OTAGO EX-CONTINGENTERS' CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12738, 11 August 1903, Page 3

OTAGO EX-CONTINGENTERS' CLUB.

' Members of the Otago Ex-Contingenfers' Club, to a considerable number, "assembled at the Otago Cycling Club's rooms in tho Octagon last evening, tho occasion being, the opening | to tho newly-formed club of the'rooms which in future, they are to sha-re with the Otago Cycling Club. Members of the Cycling Club were also present. Mr H. B. Courtis (vice-president of the Otago Cycling Club) welcomed briefly, on behalf of the president and office-bearers of tho club, the ex-contiugentcrs present, expressing tho hope that the joining and meeting together would bo for the mutual benefit of each club, and that tho Ex-Contingenters' Club members would in tho future spend many pleasant occasions there together. ' ' Apologies for absence were mode on behalf of Messre J. P. Til. -Eraser, K. Glendining, E. Chisholm, and S. S. Myers. Mr D. Hickey ■ (president of the Ex-Con-tir.gentra-s' Club) suitably replied, thanking tho members of the Otago Cycling Club for the way in which they had come along to their assistance. The club wa3 going on .very satisfactorily, ho said, except that subscriptions might come in a little faster. At tho last general meeting it had been arranged that the present office-bearers should, bo only temporarily appointed, and he had.already handed in his resignation as president,, and hoped that they would look round" for a more suitablo president to be elected at their next general meeting. Ho thanked them for his election, howver, and was confident the Ex-Contingenters' Club could be made a \ery good thing. Mr J. A. Park, called on to say, a few words, cxprossctl the-gratification he felt'that tho ExContingcnters' Club was going to be a success, and at tho fine spirit in which the Otago Cycling Club had come forward with their offer. He hoped members w,ou!d assist the c"ub by sending in their subscriptions at once. Their funds were not large, but would grow in time. He was sure that the club was a necessary one, and when the public saw what a success the Ex-Contingenicrs' Club's ball was .going to be they would realise that 1 the management was in proper hands, and the club deserved support. Again, " Eeminiscenco Night,"fixed for November, should be a g,reat success. Tho advantages lo ho! derived from such a club were innumerable. The speaker then went on to allude to the great advantages for youths to be derived from their being members of some athletic or similar society. It was rather a- disgrace, he considered, to the city that more en- ■ couragement was not pnßlic'y given to recreation. As they were aware, a piece of land had been secured for a public .gymnasium and swimming baths, and it was for the people of Dunedin how to induce the City Council to devote it to its proper purposes." An oversight on the part of the people of New Zealand, and perhaps of tho had been the insufficient recognition of the services of Jfr Pilcher at Capo Colony, who literally worked night and day for the New Zealand contirigentcrs. This was a matter to bo dealt with at their next'general meeting. As they were aware, the Patriotio Fund Committee had received a large sum to be disbursed to invalided soldiers, and the.distribution had been hofnesty and carefully carried out. They had still money to assist genuine and deserving cases. They had sought cases out in many instances. Any ono present had just to mention a genuine case that had beeu overlooked by the committee, and it would receive attention. The committee had received ,(>IOOJ, and ,-mOO from Lloyds, and when their sheet containing the list of cases was forwarded Home another £ 500 was immediately voted them, and handed to the Agentgeneral; for the Olapo Patriotio Fund Committee, ' This £ 500 had been, however, paid into the Government account instead of to the coriimittee\in the usual way, but nd"doubt the comniitfej would receive the amount in due course. Other members of t he committee not present he had to apologise, for. but they'quite intended to support the Ex-Contingenicrs' Cud.—Applause.) Surgeon-captain O'Neill, who lias recently returned from his visit io the Old Country, also spoke a few words, characterising tho movement to form "an Ex-Contingenters' Club as s., splendid one. , This concluded the formal part of the proceedings, and a musical urosramme was then gone through, gam?s and refreshments bsing very- adequately provided. Songs were rendered by Messrs Black, Heathcoat, and Roxburgh, ami recitations by Messrs Conn and Williams. \ . Before the proceedings terminated, on the motion of the President (Mr Hickey). a very cordial vote of thanks was 'lassed to Mr J. A. Park for the services he had Tendered the ExContingcnters' Club in its formation and otherwise. \ . "