NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1741, 18 September 1879, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

This society hold their second general meeting on Tuesday, the 16th, at the Grown Hotel, Amberley. Before the general meeting, a number of the promoters who had formed themselves into a provisional committee for the purpose of canvassing for subscribers, met and considered the Otago Society’s rules, which, with slight alterations, they decided to recommend to the subsequent meeting of subscribers. The meeting of subscribers then took place, and was extremely well attended by sympathisers with the movement from all parts of North Canterbury, including Rangiora, Waiau, Safton, Waikari, Saltwater Creek, itc. Mr Alex. McDonald was appointed to the chair. The Chairman said ho felt very proud to preside over such a large and promising gathering. He had no doubt, from the numbers who had attended that night, some from a long distance, that tho society would bo established upon as firm a basis as any Caledonian Society in tho colony. He would now call upon the secretary pro tern., to read the minutes of the original meeting. The secretary pro tcm. (Mr Brock), read the minutes of the former meeting, which wore unanimously adopted. Ho said, also, that the subscription was fixed at 20s (twenty shillings) per annum, to bo paid in advance. He then said he would like to know if the meeting would wish tho other rules to be discussed seriatim, or should he road them all before any discussion on their suitability for this particular association bo entered upon. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Edward, seconded by Mr Martin —“ That they bo considered singly.” The rules were then read and fully debated by tho meeting, one of tho principal of those adopted being that the fee for a life membership'should bs £lO. Another was that the financial year of the society shall commence from October Ist each year, and any subscriber being fourteen days in arrear may be liable to bo struck off tho roll.

Mr Fulton proposed—“ That the rule providing for a president, vice-president, paid secretary, and hon. treasurer, bo altered as far as regarded the paid secretary,” which office he considered should be an honorary one till their funds would warrant the payment of a fixed salary. Seconded by Mr Malcolm Robertson, and carried. Mr Fulton moved, and Mr Myles Campbell seconded—“ That all meetings of directors for special purposes be called through the public Press.” Mr Edward would move, as a rider—- “ That the directors bo paid their travelling expenses.” Mr James Barclay supported Mr Fulton’s proposition without the rider, which was carried. All the other rules were adopted as read. The enrolment of members was the next business, and fifty-nine persons signed their names os subscribers. The meeting then proceeded to consider the place most suited to hold their annual gatherings, and also whether it should be at any fixed place or peripatetic. Mr Robertson proposed, and Mr Stevens seconded Sefton, as the most suitable place. Mr Fulton did not think Sefton would be at all a central place, as many people would have to travel from Waiau. Besides, Amberloy had an advantage in possessing a public reserve for such purposes, and there was nothing of the kind at Sefton. He would propose Amberley as the place for the first meeting for sports. This was seconded by Mr McNaught. Mr Myles Campbell being asked for his opinion as one of the initiators of the movement, said as the success of the project had exceeded his most sanguine expectations, he should say by all means make Amberley the head-quarters for the first year at least. Mr Edward moved that the meetings bo held at either place alternately. Mr Williams would not like to legislate for any place. He did not think it necessary to say just now where any future meetings were to be held, but only the first meeting. Mr McGregor said, as the society was instituted at Amberley, it was only fair to bold the meetings at that place. Mr Brock thought games were only a secondary consideration. The society was founded for benevolent purposes and institutions (particularly in the History of Scotland) as well as recreation. He thought it would be necessary to institute classes in several centres of the district in connection with those objects. Mr Pulton’s proposition re Amberley as head-quarters for the first year was carried. Sir Norman Campbell, Bart., was then elected chief patron ; Mr Donald Cameron was elected president, and Mr Myles Campbell vice-president. Mr Campbell said it would be better to have three vice-presidents, as then the offices would be better diffused throughout the district.

It was ultimately agreed to elect three vice-presidents, and Messrs Fulton and A. McDonald were elected in conjunction with Mr Campbell. Mr Vaughan was elected hon. treasurer, and Messrs L. C. Williams and H. McLean joint secretaries. The following members were appointed as managing directors : Messrs John McKay, Ross, McNaught, D. C. Martin, Stewart, Dick, Robinson, O. Forbes, R. Kemp Scot, J. Barkley, C. McWilliams, J. Edward, D. Brown, McGregor, N. S. Martin, K. McKay, McMorrow, J. Cameron, D. Watt, and Wm. Brock. J. McKay, piper. It was arranged to get circulars printed for distribution up country, setting forth the objects of the society, &o. The date of the first sports was the next question, and it was resolved to hold them on the Ist of March, if the directors thought advisable; if not, it was left to them to decide. The next meeting of directors was arranged to be held on October 7th for this purpose. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business.