ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1558, 17 June 1885, Page 2

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club was held at the Club's room last evening- There was a fair attendance of members, and Mr 0. VV. Purnell occupied the chair. The minutes of the last general meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary read the Committee's report and balance-sheet as follows : BALANCE-HHSEI’. RECEfI'TS. £ s. d. By Training fees iS 17 o ~ Rent of course 95 n o ~ Nominations 365 10 o ~ Acceptances u 6 o o ~ Hack sales 27 16 o „ Privileges 405 6 11 „ Totahsator 452 13 o „ Fines ... ’ 400 „ Subscrip ions 58 16 o ~ Guarantor ... ... ... 200 o o „ Sundry creditors 94 18 8 „ 8 7 Expenditure. Fo Balance, season 1883-4 681 „ Course improvements ... i 10 o „ Building 1 97 2 o ~ Sowing 4 19 6 ~ Advertising 40 2 6 „ Plant 14 17 o „ Wages ... ... 134 6' 2 „ Charges 88 3 S „ Training track 98 17 o ~ Stakes 1,185 15 o „ Sundry debtors ... ... 33 5 o „ Bank of New Zealand ... 15 22 „ Interest ... ... ... 20 1 6 x vt a t, , £h739 8 7 Audited and found correct, A. Harrison, Auditor , Ashburton, June 16, 1883,

Your Committee have pleasure in laying before you a statement of accounts for the period of their office During the year they have paid away in stakes L 1,184 15s, L 144 10s more than paid during the preceding year, and L 350 10s more than paid during the sea-an 1882- i. They have expended L 97 2t upon buildings and improvements; the saddling paddock has been much enlarged and cha stands and enclosures are notv in good order. They have expanded L9B 17« in providing a training track, but they regret that the expenditure has been eminently unremunerative, as the amount de rived from training fees during the year has only been LlB 17s. The other items of expenditure are similar in character and amounts to those of last year. Advertising, charges, and wages show increases of 17s 7d, L 27 18a sd, and L2 7s 2d respectively. The increase in charges account arises from the Committee having, for the first time, engaged the services of a band for its two annual race meetings at a coat of L 23. The charge for interest is a large one, but a small part of this should have been charged in last year's accounts, and it includes the cost of providing the accommodation required by the Cluh to November next. Turning to the receipts of the Club, your Committee regret that the revenue from almost every source has decreased. The totaiiaator has fallen from L 485 12s fid to L 452 13s ; privileges froir L 938 8a 9d to L 405 fis lid ; members subscriptions from LlO4 10s to L 53 16a acceptances from Ll6O to Lllfi—.Nomina tions and training fees show a very sligh increase, and the rent derived from thi course L 95 lls, against L 62 4s last year is satisfactory.—ln these figures you Committee most regret the evident fallinj off in the membership of the Club, am trust that their successors will be able to i secure the support of the numerous I sporting gentlemen in the district The satisfactory amount received 1 for nominations your Committee regard as conclusive evidence that the introduction of low fees is satisfactory to owners and not unprofitable to the Club. Your Committee have considerably reduced the amount payable as wages, and as the Secretary has expressed a desire to be relieved of part of his present duties, and has suggested a more economical arrangement for the Club, your Committee have, no doubt, their successors will be able to effect a still further saving. Although tne present liability of the Club is somewhat heavy, your Committee have given practical evidence of the confidence they have in the position of the C.ub, and they have little doubt that with careful and energetic management it will continue to occupy the favorable position it holds in the ranks of the Racing Clubs of the colony. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the Report and Balance sheet, briefly touched upon the figures contained in the latter,fani expressed his confidence in the future of the Club.—-Vlr Matthew Stitt seconded the adoption of the Report and Balance-sheet, and on being put to the meeting the motion was carried. KLBCiION OF OFFIOK .SThe election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows : President, Mr E. G. Wright ; Vice President, Mr W. 0 Walker, M. H. R ; Judge, Mr Matthew Stitt; Treasurer, Mr O. C. Fooks ; Clerk of the -cales, Mr M. Friedlander ; Starter, Dr Leahy ; Clerk of the Course, A. Hewson; Handioappera, Messrs Stitt, Fooks, and Dr Leahy ; Stewards, Messrs R. Friedlander, H. Friedlander, C. G. Hawdon, John Grigg, W. B. Denshire, Dra Leahy and Ross; Committee, Messrs A. Harrison, B. G. Crisp, O. W. Purnell, R- Fried lander, D, Thomas, W. B. Denshire, T. Dudley, T. Quill, M. Stitt, H. Friedlander, and Dr Ross.

COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS. On Mie motion of Mr 0. 0. Fooks, seconded by Dr Ross, it was resolved—>■ That this Club favors the motion lately passed by the Canterbury Jockey Club relative to the control of country race meetings, and trusts the Canterbury Jockey Club will use its best endeavors to carry out the spirit of the motion. ANNUAL RACE MEETINGS. On the motion of Dr Ross, seconded by Dr Leahy, it was resolved—That it be a recommendation to the Committee to consider the alteration of the data of the •pring Meeting, and the relative proportion of at >kes given away at the Spring and Autumn meetings. COMPLIMENTARY, The usual votes of thanks having been passed, the proceedings terminated.