DUNEDIN CYCLING AND MOTORING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13998, 3 September 1907, Page 6

DUNEDIN CYCLING AND MOTORING CLUB.

The annual meeting of members of the above club was held in the new club rooms, Empire Buildings, last night, and was presided over by Dr S. Bachelor (president). The report was as follows: — The membership of the club is 72, ot whom i are half-yearly members, 6 university members, 7 life members. The lease of the rooms in Dowling street having expired, the committee secured suitable rooms in the Empire Buildings, Princes street, and although a higher rental is being paid the committeo considers the change will be beneficial' to the, club. The finances of tho club are not so satisfactory as last year. A Sailing oft of £20 in billiard receipts and £13 less profit over the sports meeting compelled the com-, niittee to arrange lor a small loan oi £30. It is pleasing to notice an increase in members' subscriptions, and, judgiug by the number'ot new members to be proposed this year, it .is confidently expected that the incoming year will more tban make up for the loss. After allowing lor a depreciation of £15 on the furniture, a surplus balance of £131 -Is Id, together with a cash balance of £14 2s Id, is shown in the balance sheet. During the year several billiard tournaments were held. To the' yachting members tho club is indebted for several week-end excursions clown the harbour, and also for 'several social evenings. An event which caused a great deal ot interest, and was looked upon as' being the best race ot the season, was tho Dunedin Cycling Clnb.'s Yacht Race, open to members of the club who owned yachts. Tho committee thinks tho time is.opportune for an alteration of the club's name. White not wishing to lose the present name of cycling altogether, it considers that the present name deters many from joining, they being' under a misapprehension as to the real objects ot the club. It will be for mombers to decide on a suitable name at to-night's m'eeting. The committee has been instrumental in getting the City Council to improve tho state of'the Anderson's Bay cycling track, and has also on several occasions brought under the council s notice the dangerous practice of some cyclisjs scorching down tho inclines from Dowling and Manse streets, and suggested the closing of that part of the street to cycling. Owing to ill-health, tho caretaker (Ml* M. Do utile), who has been connected with the club for over eight years, had to resign his position, A benefit football inaitch was arranged, through wheh tho sum of £18 4s Gd will be handed to him.

Dr Batchelor moved the adoption of the report, and pointed out thai now that they had made a move into much more suitable rooms he trusted the membership would increase and the club become moro of a public resort.. The club had now excellent rooms, with a good billiard table and a number of agreeable members, and he trusted they would increase and find themselves in a better financial position in time to come. Tho question of altering the name of the club i had been considered by the. committeo, and members would be asked to deal with the question and propose a better name than tho present. No doubt cycling was on the wane as a sport, and if by changing the name of the club thev couid increase their ■ membership the alteration should certainly be made. Ho congratulated tho committee and the lion, secretary on the attention they had given to the club's business. Mr S. D. Minn seconded the motion, pointing out that all cycling clubs, even the Melbourne Club, which was the largest south of the line, complained that the sport of cycling was on the wane. The motion was carried. CHANGE OF NAME.

The desirability of altering the name of the club so as to remove the idea that

it - existed .for cycling and motoring only Was discussed. Three proposals wore submitted, but two were withdrawn, and it wa6 unanimously resolved to alter Ife name to The Duncdin Sports Club. A proposal to reduce the . number oE members of committee -from nine to seven, tour to form a quorum, was lost.

PRESENTATION TO CARETAKER. The Chairman, on behalf of members of tho'club, made tho presentation of a purso of sovereigns to Mr, M. Doudle, who had acted as carctaker foi the past eight years to the entire satisfaction of inombors. The presentation was very heartily applauded. and the recipient, in thanking tho members for their gift, hop«l tho club would be increasingly popular in time to come. OFFICE-BEARERS.' Tho following were elected to office for tho current year:— President, Dr F. S. Batchclor (re-elected); vice-presidents-Messrs J. M. F,. Garrow. A. J. Sullivan, A. A. Einoh, D. Wall, Georgo Thomson, and J. Cooke; captain: Mr It. S. Bolt; doDuty captain, Mr J. 0. Hopcraft; committee—Messrs M'Gowan, Ogilvie, Bedford, J. Freeman, R. Scott, W. Campbell, W. Munro, Wilkinson, Israel; auditors— Messrs S. D. Minn and G. Lyttelton; 'secretary and treasurer. Mr E. A. Falck. 'Twenty-live now members were elected. Votes of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.