Literary and Debating Society

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3494, 9 March 1905, Page 3

Literary and Debating Society

ANNUAL REPORT. The following report was presented and adopted at the meeting of the Foxton Literary and Debating Society held on Monday evening >— “Your committee have very much pleasure in submitting their report for the first session of the society extending from February 1904 to October of the same year. When the society was first constituted, its membership did hot exceed six, while at the end of the session, eight months later, the number of members was three times as great a considerable advance, testifying to the rise of the society in the estimation of the public, A change, too, has taken place in the quarters of the society. Meetings were at first held in Mr Stewart’s private residence, until the increased membership made it necessary that a more commodious building should be obtained. The Good Templars’ Hall was then secured and meetings were conducted there during the last two months of the session. During the year two lectures were delivered under the auspices of the society, bv Messrs Brown and Wilson. On neither occasion was the attendance of the public large, though both gentlemen's addresses were much appreciated by those present. Your committee would recommend giving of lectures at intervals if possible, both on account of their value as lectures, and because they help to bring the society and its work prominently before the public eye. As to the financial position, the balance sheet shows that the exceeded the expenditure' 0 y g s Bd—a result which, centering that the sub 1 scription wi S small and one of the lectures a financial failure, is certainly very gratifying. It would not be amiss to mention what has been done in connection with the cricket club, since this is one of the avenues of the society’s operations. Much interest has been taken in the matches played during the season, and though victory has not often favoured our colours, yet the object of the cricket club—the Steeping of members together during recess—has been more than achieved. It is also satisfactory to report •despite the large outlay on Cricket material, the club is ifi a sound financial position. On the whole your committee has every reason to be satisfied with the results of the first session of the society, and look forward to a promising season this year. The committee desire to thank Mr Stewart for his kind assistance to the society lu its early struggle for existence; Mr Brown for his gratuitous lecture, “ Across the American Continent and all those members who contributed by their efforts to the success of the society. The retiring committee would 3lso Suggest that the services ot Mr "Brown again be availed of if possible during the present season, when, on the merits of his previous address, he would be assured of a warm reception. In conclusion your committee express the hope that the session now opening may be even more prosperous than Its predecessor, and that the society may extend in all directions the good work, which, we venture to say, it has already to some extent been the means of performing.” BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet, showing the state of the society’s funds at the end of the 1904 session, w-as as follows: Cr.

Subscriptions collected I 0 0 Receipts from Brown’s kc-. ture i 3 0 Receipts from Wilson’s lecture ... I 10 0 £3 i3 0 Dr. Advertising (two lectures)... 8 0 Miss Walden for Catering ... 7 6 Wilson’s expenses x 1 0 „ fee 10 0 Wires and postage for session Good Templar’s for use of hall ■... 3 10 l6 0 Carried forward to cricket funds ... 6 8 £3 *3 0