PAEROA GOLF CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5105, 25 March 1927, Page 2

PAEROA GOLF CLUB.

NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. PROSPECTS FOR COMING SEASON. The nineteenth annual meeting of the Paeroa Golf Club was held in the Gaiety Theatre supper-rooms last night, the president, Dr. T. G/. Smith, presiding tiver a goad attendance of members. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was submitted as follows :— “Membership.—The membership is now s(>, o’f whom 33 are full playing members and 23 non-playing ; of these 17 are men and 39 ladies. "Finance. —The club commenced its season with a credit balance of £3B 4s 7d and closed with a credit balance ot £l4' 0s Bd, a decrease of about £24. Subscriptions last year amounted to £lOB, and this year to £72, a drop of £36. Seven pounds may be deducted from this difference 'for subscriptions since paid, £3, and £4 outstanding. “Expenditure.—During the* season three light rollers were purchased at a erst of £7 2s 6d and two of the heavy rollers were disposed of for £2 10s. A Perfection oil stove was also purchased 'for £5 19s and the old stove sold far £1 10s. Five hundred ladies’ cards were printed at a cost of £4 ss. This year the green fences ’will require repairs, and the secretary has authorised the greenkeeper to obtain six posts and about 100 ft of 9in by 2in boards for the crossings in the; gullies, together with some pieces 'for staying broken posts. (The greenkeeper will commence work after the races, and the cost will be about £5. The mower is also being put in order at a cost of about £1 10s. “The Links and Greens. —The fairways are in good order and would admit of play now, with the exception oi No. 5, which requires cutting. The greens are also in good condition, and they should present a better playing surface than last year. The thanks o'f the. club is due to Mr Bray, the captain, for scything and. attending to them during the year. The ladies’ No. 6 tee is unplayable, and a new tee is being laid out opposite No. 6 green across the race track, distance 130 yards bogey 3. The secretary has obtained the services of Mr P. Barakat as greenkeeper at the usual remuneration of £1 10s per week. A sub-com-mittee from the men’s club discussed the advisability of closing the present 9th green at Duff’s, but after going into the matter with representatives from the ladies’ chib the committee has no recommendation to make.

“Matches. —The following are the winners of the principal club events : Club Championship, Miss F. Walmsley ;. Club Handicap, Miss L. Thorp ; runner-up, Miss M- Thorp. Monthly medals were net played for during the season as usual.

“Trophies were presented by : Mrs E. W. Porritt, won by Mrs F. Hub.bard ; Mrs Lawrence, won by Miss M. Thorp ; Miss L. Thorp, won by Mrs Miller ; Mrs Topliss, won by Miss M. Thorp ; Mrs G. H. Taylor, w°n by Mrs F. Hubbard ; Miss Argali, won by Miss F. Walmsley; .Mrs Edwards, won by Mrs Lawrence; Mrs Smith, won by Mrs Pcrritt. No L.G.U. medals were won during the season.

Owing to. the small number o’f entries the usual fixtures for the men’s club were not carried put. “Thanks. —The thanks o'f the club is due to the Ohinemuri Jockey Club for the use of the dining-room and other accessories during the year, io the ladies far assisting with afternoon teas and club matters generally, to the proprietors of the Hauraki Plains Gazette lor publishing the results o'i' matches, an’d also fa Mr E. Shaw for his courtesy and assistance.”

In moving the? adoption o'f the report and balance-sheet the president said that unless new members were enrolled and subscriptions paid promptly the club’s activities would be seriously handicapped. The expenses incurred last season had been heavy, but some of the items would be nan-recurring. AMENDMENT TO RULES. Mr C. N. O’Neill moved, and Mr R. L. Miller seconded, that rules 16 and 17, relating to entrance fees, be suspended temporarily. Mr O’Neill pointed out that by suspending the entrance fees no great damage could accrue. The club appeared to be sick, and required new blood to freshen and strengthen it, and this, he thought, could be best accomplished by making the club attractive and encouraging people t'-> join. He felt sure people would join more readily and take an interest in golf i'r the entrance fee was disposed of. Several members voiced their objection to the resolution, and Mrs C. P. Topliss suggested that if the men members would wake up and take a little more interest in their dub th»re wc.uld be no need tei dispose of the entrance tees, even temporarily. Mr E. W. Porritt moved as an amendment that any member joining under the amended rules should have no claim on the assets of the club. Mr C. P. Topliss seconded. On the amendment being put it was declared lost on the showing c:f hands, and the resolution was carried by a majority of twb. Different matters in connection with the ensuing season were discussed and referred to the various committees. SERVICES RECOGNISED. The habit of electing a member t« the same office year after year was not in the best interests of the club, was the contention o'f Dr. Smith when he informed the meeting that he did not wish to again accept the office of president. He thought the positions should gb round. Several members expressed regret that Dr. Smith was net prepared to carry' on for a further term, and eulogistic references were made to the good work d'one and the enthusiastic and capable manner in which he had presided over the club’s affairs. Mr R. L. Miller said that he, also, was desirous of relinquishing his office. After being secretary and treasurer for four years he felt lie was entitled to a spell, and would be

pleased to be relieved of his duties. Several members paid a high tribute to the untiring services rendered by Mr Miller, and general regret was expressed that he was not able to carry on the good work. It was resolved that the sterling services performed by Dr. Smith am| Mr Miller be recorded in the books of the club. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The 'following officers were elected for the 1927 season:— Men’s Club.—President, Mr A. F--Steedman; vice-president, Mr C. P. Topliss ; club captain, Mr P. R. Hubbard ; secretary and treasurer, Mr J. Wilkinson ; auditor, Mr W. L. Lawrence ; committee, Dr. Smith, Messrs E. W. Porritt, S. J. Hedge, R.’ L. Miller, and T. A. Morseby. Ladies’ Club.—President, Mrs E. W. Porritt; club captain, Mrs W.L. Lawrence ; secretary, Miss A. Argali; committee, Mesdames Topliss, Miller, Little, E. Edwards, and Miss k’ O’Grady. It was decided that the official opening day be Saturday, April 9- Jj