CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19616, 21 October 1925, Page 4

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. Scotsmen were much in evidence at Kroon’s Hall last evening on the occasion of the sixty-third annual meeting of the Caledonian Society of Otago. The president (Mr P. W. Breen) was at the head of affairs, and about &0 members were present. The annual gift of heather was received from the editor of the Weekly Scotsman, Edinburgh, together with a covering letter. The heather was distributed amongst members present. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said the directors had decided last year to install electric light on the Caledonian Ground for the purpose of conducting night sports meetings. Sports meetings held on Saturday afternoons had been somewhat of a failure.. Motor cars and other attractions no doubt accounted for this lack of interest on the part of the public. The lighting of the grounds had proved a great success. The infantile paralysis epidemic had made its effect felt on outdoor sports meeting*. It had been suggested that the society should conduct sports meetings next year, but it would be a foolhardy policy for any society to attempt to conduct sports meetings during the period of the Exhibition. The question of renewing the cycle track had claimed the attention of the directors, and, after going fully into the matter, it had been decided to leave the matter of renewing the track over until after the Exhibition. The Caledonian Ground had been improved during the year, and its present splendid state reflected credit on the caretaker. The society had endeavoured to encourage schoolboy sports meetings. These had been a success, and it was hoped the society would continue to encourage such sports, as they gave the boys, who would be the athletes of the future, every chance to participate in clean sport. The standard of athletics was very high in Dunedin at the present time. The question of carrying out repairs to the grand stand on tne Caledonian Ground had been held in abeyance for several months owing to a shortage of timber. The society was fortunate in having several cups and trophies for competition amongst the boys attending the High School, and it was hoped the society would do its best to encourage these boys to take- part in open-air sports gatherings. The society was in a sound position, and the past year had been a successful one, Mr A. Gillies seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. The following directors were elected;Messrs W. C. Burt, Geo. Chance, W. R. Gordon, J. Hope, E, Nicol, F. M. Shortt, K. Ramsay, J. B. Wootton, J. T. Cooper, A, F. Saul, A. SmelHe, W. H; M‘Leod, J. O. Smith.

The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mr J. S. Douglas; senior vice-president, Mr Forsyth Johnston; junior vice-president, Mr T. M. Gillies; treasurer, Mr C. Speight; secretary, Mr W. E. O. Reid; assistant secretary. Mr A. Williamson; auditor, Mr J. A. Hopcraft.

Medallions .were presented to the following past-presidents of the society:—Messrs Jas. Brown 11202-03). D. A. M’Nichol (190304), R. M'Kenrie (1904-06). Ohas. Speight (1909-10), A. Gillies (1910-11), T. Elliott (1912-14), W. Reid (1914-15), W. H. MT.eod (1915-16), Alex. Begg (1916-20). A. H. Tonkinson (1923-24), P. W. Breen (1924-25). At the conclusion of .the business a social hour was spent. Musical items were contributed and several toasts honoured. Those who contributed to the musical programme were:—Messrs J. Smith (bagpipe selection), W. Mitchell (song), Wills (cornet solo). Legal (violin solo), A. Perry (song), and selections by Begg’s Orchestra.