CALEDONIAN BOWLING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 29

CALEDONIAN BOWLING CLUB.

i The tenth annual meeting of the Caledonian Bowling Club was held in the Shamrook Hotel on Monday evening. Mr William Dawson (president) occupied the chair, and there "sere about 20 members present. ANNUAL KEPORT. | The following report was submitted by the I committee : — ! Your committee, in submitting their tenth annual report, have again to congratulate the members on the season which hai jast expired— a season which must be regarded as without a parallel for the amount of play which has taken place, and whioh has never been exceeded in the history of bowling nob only in this club, but in the colony. In the last annual report it was stated that the I exhibition being About to be held, doubtless there would be a large amount of play on our green. That prophecy was not gainsaid, as during the months of December, January, and February the club had constantly the pleasure of welcoming gentlem n who were visiting the exhibition and who were members of other clubs, and it is very pleasing to state that our visitors sremed to appreciate the attention paid to them, as was shown by the frequenoy they came to enjoy a friendly gome. Your committee incurred considerable expense during the year in improving and beautifying the grounds by asphalting the path and planting flowen around the green, an improvement whioh was very desirable. Thirteen interclub matches were played during the Beasou, Of these eight wore won and five lost— a very fair record for ono season. The prizes presented for competition amongst members themselves were, as usual, keenly contested for. The president this year took a new departure with his: instead of it being competed for by nil who chose to enter for it he gave four prizes, to be won by the rink whioh distinguished itaelf the most in fhe exhibition tournament. That rink was composed of Messrs Stokes, Shepurd, Benfrew, and Barlow (skip), and considering t.hat the first two were young players, no one grudged the rink their suci'eiiß; but, on the contrary, they received the heartiebt conj/ra f ulufions, not only from mombers of their own club, but from mombers of others. l'no of her prizffl were won as follows .—Young plaj-era' (prpsinted by Mr J. Rlaney) by Mr John Dodds, Mr OliffordV by Mr J. Robertson, Mr Gr.enBla<!e'3 bj Mr G-. Walker, Mr Young's by Mr Stokes ; the committee's champion bowls by Mr R. Ho^g ; rink nx'iiata by JVlfsars W^lKer (ekip) J. Davidson, H. Oalder, and J. M'Lareu; double-handed prize by Mi'.srs CapsSlck nnd M'Laren. Tho ba'ance she*fc is somewhat of >\ similar naf ura to that of lmfc year, and although it ahowa a small •duhfor balance. y<-t ft must ho pointed out that about £15 km I era expend) d in improvements and in paymput of old debts duo by 'he club. From fchi! balunce ahtefc it appeared that the receipts for the year, including a balance carried forward from tho previous year of

