CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14482, 1 July 1911, Page 5

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

A SUCCESSFUL YEAR, The thirty-fifth annual general meoting of the Boutli Canterbury Caledonian Society was, iliuld in Hutchison's Rooms last evening, the President (Mr 11. 11. Ferguson; presiding over an, attendance of over. tLirty members The directors' report Btatcd that tlio Society started Hie year with a credit balance of £4B 9s Id, and finished up the year with a debtor balance of £SO lis lid. Alter the sports meeting the directors thought it advisable to pay off some of the debentures, and set aside the sum of £3OO for same, thus reducing tine debenture account to £760, but leaving the overdraft at Bank as above. The track this year had been top dressed at a cost of £46 3a. The profit derived from last meeting was £373 10s Bd. The directors would like to see a larger lkt of members. Every member should endeavour to place on the roll a now member. The directors had to thank the following for liberal donations towards the prize fund: — The President. It. H. Ferguson, James Craigie, M.P., W. Moßride, W. C. Burmester, C. and W. Hall, J. P. Kaulagher, J. Kennedy, P. Fester, Win, Gardiner, A. P. Gawn, J. Mo Arthur, Thomson and Co.. and tlie Licensed Victuallers' Association; alio the judges and other officials for their whole-hearted efforts to make the gathering a success. To make a distinction in this year's gathering the directors issued a programme on a much larger scale than usual, with the result that by 1 o'clock on each daythere was not a programme to be had on the ground. The financial result was a profit of £35 6s Bd. A detailed helanco sheet which' was presented, showed! that the receipts for the year, including a balance of £4B 9s Id brought forward, amounted to £IOSO. The expenses amounted to £llOl. £3lB being paid away in prizes, and £3OO in redeeming debentures. These were the two largest items' of expenditure. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS. The president, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said he would first like to mention how pleased he was to 6ee present Mr 'William Evans, who had been absent from the meotings of the society for a number of years Twenty years ago, Mr Evans was a very live and prominent member and had been greatly missed'. Mr Evans said he -was present at the meeting because his health was better than for years past. He was now allowed' to "stay out at nights" Th.3 president, proceeding, congratulated' members on the very successful year just concluded, whioh was the best in the history of the society. Figures he would! disclose later would shoiv the excellent progress made dlir- I ing the past few years. Referring to the sports meeting he said it had been » very great success, and reflected credit oh those who held the reins of management. It was only after years of experience, that a meeting could bd so well managed and the an- ; nual gathering brought to so high a standard of efficiency. The holding ; of tine championships proved a great draw. The presence of HoTway, tine world's champion sprinter, aroused unusual interest elsewhere than in Timaru. J Some of the finest runners rn the Dominion competed at the meeting. There was not a better meeting' throughout the Dominion last year. It had been, indeed, a most excellent .gathering in every respect. As usual; the people of Soutlh Canterbury Tturned out in large numbers and took a keen interest in the proceedings. The gathering, apart from championships or anything else, was most certainly very popular. to i prove-this statement, ne_reac3 a list o« the receipts each year since 189», tna I figures from that year noto 1911 I being as follows:- £409, £514, £519. I £420, £426, £577, £6Ol, £564, £713, £6OB £640 £7B/, £625. £B6O, the, almost uninterrupted increase being I commented on by the speaker. »e expressed a hope that the society I would continue to flourish and' progress as in the past. The Loaijue of Wheelmen and the Athletic Union had amalgamated during the year, and this. doubtless, meant that the wheelmen would receive better attention than in th* pastT Pe mentioned the excellent work dorlo by the Ambulance Brigade at the Iports gathering. During the season the society lost the handicappsr who had acted lor so'many years; in the person of Mr Kalaughor. The loss was a great one, but the directorsliad a promising handicapper in fight, who, if appointed, would no doubt give, every satisfaction. At the end of the year the society would have to. payoff debentures in the Jackson estate on the building of the g.andstand. Concluding, Mr Ferguson expressed a wish that the retiring directorate would be re-elected. Mr "VV Evans seconded the motion. Mr J.' Hole thanked the society for keeping his coat for him on the directorate during his absence in the Homeland. He commented on the very satisfactory state of affairs. Mr F. J. Dunn congratulated the president, the directorate and the secretary on the great success attained. Mr W. Evans spoke in a similar strain, making comparisons with the struggling start of the 6caety over thirty years ago and the flourishing condition of affairs nowadays. The President made reference to the trouale that arose over the piping and daneLig. events, remarking that no adult dancing was held. There was trouble between the competitors and judges. For the future, it was intend ed to appoint one judge for • dancing and one for piping. (Hear hear.) The judges of the past—Messrs Skinner, Campbell and Mcßride—had given every satisfaction (Hear hear}. A ballot resulted in the wnolo of the retiring directors being reelected, so that the directorate remains ns before. Mr Alex Munro donated £2 2s towards the fund for pipe music prizes. OTHER.OFFICIALS. A directors' meeting was afterwards held. Messrs W. Mcßride and P. Foster were nominated tor the presidency and Mr Mcßride was elected to the position. Messrs J. Lillico and P. Foster were elected vice-presidents, Mr G. S. Gcri rie, honorary treasurer, Mr H. H. was appointed permanent secretary and Mr J. Granger auditor. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting