CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4859, 18 October 1876, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

The annual general meeting of the Caledonian Society was ; held last : evening ,at 8 o’clock in • the New Zealander Hotel. : There was a fair attendance of members; Mr. George Crawford in the chair. Byway of introducing proceedings the Chaikman explained the object for which the 1 meeting had been convened, and then called upon the hon. secretary to read'the. annual report. Mr. Kjekby accordingly read the report, which was to the following effect . ‘ ; ' “ The directors, ' in ' presenting their annual report' to members, have' again the. pleasure : of notifying the continued success of this society. The operations for the past pear have been of a most satisfactory nature, the gross receipts from all sources amounting to £468, a large increase over any preceding year; this result being achieved in a great measure by the very liberal programme offered to fcompetitors at the last gathering of the society. ",' ■ 1 ~ “ Owing to the early part of last New Year’s day being very wet and boisterous, sports did, not commence till about 1 o’clock on that day ; consequently the programme, which consisted of some twenty-five. events, was not finished oh that day, but was resumed on the Monday following. , The takings at the gate and grandstand amounted, to the-largo sum of £202 for the two days. £ ' ■: “The expenditure for the year, has been much larger than inticipated, owing toyarioua items that will not be required during the current year, viz., the £7O to meet promissory note raised to meet liabilities for the year 74-5; £7l for alterations and additions to the grandstand, and other amounts consequent upon the postponement of the sports. i “The alterations and additions to the grandstand above referred to are of a permanent and substantial nature, the principal alteration being the conversion of one of the large spaces formerly used as a refreshment bar, on the ground floor into three large well finished rooms, each papered and painted; and as per resolution passed at a meeting of the: society, held in the month of November, 1875, a custodian has ; been duly appointed to take charge of the stand on behalf of the society. “ The society consists of about fifty-five , (55) members, which number may be largely increased, and the directors invite the cooperation of. the, members generally in introducing new members, and otherwise aiding to promote the interest ..and, advancement of the Wellington Caledonian Society.

“The office-bearers and directors now retire from office, but all are eligible for re-election.” The balance sheet was then read, and was generally accepted as being very satisfactory, showing a great improvement on the former year. A sum of £7l was expended in improvements to the grand-stand,, increasing the accommodation materially. The society not being in a position to meet this debt when it •became, due,-Mr.. George Crawford, the president, very kindly advanced the money, and since then £2O of - the amount has been returned to him.;. The balance in hand at present is £23, so that, taking into consideration the society s indebtedness to Mr. Crawford of £sl, the original sum having been reduced ito that amount, the balance actually owing amounts to some, £27, as against £7l last year. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following were unanimously re-elected President, Mr.; George Crawford; 'Vice-President, Mr. iThomas Buchanan; Hon, Treasurer, Captain D. Mclntyre. \ Mr. Kerby, the able secretary; of the society, ;was re-elected, the Chairman Remarking pn the efficient manner in which the .duties pertaining to his office had been performed. , The following gentlemen > were { elected directors for the. ensuing year Messrs. Jas. Gilligan, George Hunter, Ed. Pearce, Thos. McKenzie, J. Dransfield, R. J. Duncan, J. Lockie, A Young, Thompson, Mace, W. N.

Grant, J. Martin, J. McDowell, Pollock, G. S. Sellar, R. Greenfield, Diver, Bethune, and Capt. Sellars. New members proposed and acceptedMessrs. Bryce, Fenton, Moffitt, and James. The Secret art read a letter from a Mr. Austin, of Dunedin, with reference to the proposed visit to New Zealand of the champion walker of Victoria, Mr. Woodhouse, and suggesting that arrangements might be made for his exhibiting on the Caledonian Ground. The opinion generally expressed was that there was no necessity for the society to take any action in the matter, but that the ground could be let on terms to be arranged. On the motion of, Mr. Thompson, it was decided to hold another meeting a fortnight hence, for the purpose of appointing committees to make necessary arrangements for the sports to be held on New Year’s Day. This concluded the business. ’ :