WAIPU CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

Northern Advocate, 11 October 1928, Page 8

WAIPU CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING. Tho 57th annual meeting of the Waipu Caledonian Society, held on October 4, was attended by 26 members out of 118 and presided over by the president, Mr Dan H. McKenzie. Tho balance sheet submitted by the treasurer testified to a very successful finanical year, and on the motion of Mr J. C. McKay this, and the secretary’s annual report, were unanimously adopted with very little discussion. The following appointments were made, without opposition, the officers having filled the same positions last year; —Chief, Mr J. M. McKay; chaplain, Rev, G. \V. Blair; piper, Mr D. A v Campbell; auditor, 'Mr P. C. Taylor; and a strong working committee of over 30, who elect their own officers. As the Soldiers’ Memorial Roll of Honour was destroyed when the Public Hall was burned some two years ago, the newly appointed committee were, on the motion of Mr J. C. McKay, recommended to get a similar one as nearly as possible.

A communication was received from Mr Alex. Barlass, of Dargaville, stating tha<t an effort- was being made to link up the various Scottish Societies in North Auckland, and seeking the co-operation of the Waipu Society. It was unanimously agreed to afford the project every support.

A small committee was set up to revise the society’s rules and submit them to a general meeting of members for their consideration and adop tion.

It was decided to hold the annual New Year Day Games as usual, and it was left with the committee to make the necessary arrangements for n programme, etc.

Before the close of the meeting the president stated that it was not his intention to accept nomination for the presidency. This appointment would be made at the first committee meeting.

The secretary reported having attended the annual meeting of the Northern Athletic Union in Auckland the previous week, and gave a short account of the business transacted thereat.

An appeal from Edinburgh for funds for the establishment of 1 a hospital for crippled children for the south-eastern area of Scotland did not meet with the desired result, it being thought that there were plenty of opportunities nearer home for contributing to such purposes. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report for the year 192728 was as follows: Once again I have the pleasure, privilege and duty to briefly report on another year’s operations of your Society, which represents the 57th year of its existence, and, like the previous one, was one in Tyhieh the amount of sorrow and bereavement occasioned members and their families through death was small, in comparison with some other vears.

The usual general and sub-commit-tee meetings held throughout the term were well attended by their respective members, who always showed a keen interest in the business being transacted. Acting on instructions from you at your last annual meeting to hold the usual New Year Day Games, your committee made the necessary arrangements to hbld them on Monday, 2nd January, as New Year Day (Ist January) fell on a Sunday. A programme of 50 events was provided (being 30 for adults and 20 for youths), comprising competitions in dancing, piping and mostly all forms of Scottish national games with substantial prizes for each event, and entries for these were received from competitors in- territory stretching from the Waikato to the Far North, and comprised 46 for the adult and 17 for the youths’ events, against 56 aVi 17 for the previous year. Tw'enty-nine of the adults won prize-money in sums varying from 10s to £l9 10s, while 16 of the youths won sums varying from 4s to £7 10s. As in the previous years of late, by far the greater number of entries received for the -adult part of the programme was for the field events, the average for the 15 being 7.66 against 9 each last year. Only 11 out of the 15 stage events were competed for, with an average of 2.36 competitors, against 10 out of 16 events, with an average of 3.4 for each last year.

In the youths’ events, which, with the exception of two, were for piping or dancing, 18 out of 21 were competed for, with an areage of 5 competitors, against an average of 3.06 last vear.

It is a matter for regret the few male Highland dancers who come forward; last year there being none, and this year only one. In the dancing events for ladies in the adult section there were only those who danced in the youths’ section. But, notwithstanding this, the dancing, as well as the piping (which brought out more competition), was pronounced by the judge as of a very high order, as some of the best performers in this class of competition were present. The competition in the field events was up to the usual standard at your Games and other similar country gatherings. That you get a good class of athlete in recent years, particularly in the running events, is borne out by the fact that some of 'those who compete here without much success

are able to compete very successfully

in bigger centres, and give away bigger handicaps than asked to do here,

Your fifth annual Youths and Children’s Games were held on January 26, when a programme of 51 events was provided, comprising mostly all forms of field events for ages ranging from 7to 18. Of these 4 were not competed for owing to there being no cricket ball or football available | with which fo carry them through. With the exception of the events for the older youths, the entries received were particularly good, and competition keen, 61 competitors winning prize motley in sums varying from (id to £3 11s, against 66 with prizes ranging from is to £5 18s, the previous year. No doubt the success and pleasure derived from this' yearly function is largely due to the help given by the ladies, who provide two free meals for all. and for which they are worthy of j yum- best thinks. It is unnecessary here to say much about the financial position of the society, as a copy of the balance sheet has been sent -to each of you, from which you may have observed that you have had a very successful financial year, and that your society is in a very enviable and sound financial position. But the following figures may interest you, as representing the total income -and expenditure for the last quarter of a century, in some of the chief headings which generally appear in your balance sheet. On the income side, there are: Members’ annual fees, £1272' 4s; voluntary donations, £461 Os 3d; concert takings, £lOl3 6s lid; patriotic funds, £5Bl 10s 9d; rents, £298 3s. Games items —Gate takings, £1096 14s 8d; catering privileges, £334 12s 6d; competitors’ entrance fees, £512 7s 6d. On the expenditure side prizes account for £1935 4s 8d; patriotic purposes, £lOlO 17s 6d; concert expenses, £443 16s 6d; rates, £6B 12s 2d. Purchase and impovement of your property cost £lOls 15s 3d.

Your membership roll stands a,t

118, against 106 last year, and an average of 96.58 for the past 24 years. It is pleasing to note that included in this is an unusually large number of youths, and particularly dads in their teens, to whom you can no doubt look forward successfully to carry on the work of your popular and farfamed society when the elder members cease to take an active part in it. J. N. I. MeKAY, Searetary. ’ BALANCE SHEET. Following is the balance sheet for the year 1927-28; — General Account. ance, Ist April, 1927, £ls 6s Id; members' fees, £59 15s; total, £75 Is Id. Expenditure: Office requisites, £7 11s; insurance, 19s 7d; salary, 1926-7, £7; transfer to Games Account, £ls 6s 6d; credit balance, £44 4s; total, £75 Is Id. Games Account.—Receipts: Competitors' entrance fees, £39 15s; gate takings, £l2l 2s 3d; concert takings, £SO 18s 9d; catering privileges, £l4 17s 3d; sale of programmes, £1 15s 6d; advertising in programmes, £9 11s; donations, £8 6s; from General Account, £ls 6s 6d. Expenditure: Printing and advertising, £l9 14s 9d; printing programmes, £10; registration fees, £3 2s; prizes, £175 15s 8d; judges, stewards, etc., £9 13s 3d; labour, £2 10s; sundries, £1 4s Id; concert, £26 4s 9d; catering, Youths’ Games, £2 7s 9d; Hall donation, £11; total, £261 12s 3d. j Park Account.—Receipts: Rents, £lB. Expenditure: Rates, £5 ss; material, 16s 6d; credit balance, £ll 18s 6d; total, £lB. Assets.—Land an,d buildings, £1000; sundry materials, £l2 15s; silver trophies, £3O ss; rents, £5 15s; cash in hand, £56 2s 6d; total, £llO4 17s 6d. Liabilities: Chaplain Fund, £3 os Gel; salary, £7; excess of assets, £10194 12s; total, £llO4 17s 6d. ’