MANAWATU RACING CLUB

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 75, 21 December 1921, Page 3

MANAWATU RACING CLUB

IMPROVEMENTS AT AWAPUNL From Our Own Correspondent. Palmerston North, December 20. The improvements made on the Manawatu Racing Club’s course at Awapuni will be much appreciated by the clubs patrons. The greatest improvement is tho erection of a new brick and concrete totalisator house in which is installed the most modern electric totalisator. This has been erected inside the lawn, and the results of. investments can be seen from both inside and outside enclosures. The building is 15rft. long by 35ft. broad, and there is a projecting machine room in front 19ft. from the ground, 57ft. long by a depth of 13ft. This is provided with 40 selling windows, 4 change windows, and 20 pay-out windows. There are also conveniences for larger investors. The inside of the building has been so laid out that every movement in the room can be watched by inspectors from an overhead platform. In the centre of the room is the bank, which is a wiredin enclosure. The compartments occupied by the ticket-sellers and pay-out members of the staff have glass screens between, so that they can see all that is going on in the building. All necessary arrangements have been made for -he convenience of the staff. The old totalisator . house has been moved, and will do duty as an outside machine, but is connected with the electric system, and the results are automatically transferred fo the inside machine. which records the total of all investments on both machines. The .machinery is operated by a petroMriven engine' and there is an extra engine for use in case of a breakdown. It is claimed that the new totalisator house is as good, if not better, than any otner in the Dominion. The committee did not stop there with their improvements. The lawns have been extended, and more ground has been taken in. The old outside stand has been pulled down, and its place is at present taken by a well-banked lawn, but as soon as the forthcoming races are over its reconstruction 'will be commenced. The birdcage las been considerably extended, and a new iron grid fence has been erected between the inside and outside enclosures. A new motor lawn for parking cars has been provided, w'hich has an area of a little over two acres, and a considerable improvement has been made at the entrance nates. The designing and planning of -he buildings and the alterations are the work of the secretary. Mr. J. M. Jo.ineton, under whose instructions Mr. L. G. West, the architect, prepared the detail■ed plans. The supervision of '.he work was carried out by the Building Committee of the club, the bulk of the building being done by day labour.