CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1306, 27 May 1878, Page 2

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

The half-yearly meeting of the C.J.O. was held on Saturday at Radcliffe’s Hotel. Present—Mr H. P. Lance (chairman), Dr. Frankish, Hon. W. Robinson, Sir Cracroft Wilson, Messrs Delamain, J. B. Greeson, T. Acland, Nei'son, J. Studholme, M. Studholme, Henderson, J. L. Coster, A. C. Wilson, E. 11. Britt an, S. Garforth, Revans, R. D. Thomas, G. G. Stead, J. Btabuzon. STRAY MEMBERS. The following gentlemen were elected as members of the club, viz.: —Messrs H. Driver, A. H. Rolleston, and Richardson. FINANCES OF TUB CLUB. Mr G. G. Stead, the iron, treasurer, said:— la presenting a statement of receipts and expenditure for the financial year just closed, I have pleasure in pointing out. that notwithstanding the great increase iu the value of stakes paid away by the club as compared with any previous

season, the club is in a far better financial position than it was at the last general meeting. Briefly summed up it will bo observed that the receipts from all sources were £5709 15s /d, and the expenditure J 25570 8s fid, leaving a balance to be carried forward of =£l39 7s 3d, as against a balance of 2s 5d last year. At first sight the gain on the year_ appears very trifling, but several permanent improvements have been paid for out of current revenue, and the balance of the debt of J 2350 on the new stand has been paid off, and liabilities for Derby, Champacne entries, &c., are reduced from .£234 to jGIB2. It is satisfactory to find that the liberal policy of the club in giving two 500 sovs stakes in the spring has been so successful, as it not only aided in increasing the attendance^ of the public, but has helped the club to maintain the position it has so long held as the premier club in New Zealand. The working expenses have been heavy—far heavier indeed than they should be —but the repairs have been unusually costly, and it is to be hoped the expenditure under this head can be curt died next year. The public subscribed most liberally last spring, and this.it may be assumed, is an indication that the sport provided by the club has given every satisfaction. Two very important improvements have been undertaken and completed during the year. A branch railway and telegraph have been laid on to the course, and have proved a great boon and convenience to the public. This work, althoug'h carried out for the benefit of the club, has been paid for by a few gentlemen, who have formed a Joint Stock Company, and on the security of its shares obtained the money from the Union Bank; thus, while taking the whole responsibility of cost upon their shoulders they have no possibility of profit, as they intend handing the revenue to the club after the first cost has been sunk. While on the subject, I should like to remind members that to Mr Lance is due the credit of initiating this work, and I think he deserves the very best thanks of the club for His energy and perseverance in the matter. The other improvement I refer to is the work recently done to the course. It has been topdressed with soil and bone dust, and sown with grass seeds, and if it is taken care of till spring I believe it will be one of the best courses to be seen south of the line.

