NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 27

NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

-The following is the annual report of the Dunedin centre of the New Zealand Natives' Association, presented to the meeting held on Tuesday evening la*t, : — Your committee, in presenting to you the first annual report and balance sheet of the ])unedin centre, have much pleasure in congratulating members on the progreps made by the association during the first year of its existence. The membership now totals 3GO, and you will also be pleased to notice that the balance sheet shows that there is practically a small balance in hand after meeting all liabilities. The first meeting of the newly-formed centre was very poorly attended, and the committee therefore decided to call another meeting, open to all native-horn males. So successful waf= thi ( meeting that there was no hesitation about calling another on the same lines, and this resulted, in a very great addition to the raembcrship^list. Your committee had t-ome little difficulty in deciding upon a suitable hall lor the TCgvilar meetings. The Choral Hall was too expensive, and St. Paul's Schoolroom, which was afterwards tried, was found to be somewhat inconvenient, and so the Oddfellows' Hall, Stuart street, was engaged, with the result that this, our present place of meeting, was found to be admirably adapted to the requirements of the association. During the past season your committee provided concerts and lectures, some of which latter were illustrated by limelight views of different parts of the world. "While on the subject of theregular meetings, 'your committee would strongly urge the advisability of preparing a syllabus for the. ensuing year. In July last a- public concert was held in the Garrison Hall, and although the attendance was smaller than was expected, it resulted in an increase to the funds of the association. An invitation concert to ladies was also held during the year, and as this proved to be one of the most enjoyable functions of the hesison, your committee strongly lecommcnd the adviFability of having similar evenings during the forthcoming year. During the year the association suffered an

irreparable loss by the death, in early msn hqod, of Mr C. M. Mouat, one of its vice* presidents, who was a most energetic member. Another of the vice-presidents, Dr Fulton, resigned his office, owing to his time being sa much occupied with his professional duties. Messrs E. C. Reynolds and James Smith, jun., were appointed to fill these vacancies.

In August last a conference of delegates from the various centres was held in Wellington, and, after a series of discussions', passed a set of rules for the guidance of each centre. Your delegates were Dr Chappie (of Wellington) and Mr E. "Withers (of Dunedin). The conference appointed a governing council, which is composed of Mr F. E. Baume (Auckland), president; Dr Chappie (Wellington) and Mr E. Withers (Dunedin), vice-presidents ; and Mr E. Lechney (Auckland), secretary. The rules adopted at this conference have not yet officially reached us. In January last the president of the council, Mr Baume, visited Dunedin, and your committee met and entertained him at the City Hotel.

The association has proved very useful to members of other centres, several of whom have come to Dunedin in search of employment, and who, through the introduction of the association, are now settled amongst us, one of our plants being to aid brother natives to the best of our power.

The balance sheet, duly audited, shows that the association is in a solvent position, and this is very creditable, seeing that this is the first year of its existence, and that many expenses have been incurred which will not occur again. At the same time, even though there is a membership of 360, your committee • feel that the association is not supported as' it should be by Aew Zealand natives, but trust that, through a Jarge increase of membership during •n T lEg ye * r ' the next ye**' 8 balance sheet win show an even better result than that now laid before you. In conclusion, your committee would like to express its thanks to all those, not New Zealand natives, who have so kindly come forward during the past year to assist the association in various ways.