ORPHANDOM

Te Aroha News, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6334, 28 April 1923, Page 5

ORPHANDOM

TE AROIII CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Te Aroha Orphan’s Club was held in the Masonic Hall last Saturday evening, when in the regrettable ab' sence of the president (Bro. A. 13. Hinton) the chair was occupied by senior vice-president Bro. C. C. Spedding, whose full knowledge of meeting rule kept proceedings up to the mark. Others present were Bros. (Rev.) Connolly, (Dr.) Gordon, C. Andrew, E. C Wjkes. G. Gil christ, W. A. Simons, Goddard, YV. H. Long, 11. E Willcox, Caton, D. McKechnie> Chapman, A H. Caudwell, V. G. Hamilton, Halsall, W, Revr.ll, K. Wright, J. J. Har bidge, W. Woods and ]. A. Briggs (secretary).

—Annual Report—

The secretary presented the following report, which was adopted : -

“Your Executive has much pleasure in presenting the sixth annual report and balance sheet for the 1922 session.

Membership —During the session twentyone new members were elected, and five resigned, two died, sixteen struck off for non-payment. The number of members now on the roll is 106. Finance —-The statement of revenue and expenditure shows a credit balance af £)9 12s sd. The assets of the club, including piano, crockery, etc., £99 12s sd. Liability nil. Session —The 1922 session, which opened on the 15th May, and closed on 16th October, proved a most enjoyable one. The average attend* ances were large, and an excellent standard of good fellowship main tained. The lady friends of the club were entertained in the Parish Hall on October 16th, and the programme submitted was quite in keeping with the event. Visits —A cordial invitation was received from the Plamilton Orphans’ Club to visit them, and about twenty five of our members made the jouron September 2nd, and gave them a real good entertainment. We also received a visit from the members of the Plamilton Club, who submitted a most enjoyable evening’s programme. Te Aroha Club was well represented at the re union of Auck' land District Orphans’ Clubs held at Plamilton on October 9th, and those who were fortunate enough to be present on that occasion will remember it for a long time as one of the best evenings spent, The Commercial Travellers’ Club provided a good entertainment in the Palace Theatre, Te Aroha, on September 18th, and it was very enjoyable English. Irish, and Scottish nights were held in that order during the session and proved to be quite up to their previous standards. Guests. —We have had as our guests during the session, members of the town and district local bodies, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Fire Brigade, etc., and were favored on one occasion by the presence of Plis Lordship, the Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Averill. Obituary—lt is with deep regret that your executive records the deaths of the following members during the year, viz, W. JVfclnman (past treasurer), and G F. Me Girr (first president and foundation member), both of whom had the welfare of the club at heart. Conclusion-The thanks of the club are due to the chairmen of the meetings, visitors, the club pianists, stewards, and all artists who so ably assisted in making the session a success. The executive also desire to thank the members of the club for the support tendered to to them during the past year, and wish to extend to the members of the incoming committee, their best wishes for another successful season. It is with regret that your executive have to announce that three useful workers have departed from the district during the session, in the persons of Bros. Dykes (Treasurer), Moody (pianist), and Reese (ex- | secretary and committeeman), and Iwe wish to place on record our 1 hearty appreciation of their services.

Recommendation to Incoming Committee—lt will be necessary during the coming year to provide for new glasses and crockery, and also for the printing of new rule books.

Owing to the inconvenience experienced daring the past year re- ; gar ding the Palace Theatre, we feel i it incumbent upon us to recommend | to the incoming committee that negotiations should be opened with the Masonic Hall authorities with a oj securing their hall for our meeting;, during the ensuing session. -The Balance Sheet—ihiuce sheet showed a credit ; i.iuuoe <r £9 12s 5d cash—and assets io the valao of £9O. The chief items i oh the credit aide were : —ubsarip. 'tioiis£l3l 3s, nomination fees £ll Ob 6d, visitors’ tickets £l6 7s 6d, and | levies £7 ss. Tlio chief debits were

b/ refi esl moats £lOl 9s 3d and rent £l2 ss.

—-xllteiation to Rules

A loop thy discussion then er sued relative to Bugg : sted alterations to the i ul-•?, and finally several amendments wire decided upoD.

—flection of Officers

The ■ lection of officers for the eusui.:ir y a resulted : —President, Bro. C. 0. Spudding; vice-presidents, Bros ( d e ) Or mi oily and (Dos) Gordon and Lawrence; hon. trersurer, Bro. G.

G lebrisb; hon, secretary, Bro. A, H. Wykes; hon. auditor, Bro. J. R. Nice'; he, musical directors, Bros. K. 0 Wvkrs, 0. Andrew, and L). MoKoeh; ii-; committee, Bros. D. Me [technic, 0. Andrew, Ca l on, Y. G. Hamilton nul Simons (sear). E. 0. Wyke=.

■—ldr.ee of Hol-img—

It w a unauimnisly decided that for th i coming season iha social meetings bo hold iu (he Ma3onie hall, which, P. w s mentioned, was t) be extended by 26ft., giving an extra floor space of . 1-1 ft, and a stage of 12ft in deoih,

The committee was authorised to make arr-.ngi meals with the Masonic Lodge for permission to erect an iron s ore shod on the property, immedi\ti!y bchin 1 the hall. The opening night will be held on Monday, May i.4th. —Thanks—la moving a vote of thanks ahd appreciation to last year’s officers, Bro.- i; po Idicg made special mention of the vi’aed eerviees rendered by the retiring s cr lary (Bro, J. A. B iggs), to the musical directors, and to B o. Ken Wwghi who, to the satisfaction of al 1 , carried out the duties of chief steward. —Suggestions— The president said it was hoped during the next session to bring about a friendly spirit of rivalry between the chairmen of the various social night 3, with tho object that each w.'uli endeavor to put forward a better p ograrame than the other, B. o. Willcox suggested that a reunion of Orphans, similar to that held at Hamilton last season, be held at To Aroha,

Bro. (Or.) Gordon put forward the idea that provision should be made on Several of the nights throughout the SjsGod, for h c'ur'dtea on debiteabli subj cts. This would aes : at to vary the programme, as well as p oving very instructive.

Bro. Long thought that “sketches’’ could be staged on occasions, and Bro. Andrew made a recommendation to tho til, ct that each chairman on the different social nights be asked to speak on some subject. Bro. McKecbnie consider'd the idea a splendid one for in his opinion the objects of Orphandoni were not merely for musical evening 3, but prof vided also for literary matters, and if the recommendation was carried out it would prove an experience and an education for both the speaker and those present. He said that it was also possible to arrange open debates on certain nights. Prospecls point to the coming session being the most successful in the club’s history.