ASHBURTON CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1492, 25 February 1887, Page 2

ASHBURTON CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

The annual general meetings of the Ashburton Culedonan Society was held at Mr J. C. Duncan's salerooms last evaning evening. There was a good attendance and the President, M? Donald McLean occupied the chair.

BEPOBT AM) BALANCE SHEET. The report and balanoa sheet were road as follows : —

ANNUAL REPORT.

The following is the annual report for the year ending 24th February, 1887 :— On behalf of tho Directors I beg to lay before you th« eighth annnal report of the transactions of this Society for the year now ended, as also its present position. The year just ended has been popularly an unqualified success, but financially, I am sorry to say, it ha 3 been somewhat unsuccessful. It has" popularly been a success (thanks mainly to the assiduity of the country Directors, and also to the favor with which its Ingleside Meetings — introduced this past year — have been received), inasmuch aB the Society has during the year now ended more than doubled ita membership The financial loss has entirely been made through the Society's production of tha "Rob Roy" play, the loss thereby being to the Society £43 Is lOd. But I would beg of you to bear with this loss with as much ieniency as you can, as the play itself, as put on the stage, was a credit to the Society, and I am convinced that the j members of the Society who carried it out were actuated by the best and most conscientious intentions. While on the subject, I should like to. say that it is the opinion of those who by experience ought to be able to judge, if the beforementioned play is reproduced about April, it will, seeing wo have now tho plant wherewith to do so m hand, repay the loss now sustained by the Society m its first production. I would therefore thank this meeting to give its opinion m such a way as it may deem most advi&able as to the reproduction of the play or otherwise.

It being your duty to uight to elect officers and Directors for the ensuing year, I should like to say, under this head, that it is my opinion that, properly managed, this popular Society could be placed m a much more satisfactory I financial position than it is now m. I hope you will fearlessly, wisely, cautiously, and conscientiously elect those whom you consider best for the interests of the Society, and those who yon consider will work most harmoniously and energetically to place the Society during the ensuing year iv a better financial position than it now occupies. In conclusion, I beg to suggeßt m the strongest possible way that, learning by experience, the yearly executive coinmittoa of Directors be abolished, and instead thereof that, timely, before the happening of any important event, the Secretary shall call together a meeting of the whole body of Directors, who shall deal with the impending event by appointing a committee from their midst to carry it out, or deal otherwise with it, at their discretion. Donald McLean, President. The balance sheet showed the receipts for tho year to have been £249 83 2d, and the expenditure £247 15s Bd. The adoption of the report waa moved by the President md In bo doing, he eald. that the loss sustained m connection with the production of "Rob* Roy" was not a very alarming matter, considering the strong membership of the Foolety. Mr Reid, referring to the report; said that he thought it Bhould have been Bubraltted to a meeting of Direotors and be the reflex of a majority of their opinions, and not of those of one or two members. He disagreed with the clause m the report m regard to the executive Committee, for that body had done good work. The- Chairman said that consideration of the recommendation with, regard t) the Executive Committee would come bef.ra the mee'ing later on. Recpectlng the manner of drawing up the report, he might say that m local bodies it wa3 uiual for the report to bo drawn up by the Chairman and Clerk, solely. Mr W. St G. Douglas saw r.o pbjaction to the report if it only purported to be one by the President, and not as emanating from the Direotors or Executive Committee. The Chairman said the report was only intended as one by himself. Mr J. Q. Duncan explained that the course whioh had been followed this year m drawfng up the report was similar to that of former occasions. Mr P. Walker thought that the report should emanate from the Executive Committee. Ho thought that the proposal to abolish the Committee would ba a foolish one, as that body had proved itself a moat useful institution. Mr Paul thought thai if the Secretary noted the objections which had been raised, the meeting could adopt the report, Mr Douglaa moved that the balance sheet only be adopted. If the report was a mere statement by the President then there was no need to adopt it. Mr Reid seconded the amendment, and m so doing, read one of the rules of the l?oolety which eet forth that at every annual meeting a report Bhould be brought down by the directors. Mr McHae could not understand the objection b which had been taken to tha report, which waa similar to those of

former years, except that it was more

elaborated. He thought it was to the credit of the Seoretary that ouch a report should be brought down. It seemed to him there was a sting some where, affecting certain members of the society, and he would like to know where it was.

The amendment waa then put to the meeting and lost.

It was Etated that the final clause In the report was tantamount to a vote of censure on the Executive Committee, but the Chairman, Secretary and several other member* denied there had been any intention of caating such a reflection and pointed ont that the report accorded great praise to the Committee for its services.'

After some further desultory discussion, the roport was adopted.

society's piper.

Mr A. Maokay wrote resigning his appointment as piper to the Soofety m conseqaenoe of hia shortly leaving the district.

Members spoke In very eulogistic terras of the Eervlces rene'ered by Mr Mclcay and he was Induced to hold over his resignation for tho time being.

B LECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of offioera was then proceeded with and resulted as folio ira : — President : Mr D.. McLean ; Vioe presidents Meßßra D. Olive/ 1 , and, W. J. Steward ; Treasurer, Mr W. Anderson ; Seoretary Mr J. 0' Dunoan ; Auditors, Messrs Shury and Minnli. A large directory was nppolntod. M ROB BOY." The question of tho reproduction, of tho drama rf "Hoy Roy" was then considered. It was ultimately ronolvod, on the motion of Mr Paul :— " That tho Into p9rformance of ' Ilcb Roy' moots with the approval of thia mooting, that the porformerß be thanked, and naked to repeat the drama on the race nights m April " During the discussion which took plaoa, Messrs Paul, Kneen and Hogg referred to the good work accomplished by tho Executive Committee m connection with tho production of " Rob Koy.". rXECUTIVB COMMITTEE. After a desultory discussion, somewhat aorimonous a 1 ; times, the queat'on of appointing an Executive Committee, or m its etead Sub Committees, to deal with the various matttrs which may arise daring the year wa3 left m the hands of the directors

OROCiND.

Some conversation took place wit'i reference to extinguishing the liability on the Sport 3 Ground.

Mr Douglas eaid that somo years ago' he suggested that a sinkiug f and he established but the recommendation had never been acted upon. Mr J. Scaly made a proposal to the effeot that some sharea be taken m the Building Society, as a msans towards extinguishing the debt on tho groand

Mr Moßae considered that tho ground had been a millstone round the neok of the Society ever since it was purchased. It was too small, and It had not the same advantages which they might get elsewhere. He thought it would be betier to sell tho ground and make a fresh start clear of debt. He raovoi--" That it be a reoommendation to the Directors to consider the advlsablenesa of disposing of the sporti ground and extinguishing the liabilities thereon."

This was duly eeoonded and carried. COMPLIMENTARY.

Votes of thanks were paßßed to the Executive Committee, and Mr John Sim, for services rendered m oonneolion with "Rob ßoy, to the President, Seoretary" and Obairmio; and a "skirl" on the pipes brought the meeting to a close.