S.P.C.A.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2238, 9 July 1908, Page 2

S.P.C.A.

EAST COAST DISTRICT.

FIRST ANNUAL AIEETING

The first annual meeting of the East Coast Society for the Prevention ol Cruelty to Animals, was held in the Native Courtroom vesterdav afternoon. Colonel Porter,‘C.B., ocupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members, including several ladies. °

Colonel Porter explained tli.it the meeting had been postponed o:i account of conflict with another in r-t----mg. .On account of the lac-mess of t:e hour the business wouild necessarily bo curtailed, and he would dispense with the reading of a rather lengthy annual report. The Treasurer’s report was not available, but members would bo awaro that no regular system in this direction had been carried out. A number of collections had been made, but a number .of subscriptions were still outstanding. The financial position of the Society was good. Tire income for tlio last 18 months from all sources was £ll 16s, and the expenditure £ / o ,i, !t^ VJUg , . a , emall credit balance m fli, 16 s> which, ail view of the fact tiiat the Society did not want money, but to do good, was eminently satisfactory The Society was initiated about 18 monlbs ago, but it was not confirmed until June, 1907, which month, therefore, should, be the*date of the annual meeting. He suggested that the date of future annual meetings bo the first week in Julv '■ Mr- C. E. Galway and Mr. J. h! L acker, of Wellington, who acted as *" delegates for tile local branch of tho Society at the recent conference in Wellington, forwarded a report of tho proceedings, and also nrwspar.er cuttings, referring to the conference. iho (secretary of the We’.i'.nrton branch of the S.P.C.A. algo':w: oto <l7closiiig newspaper cuttings referring to the conference in ' that c:tv ° On the motion of Rev. Win. Grant •seconded by the Rev. F, W. Chatlorton, the report was adopted. A vote of thanks to 'the dele»ates to tho conference at Wellington was also passed unanimously. Rev. Wm Grant g<>,vo notoe ol motion that the by-law relatin'- to the annual meeting be altered to read, “That the annual meeting bo hold m July,” and not h April, as at present.

c. Field proposed, and Rev. \\m. Grant seconded, tliaT the old committee, consisting of Hoummos Chatterton, Field, Walker, Or. ? swell, De Lautour, Porter, Aliases -Oakley and Greer Revs. Chatterton and Griffin ami Alessrs Webb, Fi-id Kohere Halbert, and 1 ieut.-Colonel M inter, be re-elected, i?r<l that the number be added to. Alessrs J.Peekover, AV. E. Astin.. und Atosdamcs D. Haultnin and Christop-ier v ere also elected in addition to the ricecnt committee, and Rev.' Win. Grant was appointed chairman of tho oeieial committee to act in tho atomice of the president. “ ] All. T. Alston Coleman was e'ectod lion, treasurer to the Society j.d a n UJJfl) c r of new members wore ejected. The first meeting of the new cciiimittee was fixed tor > a turd iv, July lot'll, at.2 i).m.

Tim report of the Inspector (Air. It. Jh el wall) was as follows:—“I liave the honor to report that sineo my appointment seven informations wero laid against sundry persons for cruelty to animals, which resulted iu lour convictions being obtained. Of the above, one was for cruelty to a dog, and six proceedings were for cruelty to horses. In addition to the above, several cases have come under'my notice in different parts of the district, whipli oil my representations were satisfactorily attended to without recourse t 0 the Court. Three cases have come under my notice, but before the machinery of the Court could be brought- into'operation to deal with the offenders they had left ™ -und I deemed it unwise to follow them up. An -information is now; ponding against a person tor alleged cruelty, to a. horse. Tlie thanks of the Society arc due lo Alessrs DeLautoiir, Barker, and Stock for legal advice and assistance gratuitously rendered by them.” Colonel Porter" moved a vote of thanks to the Inspector for the excellence of bis work during the past •', cal ': , A' l '- Ihelwall was a most enthusiastic member of The Society and tho (Society was- fortunate m being able to secure his services. Mr. ihelwall briefly replied, and tho meeting concluded. r