CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1922, Page 2

CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.

The first annual report of the “New ’ Plymouth Caledonian Society, . to be presented at the annual meeting on Wednesday,'September 27, is as follows:

In presenting the first statement- of accounts of the New Plymouth Caledonian Society, I have to report that there is. now a jnembership of 206. Shortly after our - incorporation we had the misfortune to lose-the services of our first chief, Mr. Meldrum, through his'removal from the district. We desire to express our appreciation of the large amount of work he did during the initial stages of the society. The society held three most enjoyable social evenings during the first winter. It was felt that to give the society a good start the services of the Eltham Pipe Band should be requisitioned, and in this respect I should like to here thank the members of that band for their valuable assistance. fiut from a financial point of view the committee regret that none of these functions were a success, chiefly on account of the travelling expenses of the Pipe Band. The committee realised that to get the society on its feet, and to keep the proper sentiment alive, a pipe band would have td be formed, and to that end Mr. S. Sinclair (of Masterton) was appointed pipe major and consented to take a chanter class. Although this report is probably dealing with matters outside the financial year, the affairs and progress of the band is worth referring' to. Chanters and music were bought, and the beginners took up their lessons in real earnest. In June, Mr. D. H. Thomson organised a concert, and from the proceds of this, portion of . the account for drums (£22) was paid.' Six sets of pipes have been bought very advantageously through Messrs Burgess, Fraser and Co. At the moment we are proud .that in less than 'seven months *we have a band of eight pipers, four drummers, and drum major. The question of uniforms and the ways and means of raising the ‘’necessary’’ will have to be_gone into by this meeting. While "on the question of dress, I might point out that to save money we had (when ordering the pipes) to practical-

ly decide the tartan, so that the pipes would come out fully ribboned without extra' cost. .Ypur executive decided on the Regimental Cam'-' eron. The question of holding Caledonian games was fully discussed by your executive, but'it was decided to hold these over, chiefly: on account of Pukekwa Park not being avail-