CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13937, 24 June 1909, Page 6

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

ANNUAL MEETING. A PROSPEROUS YEAR. The thirty-third annual meeting of the South Canterbury. Caledonian Society was held in the Sophia street Hall last night, when the President (Mr R. JI. Ferguson) occupied the chair. The secretary (Mr C. S. Fraser) presented the report and balance-sheet. (These have already appeared in this paper).

In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the President said lie had much pleasure in meeting members of the society with such a favourable report, and in congratulating them upon the success of the year just closed. The last sports meeting had been a, record one, for the society, the receipts amounting to the large sum of £924 9s 7d. This sum would compare very favourably with any other similar society in the dominion. He accounted the great success of the last sports gathering by the fact that very liberal prize money was offered, and so long as they continued to give good prize money they need have no fear. The big attendance on the second day of the snorts was attributed largely to the presence of the Kilties Band, and for getting this combination in Timaru at new year time they had largely to thank Mr W. Gunn, who had arranged the time of the visit when in Sydney. It was a difficult matter to introduce novel features at their sports meetings, but the incoming directors w r ould no doubt do all they could in this direction. The expenditure for the year might seem high, but lie" was quite satisfied that the secretary had kept it down to the minimum. He was pleased to say that they had a better class of competitor now at their sports than formerly and they gave the judges and officials very littie trouble. Highland dancing and music bad once more become a popular feature of their gatherings. The pipers were not so numerous as could have been wished, but the quality of the pipe music, was he believed, .equal to any in New Zealand. The dancing was to a large number of Highland people, and the ladies, the most interesting item on the programme, and judging by the applause from the spectators, gave a full measure of satisfaction. In the past special prizes had been given lor dancing by directors, but he thought it .should not fall upon directors to supply these prizes unless tliev .specially wanted to do so. Jt :1111st come as a source, of gratification to all members of the .society to know that during the year the directors had paid off debentures to the amount ot thereby reducing the liability ol the society to this extent. In returning thanks to the judges for their labours, Mr Ferguson said lie thought the time had tome when they should have paid judges for music and dancing. He would not say one word against the judges they had had, but some of the competitors had expressed the opinion,and in the interests of tlie society be felt bound to endorse it that to judge pipe music they should have men who could play the pipes well, and who knew i'very point in connection with them, and the same applied to danemg. There was a disposition. 011 the part ol some judges to award prizes, in aee( rdance with the applause of the spectators, or to make a distribution of tlieni so that none ot the competitors would go away unrewarded. This was all very well in its way, but he thought the time had now arrived when they should have paid judges, whose experience and ability none could call . in question, for the pipe music and the dancing. In conclusion, Mr Ferguson ..ordially thanked the directors for the way they had assisted him -during the year, and paid a sppcial tribute to the secretary for the able and courteous manner in which he had discharged his duties. He was sure that they had to thank Mr Fraser for a good deal of the success which they lind achieved. (Applause.) Air Triggs congratulated the society on the successful year it had had, but suggested that it would be a good thing if they had something to quarrel over, as they would then have a larger attendance at '.lie annual meetings, and quicken interest in the society. Mr Triggs suggested that the society might promote a Marathon race. They might have a bicycle race, say, from Geraldine, to finish on the Caledonian Society's track. Or they might arrange a quickstep competition for hands, or a boxing contest, the latter years, and the society was greatly inpopular favour. Mr Hole seconded the adoption, of the report and balance-sheet, with congratulations ail round. "With regard to the remarks of the president concerning the judges of music and dancing, he knew that there was 110 intention to tread on the toes of those men or to say anything i.nkind. They had served them faithfully for many years, and the society was greaty lindebted to them. '.Hear, hear.) The president said M.r Hlole was right in saying iliat he had 110 intention of hurting the feelings of anyone. They were under a debt of gratitude to these judges for their long services, and he would lie the last one to say anything calculatd to hurt their feeii''(/s. The Tr-port and balance-sheet were then adopted. Suggestions were asked for, and two w ere made. Mr Triggfr suggested that at future sports meetings the programme .should include a driving competition with horse, mule, or donkey, and Mr Hole suggested that the obstacle race should be reinstated. The election of ten directors resulted in the return of the following:— Messrs W. A. Courtis, »T. Hole, J. Lillico, W. Mcßride ; D. Mahoney, F.

Palliseiy C. . Collins, G. Triggs, J. Ogilvie, and'. J. O'Leary. .Mr J. Granger was ■ re-elected -auditor.A hearty vote of thanks was passed to .tlio directors, and- the meeting closed. MEETING OF DIRECTORS. Immediately after the annual meeting, the directors met, .when on the motion of Mr Courtis, seconded by Mr Foster,. Mr Ferguson was unanimously re-elected President amid hearty applause. Other officials were elected us follows: —Vice-Presidents, Messrs P. Foster and W. Mcßride. Hon. Treasurer, Mr G. P. Gerrie. Ground Committee —The President and Messrs C. Hall. P. Foster, F. Palliser and .1. J. Bradley. Walking and Running— Messrs Courtis and Foster. Dancing and Music—Messrs Gerrie, Hall, and Mahonev. Cycling and General Sports —Messrs Mcßride, W. J. Priest, "and C. Collins. Pipe Band—The President and Messrs Lillico and Mcßride. EmCommittee —The President and Messrs Gerrie and Mcßride. A long discussion took place as to whether an account for £lO, received from the Pipe Band for playing on the second dsy of tlie sliould. 1)© paid. Some members considered that it should not be paid as the Caledonian Society had started the Pipe Band and given it all it now possessed; moreover those who argued in this way said that the band had agreed to play without fee at the sports on one day, and also at the Labour Day gathering. Other members said the agreement was for free service on Labour Day only and that whatever the pipers now nossessed in the way of instruments, they had got by their own efforts. It was finally decided to pay the account if it can be shown that there was an agreement to pay, and for the purpose of ascertaining this, tli" matter was deferred to enable Mr Lillico (who took part in the negotiations) to be consulted. The meeting then closed.