CANTERBURY COURSING CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1846, 22 January 1880, Page 2

CANTERBURY COURSING CLUB.

The annual general meeting of the Canterbury Coursing Club took place last night at the Shades.

Present —Messrs E. Browne (in the chair), H. Oharteris, H. V. Anson, J. P. Miles, W. G. Judge, W. H. Porter, G. Simpson, Beard, Birch, Kirkwood, Deacon, E. B. Hill, Simpson, J. Jerome, and W. G. Walker, hon. secretary.

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed.

The annual report was read as follows : The committee in laying before the members of the Canterbury Coursing Club the third, annual report, have to congratulate them on the onccoso Trhick Lai attended the committee in its nndnn.vnrj tn <nrn <"»' 41 — •M"*' » c tlle tluU. Particulars of the running for the various stakes during the past season must be so fresh in the memories of the members that it would be tedious to recapitulate them, but the committee is glad to record that, owing to the manner in which hares have spread over the open country, it will not be necessary to revert to Hagley Park for coursing ground mext season.

The committee is of opinion that there will be no difficulty in securing country in various parts of the district over which thi club can run off it 3 stakes, and strong erdeavors should be made to obtain the consent of the other clubs to the Waterloo Cup being held this year under the management of this club. As the feeling seems general that all the clubs should unite for the purpose of Eecuring one competent judge for the season, it has been suggested that a conference of delegates, to consider several questions of importance in connection witk coursing, should be held at Oamaru at an early date, and it will be the duty of the incoming committee to appoint two gentlemen to represent the club should such conference be held.

At a late meeting it was decided to ask the Acclimatisation Society to recommend the Government to proclaim a four months' season from Ist April, and if that is done, by judiciously arranging dates, the various clubs would have a longer time intervening between theirmeetings, and so secure better entries for their stakes.

The question of the annual subscription has claimed the attention of the committee, and it i 3 understood that a number of members are in favor of the subscription being reduced to .£1 Is per annum, with an entrance fee of an equal amount. This question migit well be ventilated at this general meeting. The committee desire, on behalf of the club,, to thank Messrs Elder and Mitchell, lessees of Hagiey PaTk, and a number of gentlemen at Sheffield, for their kindness in placing their land& at the disposal of the club. The rehiring members of the committee areMessrs W. G. Walker, S. Girforth, W. G. Judge, IW. H. Porter, W. Browne, and A. Dnncan.

Tho statement of the treasurer showed that at the last general meeting in January, 1579, the club were indebted to the extent of £32. Thia wasnow reduced to £l4, showing that the receipts for tho past year had exceeded the expenditure by £IS. On the motion of Mr Anson, seconded by Mr Judge, the report and treasurer's statement were received and adopted. A discussion took place on the subject of a reduction of the annual subscription. Mr Judge moved —" That rule 4 shall read 'That the annual subscription for the future be £1 Is, with an entrance fee of 10a Gi.' " Mr Simpson secoi-dtd the resolution. Mr H. V. Anßon moved as an amendment —" That tho subscription remain as at present." Mr Parker seconded the amendment. Mr Walker thought the reduction was likely to enhance the popularity of the club and double the number of members. Mr Porter was of a contrary opinion. Mr Walker thought the proposed reduction would bo welcomed by those farmers who have hares on their grounds, and prevent the establishment of other cluts. Mr Deacon agreed with the hon. secretary that it was advisable to make the club as popular as possible, and was of opinion that those who took the greatest interest in it were those who could least afford to pay the £2 2s subscription. He thought the reduction should be tried if only as an experiment. The amendment being put and lost, the original resolution was put and carried. The following new members were proposed : —Messrs James Jones, McEvoy (Ashhurton), C Leach (Dromore), T. Baeeett (Tempieton), B. Hale, J. Piper, and W. Stringer. The meeting then proceeded to the election of six new members of committee in the place of Messrs Walker, Garforth, Judge, Porter, Brown, and Duncan retiring, but who were eligible for re-election. The retiring committeemen, with the substitution of Mr E. B. Hill for MrS. Q-arforth, were re-elected. On the motion of Mr Anson, seconded by Mr Deacon, a vote of thanks was passed to the hon. secretary, Mr W. Q. Walker, for his invaluable services to the club during the past twelve months. Mr Walker expressed hia warm acknowledgment for the honor done him, and said his work had been a labor of love.

A similar vote of thanks, moved by Mr Walker and seconded by Mr Porter, was passed to Mr Anson, the hon. treasurer to the club, who acknowledged the compliment in suitable terms.

The proeesdings terminated with a rote of thanks to the chairman.