ANNIVERSARY SPORTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1816, 16 December 1879, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY SPORTS.

An extraordinary meeting of the- Sports Committee was held at 9 a.m. this day. Present—His Worship the Mayor (in the shair), Messrs Hebden, Lambert, Briggs, Mitchell, j Bishop, Hulbert, Crooks, Sing, Walkden, j Pratt, Alport, Supt. Harris. A number of booth-holders and others in- E terested were also present. j The Mayor said the weather being so incle- f ment they could not be but unanimous he j supposed as to the advisableness of postponing ] the sports. It was therefore open for discus- ( sion as to when the sports should be held. i Mr Mitchell moved bo postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather.” Mr Pratt seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Alport moved—“ That the sports be i held on New Year’s Day,” Boxing Day had been reserved for the Foresters’ sports j for many years, so that New Year’s Day was the only holiday open to them. He thought that many people would be glad for them to provide a day’s amusement in Christchurch as ] well as in Lyttelton. Mr Hebden seconded the motion. Mr Collier said that as one of the booth- i holders, he felt that they should receive some consideration as they were now losers, and he thought this loss should be shared with them. It was evident that with the divided attraction of the Lyttelton Regatta, the attendance at the sports would not ho so large as if they were held on Anniversary Day. Messrs Hulbert and Hebden thought that the booth-holders should wait until the New Year’s Sports were over, when their case would receive every consideration. Mr Collier said that in the case of the sports being postponed until New Year’s Pay he would ask for the refund of his money until three or four days before the time. Mr Alport pointed out that the boothholders would lose far more if the committee pushed on the sports on that day, as they were even prepared to do if they tried to tie the committee down too hardly. [Hear, hear.] The committee would fairly consider the whole question when the sports were over. Mr Bashford and Mr Robinson pointed out that they had a large quantity of perishable goods which they had prepared, and for which they thought they should receive compensation. Several members of the committee deprecated the action of the booth-holders, as the loss was caused by no fault of the committee, but by the weather, and intimated their willingness to go on with the sports if the obstruction were continued. After some discussion, Mr Collier said that the booth-holders were quite satisfied to leave the matter in the hands of the committee to consider their losses, and they would after the sports on New Tear’s day put before the committee a statement of their financial position. The motion was then put and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Hebden it was resolved— *• That the bellman be sent round notifying the postponement of the sports, and also that advertisements bo issued in the papers.” Mr Superintendent Harris said that, with regard to fireworks, the committee would be glad to fall in with what the sports committee had arranged. Mr Hebden moved—“ That under the circumstances any action with regard to the paying over of the donation voted by the committee to the charitable institutions be suspended until after the sports.” There > would be a large amount of extra expense > caused by the weather, besides which the ’ grand stand now in use would not be able to he used next year. The course required attention, the terrace sowing down, and the ground to be generally drained. It would be conceded that they should consider the comfort of the public attending the sports as a primary ; matter, and therefore the committee should ’ defer any action on this matter. He would much rather go round the city, and ' canvass for subscriptions. Ho would guarantee ‘ that he would collect £5 himself, and if he ’ did not ho would pay it himself. The committee should not put themselves into a position - which no business man would of voting money ’ they did not know they would possess. 1 Mr Briggs seconded the motion, solely on 1 the ground of not voting money until all liabilities were discharged, and the balance ascertained. , Mr Hulbert spots strongly against the motion. It would simply be stultifying themselves in a way which would reflect upon the committee as a whole. He would much \ rather, if the association had not the money, to collect the sum from the committee, and 1 make it a present to the association. He would more as an amendment—“ That the committee proceed to the next business.” The amendment was not seconded. ’ Mr Alport and Mr Pratt having spoken, Mr Hebden replied suggesting that the subscription list should be circulated amongst the committee to cover the sum of £25 which they ! were goir-g to vote away without having it in hand. The motion was then put, and six voted for and six against it. The Mayor gave his casting vote against the resolution, and explained that he did so, because Mr Hulbert had guaranteed to collect the £25 if the association required it to cover the expenditure. The meeting then adjourned.