CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC CLUB

New Zealand Tablet, 12 October 1911, Page 2011

CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC CLUB

V* ♦ ANNUAL MEETING (From onr own correspondent.) ' The annual general- meeting of the Christchurch Catholic Club was held on Tuesday evening, September 26, in the club rooms, Wiltshire, Buildings.* The president (Mr. J. R. Hayward) was in, the. chair, and there was a good attendance of members. The following is a synopsis of the annual report : The committee state that the past year was in many respects the most successful the club had ever enjoyed. The financial position had improved very much, and they had been enabled to pay off the overdraft of over £25 and have . a credit balance in hand. The assets oyer liabilities have how reached the respectable sum of £166 13s sd, an increase of over £35 during the year. The number of members on the roll is now 121. During the year 29 members joined the club, and 18 had left through various causes. During the year Federation diplomas of merit were awarded to P. Rowe and C. Fottrell for their meritorious services on behalf of, the club. .Diplomas were also presented to Messrs! Quinn and E. Anderson for oratory, and P. McNamara'for improvement in debating. ; Two very successful . lectures were delivered during the. year—one on the Philippine Islands’ by the Right Rev. , Mgr, Fowler, and - the other on ‘ Sam Weller,’ by Mr. R. Dobbin, both of which were intellectual treats. Regret was expressed that the committee were unable to report a successful season in the debating department owing to the apathy displayed by young members in this important matter, and an earnest appeal was made to

all members to do their utmost to assist the officers, to : / organise and carry on a series of successful debates next . season. The committee were pleased to report that the social functions held during the year were most successful, due principally to the untiring efforts of some of the most prominent members and kind friends, who are entertainers of a very high order, and the committee wish to publicly thank them for their con- : tinued kindness in this regard. ' Prominent amongst 1 the socials, the one at which they had the honor of enter- ‘ taining the Irish delegates was perhaps the most sue- -, cessful. As this was the only Catholic club in the Dominion that had the honor of entertaining them, the . committee are justly proud .and gratified that it was such a success. The . committee express their sincere " gratitude', to his Lordship Bishop Grimes for a donation and his continued kindly interest, to the Rev. Dr. s Kennedy, Messrs. P. Burke, J. Chase, M. Nolan, E. N McKeon, F. McDonald, and P. McNamara for their donations; also to Sir George .Clifford for daily and ,T weekly newspapers, Mr, J. D. Hall for magazines, and ; Mr. G. T. White for a clock. Several of the members , ; competed at the Christchurch Musical j and \ Literary Competitions, and owing to the success which had attended their efforts the club’s funds'benefited to the extent of £3 7s 6d. Messrs, E. ) .McKeon, F. Me- \ Donald, and P. McNamara were congratulated on their very creditable achievements at the competitions. The committee express their sincere thanks to the New Zealand - Tablet for the excellent reports of the func- rr.o tions, which were very much appreciated, alio toj|he a local papers for their, generous notices 'of the | 'The' very excellent financial position and increased ;|| membership have been largely brought about by the 1 untiring efforts of the devoted secretary, and the committee express their sincere gratitude to him and thorough appreciation of his continued zeal on behalf of the club. The committee appeal to the incoming executive officers to realise their responsibility and do ■N their utmost .to attend all meetings of both the execu- ~ tive . and club, and thereby show members such an example that they are bouild to follow, because if the club is to continue to progress and fulfil its sphere of 7 practical utility, it is absolutely imperative that much better attendances are necessary at both the. executive and ordinary club meetings. v ~ The printed balance sheet of the club, giving the minutest details of, receipts and expenditure, which had , been previously distributed- among the members, -v showed in the general account income from all sources % to be £lOl 7s : 2d, and expenditure £74 17s 2d, leaving. NNa profit for the year of £26 10s. The billiard table 3: account showed a credit balance for the year of £8 19s 6d. The report and balance sheet as presented were unanimously adopted. His Lordship Bishop Grimes, and Sir George Clifford again consented to be patrons of the club, and the Rev. Dr. Kennedy is spiritual director. .Other ' officers were elected as follow for the ensuing year; President, Mr. R. Beveridge (unopposed) ; honorary vice-presidents—Dr. A. B. O’Brien,.Messrs. J. R. Hayward, P. Burke, C. L. Clifford, B. F. Darby,,M. Donnelly, H. H. Loughnan, E. T. Harper, M. Nolan-, A. J. O’Malley; vice-presidents— F. Rowe, P. McNamara, and T. O’Connell, jun.; secretary, Mr G. Dobbs ; treasurer, Mr. W. Hayward, jun.; auditor, Mr. E.-T. Harper; librarian, Mr. J. P. Laurenson; executive committee Messrs. ,F. O’Connell, B. O’Connor,. F. Healy, E. McKeon, and W. Daly. ‘ 7 . , Mr. G. Dobbs (secretary) spoke in appreciative terms, of the valued services rendered to the club since "

