St. Joseph's Men's Club, Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 17, 30 April 1908, Page 13

St. Joseph's Men's Club, Dunedin

The annual meeting of St. Joseph's Men's Club was held in St. Joseph's Hall on Friday evening. The Rev. Father Coffey, Adm. (president) occupied the* chair, and there was a good attendance.

In the annual report read by the secretary, Mar. W. P. Rodgers, the committee congratulated the members on the success of the club during the past season. The number of financial members showed a slight- bncrease on the previous year. The literary branch! was hirjhly successful. Twentj'- three meetings were held, the average attendance at which was -38, and on no occasion were the numbers present less thani 25. During the year there were held four debates, five lectures were delivered, there were four -musical evenings, two Shakespearean readings, and on three evenings papers were read. The sincere thanks of ihe members were due to the Rev. Father Coffey for the keen interest which he had taken in all branches of the club. As an evidence of that interest it was mentioned that he had not been absent from a single meeting during the session. The Shakespearean recitals were an innovation, and Mr. J. B. 'Callan, jun., who had control of tbem, deserved credit* for the Successful mia.nner.: in which they were conducted. The committee desired also to place on record their appreciation of the kindness of the Hon. J. B. Callan, M.L.U., Rev. Father Cteaay, and Rev. Bro. Ryan, wiho delivered lectures, and Mr. E. W. Spain for editing the ' Spectator.' The dc/bates> proved very interesting, and many of the members gave promise of becoming fluent speakers. The musical evenings were much appreciated, and the thanks of the members were due to Mr. F. Heley, who had acted as accompanist. The committee were pleased to be able to report that the gymnastic class, under Mr. T. Deehan (captain) and Mr. James. Swanson (deputycaptain), had been very successful, and that the mem Ibers were very regular in their attendance. The billiard room was well patronised, and proved a source of revenue to the executive committee. The tournament was won by Mr. E. W. Spain. The club suffered a loss during the year by the departure from Dunedin of Messrs. J. E. Ward and J. Sims. In conclusion the committee honed that, the -members would attend regularly during the -coming session, work loyally together, and thus contribute to the success of the club.

On the motion of the Rev. Father Coffey, seconded by Mr. E. W. Spain; the report and balance sheet were adonted. Mr. Spain, in the course of his remarks', congratulated the club on its progress,' and suggested certain imtnrovem'enits, which would help to make the meetings more attractive.

Mr. T. Deehan, "secretary of the hall executive,- read the annual report and balance sheet of ■ that body, in the course of which it was mentioned that the t debt on the building bad been reduced by £100 during the past year.

After the Fev. /Father Coffev had made a .statement , as to the debt on the hall and the expenses in connec-

tion with the up-keep of it, the report and balance sheet were adopted.. The election of officers was then proceeded with-, the following being the result :— Patron, his Lordship Bishop Verdon ; president, Rev.- Father Coffey (re-elected)-the local" clergy, the Christian Brothers, and Messrs. T. Deehan and T. J. Hussey (re-elected) ; secretary, Mr. W. P. Rodgers " (re-elected) ; committee, Messrs. J. B. Callan, jun., E. W. Spain, R. Rossbotham, J. Wilkinson, and .Dr. Hastings ; representatives on the ball executive, Messrs. J. B. Callan, jun., T. Deeihan, and Dl. Corcoran ; auditor, Mr. D. S. Calumb. Fifteen new members were elected during the evening. ■ The Rev. Father Coffey announced that the Very Rev. Dean Burke, of Invercargill, would deliver the inaugural lecture on next Friday evening. It was a>edi'ded' 'to have the lecture in the large hall, and that it" be open to the parishioners.