The annual general meeting of the members of the Smoking Concert Club took place last night at the Shanghai Club. "Mr. J. Carter presided, and there was a small attendance. Several questions were asked as to the balance sheet, end the heavy expense entailed in the hiro of the Masonic Hall for the two converts held during the year. The Chairman said that the Masonic Hall was the only place available on those occasions, but the Committee had now made ar-wangaments with the A. D. C. for the use of the Lyceum Theatre.
Mr. A. R. Leake asked if the use of the Theatre could be secured for a definite number of nights, say five, during the The Chairman replied that if the Theatre was engaged for five nights, they would have to give five smoking concerts.
thought it was much better to have three or four good concerts which they could arrange for at their own time.
Mr. J. H. O'Dowd expressed the opinion, which was voiced by other members, that he hoped an attempt could be made to persuade the A. D. C. to let the Club have the use of the Theatre as cheaply as possible, They were not a travelling company, and the price quoted was very thigh.
Mtr. Holcomb said that the Club was a focal organisation formed to provide entertainment for residents in Shanghai. They did not want to. make money and take it out of the Settlement, and he agreed with the suggestion of alr. O'Dowd that the committee use their endeavour to obtain the rent of the Theatre at as low a figure as they could.
The Chairman accepted the suggestion, saying that as Mr. Portier was present he had no doubt something would come of it.
In reply to. Mr. Holcomb, who asked if any member of the committee had failed to attend committee meetings during the year, and if so whether his place could not be' filled by 2 man having the interests of the Club at heart, the Chairman said that the services of one committee man who failed in this respect had been dispensed with.
The following Committee was _elect-od:—Messrs. C. M. Adamson, J. Carter, TI. Blount, G.E. Stewart, A. Woodward, A. L. Hall, Portier, and. R. Bennett.
Votes of thanks to the Committee for pleted the proceedings at the meeting. the past year, and to the Chairman, com-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.