While on the subject of improvements, he would remind members that there is still a great deal to be done, as our grand stand is not what it should be, and sooner or later a new one must be erected if we are to afford the public the accommodation it is entitled to. In Dunedin the enclosures and stand are far more convenient than ours, and if we are to keep pace with limes, prompt steps should be taken to make our grand stand equal to anything in the colony. In conclusion, I may state that the number of members i- eighty-seven, being an increase of thirteen for the year, b ighteeu new members joined, while five have either left the province or resigned. The statement of accounts for the halfyear was laid on the table, showing a balance in favor of the Club of £139 7s 3d. The Hon. Mr Robinson moved —“ That the financial report and statement of accounts be adopted, and a vote of thanks recorded to the hon. treasurer, Mr G-. Gr. Stead, for the zeal manifested by him in the interests of the Club, and the trouble he has taken in connection with the statement of accounts as presented.” Mr J. L, Coster seconded the motion, which was agreed to. ELECTION OF OFFICEES, ‘ On the motion of Mr Delamain, Mr G. Gr. Stead was unanimously re-elected as hon. treasurer to the Club, and Mr Millett as clerk of the course. The following other appointments were made—Mr M. Studholrae, judge ; Mr H. P. Lance, handicspper; Mr J. Campbell, starter, and Mr S. Garforth, clerk of the scales. The committee for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —Sir C. Wilson, Dr. Prins, Captain Clogstoun, Hon. W. Robinson, Messrs W. Reeves, Delamain, Wynn Williams, and W. F. Neilson, The stewards for the forthcoming Metropolitan meeting os elected by ballot were : —Drs. Prins and Frankish, Hon. W. Robinson, Messrs L. Walker, Delamain, Brabazon, and J. Studholme, with the officers of the Club ex officio. DISQUALIFICATION OF FALCON. A letter was read from the Auckland Racing Club forwarding a resolution arrived at disqualifying 0. 0. McGee, the owner, and W. McGee, tho rider of Falcon, for two years, and the horse for ever. The A.R.O. asked that the C.J.O. would endorse the disqualification as made by them. After some discussion, Mr R. D. Thomas moved—“ That the C.J.C. endorse the disqualification of the horse Falcon and his owner and rider,” Mr J. Studholme seconded the motion, which was agreed to. THE CASE OF H, MONET. A letter was read from the stewards of the late North Otago Turf Club meeting, stating that Harry Money had been warned off the Oamaru racecourse for not having paid a bet made by him on the Dunedin Cup of 1878, and asking that the C.J.C. would endorse the same. It was resolved —“ That in accordance with an understanding previously arrived at by the Metropolitan Jockey Clubs of the colony, the matter must first come through the Dunedin Jockey Club prior to the C.J.C. taking any action.” DISQUALIFICATION OF M’KAY. A letter was read from Mr McKay, asking that the disqualification be removed from him. It was resolved—“ That considering the gross nature of the case for which the disqualification was imposed, the club decline to remove it.” THE CHAMPAGNE STAKES. A letter was read from Mr Stephenson pointing out that he had posted a nomination for the Champagne Stakes of his colt Messingham, enclosing a cheque, but that it had not reached the secretary of the C J.C, Complaint had been made to the Post Office authorities about it, who were investigating the matter. Under these circumstances he asked the club to receive the entry of his colt for the Champagne Stakes, as having been made in due course. The letter was referred to the committee. CABETAKEE OF THE CODESE AND STAND. A letter was read from Mr R. Hawkins, the man in charge of the stand, detailing certain damage done by jockeys, notably one named Clifford. After some discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Coster—“ That a caretaker be appointed to take charge of the stand and course, and that the case of the jockey Clifford be referred to the committee with a recommendation that be be fined.” OFFICIAL TIMEEEEPEE. The matter of the appointment of an official time-keeper, which was brought before the club by the chairman, was referred to the committee to take steps, if practicable, for such an official being appointed. SECEETAET’S salaey. It was unanimously resolved that the salary of the secretary be raised to £l5O per annum. jockeys’ fees. The question of jockeys demanding 10 per cent, on stakes as well as the fee fixed for a winning mount by the rules of the C.J.C., was discussed at some length, and ultimately the matter was referred to the committee to deal with, NEW ZEALAND JOCKEY CLUB. A letter was read from Mr W. Pcrcival, secretary of the A.R.C., enclosing certain resolutions passed by the Dunedin Jockey Club with reference to tho appointment of a hanclieapper for the whole of New Zealand, tlie establishment of a New Zealand Jockey Club as a final tribunal on racing matters, the establishment of a New Zealand Derby, to bo run alternately at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. After some discussion, Mr Coster moved ferred to the committee, with a request that they will bring up a report thereon at a future general meeting of the club.” Mr R. D. Thomas seconded the motion, which was agreed to. THE LATE O. X. STEEPLECHASES. Mr Coster said he desired to bring a matter before the club which appeared to him to be one of considerable importance. It would be recollected some years back life members of the club who had by their subscriptions helped to build the stand, received a silver medal which entitled them to entrance thereto op all occasions during the lifetime of the holder. Now he was not aware whether the members of the C.J.C. knew that at tho late

Grand National Steeplechase Club, holders and presenters of these, as well as members of the -Jockey Club holding tickets of membership (which entitled them to admission all over the course), were refused admission, and had to pay. In bringing Ibis matter forward he did not do so for one moment as regarded the money required for entrance, but he did so on principle, as he contended no one had a right to refuse entrance to the holders of medals which had been granted on a specific understanding. [Hear, hear.] He would move with a view of having this matter settled for the future—“ That the presenters of a medal, during the lifetime of the original holder, shall be entitled to admission to the stand and course at any time, and on all occasions.”

Hon. W. Robinson seconded the motion

The Chairman said that, as the members were doubtless aware, the course and stand had been lent to the Grand National Club on the Queen’s Birthday. He felt sure, however, that it was far from the intention of the stewards of the meeting or the officials of the Grand National Club that the presenters of medals should be refused. Some discussion ensued.

Mr W. F. Neilson, as one of the stewards of the Grand National, desired it to be distinctly understood that the stewards of the Club generally were in no way responsible for what had occurred. It was the action of the secretary alone. After some further discussion, in the course of which regret was expressed, in the interest of sport, that any misunderstanding should have occurred between the two clubs, the motion was put and carried. The meeting then adjourned, after passing a vote of thanks to the chairman.