NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6500, 1 June 1899, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

»» ;The annual meeting of the Christchurch cantro of. the. New Zealand Natives' Association was held last evening. There was a fair attendance of members, the President, Mr W. Recce, being in the chair. . The annual report stated that the membership roll had increased nearly three-fold. The financial position of the branch was . not so- strong as the committee desired, ow-j iiig to the expense which had been neces-i sary in bringing it prominently before the public. With a- view, of augmenting the. funds the committee had already made provision for the election of life members at a subscription of £5 ss. Mr Maurice Den-, niston had been appointed, honorary secretary and Miss Jennie West assistant honorary secretaiy. Mr Thomas Garrard had been appointed honorary treasurer to the branch. During the past year the branch had been indebted to the Bishop of Christchurch, ' Professor Dendy, and Mr G. R.j Hart, for lectures at the rooms; to Captain Hutton, for a kind offer to deliver an explanatory address, at the Museum ; and to Mr E. W. Seager, for a sleight-of-hand entertainment. The most important step which the branch ; had yetr taken had' been the formation of the Operatic Section, which had recently produced the opera " Dorothy " so successfully. The result of a conference of, delegates from the various branches, helld in Wellington some months ago, had been the formulation of a set of ' constitutional rules for the government of the whole ofthe branches, under which the centre was. now working, as it had affiliated with the main body. The President, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sneet, said that: besides tha operatic section there were 1 , other sections which he would like to see inaugurated, such as an att section, for : the work done by which the Association might offer medals. He would 'be glad to "give a medal for competition in this; section. Mr Recce also suggested the appointment of a Scenery Preservation Com-, mittee, which could use its influence to J preserve from destruction native bush. ;'• ' The report and balance-sheet were adopted. On the motion of Mr H. G. Ell, the.. Rev C. A. Fraer, with power to appoint; colleagues, was requested to take into con-, sidcration the collection of records pi"; native" history. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr W- Recce ; vice-presidents, Rev C. A. Fraer, Messrs H. J. Beswick, • and T. W. Stringer; committee. MessrW. J. Poison, D. Bates, T. Clarkson, K. Bassett, H. G. Simms, li\ H. Cowper, W. A. Hall, J. R. Olliver, R. L. ,Fenertv ; and F. C. B. Bishop; auditors, Messrs W. H. M. Bergh and R/ 0. Duncan. J : j A recommendation by the committee to 1 increase the amount of the annual sud- ' scription was rejected. ' ■ , A vote of thanks to the outgoing officers s I closed the ordinary meeting. '■ ■ A special rmeeting was then held, at which it was decided -to register the So- ' ciety under the Unclassified Societies Regie- . tration Act. The Rev: o. A. Fraer and- ; Messrs. W. Recce, D. Bates and W. J. ' Polfoh were appointed a sub-committee l|o' draft rules. j