OTAGO EX-CONTINGENTERS CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12991, 4 June 1904, Page 5

OTAGO EX-CONTINGENTERS CLUB.

T!ie first annual meeting of the Olago Ex-Contingcnterc' Club was held in the Central Hotel last oveniug. There was afairly'good attendance, amongst llioso presont- being representatives from practically every contingent except the First. "Mr K. J. Ilaydc'n (vice-presickiil) occupied the chair owing to ■Hw unavoidable absence of the president (Ur O'Neill), who forwarded an apology for non-attendance. Apologies were also received fimn .Major Jackson and Messrs. J. .A..Park and VI. L. Duncan.

The following report for the year ended May 31' was presented to the- meeting:—

Your committee,' 'in printing fbe first nnnual report,' have every reason to feel satisfied with (lie support accorded to die clui) during'the past year.'■ The membership now stands at 70,-whieh is. very satisfactory. Club rooms were taken.early in the year, but it was deemed inadvisable lo continue them owing to the small number of ex-conlingenters residing iu Dunedin. During the year two social gatherings. wero held :n the shape of a ball and re-union, which .were very successful, being well attended by ex-contingentors from all parts of Otago. The balance sheet is very satisfactory considering the heavy expenditure incurred during: the year. During tlio year the iii'st president (Mi D. A. Hickey) Sound it necessaryj to resign, and Surgeoncapltiin O'Neill was elected to the vacancy, mi appointment which' gave universal satisfaction. Lieutenant.Haydon was also elected lo fill a vacancy aa vice-prcsiient, caused by theretirement of Mr S. L; Jones. Major H. D. Jackson vras unanimously elected to the positon of third vice-president. Owing lo the press of business, Mr Conn, the original hou. secretary and treasurer, found it necessary to resign, and" Mr P. G. Williams was olocted in lus stead, and has carried out his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned. 'JVenty-fivo committee meetings were held during the year, and were well.attended, by members. In retiring your committee' wish to make the following recomraendnlions:—That the annual subscription be reduced to ss, thb soma to admit to the annual gathering, to bo held during summer show week. That.the matter of club rooms bo held over until the club is strong enough numerically and financially to undertake it, but- that a room bo engaged for the conimittco meetings, eo that exnem-es will be kept as lowas possible: that the incoming committee be authorised to revise the existing rules where it is deemed necessary.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of tho report,- said'.lie thought that tho report was most.satisfactory taking everything into consideration. Tho ball and reunion hold during tho year had been very successful. ■ ■ . ' The report was adopted. ■Tho election of-oflieors resulted as follows : President; -. Dγ O'Ncil (re-elected); vira-prci'idenis—Major H. D.. Jackson, Mr E. J. Haydcn (re-elected), and- Mr. D. Hickcy; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr F. 0. Williams (ro-eJoetcil); lion, auditor, Sir G. Duncan : (re-elected); coramUtoe— •Messrs G. C. Bind-, D. E. Corsnn. \Y. li. Christie, -W. -11. Litimcr, H. Ibbotson, .7. Conn, A. 31. Don. J3. L. Duncan (rc-clcctccl, and Messrs B. C Bacon, A. Blackwood, J. ». Suite, J. D. Drj-, and F. Mason. Tho. following.wore ajipointe-.l country representatives, to act ih member/ of committee when in" Dunedin , :—Messrs D. A. Cameron .(Wa-ikaiii), K. Smeaton IMosgicl), S. Dalgleish (Kurow), H-. Hcekicr (Waikouniti), A. E.' Ward (Gore), T. 11 Wright (Port , Chalmers), T. M'Kcnzio (Fortrcso), — West (Tapanui), J. B. Grant (Middlemarch), H. Lilburn- (Miltim), ami J. Moloney (Lumsdo:!. . '

It was resolved that members' subscriptions for the year be reduced from 7s 6d to 5s each. ..:..''

A, .hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho secretary for his services to tho club during the past year,'and votes of thanks to the-chair .'and...to the press brought the meeting to a clo=e.