SOUTHLAND BOWLING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 1900, 3 July 1890, Page 30

SOUTHLAND BOWLING CLUB.

The annual mooting of the Southland Bowling and Imwii Ttfunis Olub was held ia the Albion Hotel, luveroargtll, on the evening of the 24th ult., the President (Mr J. W. Mitchell) occupying the chair, and about 30 geutlerupti being present. The Treasurer (Mr J A. Preshaw) read the annual report, which .was a? follows:— "Your committee in submitting (heir annual report have every reason to ba gratified on the improved position of the club in the ma tfcr of finance. This ia in the tiret place to b.attributed to the successful manner in which Messrs Mitchell and Madrid car.ird into effect the r<'so Jut.ion pv>afirl nt the In^t, nwMng-viz ,thn i*svilngof 150 £i debeuturoß, which your committee are pleased to cay were cheerfully taken up by numerom members of fcUe olubi RQd bow there being tuads ia haaa,

havemuch pleasure In recommending that a dividend of 4s per debenture be paid. It is also a matter of congratulation that the revenue of the club by way of subscriptions alone this year amount to £91 2s, Included in this amount is J. Q-. Ward. Esq., M.H.R.'b qualification for life membership. Your committee would be pleased to see other members following in the same direction, and by this means wiping out i the club's indebtedness. During the year we have j benn Indebted to the following gentlemen for trophies:— From his Worship the Mayor, forbowliDg, won by Mr W. G. Mehaffay, and for tennis, not completed ; and from the treisurer (Mr Pre1 shaw) for tennis, won by Mr Twemlow. For the Dunedin Cup, won in 1887, the first competition was won by Mr W. Y. Millar. The club sent representative rinks to Dunedin to compete at the Exhibition tournament in January 1890, and met with varying suocess, not being so fortunate as ia loms former visits. The members rolled up well during the whole of the season, and some of the most enthusiaßtio players to the day of closing. A word of praise is due to Mr Roby, the caretaker, who throughout the whole season kept both bowling green aud tennis courts in capital order. In conolusion, your committee, on behalf of the club, tender their hearty thaulis to the donors of trophies and also to the president, treasurer, and Mr Mncleod for their untiring efforts In furthering the interests of the club in every way, enabling the committee to present such a satisfactory report. Liabilities now being reduced they hope the year now being entered upon may be as successful as th'j year just ended." The Chairman said ho had very great pleasure indeed in moving the adoption of the report and balance sh6et. It would be very gratifying to the members to find that instead of being in debt the club was now in oredit ; not only had they reduced the debt ac the beginning of the year considerably, but they had entirely dissipated the bauk overdraft, which carried with it a considerable amount of interest. They had diitributed the liabilities among the members by way of debentures, ami upon thes« debentures they were now able to pay 20 percent. If they were equally successful during the coming year he expected they would be able to pay 40 per cent, more— of course he did not pledge the olub to do this, but he was of opinion that such would be the case. It was exceedingly gratifying that they had been able to extinguish the bank overdraft. Mr Preshaw and himself had gone to the bank manager the other day and got the bond, had stuffed it in the fire, and watched the document which had been a terror lo some of them for so long disappear in ashes and smoke. He hoped '-Jack 1 ' of the Otago Witness would note these facts when next he criticised the doings of the club It would be remembered that in writing of the debenture scheme" Jaok" had said that it was an admirable way of 'getting rid of the debt, but it was doubtful if ever a dividend would be paid ; but " Jack" would now find that the club not only promised but aho performed. Was it not far more manly lor them, he asked, instead of goiDg into theatres, blacking their faces, and singing funny songs for the purpose of extracting money from the public— was it not more manly and more seemly for elderly gentlemen ns well as for the younger tennis players to put their hands in their pockets and pay for their own amusement. The public was oertainly a long-suffering animal, but in his opinion appeals should only be made to it for legitimate purposes of charity. Again, he repeated that the club's position was most gratifying . They had now no overdraft— and he might also promise that they never would have again— and what burden there was was now on 50 or 60 backs instead of on five or six. In a few years the debt would be wiped out, and they would then have even a more beautiful ground, as they had taken cars to plant numerous trees. He was certain the report would be heartily received and unanimously adopted. Mr A. Storie seconded the motion, also expressing his gratification at the flnanoial position of the olub. Mr F. Woodward and Mr L. G. Roope congratulated the members on the nature of the report and upon the fact that the debenture holders were to receive a dividend of 20 per cent. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :— President, the mayor (as fixed by the rules) ; vicepresident, Mr A. Storie; treasurer, Mr J. A. Preshaw ; secretary, Mr Colin Mac Gibbo n; committee —Messrs F. Woodward, T. Oulpan, R. Wesney, and O. H. Howarth; auditor, Mr W. Young; green ranger, Mr O. H. Howarth. It was decided that the annual meeting should in future take place in. June instead of ia May aB provided by the rules. The Chalrmau then presented Mr W. G. Mebaffey with the the President's cup for bowls, and the recipient made suitable acknowledgment. Votes of thanks to the auditor and office-bearers and a specially hearty one to Mr W. Searle for the use of his room dosed the meeting.