GREYMOuTH TROTTING CLUB.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 July 1901, Page 4

GREYMOuTH TROTTING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Grcymouth Trotting Club was held in the Club Room, Albion Hotel last night. Present Mr. Petric (chair) and 23 members. Tho secretary read the annual report and balance sheet, the former being as follows :

" In presenting to members the Annual Report of the Greymouth Trotting Club, your Committee desire to congratulate the Club on the marked advancement that has taken place in Trotting in this District, and the success that has attended operations during the past year.

" Since tho formation of the Club in 1890. your Committee have met with the reproach that they had no grounds of their own, that they paid to a private Company exorbitant rent, which ought to go to the purchase of grounds. By the purchase of Victoria Park in October last this reproach has been removed, and the Club have not only the satisfaction' of' knowing that they had firmly established Trotting as a popular pastime on the Coast, but have one of the best trotting tracks and grounds, and most complete appointments in the Colony. When the members first authorised your Committee to complete the purchase for £3,300 it was confidently asserted that m addition to paying interest on Debentures, at least £2OO per annum would be paid off the Principal, audit is very pleasing to be able to state that within six months after the purchase your Committee were enabled to redeem 30 Debentures, equaling £300; in addition to this they purchased and paid for horse, rollers, drays, fittings, fencing ami other appointments at a cost of £135, and paid off £l2O sulky debentures. They have, moreover, kept a caretaker 'inconstant attendance who has done a large amount of useful and permanent improvement. It is contemplated to continue such work in tho future. A perusal of the balancesheet will show an excess of Assets over Liabilities of £287 6s Id without taking into account the verv substantial improvements which have been made during the past nine months. " Although the statement shows a debit balance at the Bank of £lO5 12s lid, it is confidently believed that this amount will be liquidated by income from the Park and Members fees prior to our Summer Meeting, from which a very substantial profit may be assured and without, therefore, taking too sanguine a view your Committee are satisfied that before next report a further reduction of £'loo on account of purchase will be made.

" In regard to Trotting your Committee are pleased to state that a marked improvement was shown at the last two Meetings, and although in order to keep the Sport free from malpractices, your Committee felt bound to disqualify a rider for six months, yec on the whole, as compared with previous years, the Meetings were satisfactory and met with public .approbation. " In order to further foster the breeding of useful horses your Committee placed on its programme a Juvenile Stakes of £6O, for which 11 entries were received. This entry is very satisfactory considering the short notice given, and augurs well for the future success of similar races. The balance sheet showed that £355 had been given in stakes, £3lO paid oil' Park debenture's £l2O off sulky deben tures, and £134 paid for other material, the position being a very satisfactory one.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, A. B. Guinness, Esq, M.H R. ; vice-President, Dr J. M'Brcarty. Auditor, Mr Doogan. The following gentlemen were then elected a committee : Mr. Gieseking 23 Mr. Keddell 19 „ Petrie 22 „ Perkins IS „ Bighell 21 „ Smith 19 „ Eissenhardt 21 „ M'Carthy 17 „ Kitchinghaml9 „ Weber 17 „ Fricker 19 „ Tidd 16 „ Steer 19 General surprise and regret was expressed at Mr Lutz, who last year headed the poll and has been one of the best working members of the club, having been one vote behind for election, and quite a number of the successful candidates offered to retire in his favor. No doubt.the committee will take good care that his valuable services as starter are not overlooked. Mr Jay, in proposing success to the Greymouth. Trotting Club, referred to the progress made, and the excellent sport provided, regretting the absence of Mr Lutz, who had proved himself one of the best members. A number of other toasts were proposed, including that of Mr Lutz, and hope expressed for his speedy re-election, member after member testifying to the excellent services rendered by him. The Chairman, in responding to the first secretary of the club, said that Mr Richard Hungerford had given the club the good name it possessed, his efforts to stamp out foul practices being known to all.