DUNEDIN CYCLING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 54

DUNEDIN CYCLING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Dunedin Cycling Ciub was'held in the. club's rooms, Bowling street, on Thuirsday. Dt Stanley Batchelor (president) occupied the chair, and some 30 members were present. -Ap,ologies for • absence were , received from Messrs F. Anderson, J. F. Peake; J. B. Rodgerson, G. Israel, and S. D.Minn. The annual report contained the following clauses :— t * Tho-balaineei sheet- shows a surplus of £144, 7s - iiSf including cash' balance of £1 0s Sd. When it is' remembered that expenses to the amount of over £70 were entqiied in coming ink) the 'present reams,. and £20 a year more rent is paid, the finances of ' the club must be considered satisfactory. The annniial sports TE-eeting was held on February 18, and, <<h«nka to the energetic efforts of the Sports Committee (with Mr S. 3>. Minn as .secretory), a profit o£ £20 resulted. The club desires to place on record its appreciation of the courte&y of the Caledonian Society in regard to tho arrangements maids for the use of the ground for the meeting. During the year several billiard tournaments were held, and also several social^ evenings. Dr Hotop, said MessTa C. '/ Se'e'lye, J. Hart, and 53. Johns have left Dunedin during tho year 1 , amd we feel sure members wiEl join with us in wishing them every success in their new spheres. Tha club sustained a severe los3~in the death _of Mr A. J. Barth, a vice-president of tbe'club and an old and esteemed! member. The thanks of the club are recorded for donations to the club's fund from the following donors: — Dr Stanley Batchelor, Messrs George Thomson, A. A. Finch, E. C. Hazlett, E. C. Leary, D. Wall, C. Seelye, F. Anckrson, A. J. Sullivan, G-. P. Sise, S. D. Minn, A. 3>y, E. Crow, Dr E. O'Neill, Messrs E. Siae, J. O. Hoporaft, E. A. Fai'ck, Dr Hotop, Messrs Wm. Royse, «T. Cooke, R. Br»w, and also to Messrs A. J. Sullivan and A. Dey for supplying the Weekly Press for the year. Thank 9 are also due to the president of the. olub, Dr Stanley Batchelor, to the delegates of the Otagc Centre (Messrs Minn and Wall) for services rendered, and to the press- generally for tihe attention given to cycling matters thxoughoitt the year. In regard to the club rooms, many improvements have been made during the year, and the dlub is fortunate in possessing such comfortable rooms. The bil'liaord tabla is at present being re-cushioned, which should have the desdi«i effect of making it thoroughly up-to-date. Debentures were issued for the cost of sii'm». Your committee regrets that they were not more readily taken up by members. The c&mmitte'e trusts that every endeavour will be made to secure new membeirs. the club now betkig in a better position! than formerly to catc-r for same.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, said it would be noticed from the latter that the club had unfortunately no credit balance, but had, instead, a liability of £17 odd. The club, however, had surplus assets over liabilities to the extent of £144 7s 3d, so the club was really in a very good financial position. The incurring of the liability was due to expenses which would be nonrecurring however — namely, the expenditure of £71 2s lid on removal to their new rooms, — and in view of that heavy item they might consider they had come out of the year very well. Next year, with so much less expense, they should easily wipe off that deficit and have a credit balance. The club was now also paying a higher rental by £20 than it did the previous year, and there had also been other expenses that should be non-recurrent. Subscriptions had shown an increase of £15 during the past year. Their club rooms were very comfortable, and were gradually being made more so, and as they had ample room for many more members he hoped the club would not lose sight of the advantage of having a larger membership. Oa the social advantages attaching to the Dunedin Cycling Club he need hardly dilate. A question that would come before members was as to whether they should alter * the constitution of their club so as to mak^ provision for motorists. During tho year a very successful cycling sports meeting had been held, which was attended by a profit of £20. and the thanks of the club were particularly due to Mr S. D. Minn for the management of that meeting. AH things considered, the prospects of the club were distinctly encouraging. The

club had to acknowledge with thanks a very kind donation of two guineas from Mr W. Melville. In concluding, the President referred to the loss the club had sustained during- the year owing- to the doarh of ono of its vico-prosidents — namely, the late Mr A. J. Barih, who had always taken the keenest interest in the club.

Mr E. C. Leary seconded the motion, and the report was unanimously adopted. Mr E C. Leary moved, and the Chairman seconded — " That the name of the club bo altered to ' The Dunedin Motor and Cycling Club, Registered.' " The mover expatiated on tho inability of the club to retain its position as a cycling club purely, and the added strength it would derive by the addition of motorists to its ranks.

Some discussion followed the motion, chiefly as to the precedence of words in the title, and eventually an amendment moved by Mr Falck and seconded by Mr Hoperaft — " That the name of the club bo altered to ' The Dunedin Cycling and Motoring Ciub, Registered ' " was carried as against the motion, and as a substantive motion unanimously. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: — President, Dr Stanley Batchelor; vice-presi-dents—Messrs J. Cooke, A. J. Sullivan, A. A. Finch, E. C. Leary, G. Thomson, and Dr E. O'Neill; captain, Mr G. P. Sise; deputy captain, Mr A. Dey; committee—Messrs T. Scott. D. Wall, S. D. Minn, A. Leary, F. T. Anderson, J. O. HopcrafU W. B. Bell, R. Scott, and Dr Macdonald; secretary and treasurer. Mr E. A. Falck; auditors — Messrs J. F. Peafee and J. R. Rodgerson. Mr G. Sise said very few members realise the amount of work done during the year by their secretary (Mr Falclc). He would more that the club accord its hon. secretary a very hearty vote of thanks for his services during the past year. The Chairman and others endorsed Mr Sisa's remarks, and the motion was carried unanimously. Eleven new members were elected, and a voto of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.