CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 17427, 20 August 1913, Page 3

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY OF SOUTHLAND

ANNUAL REPORT. Following is the annual report to be laid before members at the annual meeting on Monday next; — Your directors have pleasure in submitting for your consideration the 25th annual report. Although financially the position of the Society is not so flourishing as at the close of last year, the prospects for the coming season tire good, and if la\oured with fine weather there is no reason whv tlie lost ground should not be regained at the next games, and the position, which is financially strongei than two years ago. maintained. The , attendance at Hie last games, though considerably below that of the two previous vears, was fairly well up to the general average, and the falling off in tlie funds is due in a large measure to the reduction in entry fees decided upon last year, increased prize money, and the very small amount tea iscd from the sale of privileges as ( omparod with previous years. The membership has been well maintained. though some few resignations have brought it below the strength of the previous year. It is expected that a number of subscriptions outstanding at the ('lose of the financial >eat ' '■ vet bo collected, but it was not deemed advisable to take these into constdetation in the balance-sheet, which is submitted herewith. , _ The retiring directorate feel that some consideration should be extended in the direction of arranging for mid-winter competitions in addition to the annua games, in order to give the ptulte a better opportunity of seeing and appteciating the high standards to which dancing and piping have risen, fltere has always been a difficulty in providing in one day sufficient time to do justice to the varied and lengthy programme, and the adoption of some such scheme would greatly relieve the over-crowded list of events, and no doubt would hj appreciated by competitors and public alike. , ~ In consequence of (he recommendation in last year’s report, will; respect to the winter social, it was decided, aft careful consideration, to substitute for this function a series of monthly socials. which were successfully inaugurated last month. The two socials held have proved an unqualified success. al ' there is every indication that lbc\ )) 1 become a permanent and popular feature of the Society’s operations. There is no doubt that the usefulness of the Society may be greatly increase) bv the introduction at these socials of competitions in national music and dancing .and short lectures on the puetr>. history, and archaeology of Scol,a^ 1 ’ and other subjects which are calculated to preserve in the younger generation a love for the history and traditions of the Land of the Heather. The thanKs of the Society are due to all those wl have so enthusiastically taken up this matter, and particularly to the C o ™™ ll ' lee of Ladies, to whoso untiring efforts the success which has been achieved is largely due. There are seven vacancies on the directorate, the retiring directors being . Messrs A. R. Porter, John McGregor, Thos. Timpany. John Timpany, .1. H. Loudon, John Fraser, and W. McKay, all o-f whom are eligible for re-election.