CHRISTCHURCH BOWLING CLUB.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1024, 6 October 1877, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH BOWLING CLUB.

The annual meeting of this club was held yesterday afternoon at the rooms of Mr Charles Clark, Hereford street: the president (Mr W. H. Wynn Williams) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. MINUTES. The minutes of last annual meeting were read and confirmed. ANNUAL EBPOET. Mr A. Carrick, the treasurer, read the following report, which embodies an account of the Club's financial transactions during the year. The club has a credit balance of 19s 9d at its banker's. Tour committee, referring to the report of last year, now beg to submit statement of accounts from the beginning of the club's existence up to this date for the purpose of showing more clearly the total expenses of starting the club, and the working expenses during the season. The different items ofjexpenditure have been classified, and will be found useful in guiding any future committee in carrying on the affairs of the club. The total expenses have been .£245 6s 3d; the expenditure as shown by the accounts may be classified as follows: — £ s. i. Formation property account 138 6 0 Furniture account 13 2 6 Bowl account 24 0 6 Charges account 69 17 3 The last item, with the addition of about .£l6 still outstanding, indicates pretty clearly the annual expenses of the club, which may be put down at .£IOO per annum. The item, bowl account, represents the cost of bowls imported by the club still unsold, m this point the committee urg upon the members the necessity of providing themselves with bowls at once, as the club will not do bo for the future. There are now sixty-two members on the roll. In accordance with resolution of the members, your committee during the past season purchased one-eighth of an acre facing Gloucester street, and adjoining the bowling green for the sum of £ll2 10s, on which has been erected a small cottage for the use of members. The land forming the bowling the bowling green consisting of five-eigthths of an acre was purchased at a cost of .£537 10s by Mr Williams for the use of the Club, the annual charge for interest being .£43. Your committee are of opinion that some scheme should be at once started for the purpose of paying off this sum and making the land the freehold property of the club. During the season a pair of match bowls presented by the vice-president, Mr Peacock, were competed for by a large number of members, and ultimately won by Mr Carrick. Tour committee trust that the bowling green now belonging to the club will be so far improved that during the season members may be inclined to make up several matches. The room at present used is hardly sufficient for the purpose, bub in case the number of members increases sufficiently to incur further expenditure it is suggested that the ground at the back of the green be fenced in, and a small cottage be erected for ths use of members which may afterwards be made available for a caretaker. The advantages offered by the green for a pleasant afternoon's amusement are so great that there should be no misapprehension as to the number of persons who will be anxious to join the club, and the committee trust that in the course of a year or two they will not only be able to pay for the ground, but in all probability will also be able to increase the size of the green. The season will, it is expected, open on the 13th instifthe weather proves fine, when your committee hope there will be a large attendance of members. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. OPENING THE SEASON. The Chairman stated that it was proposed to begin practice on Saturday, 13th instant, on the club's new ground. He feared the ground would not be quite ready by that time, and it would be a pity to spoil it by untimely use. He had, therefore, pleasure in inviting members to U9e his private lawn on the occasion. Membors expressed willingness to accept Mr Williams's offer, for which they thanked him. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEAKEKS. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr P. Cunningham, seconded by Mr J. D. Macpherson—" That the office-bearers for the past year should be re-elected, Mr W. M.Maskell's name being substituted on the committee for that of Mr J. C. Morris, who has left the town. The office-bearers for the ensuing year are —Mr Wynn Williams, president; Mr J. T. Peacock, vice-president; Mr A. Carrick, hon. treasurer; and Mr J. A. Bird, hon. Secretary. The committee consists of Messrs D. Craig, D. S. Melville, A. Cuff, P. Cunningham, W. M. Maskell, J. Beaumont, C. F. Barker, and C. B. Menzies. Mr Williams thanked the members for having elected him their president for the third time. He thought it was time for a

change to be made, but he thanked them for their confidence, and would always to his best to advance the interests of the club as he had done in the past. NEW MEMBERS. The names of Messrs Conyers and Todhunter were handed to the secretary, as tbose of gentlemen desirous of becoming members of the club. A ballot will be taken in the usual way, in accordance with rule 3. WAYS AND MEANS. Mr Carrick wished the club could devise a plan of acquiring an unencumbered property in the new ground without the members themselves having to put their hands in their pockets. It was made a recommendation to the committee to devise a scheme for paying for the ground in a satisfactory manner. VOTES OF THANKS. A special vote of thanks was passed to the president and other gentlemen who had permitted the members to practise on their private grounds during the past year. The proceedings then terminated.