The annual meeting of members of the Shanghai Club was held on the 28th Feb.
Present—Messrs. J.I. Miller(in the chair), R. Fergusson, Thorne, G. Courts, Wheeler, Goetz, J. A. Maitland, Ringer, R. Miller, Robinson, Maclellan, Myburgh, Kaye, Mackintosh, Lavers, Alabaster, Sim, Kid: nex, Robertson, Robi, Gorse, Litchfield, Lethbridge, Wolff, McClatehie, Wheelock, Eckfeldt, J-D. Thorburn, Roberts, Eastlack, J. L, Brown, Hearn, Pollock, Gore-Booth, Wood, Michie, White, Brand, Tapp, Griin, yard, Skeggs, MacBean, F. Henderson, Blain, Corjel, Stewart, Beveridge, Ban-
Williamson, Hall, Gundry, Rivington, air, Gilmour, Stephenson, Mowat, Monro, Abendroth, Hopkins, Low, Groom, Rus sell, Walker, St. Croix, Reynell, W. Miller, P. R. Smith, Dow, The notice convening the meeting was read; and the minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.
The Cuarraan then rose to say a few words regarding the position of the Club, In laying their report before the members last year, the Committee had been able to say the Club was in a very satisfactory state, and had expressed strong hope that the result of the ensuing twelve months would be equally satisfactory. 'The accounts which had now been placed in the hands of members proved that their confidence' was not misplaced, when they expressed that hope. For the first time, the Club was free of debt, and could boast that the furniture and fittings belonged entirely to the members; nothing was ing on account of them, or of the wines or other contents of the Glub. 'The Committee had endeavoured to place the state of affairs concisely before them in their Report, and few additional words were needed' to explain their position. The accounts showed that a profit had been realised of $12,326. Of this sum the Committee had spent a considerable amount. They had observed how the Club was working, and had also noticed very many wants. Furniture, Carpets, Glassware, and other necessaries were very much needed, as the old stock had been in use many years, and, through breakage and time, lind become very deficient. A large amount of new material had arrived and was in use, but more was wanted, and additional income from increased entrance would shortly be here. During next year fees, which would be more than sufficient a great many additions would have to be to meet expenses. Last year, 106 new made; new curtains were wanted for the members had joined; if three-fourths of this windows in the reading-room, and the bed-number joined during the present year, it rooms required new carpeting and other would give an extra income of §1,500, furniture to make them comfortable for which would amply suffice for the extra the members who permanently resided outlay. The magazines which the Club here, and for the visitors who now made already got, would of course be available, large use of the Club. The Committee and the expense of keeping up the library had been looking over the Rules with a would be small, as arrangements might be view to the better prospects of the Club, made with the present staff. In this and also to make them acceptable to other Clubs which might wish to affiliate with us. way, good useful brary' could be established, and he thought one was Proposals had been made to this effect, by badly wanted. One existed in Hongkong, some Clubs; that is, that their members and in other Clubs in the East, Turning have the use of our Club, and we of theirs. now, in conclusion, to the accounts, he Before accepting them, the Committee had need only say that they had been carefully looked over the Rules in order to make audited, and the Committee were satisfied them as acceptable as possible. The first they were in every particular correct. The point that had occurred to them was in re-only item regarding which they might wish gard to Ballot. They had a Ballotting explanation, was the Suspense account, Committee which worked very well, and no This was a transfer from the Lotteries acmember would wish to change the practice count [under circumstances which the in this respect, into a general ballot. The speaker explained]. As regarded the future alteration the Committee wished to make, working of the Club, the Committes did was that any candidate, before being bal-not, at present, recommend a reduction lotted for, should remain on the books for in charges. The Bar charges were already three months, during which time the mem-as low as those of any other Club in the bers could make his acquaintance and see East, and did not fall heavily on any indi-whether they wished him as a member. vidual member; whereas funds were still At present the rule only provided for six and provide for a rainy day. Some mem quired to place the Club in good order, days interval between the proposal and ballot. The alteration would bring their bers might consider the charges for board-practice in this respect into harmony with ing disproportionately low, but, as the the Hongkong Club, and the Indian and Home Clubs. The second alteration the Committee could seo their way to reducing the charges for liquors very nearly to Committee proposed was, to change the entrance fee from $10 t9 $80. He (the cost price at the end of the year, to raise the price of boarding in order to reduce Chairman) need not remind members that liquors now, would only be to make two Tls. 30 had been the original entrance fee. changes instead of one. This was, of ganisation of the Club, when it had not a This had been changed to $10 on the reorg course, a matter for the members to docide; bat the Committee, who had given wine glass of its own, and was not in any the matter a good deal of attention, could respect comfortable for members. But Bia not, know that anything else in the rebably judge better. He (the speaker) now that it had acquired furniture and fittings, it was right that members joining Report or accounts called for comment, should pay something for their right in but if any member wished to ask a quet property which old members had indirectly tion, he should be happy to answer it.—. purchased. For this reason the Committee there seemed to be no comment on the proposed the increase. Another alteration Accounts, he begged to propose—the Committee proposed was in Rule XIII.
