The club's profit and loss account showed a total income of $139,732. Gross profit from the bar was$46,359.

Mr McGinnity thanked Treasurer Dick Swaine and secretary-manager Jack Allen for being towers of strength, working in the background but completely "au fait" at all times!

In summing up a year of satisfactory achievement he asked all to bear in mind the amount of work and time involved in conducting the club.

The August / September school holiday weather in Port Macquarie this year has been ideal both for visitors as well as locals and many have been going to the beach in a time when most of New South Wales has been experiencing cold weather.

Various local businessmen feel that the crowds are very close to the record mark for this time of the year.

Mr Ross Turnham, a local real estator, said yesterday that he was completely booked out and that he has had to knock back many requests for accommodation and refer them to the information centre, who are as usual doing a booming trade.

Mr Turnham said that his firm was now handling more accommodation than ever before and as they are all booked out he said this could be taken as some indication of the large number of people in Port Macquarie.

A spokeswoman from the Caracamp Caravan Park said that they were experiencing good crowds this year and she said that most visitors were of the opinion and were also most surprised that there were many more visitors this year than in previous years.

One thing that she said had been very noticeable had been the increase in the number of caravans among the visitors to the park, who constituted mainly large and small family groups.

Speaking from a retailer's point of view and also as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, John Dingle said that the customer traffic had increased considerably.

He said that the holidays for Queensland had started about a month ago and the increase in trade had occurred ever since.

When the Port Macquarie Art Society opened their art exhibition at Hamilton House last Friday afternoon, on display were many paintings by local artists.

Among these artists were John Christian and Pat Gavin.

The show, which is open daily in the old school house, at Hibbard, is a credit to the society and deserves the support of the whole community.

At the official opening, Pat Gavin, acting president, welcomed the many guests and issued an invitation for anyone in the area interested in art to join the society.

Ald C.C. Adams, deputy mayor, addressed the gathering and said "a virile and lively Progress Association and a virile and lively Art Society attract much attention to the district and this show is a fine example of what can be done".