DUNEDIN BOWLING, LAWN TENNIS, AND FIVES CLUB

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 27

DUNEDIN BOWLING, LAWN TENNIS, AND FIVES CLUB

The annual general meeting of the abovementioned club was held in Watson's Commercial Hotel on Thursday evei.ing,about4o members being present, the vice-president (Mr Mowat) in the chair.

VICErPItESIDENT'S REPORT.

The Vice-president read his report for the year, expressing regret at the outset at the absence of the Hoa. Mr Fergus, president of the club. He read a letter from that gentleman, in which he also regretted that political duties had prevented his attendance on the green last season, and intimated that he had forwarded a contribution of £10, the balance of rhieh, after paying for the president's bowls and his own subscription, was to be applied to reduce the club's overdraft. The report then commented upon the matches which had been played during the year, and made special reference to the hospitality with which the Dunedin team had been treated in Christchurch by the clnb there. The record of matches was— s won, 3 lost, and 1 drawn. Acknowledgment was made of gifts by several members towards improving the ground, among the gentlemen mentioned being Messrs Jack, Dodd, Edgar, Fogo, Butterworth, Scoullar, D. Baxter, Mowat, Mendcrshausen, Matheeon, and M. Sinclair. Reference was made to the valuable services of Mr Cresswell, the hon. secretary, who had left for Melbourne, and to Mr F. 0. Crump, who had ably filltd his place since. A number of tennis players had left during the year because the club had no grass court, but it was intended to get two greens this season, and in the meantime a number of new members had joined, including several ladies. As regarded fires, no club matches had been played, but there had been plenty of play in the courts among members. The chib still had a roll of 108 members, and if every member made a point during the ensuing year of getting one new member to join they would soon get up to the 150 required. Mr Fergus' donation would amount after deductions to £5 8s (Jd, but unless other members also put their hands in their pockets to wipe off the overdraft -this would not go to the club. The Chairman remarked that he himself would give £1 for every ;610 subscribed by other members. — (Applause.)

Mr Jack (hon. treasurer) read the balance sheet, which showed the income from subscriptions during the year to have been £162 4s 6d from 108 members. The total .liability of the club was £356 19s sd, against £385 10s 5d for the previous year.

The report aud balance sheet were adopted without discussion.

MR T. CALLENDER AND THE CLTJB.

Mr T. Callender wrote with reference to a letter to the press by Mr Carlton, containing personalities and charges against himself, whish he had not thought it becoming to reply to in the newspapers. He remarked, however, upon the fact that he had heard no expressions of dissent from the tone of the letter by members of the club, and wished to know whether the club still had of him the same opinion which induced them in 1885 to elect him a life member, and bestow other honours ou him.

Mr Young said no doubt the letter referred to would be copied into other papers, and though no local bowler might take any notice of it, 3 those who did not know all Mr Callender had done for the game might. He moved — "That Mr Calender's letter be received, and that the secretary be instructed to write conveying to him the club's assurance that nothing in the letter referred to bad in any way altered their appreciation of him, and hoping that he would continue to take as active an interest in the game of bowls aa he had done in the past."— (Applause.)

Messrs G. Matheson, Murison, and the Chairman spoke in support of the motion, which was carried unanimously.

THE CLUB'S DEBENTURES.

Dr Coughtrey wrote offering to return 10 debentures" to the club if he were elected a life member.

On the motion of Mr Sinclair the proposal was accepted, and 3onae discussion ensued as to the desirability of other members adopting the same course, the chairman hoping that it would not be generally followed, and Mr Hislop urging that it would benefit the club if it were. The latter thought the committee should receive any subscriptions of members in debentures.

The Chairman suggested that the committee might bo empowered to purchase tho debentures at tho lowest price they were offered at by holders, instead of balloting for them. He moved that the committee exercise their own judgment as to the best means of dealing with debentures.

Mr Sinclair seconded the motion.

Mr G. Matheson opposed it, and moved as an ameudment — " That the decision of the annual meeting two years ago with reference to balloting for debentures be adhered to."

Mr James seconded the amendment, which was lost.

The motion was then carried, with an addition, suggested by Mr Morrison, to the effect that if any member offered £2 worth of debentures in lieu of his year's subscription it be accepted.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES.

The CHAiRirAN then presented trophies to the prize-winners, as follow: — President's champion bowls, Mr A. Fraser ; set of pictures (instead of vice-president's bowls), Mr W. Cowie; trophies for rink matches — Messrs R. Wilson, jun.,M. Sinclair, Jas. Anderson, and Jas. Hislop; handicap match (Mr Young's prize), Mr David Baxter; tennis tournament, Messrs Walter Young and F. C. Crump.

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEABEES.

Mr Matheson proposed as president for the ensuing year Mr Mowat, their late vice-presi-dent, who, it would be conceded, had most ably filled the place during the absence of Mr Fergus, and had fully earned the higher position of president. He spoke cordially of Mr Mowat's personal qualifications for the post. Mr Morrison seconded the nomination in complimentary terms, and the resolution was unanimously carried.

The newly-elecfced president briefly returned thanks, and stated that he intended to give a handicap prize next year of 2s 6d or 3s for every new member that joined, during tip year, ao

that the more were induoed to join the, more handsome the prize would be. — (Applause.) Mr D. Baxter proposed, and Mr Cowie seconded, Mr Max Mendershausen's election a3 vice-president. This was carried unanimously, and Mr Mendershausen acknowledged the compliment.

Other office-bearers were elected as follow : — Hon. treasurer, Mr M. Sinclair ; hon. secretary, Mr F. C. Crump; committee — Messrs Moodie, Edgar, Young, and Matheson.

Some .desultory discussion then ensued as to a suggestion by the president for the election of a Match Committee, and eventually Messrs Forrester, Russell, and R. Wilson, jun., were elected by ballot.

The proceedings then closed with a vote of thanks to last year's office-bearers.