OTAGO CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 62

OTAGO CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The forty-ninth annual meeting of the Caledonian Society of Otago was held in the Excelsior Hotel on the 13th inst., and was very numerously attended. The president (Mr A. Gillies) occupied the chair, and mentioned that a quantity of heather, gathered in Scotland and Ireland, had been forwarded by Mr Roderick Mackenzie for distribution among members.—(A Member: I will have a little Scotch, please.) The President proceeded to explain that it was thought desirable that a reception should be tendered to Mr Mackenzie on his return to Durydin after his lengthy visit to the Homeland. Referring to the attempt to get up a winter gathering at the time of the . winter Agricultural and Pastoral Society's Show, he pointed out that circumstances had rendered it impossible to carry the gathering through, and it had therefore to be abandoned.

The President, speaking to the report and balance sheet (the former was published last week), said the work had been most (satisfactorily carried on by the directors. They had done everything possible to make the society a success, but unfortunately they had not succeeded financially. At the same time, they had done a great deal of work, and had -improved the grounds very considerably. A lot of money had been spent, and great assistance had been rendered by those outside the society. In this connection he mentioned, the names of Messrs Pledger and Forrest. He referred feelingly to the loss the society had sustained by the death of Messrs J. B. Thomson, C. B. Branson, and J. H. Chapman. Mr Thomson had been one of the oldest

directors of the society, und Mr Chapman had been a most energetic member. The president concluded his remarks by moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet.

Mr James Brown, in the course of his remarks in seconding the motion, referred to the exceedingly clear statement of accounts that had been presented to members. For the first time- in the history of the society they had had placed before them a balance sheet which, with the one exception of the mortgage, showed _no item. of liability at all. Another satisfactory feature of the report was that the grounds had been considerably improved during the year. The Caledonian Society was not a trading concern, and its success could not fairly be measured by financial results. To judge of its success, they must look upon its usefulness. So far as athletics were concerned, it seemed to have lost the position it once held, and this he attributed to the growth of football, bowling, tennis, golf, and other sports. Their gathering was a professional gathering, and their games seemed to have developed into a series of professional competitions; but whether they could do anything towards meeting that state of affairs he was not prepared to say. He had taken the matter into very serious consideration last year, and after reviewing the position, the only conclusion that could be come to was that the annual gathering should be continued. He proceeded to refer to planks in the platform of the society, and specially mentioned the rule "to procure and disseminate information regarding the poetry, history, and archaeology of Scotland" as worthy of consideration. Dr Gordon Macdonald said the grounds were in excellent condition, and were as good as any grounds in New Zealand. Last year he had been wandering about the Old World, and he had been surprised to find that in towns with treble the population of Dunedin the grounds did not approach the society's grounds. But they had very much, better competitors there; probably because of the much larger population to draw from. The land in the Old Country was very costly and difficult to acquire. Pie threw out a suggestion that the society might meet for social purposes more frequently than it did. Mr John Ogg supported the remarks as to increased social intercourse among members.

Mr M. M'Kenzie said the reason why the annual gathering was not the same as it used to be was the facilities afforded peoplo for getting away into the country. The President expressed his readiness to heartily co-operate in providing increased sociability among members,, and the motion adopting the report and balance sheet was then carried.

The following gentlemen were elected directors of the society:—Messrs C. F. Alexander, Alex, Begg, William Begg, A. A. Campbell, Thomas Cole, James Crawford, W. Farquharson, J. H. Hancock, D. L. Hutton, R. Mackenie, John M'lndoe, J. Mohcrieff, R. Powley, W. Rudkin, and Charles Speight. \ meeting of directors was then held, at which Mr John M'Donald was elected president, Messrs T. Elliott and W. E. C. Reid senior and junior vice-presidents respectively, and Mr C. F. Greenslade treasurer.

The appointment of secretary was left over pending the expiry of the leave of absence granted to the acting secretary, Mr T. Reid.

Mr Roderick Mackenie was elected a life director in place of Mr J. B. Thomson (deceased). On the general meeting being resumed Mr J. 'A Hcpcraft was appointed auditor at a fee of £3 3s.

The proposed reception to Mr Roderick Mackenie was mentioned, and it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the executive, with power_ to act, in conjunction with kindred bodies. It was resolved to recommend the directors to make' some arrangements by which children under the .age of 12 years, accompanying their parents or guardians to the annual sports, should be admitted free. The usual social function followed.