COURSING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 871, 18 July 1910, Page 5

COURSING.

— _$ FUNCTION AT HAWERA. The recently-formed Coursing Club at Hawera marked the conclusion of its inaugural meeting by a smoke concert, held in the Oddfellows'. Hall on Friday night. Mr. 0. A. Budge presided. There was a long toast-list and an entertaining musical programme. Mr. J. R. Corrigan proposed "Coursing and Kindred Sports," and, in speaking to the toast, said that coursing was a sport he had interested himself in. as far back as thirty-five yearis ago, when he was in Canterbury. Ho did not think there was any ' better sport. As to the meeting which had been concluded that day, he had not ssen better coursing in. all his experience. He hoped that the club .would rise to bo at least the foremost in the island.—Mr. G. Buckeridge responded. Mr. J. Gooday proposed the toast of tho patron of tho club (Mr. G. V. Pearee, M.P.). ; The toast of "The President" was entrusted to Mr. P. Sheahan, who said thai tho official in question (Mr. C. A. Budge) had fulfilled his position most worthily. The club was going' to prosper because it had an exceptionally good leader. —Mr. Budge spoke in appreciation of the honour conferred upon him by his being appointed president of the first Plumpton Coursing Club of. the district. '. , The toast, "The Vice-Presidents and Officials" was proposed by Mr. F. Biel, who characterised the officers of the club as "the finest he had met in his life." Hβ had never seen a meeting go off so well as the one held that day, and one- of the reasons -was that all had worked well together.—Messrs. Trask, Gooday, Rodger, and Hadler replied.—Mr. Trask (the' secretary) said , that the club had a roll of 160 financial members. The gate receipts for tho meeting had totalled £60, and £15 was collected by way of bookmakers' lees, etc. Roughly speaking, after paying all expenses, the club would have tho ground asset, and somewhere about £50 to its credit. (Applause.)— Mr. Gooday was sure that the next meeting would bo air even greater success than thu recent one.—Mr. Hadler referred to tho assistance! given by ■ others who wero not members of the club. —Mr. Rodger referred to the enthusiasm and tho energy tho officials had thrown ,into tho proparatious for tho meeting. It was very seldom that a young, club made such a success of a venture. # Mr. C. A. Budge, in proposing the health of the judge (Mr. J. Dowlirig), said that that official was "a judge of great experience, and had expressed tho opinion that he had never seen better coursing than. he had witnessed that day. '. . " .The toast of the trainer of the hares (Mr. J. Nichol) was-a popular health'. —Mr. Nichol thanked tho gathering. "Tho Donor of the Cup" was proposed by Mr. J. Goodwin, who said that Mr. George Gibson was one of tho best sports ,whom Hawera had known. —In his response, Mr. Gibson said that it was only eleven weeks since the pro r posal to form the club had been mooted, so the committee- had done wonderfully well. Mr. Bissett proposed tho competitors toast, and said it was quite obvious that the local and visiting competitors had enjoyed the sport thoy had so much contributed to, and had appreciated the treatment they had received.—Mr. Biel responded. o He said that every competitor was "thoroughly satisfied. When responding to the toast of tho ladies, Mr. Crane pointed out that the club had a lady member and hoped to obtain more.