ORPHANS’ CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4959, 7 April 1926, Page 3

ORPHANS’ CLUB.

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING. SUCCESSFUL YEAR’S OPERATIONS. Tire first annual general meeting cf the’ Paeroa Orphans’ Club was held on Tuesday, March 30. The president (Mr P. «Wil.liams) presided, ajrd with him on the dais was the guardian " (Mr H. Poland). Although the attend-ance-was not very large, owing to counter-attractions, the enthusiasin of .those present made up for what .was lacking in numbers, REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual report and balance.- ' sheet, which was read by the s£cretary (Mi R. S. Carden), stated : — ‘‘Your executive has pleasure in presenting the-first .annual, report and ibalance-sheet, a,nd in doing so expresses the hope that the club, will continue to prosper in years to come. “Members,hip—The membership of tlie club now totals 1’27, of which an appreciable number consists of country members. This is a pleasing • feature, as it is one of the aims of, the club to promote closer social re- ■ lationship and to foster the existing • good-fellowship between its town and - country .brethren. “Finance—For the new club our financial position is excellent, as is disclosed -by, the balance-sheet sub- •: mitted to you. Although at the time the club was decided to be formed it was felt that the necessary finance would- be forthcoming, the results have '. exceeded all -expectations. -After meeting all current expenditure .we have .in hand a creditbalance df £lB I.ls sd, the only outstanding liability being an amount of £3’6 25,, owing on the club’s piano. The assets of the club have all been purchased out of subfscriplions, and • allowing ■ for depreciation the w-surplus of assets over liabilities, is, |j £75. It is only by the promptness of the .members in paying their subsumptions that- the club stands, in such'a favourable position, and your executive express the earnest hope ■that the members will adopt the practice for the coming year. ‘ "Season —The opening night wan held on May 19, with our patron. Bro. H. Poland, in the chair, and the closing night was November 28, when v e were enjoy ably entertained by U'c Auckland Orphans’ Club, with Bro. Maxwell ■Walker in the chair. Th/J season, of.which the ladies’ night was a pleasing feature, was throughout an enjoyable and thoroughly successful one. The thanks of the Club aye due to the Auckland Orphans’ Club and the To Arolia Orphans,’ Club, both of which supplied programmes which •Were'greatly appreciated. No small measure of the success oJ the season may .be attributed to those of our who on different occasions •so ably occupied’ the chai r. “Fire Reel, —It. being recognised . that the fire fighting appliances at the disposal of the local fire brigade were entirely inadequate, your executive interested itself in the matter, and as a result of its efforts) the sum of £176 13s 6d was collected from the business people of Paeroa towards the purchase of a indtor reel. A .cheque ' for this amount was handed to Mr W. J. Moore, captain of the fire brigade, ’’at, our closing meeting on November 28. For the collection of these donations -thanks are due entirely to the president, Bro. P. Williams, and the • treasurer,'Bro. A. Steedman, who personally canvassed the .town. • ■ “Play : ‘Nothing but the Truth’. — This play, produced by:Mr J. G. Gar- ■ land, of Thames,' was staged under the auspices of the. Club on Decem- . ber 1, with the object of rajsing funds towards the improvement/ of the grounds off the Paeroa School. Owing the counter attractions the play i was not largely attended, but the sum of'£6 fts 4d, being Paeroa’s half-share of the net proceeds, was raised. This amount will be subsidised £ for £. by the Education Department, bringing > up the total a,mount to £l2 Os Bdj “Conclusion. —The Club desires to ' record its appreciation of the gift of the chairman's emblem, presented by - the Auckland Orphan’s Club, and the Gavel, received from the Te Aroha Orphans’ Club ; also to Bro. G. P. Lamb for his gift of platforms and to Bro. F. E. Fla,tt for the gong presented by him and which w.as used to good purpose throughout the. season. Thanks are also due to Mrs G. H. Taylor for the gift of several ash trays .to the. Club, and also to Bro. P. J. Jennings l for the help in many ways rendered by him. The appreciation of the members to their friends Yrom Thames for the pleasurable entertainment contributed by them is also recorded, and also to the Club’s orchestra, which so largely contributed to the success of the season. Your executive also desire to thank .the members for their support, and to express jhe hope that the forthcoming season will be even more enjoyable than thd past one.” In moving 'the adoption of the bal-ance-sheet the president said that lie considered the successful state cf ai--1 fairs, as disclosed that evening, was k- a matter for congratulation. Such a happy position, had been attributable to the hard woik, enthusiasm, and tact of the secretary. As president, tire speaker said that he could not speak too highly of the v.ilu- . able and efficient services rendered the club by Mr Carden. The cheer-' ful assistance and hearty co-operation of ,tpe committee and other officials had been most rema.rkable through''out'the season, and as a consequence the club had “caught on” .and gone with a swing from the commencement. As a result his duties) as president had been very light and very pleasant. , Mr H. 'Poland supported the re- • inarms of the previous speaker, and ‘ .added his quota, of praise of the work done by the secretary and committee. He. paid special tribute to the .woik of the president, who, he said, had not only been the founder df the club but had befen the life and soul of its existence. Other speakers paid tribute to the on bringing the first season ,a close with such satisfactory, re- / suits.

ELECTION OP OFFICERS. Tiie election of officers far the ensuing season resulted as follows :— Gua.rdian, Mr H. Poland ; president, Mr P. Williams ; vice-presidents. Men ti s P. R. Hubbard, J. Elliot, A. R. Robinson, C. E. Andrews, W. Marshall, G. P. Lamb, C. W. Winder, A. W. Alley; secretary, Mr R. S. Carden ; tieas-urer, Mr A. Steedm.au ; auditor, Mr G. E. Allen ; committee, Messrs G. H. Taylor, C. P. Topliss, E. Edwards, P. J. Jennings, W. E. Ward, V. J. Innes; The appointment of a pianist was held ever.. SUBSCRIPTIONS. ■ The question oV the annual, subscription evoked a lengthy'discussion. In moving that the subscription be reduced to 25s Mr Carden said that his reason for doing so was, because when, the club was formed it was understood .that it was t desirable to. reduce the amount after the first year, and he considered it necessary to keep faith with £hat suggestion. ■ Mr Steedman seconded, pro forma. One of the members pointed out that it was. necessary to make, provision for a “lean” year, and he thought it way a short-sighted policy to reduce the subscription before a reserve had. been built 1 up. Mr Alley said that so Tar as the Hikutaia members were concerned Die subscription was very reasonable. In fact, he added, itj was, too little for the enjoyment and pleasure, derived from the sessions. The president reminded the meeting of the suggestion made by Professor Maxwell Walker that it would be a fine thing if .the Orphans’ Clubs could educate and provide advancement for some crippled child. It was hiis: ea/nest wish to see Paeroa plaj its part in the. foundation elf the undertaking. Whilst remembering the suggestion made ..at, the commencement of the club’s ca,re.er that the subscription should be reduced, he said that he would like to see a reserve fund created as soon as, possible. ' The resolution, was withdrawn, and it wai- resolved that tthe subs|criptie.n should remain the same. NEW MEMBERS. Messrs H. Thorp, L. W. Wlright, W. J. Moore, and J. Rowe were elected members,. OPENING SESSIiON. The night for the opening session was. left in the. hands of the committee to arrange for a date in May. Tire president intimated that he had received an oiler frpm the Cambridge club to provide Lite programme 'for the opening night. The Auckland club had also agreed to try and arrange the programme for pres'ent'ation on ladies’ night.