NELSON SCOTTISH SOCIETY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 January 1931, Page 8

NELSON SCOTTISH SOCIETY

FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING A BUSY AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR At the first annual general meeting of the Nelson Provincial Scottish Society the attendance was fair, and was presided over by the Worthy Chief (Mr Shand-Smith). Before the business proper began, a considerable number of new members were enrolled, and many present members renewed their subscriptions. Several apologies for non-attendance were read on behalf of members at present visiting other centres and some unavoidably detained. The annual report was read by the secretary (Mr Bishop) and confirmed. The report disclosed that the year had been by no means an idle or barren one. There had been six Inglesides, 24 social functions, and 22 committee

meetings. The,,social side had been wclVTookJd after. ■ All -who. had rendered assistance were thanked, and the Motueka Caledonian Society came in for special mention. A junior choir and an orchestra had been formed and both were going on well. The report of the ladies’ committee was read and adopted, as was also the report of the Highland Pipe Band. The annual balance sheet disclosed that the receipts for the year had been £4Ol 18s lid and the expenditure £385 15s 4d (more than £3OO of which had been spent in Nelson). The assets amounted to £132 7s 6d (including a bank balance of £l6'3s 7d) and that the liabilities were nil. The credit balance would doubtless have been larger but for the heavy outlay connected with the Highland sports gathering on the 2nd of January. The consensus of opinion, however, expressed in a subsequent discussion, voiced the feeling that this apparent loss was really a gain. The money had been spent in the fostering of tiie national spirit of Scotland. For a first attempt—afLer .a lapse of. 22 years, the sports were to be regarded as a success in themselves. The sport and music supplied were good, and competitors and pipers had been attracted from various parts of the Dominion. Nelson had once more been placed on the map” and brought into line with other centres where Scots sports at Now Year’s time were so distinct and so unique a feature. The loss was purely incidental to a first attempt and was not likely to occur again. , It was unanimously resolved that the ba.iuco sheet as read be adopted, and Iho two secretaries were heartily thanked for their untiring efforts. The. election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: i Uriel’, Mr W. J. .Shand Smith (re-elect-ed).. Secretary,. Mr D. N. Bishop. Assistant secretary, Mr W. Annand. Chieftains. Messrs Easdale, Walter Black, A. Hoy and Sam Johnson. Councillors, Messrs D. Malloch, G. R. Jameson, Stan. Black, John Black, and T. Taylor. Ladies’ Committee (with power to add), Mrs Johnston (chairwoman), Mrs Black (secretary) and Mesdames Wilkie and Vasey. Auditors, Messrs K. M. Black and T. Hunter. j It was resolved to thank the Ladies Committee for their valued services during the year. It was decided that the resignation of Mr O'Hara (pipe-major) be accepted with regret. This post is to be ‘ filled at a later date. Votes of thanks were passed to the auditors (Messrs W. Black and S. . Johnston), to the secretary and assistant secretary, to the Press, and to Mr Phil Morgan (in connection with Highland gathering). ~ The question of details in connection with Burns Night on the 26th inst. was dealt with in committee. The Blenheim Society wrote warmly inviting members of the Nelson Society to come through; for their annual celebration of Scotland’s immortal poet (to be held on Saturday, 24th January). _lt was resolved to thank the Blenheim people for their kind invitation and arrangements were made for as many as possible to visit Blenheim. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the business of the evening.