KAKANUI PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13662, 2 September 1916, Page 7

KAKANUI PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPOET. ' On Tuesday night last there was held in the ■Kiikanui Atlieiucuni Hall a public meeting for the purpose of receiving from the Kiikanui Patriotic Society the balance-sheet iiml report pertaining to the two years' work done by that ■'•l'irfy. To the regret of the society the meeting was poorly attended, there being only eleven present, ■ The society reported; that to com'iicni"? with fhey had numbered ton members, By the decease of Mr Thos, McKcnzic they had lost one whose place in their ranks it would be vcryhard to till. They placed on record ■ their great appreciation of his ungrudging services. Through other causes they had lost two others,, and now their ranks numbered only seveii.

During the (wo years they had held twenty meetings of the committee, and had. oi'gauised most successfully a series nf functions of a patriotic character. At a public meeting held on August 2b'th, JlU'I, cash and promises to the value of £22 2/6 were received. These were further augmented until the sum of £4O 18/4 was obtained; £3 17/!) of this was retained by the committee in order to buy wool, etc., for the ladies of the district to work up into comforts for our soldiers. The balance, namely, £37 0/7, was acocrdingly handed in to 'lie central committee in Oamaru. On the Itith of November, IMA. ?. concert and lecture combined- in one entertainment was given in aid of Belgian Belief, the Rev, D.Jamicson, M.A., being the lecturer. The net result was the sum of £6 15/!).

Early in the following year a canvass of the district for donations of produce and cash was instituted, A considerable sum was realised, but as a large part was paid into the central committee directly, the committee' had to report that only the small sum of £513/passed through their treasurer's hands. „ The meeting held on the 27th FebTuary, 1915, set in. motion an effort productive of much gain,' for, owing to action taken, n candidate (Miss Eliza-' both* Buick, of 'Mara), was elected to .represent the Kakanui and Incholme Eidings in the contest for the queeiiship of North. Otago. In connection .with this contest, it was reported that (he sum of £43 13/- passed through thehands of the treasurer. This sum,, however, did not represent fully the district's contribution to the funds which the sum augmented. The committee, after discussing the matter as fully as possible, instituted an Honours 8011. It was resolved that it should hang pcrmanotly in the local Athcmcum U'all and should: contain the names (if the Kakanui young men who left the Dominion on active service. On' the Utli of December, 1915, the Ecv. P. C, Kennip gave his lecture. "A Cobbler's Shop," in aid of funds required Cor the .institution of the roll. By this effort thenct sum .of £4 ii/fi was-rea-lised, and the Honours 801 l was soon in process of being formed, The next effort put forth by the committee was on-behalf of the- Otago Wounded Soldiers' Fund, and they were glad to be able to report that, with the assistance of many friends the sum of E214 Hi/7 was raised, The committee held only one welcome home social, although three men had returned from the war, Unfortunately, the welcome home arranged for Private Mafl'ey had to be given up owing to his unexpected and lamentable death, A united welcome home to Privates Hines and Cooper was made impossible because of the latter's temporary settlement in Wellington, To the former, however, such a function was extended; and was much appreciated.

After the Battle of Jutlaml tlio committee organised a canvass of the district on behalf of the Naval Dependants' Fund, and £26 10/(i was obtained. The treasurer's statement that altogether the sum of &175 7/7 had been raised.in the district showed that a very great ileal of work had been accomplished, and also that the districtwas most sympathetic towards every appeal for patriotic purposes. In theft, report the committee expressed its hearty thanks to the ladies of the district for the manner in which they had responded to its requests for their services on various occasions.

The report and balance-sheet were subsequently adopted, and vojes of thanks were passed s to the treasurer, Mr Boadcn, and to. the secretary, Mr Cron, for their services.

. Those present were then asked to add to (lie membership of the committee, and the following gentlemen were nominated: Messrs 11. McKenzie, J. Rapson, P. McCarthy, F. Squthgate, J. Gallagher, R. Watson, Jas. Mink, and 11. Eddington.; ' At. a'meeting of the committee held after the public meeting if was resolved to hold a concert in aid of the British Red Cross on the 7th September, and to invite Mr D. H, Thomson's concert party to give the concert—an invitation to whlchan affirmative answer lias been secured.