its inception by the retiring president (Mr.. J. R. Hayward), who, was always to the. forefront in every movement pertaining to the interests and advancement, of the club. As an example of this, Mr., Hayward, although a very busy:.man; had -attended during the past year all but one of the fourteen' executive meetings. He had also exerted a personal interest in membership,' and had aided financially many of the club’s enterprises. ; The present sound and flourishing position of the club was mainly owing to Mr. Hayward’s, endeavours. Speaking .generally, Mr. Dobbs said .that with the loyal co-operation of members it was a pleasure to hold the position of secretary, and “ trusted the in’

coming officers would, when their term expired, leave as good a record as the outgoing ones. The prise donated by : -M.& E. ■ McKeon -to the one - introducing the most new fnffinbers (9) during the past year was awarded to Mf. .F : O’Connell, Mr. W. Daly being next in merit. . ; Mr. ftj; Beveridge sincerely thanked the club for the hdfibr of electing him to the position of president. He coUcfeived it to be > the duty of members generally to sfeek office, and for that reason would perfer to see a spirited contest for every office. As to the future, the retiring president had given him a hard task to emulate past records. Mr. Hayward had • identified himself in club .matters from its : very small beginning. His was the pioneer spirit, which had raised it to the proud position of premier Catholic club in the Dominion, and certainly the best of any social club in Christchurch or Canterbury. With the co-operation of his executive committee he would endeavour to maintain the standard of efficiency,- to do his bestfor the club, and always be at the command of members. Fitting acknowledgment , of the compliment paid them was voiced by all the newly-elected officers On the motion of , Mr. M. ; ; O’Reilly, a vote of thanks was passed with acclamation to the retiring officers,- whom he characterised at a credit to the Catholic body. Mr. Ainger spoke to the same subject, and as an auditor eulogised the excellence of the secretary’s work, especially his splendid method of book-keeping. The manner the balance sheet was presented could not be surpassed in any commercial house of the city. As' an ordinary , member, Mr.' Sims paid a high tribute to the excellent management of the club generally, and congratulated all concerned on the success of their endeavours. ’; ; Mr. J. R. Hayward, whilst thanking the various speakers for their kind remarks, said he could not allow the success of the club to be entirely placed to his credit. Although every personal effort was in the direction indicated; much that had been accomplished was due to the assistance of excellent fellow officers, during his four years as president. : They were the best men any organisation could possibly have, and all recognised the existing want of a good Catholic club. Among their greatest benefactors, when the new and commodious rooms now occupied were first taken, was Mr. Rowe, a fact they must not forget. Continuing, Mr. Hayward spoke eloquently of the need of Catholic combination to oppose the forces raised against religion, and our faith most particularly. Associations of young men were a powerful factor in this regard, and a generous support of Catholic journalism was undoubtedly the mainstay of our people in the conflict. A striking paragraph that appeared a few weeks ago in the Tablet, of sentiments expressed by Archbishop Ireland— take the Catholic paper every week and read it every week—should be painted, l if possible, on the skies. . . The expenditure of sixpence a week on a good Catholic paper is money never better spent, and the good, thus done not alone to ourselves but to others will not be known until the end. This was a message he felt impelled to deliver, arid he trusted it would not be given in vain.