HASTINGS SCOTS' SOCIETY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 81, 22 April 1937, Page 12

HASTINGS SCOTS' SOCIETY

Sixth Annual Meeting Held CHIEF BAIRD RETIRES The sixth annuaj meeting of the Hastings and District Scots Society held in the Orange Hali, Lyndon roadwas a well-attended gathering, there being about 80 members present. Chiel H. W. C. Baird occupied the chair Apojogies were received from hira Baird, Mrs McDutt-Boyd, • Mrs Ramsay. ( and Mrs McLean, also Messrs M'' Kenzie and T. Johnston. "In this short resume of the past year's activities I first of all wish to thank all those officers and members wlia so successfully carried on for rne during my absence abroad and latterly vvhile i was on the sick list," said Chief Baird in presenting. ,his annual report "I have appreciated ahvays the honour you have done we in making me cliief of the society, and I have endeavoured to uphold the dignity of office. Now I feel after six years and . eight months in the chair as your chief, I should retire. I will always be deeply interested in our society, and 1 wish to extend to the new chief, whoever you elect, my very best wishes, j and I am conficlent he will have the continued support of every member. "In the past year we have stepped out in several ways. We have now the nucleus of a good library of Scottish books and these are adequately honsed in the premises of Mr W. A. Williamson. "In July of last year we took over the Pipe Band. We have created a fund to secure new uniforms, and it is hoped in the not-far-distant future to have the members of the band rigged out in a fresh set of uniforms. This band is a great asset for Hastings, and • it is hoped that the Borough Council ! and ratepayers will recognise this in a j tangible manner. "We are indebted to the willing help at all times from the members of the band. The ball held jn the Assembly Hall on October 26 last to add to the Pipe Band Fund was most successful, both socially and financially. The street collection, too, received well-merited support, and our thanks are due to the band members and also the collectors. "Hallowe'en," continued Chief Baird, ' "was again celebrated in good style and the 'bairns' were weE catered for. Our monthly Inglesides have on all occasions been entertaining and a means of getting to-gether — one of the I prime objects of a Scots' society. "We saw the New Year in with vigour and the usual good fellowship. We had an excellent gathering for our seventh annual Burn's supper, and on

this occasion we had an mnovation of having a lady to speak on Robert Burns. If ' Mrs Baird gave any pleasure to her Iisteners in her address I can safely say she appreciated the privilege of speaking on Burns. Probably our society was the first in New Zealand to have a lady speaker. "We have to thank those members and visitors who gave items at our Inglesides. To Miss Oollins we give special thanks for her faithful services as accompanist ; also Mr Haha say. our M.C. ; Mr T. Johnston, our secretary; Mr Williamson, our Treasm-er; and Mr Priest, for his services as auditor. Our appreciation goes out to the Press for the reporting on our Inglesides. * 'Before leaving the chair as your chief I wish to thank you all on my behalf, and also on behalf of Mrs Baird, for the courtesy and kindness and help we have received from the chieftains, councillors and members. This has j been shown us on every occasion. We both feel that w© have many friends in the society. 'If we can help at any time we will always do our best in the interests of the society. We wish the Hastings and District Scots' Society a long and successful life; may it go ahead and prosper and grow to be a power for good in the community and a credit to Scotland." The report and balance sheet were> adopted. The reports of the various committees were then dealt with. The meeting unanimously elected Mr Baird as patron of the society. Several members spoke in appreciation of Mr Baird's faithful service in. carrying out hig duties as chief and the very great respect the members of the society had for him and also Mrs Baird. Mr Baird thanked tho members for the honour conferred on him. At a further stage in the proceedings it was moved and unanimously carried that Mr and Mrs Baird be elected life members of the society and presented with a life member' s badge, appreciative remarks being made by Mr E. V. Simpson and Mr P. J Priest on the interest and enthusiam Mr and Mrs Baird had taken in the society. Mr Baird again suitably replied on behalf of himself and Mrs Baird. The meeting then proceeded with the electicai of ofiice-bearers for tlie ensuing year as foilow Chief, Mr P. J, Priest; chieftains, Messrs Storer", Ramsay, Simpson and Sliaw; councillors, Messrs Farquharson , McMillan, M. D. McKay, Guthrie, G. McKay, Brown, J. Walker, Martin, R. McKay and Bell; honorary secretary, Mr J. W . Shaw ; honorary treasui-er, Mr W. A. Williamson; accompanist Miss Mary Collins ; M.C., Mr J, Ramsay