This now allowed members to go away for That the Report and Accounts of the Club, any length of time and to resume member-for the year 1872, as circulated amongst the members, be passed. ship without payment. So that if a man went away without the least chanco of returning, it was not worth his while to The Accounts show a profit of $12,325.10 take his name off the books. The Com-{inclusive of stocks of Wines, Cigars, and mittee proposed to add a clause, to the Billiard Materials, $4,249.41) which is a confect that members leaving Shanghai might siderable increase on that of the previous have their names placed on the absent list, year, and enabled the Committee to order but before rejoining must pay a fee of $5 from Home, Glass and Crockery Ware, Car-for each year they had been absent. pets, ete., for which there existed an immedi-'These, after carefully' looking over the ate and pressing necessity; further supplies have been ordered to meet absolute wants. Rules, were the only alterations the Com-'The members will learn with satisfaction mittee deemed necessary. He need not that the balance due on the Club Furniture point out the numerous alterations. and has been paid off, and that there no longer improvements that had been made in the exist outstanding liabilities of any kind, Club during the past twelve months, as The Committee have. carefully considered the members had had daily opportunity of the question of reducing the cost of Wines, inspecting them. But he might mention &c. at the Bar, but in view of the fact that a that, among the new fittings expected large expenditure must still be made to bring from home, was a Lavatory which the the Club into a really efficient position, they Committee desired to place in the room cannot at present recommend any change in on the West side of the Club, transfer-the existing tariff rates, which indeed are now ring the present one to the South velower than those of other Eastern Clubs, randall, The next point that claimed the Club which must be provided for out of Amongst the most pressing requirements of notice was the proposal to form a Club the profits of the ensuing year, are New Cur-Library. When the old Shanghai Library tains for the various, rooms and Oil-cloth for was in the Club, it was very convenient for members; but many found it anything the passages, Carpets and other necessaries for the Bed Rooms, &e. A new Lavatory is but convenient to go to the other end of on the way, and a Force Pump has been or-the Settlement, to the building whither it dered, to fill the cistern at the top of the had now been' removed. The Committee hiad gone into the matter, and proposed to "The Shanghai Library having removed to utilise the room formerly occupied by the their new premises, which are found to be Shanghai Library, and to make it a library rather inconveniently situated, the Committes and second reading room; fitting it up so propose to establish a free Library for the uso that it would be comfortable for writing of Members, using the vacated room for that in, or for chess or any quiet game.
To wrpose. The outlines of the proposed scheme carry out this object they purposed to will be laid before the Meeting, The Com-devote an immediate sum from funds mittee's experience of the A Torking of the Club during the past year has suggested to in hand, to procuring from home the them certah alte/ations in the Rules, which necessary standard works. For its per-will be submitted to the Meeting for consi-manent maintenance they relied on the deration,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.