NEW ZEALAND NATIVES’ ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND NATIVES’ ASSOCIATION.

The animal general meeting of -the Christchurch Centre of the New Zealand Natives’ Association was held on 1 hursday night, at the Canterbury Stock Exchange. Mr D. Bates, vice-president, occupied the chair. The report of the committee stated that, in spite of a slightly increased membership during the year, apathy on the part of many of the members had stood in the way of the Association’s success. The Entertainments Committee had done good work for the winter evenings, the attendance on those occasions being very good. The room in the Young Men's Christian Association Building had been given.' up, owing to the heavy expense necessary. Mention was made of a successful concert given during the winter by the RapaM Natives, assisted by the members of the Association, which had resulted in a profit of about £l2. The success of the New Zealand Native Rifle Corps, which had been formed during the year, was a gratifying feature in the report. The incoming committee was recommended to consider the question of meetings of the Association during the summer months. The balance-sheet of the centre showed the receipts for the year to have been £165 Ifls, and the expenditure £l9l 13s, £75 of which was paid on account to Messrs Whitcombe and Tombs tor printing “ Canterbury Old and Now,” a large number of copies of which are stilt on hand. The liabilities total £353 17s Hd. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, paid a tribute to the excellent work done for the Association by the president, Mr Reece, whose absence in England prevented him occupying the chair at the meeting. It was necessary that the Association should be 'thoroughly worked up. The financial position of the operatic section was to be carefully examined, «md in spite of the excellent attractions held out by this branch of the Society, too much dependence on it was to be avoided. There wei'e other matters which, after all, were of more importance to the Association, among which might be mentioned the preservation of scenery, and the encouragement of the Natives. The wanton destruction of native bush was to bs prevented, and the Rifle Corps supported to the fullest extent. The Association had justified its existence by its frequent operas and entertainments, and by the Jubilee Book, which indeed alone might be said to have shown that the Association had not existed in vain'. The interest of this book was such that it might well be said by those who read it that facts were stranger than fiction. If the Association had failed in any way, it was that it lacked that esprit de corps which was the mainspring of such bodies. The spirit of patriotism was lacking in their midst, acts of usefulness to their fel-low-men were tire main principle for them to act upon, and he urged his hearers not merely to come for what they could get, but to buy copies of the Jubilee Book, and help generally the arduous work of 'the committee. Although politics, in the ordinary sense of the term, were to be eschewed by the Society, it was nevertheless open to them to take an interest in the national life of the colony; they should support nob party, but principle. Such questions, therefore, as Federation, moral and technical instruction in schools, and other important matters could! be freely and beneficially discussed: They would thus take part in the life of the colony, and be able to lay claim to a really useful existence. Mr Bridge seconded the motion, and regretted that there had not been more 1 present to listen to the excellent speech of the chairman. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. ] The following ladies and gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the year:—President, Mr W, Recce; vice-presidents, Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes, D. Bates and O. H. Bridge; committee, Messrs Longuet, ■Haller; Winter Hall, Bishop, Hillary, Rev J. McKenzie and Captain Oakes, Mesdam.es Ourlett and Bang, Misses Stevenson and Watkins; honorary treasurer, Mr Philip Hoare; secretary, Mr C. Wotherspoon; auditors, Messrs Bergh and R. 0. Duncan. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman (Mr D. Bates), and the proceedings terminated.