CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 18

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY

ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Caledonian Society of .Otago, to be presented at the annual meeting on October 29, states, inter alia:— This year’s statement of' accounts discloses an excess of expenditure over income of £164 3s 2d, as compared with £IOB 6s 2d for last year. It is gratifying, however, to be able to report that the society’s income from rental shows an increase of £BS 19s over last . year. The expenditure of the current year amounted to £699 10s 9d, against £558 Is 3d for 1933, an increase of £l4l 9s 6d. This increase is partly accounted for by the fact that in 1033 the rates on the _ society’s grounds were paid by the Dunedin Drainage Board as part compensation for the loss of revenue suffered by the society owing to the grounds being unfit for use. Further expenditure was necessitated on an overhaul of the motor mower, which is now in good running ordet. The annual sports meeting took the form of an afternoon and evening entertainment, and was held on Saturday, Alarch .10. An interesting addition to this year’s programme was the interhouse competition, in which girls from various firms in the city and surrounding districts competed, and this innovation proved a- strqng attraction to the visiting public. Two handsome trophies, representing figures in sport, mounted on marble, were contested for the first time. These trophifes were presented to the society by a director, who desires to remain anonymous. The trophies are known as tne “Tdny Trophies. The H.B. team won the coveted trophy, with the Bruce Woollen Company of Milton only one point behind as runners-up. The individual trophy was won by Mr R. J. Henderson. The financial result of, the meeting was a profit of £37 10s 3d. Although 26 new members were enrolled during the year, the membership roB temains stationary at 135 This is due to the fact that in addition to resignations and deaths of 12 members, the names of 14 members whose subscriptions were considerably in. arrears, were struck off the roll.

Sympathy will be felt with the relatives of the late Sir John Roberts, Messrs J. C. Stephens, D. Craig, W. W. M‘Lachlan, and Captain Nidols in the deaths of these esteemed members of the society. The loss of one of our life directors, Mr J. C. Stephens, was keenly felt. , He joined the society in 1908. waa _ elected a director in 1915, and in recognition of his valued services to the society was elected a life director in 1928. At all times he could be relied upon for help of the most practical kind in any matters affecting the interests of the society. The society’s grounds were used by the various sports bodies during the six months, October to March, and for the. remaining six months by the Otago Football Association. A permanent practice jumping pit has been prepared outside the playing area, and we trust it .will be found useful during the coming season. The grounds have been much improved during the past 12 months, and at 1 the present time the Works Committee has in hand the top-dressing of the playing area. . , For some time past the neavy payment of interest on overdraft has caused the Finance Committee some concern, and in an endeavour to lessen this burden, application was- made in December, r!931, to the Minister of Internal Affairs for a share in the proceeds of one,of the large art unions. In spite of repeated representations to the Minister, the society s application has not yet been granted. At the directors’' last meeting the matter was further, considered, and it was decided to make ' application to the Minister for permission to conduct a local raffle. A committee has already been set up to organise this art union.