them. In conclusion, we wish to thank everyone who has assisted with the various functions held, the adjudicators of the different debates and the Press, who at all times fully reported matters re lative to the working of the club.