NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 8

NATIVES' ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual meeting of the Now Zealand Natives' Association was held at Godber's last night, Dr. P. Wallace Mackenzie presiding over an attendance of thirteen. Tho chairman read the first report, which stated that owing to a conjunction of circumstances difficult to foresee and provido against, only a moderate measure of success had attended the association in its' early career. An inaugural dinner was held on October 22, 1908, which was very successful. Meetings were held during the spring time, but the want of permanent quarters hampered the committee from meeting more frequently. It appeared essential to the success of the association that a room should be secured, and it was thought advisable to submit a proposal to this meeting. Mr. A. H. Vile had acted as secreary in tho earlier stages, but found it necessarv to relinquish the position, and Mr. F. A. Midlane was appointed in his place. The membership now stood at 80, but they felt sure when a rallying-centre was established this number would rapidly increase to many hundreds. Rules had been drafted, and literature circulated. The balance-sheet was as follows:—Receipts: Subscriptions, £11; surplus of collections at informal meetings, 3s. 6d.; sale of tickets for inaugural dinner, £3 155.; donations, .£10; total, .£3O 18s. 6d. ' Expenditure: Printing, JM 13s. 6d.; meeting-room, 155.; advertising, £3 7s. 6d.; catering for the dinner, ,£l7 19s. sd. j postage, etc., £1 lis. lOd.; balance in hand, £2 lis. 3d. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. It was decided to hold over the election of patron and ■president for a fuller meeting." Later on, perhaps, said a member, fresh blood would come along. In declining to act further as secretary, Mr. Midlane said that the association needed a good deal of galvanising into life, and ho could not spare,the time to do the necessary organising work. The chairman mentioned that it was tho original intention to appoint an organiser. Ho had every confidence in the ultimate success of the association. Mr. Midlane agreed to act temporarily as secretary. The following officers were elected:—Vicepresidents, Messrs. G. T. London (senior vicepresident), Leigh Hunt, H. ,H. Coote, and S. Pearson; committee, Messrs. M. Myers, C- W. Tanner, W. H. Bennett, W. G. Fitchett. G. Price, W. G. FauTkncr, J. O'Shea, J. E. Fitzgerald, and Moran; secretary and treasurer (pro. tern.), Mr. F. A. Midlane. Twenty-six now members were proposed at tho meeting. f