OKOKE NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1928, Page 6

OKOKE NEWS.

MEETING OF SPORTS CLUB. (From Our Own Reporter.) The annual general meeting of the Okoke Sports Club was held last Saturday evening. There were about two dozen members present, and in the absence of the president Mr. A. McKeown took the chair. The balance-sheet, which was adopted with little discussion, showed an expenditure of £167 15s 3d, this ineluding a grant of £l5 to the hall funds. The sum of £29 6s 9d still remained in the bank, and this was regarded as very satisfactory. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. T. Wright; secretaries, Messrs. G. C. Whittaker and A. Needham; auditor, Mr. Harold Blundell; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. F. Ellingham, V. Ekdahl, T. H. Lee, P. Darke, W. Fuller, Roy Fitzgerald, D. Smith, F. Sole, J. Hoskin and W. Murray; executive committee, the president, secretaries, and Messrs. L. Fraser, A. McKeown, and K. Blundell; protest committee, Messrs. E. Holley, H. Addenbrooke and A. Needham; judges, Messrs. T. O’Reordan, N. Street and H. Whittaker; starters, running, Mr. A. McKeown; chopping, Messrs. Wilson and G. Fuller; handicappers, running, Mr. C. Rumbal, chopping Mr. Hansen; gatekeepers, Messrs. G. Postell and P. Darke. Stewards are to be appointed at a later meeting.

It was decided to delete one sawing event from the programme and increase the prize money on the one remaining event. Two more chopping events and several more running events will be added to the programme, as well as a tug-of-war contest. The prize money for the principal chopping event will be increased to £l3 and a handsome cup. The meeting was an unusually long one, and the members were getting tired, with the result that their tempers were getting a little strained. There was a serious climax over an amendment to a motion, several making the mistake of voting for the amendment when they intended to vote for the motion. The amendment was declared carried and there was an immediate uproar, many using sarcastic terms. It was impossible to come to a decision and the meeting closed shortly after midnight. A fresh meeting was called for Tuesday evening to settle the trouble, and at the latter meeting the president, Mr T. Wright, presided over a gathering of 28. The chairman explained that the whole trouble was caused through some of the members wanting Thursday as a day for the sports and some wanting Saturday. The matter was put to the vote, and-on a show of hands 14 voted for Thursday and 14 for Saturday. The position looked decidedly awkward, but the chairman east his vote in favour of Saturday, to the huge delight of his supporters and wails of protest from the “Thursdayites.” It was decided to apply to the union for Saturday, April 21, as the day for the sports, and in the event of not securing Saturday, to apply for Thursday, April 19. This comforted the disappointed Thursday enthusiasts, but the secretary has since received adviee that Saturday is available, but Thursday is not. The sports will terminate with a dance in the evening, and enthusiasts can be assured'of a good time. Before the meeting closed a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. L. Fraser In appreciation of his past valuable services as secretary of the club. Speakers stated that the club owed its satisfactory position to-day to the energies of the popular secretary. There was prolonged applause as Mr. Fraser rose to reply. He regretted having to give up the position as secretary, but his eyesight was failing, qo he was compelled to refuse re-election. But he had no intention of separating himself from the club, though he felt that he could do more for them outside of a secretarial capacity.. A further meeting has been called fol next Saturday evening to appoint stewards and complete arrangements for the sports gathering. PERSONAL. At Tuesday evening's sports -meeting the chairman proposed a vote of condolence with Mr. Ellingham (a vice-presi-dent of the club) and family in their recent bereavement. The motion was carried in silence. Mrs. Fuller is visiting her daughter, Mrs. L. Fraser, her grand-daughter, Mrs. Vai. Jones, and her great grand-daughter Miss Moureen Jones. Miss Bessie Whittaker has returned from New Plymouth ,where she has been the guest of Mrs. Potere. Visitors to the district during last week-end were Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Bethell, the Misses Sylvia and Jessie and Master Jack Bethell (New Plymouth), Mr. and Mrs. H. McGuire and Mrs. Furness (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones (Uruti), Mrs. W. Jones (Waitara), Miss Pat Bennett (New Plymouth), and Mr. and Mrs. R. Taylor (Waitara). Mrs. Pennell, who has been seriously indisposed, is now about again. Mrs. R. Wright is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Sharpland . (Tauranga).