WAIRARAPA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10218, 20 April 1911, Page 6

WAIRARAPA CALEDONIAN SOCIETY.

ANNUAL REPORT.

The president of the Wairarapa Caledonian Society (Mr A. McLeod) will present the following report to tho annual meeting of the Society, to he held on May 13tKj-^ Tho year has been an eventful one in the history of the Society, and I am pleased to say also a very successful one, 70 new members being elected, which has stimulated the interest in tho affairs of the Society amongst members generally to a very marked degree. You will be pleased to note from the balanco sheet that, after paying all liabilities, tho Society commences the year with a cash balance of £6l 6s lOd. A number of subscriptions shown on tho balance sheet as outstanding, have since been paid, but I would impress upon members that the Society's financial year now ends on March 31st, and'it will be a great assistance to tho secretary and officials if they would endeavour to pay their subscriptions before that date. ] The generous offer made by Mr W. C. Buchanan, M.P., some four years ago to equip a Pipe Band, provided the same was conducted under the auspices of this Society, has now. been taken advantage of, and I am pleased to say that we have recently received word from the Highland Pipe Band that they had decided to disband, and they have since handed their assets over to this Society, and so have enabled us to avail ourselves of Mr Buchanan's offer. It has been decided to form an entirely new band under the sole auspices of the Society, and a strong committee has been appointed to arrange all details. It is confidently hoped that when the band is in full working order it will be the means of further popularising the Society, and prove a source of pleasure and profit to all. In November of last year, Mr J. B. Emmett, who had creditably filled the office of secretary for a number of

1 years, resigned, and Mr W. Gillespie I was appointed to the position. I desire to say on behalf of tjie directors that he has given every satisfaction. The registration of the Society under the "Incorporated Societies' Act, 1908," being largely duo to his energy. The directors wish to thank the late secretary for his valuable assistance to tho new secretary on taking office, and have elected Mr Emmett an honorary life member of the Society. Sports-.—Favoured with all the conditions that assist in the carrying

out of a successful sports meeting, the annual gathering held in the public Park on New Year's Day was an unqualified success, and a most enjoyable outing. The site choseu i« undeniably the.best for the purpose, and the provision made by the directors to supply hot water free to picnic parties was largely availed of. No gathering of the kind could have been bettor organised or carried out, and the directors heartily thank all concerned for the able and enthusiastic manner in which their arduous duties were performed, and congratulate them on the

gratifying result. The directors especially wisli to thank the members of the Ameteur Athletic Society for their valuable assistance and support. Concert. —The excellent programme prepared for the concert in the evening provided an entertainment that combined delightful variety with a

high degrott of excellence, and great credit is duo to Messrs W. Sellar and Fi J. Himn, who organised and carried out same, and they \ ere deservedly congratulated on all sides on the pronounced success of what is now looked upon as "the ctucert of the year," You' will be called upon at the annual general meeting, in compliance with the Society's rules, to elect a President, two Vice-Pnsudenfcs, Treasurer, Auditor, and fifteen directors. All the present directors are seeking re-election with the exception of Messrs George Heron and Alex. Mutrie, who have been elected honorary life directors in appreciation of their long arid valued services to the Society. Voting papers are enclosed herewith, and every member who desires to vote must post or deliver to the secretary his marked ballot-papers as provided for in rule 12, on or before 10 p.m. on Friday, 12th May, the day preceding the annual general meeting. As tho annual meeting of members is the proper time for every member who has the interests of the Society at heart to bring forward for discussion any suggestion or idea which may be of service or benefit for the whole. I should bo particularly pleased to see as many members as possible attend the annual meeting on Saturday the 13th May. In conclusion I desire to thank my fellow directors and officers for the valuable support and "assistance so loyally rendered to me on behalf of the society during tho past year, which has made my term of office a very pleasant memory.