OTAKI GYMNASIUM CLUB.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 28 April 1919, Page 3

OTAKI GYMNASIUM CLUB.

; ANNUAL MEETING. m j . The annual meeting in connection with the above was held at the Druids’ Hall on Friday night last, when there were some eighteen members present. Air AI. H. Ayrc was voted to the chair. Report and Balance-sheet-. The secretary (Air T. Collins) presented the annual report and balancesheet, which wore as follows: — At the last annual general meeting, the date of which has been omitted in tlie minute book,, there was'a good attendance, and it was anticipated the 1918 season would be as successful as the previous one. Officers were elected, but evidently no notification of their election was sent to them, consequently likely subscriptions were lost to tlio club, but it is pleasing to note by tlie balance-sheet donations were received from Afajor Addington, Air St. George and Air Rapley. The great war was still in progress, and several likely members were lost to the club at least for the season. The majority of mcm’bers were boys at 2s 6d, who numbered 16. Five members paid ss, while we only had three at 10s. Fortunately the boys front -the Maori College joined in .with us, so we secured an additional 12 members at 5s each.

An endeavour was made to secure funds by holding a grand gymnastic display in the Town Hall on October 31st, but the result, was disappointing, the gross takings only amounting to £3 1-ls. The committee expresses its thanks and appreciation of the great assistance given by All Saints’ Girls’ Club, also to those creditors who assisted the club by allowing large discounts off tlieir accounts. £4 was realised by subleasing the hull to Chinamen. As tlio lease of the Gymnasium Hall expired in' August it was nceessnrv to renew tlio lease for another Tcar . T’bc lease was kindly executed by A(r Smith, at Messrs Kirk and Rapley’s office, at no expense to. the club bevond the stamp duty oi one shilling. In February Air Rlkihana wanted the hall to store potatoes in, and so the club terminated the lease as not to incur further liability, as all owners of the hall, except Air Rikihana, had been paid up till February. Air Rikihana lias since been paid, and the Gymnasium Club has now no liability as regards the hail. As the secretary, Air Bowler, was called iato camp in October,-Air T. Collins consented.to-act as honorary secretary until tlie annual meeting.

At the. beginning of tlie season Alessrs Kershaw and Iledditch were appointed and they appointed Air P. Patching as assistant instructor. Air Hedditeh retired early in the season, and the main .work fell on Air Kershaw.

Almost immediately after the displnv in the Town Halil, the influenza epidemic caused great dislocation in Otaki, and the, gear was left lying in tho hall yard for some time. Ultimately it was taken to the Maori College, where Rev. Air Blathway.t has kindly been looking'•after it. Atr Al. Ayrc kindly made a donation to the club Inpaying the insurance premium. Your committee held a meeting on April ISth and resolved to make the following recommendations to the annual meeting: —For instruction it would be necessary to have at least 24 boys on one evening, and 15 youths and men on another evening. Estimated revenue from this membership £S. It would then 1* necessary to have enough honorary mcnrbcTs to provide another £6. Tho Town Hall can be obtained with light for 5s a night, so the rent for a term from beginning of Alay to end of October would be £l2. As the rules drawn up with so much care by first committee have been lost, the ncwely-electcd committee should draw up new rules and see they arc strictly enforced, especially, in the matter of discipline. The score tary and new committee should see that all officers elected (not present at meeting) are immediately notified by letter, and make a point of collecting all members’ fees before they are allowed use of apparatus. All moneys should be banked, all payments made by cheque, and the detailed items of what the cheques arc drawn for should be shown on tho butt of cheque book. The club stamp for stamping cheques'has eviI dentlv been lost.

Receipts.—To balance from last season. £7 ISs 3d; members’ subscriptions, £7 15s; donation*, £2 10s (Id; rent. £4; "toss receipts from entertainment. £3 14s. Total receipts for IMS, £25 17s Od. Expenditure.—By sundries. £2 14s; rent, £l7 11s: Town Hall hire. Ids; “Otaki Mail,” £2 Is; RSIs and Moore, £1 13s 9d;_ war tax, 6s; bank fee, ss; stamp duty on lease, 6s; bank fee, os; balance in Bank of Australasia, Is. Total, £25 17s 9d.

In discussing the report, it was pointed out that the club had been most unfortunate during the past session, owing to the fact that several prominent officers had removed from the district''. which had led to a dislocation of things. Under the circumstances, the report and balance-sheet- were considered satisfactory and were adopted s> read.

Kev. Blathwayt offered the use of a large room at the Native College buddings for use as gymnasium, free of rent.

A hearty vote'of thanks was accorded Mr Blathwayt for his generous offer, which was referred to the incoming committee.

Election of Officers. The following officers were duly elected:—Patron, Major Addington; president; Captain T. B. Bax, vi?e. presidents, Rev. G. Calvert Blathwayt, Messrs L. St. George, G. H- Harper, Ren. Ling, and Byron Brown; hoc. secretary and treasurer, Mr D. G. Kennedy; committee, Messrs Yf. P. Kershaw, H. Witch ell, E. Kershaw, P. Patching, C. H. Villiani, C. Field,' and J,

Hearty vote’s of thanks were accorded. Air Kershaw* for his splendid serf -rices during the past year as instructor, to the Rev. Hedley White, who liad made an able president, and to Air T. Collins, who had taken the position of secretary and treasurer during the year when .affair? were in a state of chaos, and had given excellent services.

It was resolved that the subscription fees be as formerly, viz.: Boys under 15, 2s 6d; youths, 4.5 to IS, ss; adults, 10s; honorary members, ss. All present handed in their numps as members or honorary members, and the majority paid their subscription fee?on tho spot. The chairman gave a few words of advice to tho younger' members, and asked all to do their best to secure new members, and assist in other ways to make the club a success.

After a little general discussion a successful meeting was brought to a close with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

The committee will meet to-night to make preliminary arrangements in connection with the opening of tlie season.