£14 13s lid, amounted to £99 7s lid, and the expenditure amounted to £80 17a 6d, leaving a balance in hand and in the bank of £18 10s sd. The assets were set down at the sum of £33 16s lid, and the liabilities at £40 0s 6d. The Chairman thought the members might very well congratulate themselves upon having had a very successful year, when everything was taken into consideration. They had had a good deal of entertaining to do in connection with the exhibition, and he thought that on tha whole the balance sheet showed very well indeed. He considered that they had had a jolly time of it at bowling, and of course they could not eat their cake and have it too. They had had a good deal of expenditure also on acoount permanent work that was done to the green, and in the liquidation of some outstanding debts. On the motion of Mr J. Weddebspoon, seconded by Mr J. M'Gbeqob, the report and balance sheet were adopted. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES AND PBBSENTATION. The Chairman then presented the prizes obtained during the year to the successful players, as mentioned in the annual report. A vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr G. Capstick, passed to the generous donors of the prizes. Mr Weddbhspoon said he had been asked by the club to perform the pleasant duty of handing to the president a small souvenir in recognition of the interest he had taken in the club. The club was greatly indebted to the firm of which the president was a member for their liberality — a liberality that was not confined to the Caledonian Bowling Club, but was extended to many kindred institutions. — (Hear, hear.) This souvenir was mooted at the time when the | president proposed to take a trip to the land of his birth— the land from which the club derived its name, the Caledonian— but, although Mr Dawflon had postponed his visit Home, the club had adhered to their determination of presenting him with a souvenir in recognition of the great interest he had always taken in their welfare. Mr DawsoD, he might state, had been entrusted with very high offices by his fellow citizens, but had always been "come-at-able." The souvenir took the shape of a gold appendage for his watch chain, aud was not of very great value; but he was sure Mr Dawson would cherish it, and that it would recall to his mind many happy hours spent on the green and many happy associations with the club. He had much pleasure in handing Mr Dawson that souvenir, and he hoped he would be long spared to go in and out amongst them. — (Applause.) He had now a more pleasant duty to perform, and that was to hand to the president a small gift in the shape of a locally-made gold brooch for Mrs Dawson. The club could not, he said, overlook the interest which Mrs DawBon took in the ladies' day on the green during the tournament, and he was quite sure that if any of the members were to visit their president's home they would be warmly and kindly welcomed by Mrs Dawson. He had much pleasure, therefore, in presenting the president with the small token he had mentioned of their 'respect and esteem for Mrs Dawson ; and he was sure that it was the desire of every member that Mr and Mrs Dawson might be spared for a long and happy life. — (Applause.) The Chairman said he really could not find words to express thanks, on behalf of his wife and himself, for the handsome presents they had given him that evening. When he came thereto had not the least shadow of an idea of anything of the sort, and it coming so unexpectedly took bis breath away. He could only say that he was sure his wife would highly esteem the handsome present they had banded him for her. Speaking for himself, ha never expected anything of the kind. He had only, so far as he could, tried to do his duty as president. Many a time be had thought he failed in not being able to give more time than he did to the duties of the offioo, but he had always had the interest of the club at heart. He might say that during his term as president he had never had a disagreement with any members of the club. There had always been the most kindly intercourse between them, and he hoped that that would continue in the future, and that the club would go on and that the club would go on and prosper more even than it had done in the past. He could only again thank them for their handsome presents. — (Applause.) ELECTION OF OFFICE -BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :— President, Mr William Dawson (proposed by Mr Weddebspoon, who remarked amidst applause that the club could not do wrong if they elected Mr Dawson as president of the club for the term of his natural life) ; senior vice-president, Mr John Wedderspoon (reelected) ; junior vice-president, Mr C. F. Greenslade (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr James Robertson—(a resolution expressive of regret at Mr John Ogg's inability to continue in office, and according him the thanks of the club for the j services rendered by him for many years being I passed unanimously) ; secretary, Mr H. Fen wick ; committee — Messrs Hogg, Blaney, Walker, Young, and Kirby ; auditors, Messrs A. Black, G. Capstick ; delegated to the association, Messrs W. Dawson and J. Wedderspoon. MATCH COMMITTBH. Mr E. Hogg moved — " That in the best interests of the olub it is desirable to appoint a match committee, to be composed of three members — two to be elected at the annual meeting outside the General Committee, one to be nominated by the General Committee from among themselves. The duties of the committee to be as follows:— To arrange club matches, to appoint two delegates to arrange inter-club matches, and select the players ; to draw and fix time for ties to be played off ; the nominee of the General Committee to report to his committee all arrangements made by the Match Committee ; nil disputes to be referred to the General Committee, whose decision shall be final." After discussion the motion was carriod unanimously. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion were given by Mr Capstick :— " That the annual subscription be raised to 305." " That a sum of £50 be raised by debentures of £1, bearing no interest, and repayable out of the funds of the club every year, either pro rata ppr each debenture or to pay off ns many debentures as the funds will allow by ballot ; the amount raised to go towards erecting a fence through the centre of the greeD, planting trcefi, and otherwise as the committee may direct." The meeting then adjourned till that nighfc four weeks for the discussion of these notices of motion and other business.