MANAWATU RACING CLUB

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 275, 9 August 1918, Page 8

MANAWATU RACING CLUB

BIG CONTRIBUTIONS TO PATRIOTIC FUNDS. The annual report of tho Manawatu Racine Club states:"Tlio total amount put through the totaliFOtor thifl year is £182,071, against £145,097 for tho previous year, tho increase being £36.974.. This. it. must bo remembered, is for only four days' racing as against five last, year. The average per day put through tho machine this jcar was £45.517. against £29,010 last year. A considerable a.raount of the increaso was caused through the anticipated meeting of Dcnrl, Gold and Biplane in the Awapunl Goid Cup at the autumn meeting. Theso results, nf course, are most satisfactory to the club. It is not fair, in new of tho loss of a day, to mako comparisons between this year and last year on the profit nnd loss account, excopt to say that no depreciation haß been written off this year, or since the -war commenced, except a small amount written off arrears account. We have made a substantial profit this year, and distributed to patriotic funds, as 'under, £4613-.-Italian Red Cross Fund, £25; Returned Soldiers' Association. £25; Patriotic Shop, jam sent to Awapuni- Oamp, £3; Final Battle Campaign, Sick and Wounded Fund, Palmerston North. £1000; donation Press Baby, Patriotic Funds, £10; Bush Fires Relief Funds, £50; English Church Army, Western Front, £500; Catholic Field Service Fund, Western Front, £500; Copper Trail, British Red Cross, per Mrs. T. 51. Wilford, £500; Aotea Homo, Cairo, £300; French Red OroBS, Manawatu Patriotic Society, £200; Mayoress's Patriotic Committco Parcels Fund, £100; Manawatu Patriotic Society, Soldiers' Club furniture, £50; British Merchant Seamen, Mercantilo Marine Service Association. Liverpool, JEIPO; Town and' Country Patriotic Women Workers, per Mrs. L. A. Abraham, Red Crosa Funds. Copper Trail, £100; Trentham Scholarship Fund, £200; Overseas Tobacco Fund, £50; New Zealand War Contingent. Association, London, Soldiers' Relief Fund, £400; extra cost to club of upkeep through camp being at Awapuni. ££00; previous donations, £7390; total. £12.C03. Our mortgage account Btill stands at £3500 to tho Trust and Agency Company of Australasia, Ltd. Our taxation paid to tho Government this year ! amounts to £9064 17b. 3d. The buildingß and appointments at Awanuni courso aro in fair order, and still occupied by the Medical and Ambulanco Corps. In consequence, of tho continual use of the buildings, etc.. by the military authorities, our maintenance account keeps mounting up. <ia the wear and/ tear is excessive. It has been necessary to concrete the front of the grandstand, bring steps down lh« side on the north-western end of the stand, and also to concrete tho bur, kitchen, and the backyard, besides spreading metal, tarring, and sanding. Our concreting alons has tuii ub into £400. On arcount of the constant wear and tear of tho privato road to tho course from the lagoon, this had to be remade, tho work being'done through the courtesy of tho Cbuntv Council uud their engineer. Mr. Wright, at a cost of nearly £200. Owing to tin- Government's refusal to put trains on to convey pcoplo to the course we wero compelled to make considerable alterations at the front entrance to accommodate tho motor t railM-, which, with further additions to the totalieator, a.-.d other necessary nlleraUons and repairi), havo cost over £1000. Tho grounds, lawns, training tracliß. etc.. aro well maintained by tho caretaker and his fltalf. and Major Gabites. Hie officer commanding at Awapuni, has left no stone unturned to sw that his olllcers and men la-ko every care and attention of the buildings and areas under their control. Referring to last year'B report, wo now have to advise having completed tho offices in Rangitikei Street at a, cost of a little over £2000, and they are most, suitable for their .purpose."