CALELONIAN SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7093, 7 November 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

CALELONIAN SOCIETY.

The twenty-second annual general meeting of tha Caledonian Society of Otago was held at Wain's Hotel on the 10th October. Mr George Dowse, president of the Society, occupied the chair, and there were 60 members present.

Tha report for the past year was read as follows:—

Your Directors beg to submit the twenty-second annual report ami Im'anco olmot of the operations of the Society. TLe tjtal revenue for the yoar from all sources aniountj to £2267 163 6d, ar.d the expenditure to £2193 9s 9d, £118 6s 3d of which has been for payment cf the section* recently acquired by the Society, removing and re .erecting fenea, forming new footbailgrounl, top-dressing erickoS-oval aod bawling-greena, and oomplotirg the drainage system intimated by the p c'vibu] directory. Your Diroct-rd aro pleased to roport that the ground ia now in first-class order lor every description of athletic sports and outdoor gamoa,—the cricketing oval, looibill-gtound, running track, and bowln^greena being in eplendid condition. They have aso hid under discussion the question of enclosing the sections froot'ng tbo Anderaon's B*y road, for the purpose of mail .j» another football-grouud, aid giving wore accornrnoda'ion to tha incre:sing number who attend the annual gathering.. They recommend this matter to tho consideration of their auc-essora la office.

Your Directors aro pleased to learn that the members of tho Fhccjjx Club, which has been In occupation cf the oval, unvo expressed themselves highly satisfied with tho state of the ground, and with tho encouragoment cricket has received at the hands cf tho Society. The opening ol the bowling season being so near the time for tne annual mcc.ing, your Directors have not taken any steps c:i utilise tfce bowling-greens by renting them to a club or otherwise dealing with them. A 9 a source of revenue they think this Bubject should receive tho very earließt attention of the now Board

Tha attendance at the evening classes showa a conEi.lerablo railing oQ this jear, only !84 p.jpila being enrolled 'as agair.st £99 last year ; 40 were admitted freo. Tao c!a33es were og lin under tho superlntonderCJ of Mr 1). A. Al'i'Jicoll, and wero very euccew fuliy conducted. [lie mini bo r of mambera on the roll Is 262, being 44 more than la«t year.

Tne ground was let on two occasions free of charge, for entertainments in aid of the tuudts of the Boncrolorn Institution.

The following 10 directors retire in aceordanca with ru'o VI, and rive retire by ballot, but all are o!ljib!e for re election :—Mossra J. Carglll, J. drivs, H. Hume, G. MWavin, Hon.Uec 41' Lean, M.li.C, J.H Morrison, K. Kaais..y, Jas. Speight, W. Wright, K. Wilson. Your iJlroetora trust thftt the efforts of ttu-ir tucccsors will tend further to promote the prosperity and usefulness of tho Society.

Gkorob Bowse, Preßldont.

The President : I am glad to see so large an attendance' of members to-night, as the circumstance tends to Bhow that they have a deep interest in tho success and working of the Society. It is cot necessary for me to say much in reference to our pa,3t year's work or the state of our finances, as the balancesheet which ib before you will explain all that is nocessary on theso points. Our income has, however, bean larger than in any former year, but the expenditure has boon correspondingly heavy also. The outlay is, I think, a judicious one, as the improvements effected thereby are of a permanent character, and in the future will be productive of a large amount of revonua to the Society. Football has now become such a popular game that the extension of the grounds for this purpose is a step to be commended, and the incoming directors will do well in extending their grounds so as to allow Buffioiont room for tho practice of this game. The grounds at present are in firstrate order, and' a pleasure to look at. Much of the credit of this is due to our present caretaker, Mr BaverBtock. I must also take thi3 opportunity of thanking tho whole body of directors for the kindly assistance which I have received from thorn during my term of office, and for the hearty co-oparation they havo also oxtended to ma'aa Presideut of the Society. I trust that the same kindly feeling will be shown to my successor. —(Applauae.) The report and balenco-Bheet were unanimously adopted. Tho election of 15 directors in place of those retiricg by rotation and ballot was than proceeded with: —Hon. George M'Lean, Messrs Jamas Speight, Gaorge M'Gavin, James Gore (M.H.R.), R. Wilson, Thomas Cornish, A. T. Anderson, Charles Greenslade, W. J. Moore, A. M'Gregor, D. A. M'Nicoll, Keith Ramsay, Donald M'Rae, J. H. Morrison, and Dr Stenhouse.

Mr J. Robin proposed that Mr Dowse ba reelected president. Mr Dowse said he was extremely obliged to all tho gentlemen who had spoken for their expression of good feeling, but he could not undertake the office for another term. It was quite impossible for him to take the presidency for another year. Mr Sligo said that, having heard Mr Dowso'a decision, there was nothing for it but to accept his retirement with regret.

Mr A. D. Denovan proposed, and Mr Gocbley saconded, that Mr J. Robin be president for tha ousuing year. This was carried, Messrs Gourley arid Sligo declining to ba nominated. Messrs Gourley and Wedderspoon wore elected vice presidents. Messrs \V. J. Moore and A. M'lntoah wore appointsd auditors for tho ensuing year. Moasra A. Sligo and Gaorge Watson were re-electod treasurer and secretary respectively. Mr Robin, on taking the chair, returned thanks for being: placed in the position of President of the Society. He trusted that the sporta at tha forthcoming New Year would ba as successful as at the last year's gathering* The other officers also returned thanka for their election. Mr Swao said he wished to say something before the meeting dispersed. It referred to their late president, Mr Dowse. His largo knowledge of sporting matters, and the deep interest which ho had always displayed in alt matters connected with the Society, whether as president, or as judge of tho sports, was deserving of tha thanks of the members of the Socioty. He would therefore move—"That this meeting tender to Mr Dowse a hearty and emphatic voto of thanka for his long continued and valuable sorvices to the Society as a director, and especially as president of the Society, and that the sam 3be recorded on tho minutes j further, that tho executive of the Society draw up and present to Mr Dowse an illuminated address in accordance with tho spirit of this resolution."

This was seconied by Mr Speight and carried unanimously.

Mr Dowse thanked tho gentlemen who had spoken for the encomiums passed upon him. He felt proud and pleased that the little he had tried to do was appreciated by his fallow directors, and he would still continuo to do his best in the interests of the Caledonian Socioty. Votes of thanks to the retiring directors were passed. . Mr Robin replied, and thanked the members for the manner in which tha motions had besn received. Reference hod been mado to ths fine stata of the grounds. They had every reason to ba proud of their grounds. The numerous applications to the Corporation for grounds on the Belt and elsewhere showed that there was a want of such places, and with the improvements they had effected and which wera to ba effected they would have very much increased accommodation for all sorts of outdoor athletic sporta. Tha revenue from football and cricket clubs for these grounds would soon recoup tha outlay and prove a sourco of wealth to the Society.

Mr Dowse, in tho course of some remarks, reforred to the absence through illness of Mr A. M'Grcgor, of the British Hotel, who, he believed, was one of the oldest members of the Society, and who had always been regular in attendance at their annual meetings. A general expression of regret waa made at Mr M'Gregor's absence. The customary vote of thanks concluded the proceedings.