NORTH CANTERBURY RACE COMMITTEE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2242, 5 May 1881, Page 3

NORTH CANTERBURY RACE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of this committee was held on Tuesday evening ot Roberts’ Junction Hotel, Kangiora. Present—Captain Parsons (chairman), Messrs Duncan, McGrath, Hoesaok, Wheeler, Aherne, Gone, Moody, and Manning. The Chairman stated that the object of the meeting was to hear an explanation of the statement of accounts sent in at the last meeting by the secretary. Mr Aherne was now present, and he supposed he would comply with the request made. Mr Aherne said it was not usual in a balance sheet to give a statement of the separate subscriptions of each person. He had, further, kept no record of thorn, but had stated the amount of each collector’s list, which could be verified upon reference to the collectors.

The Chairman asked if the amounts paid by each had not been copied from the collectors’ lists into the book.

Mr Aherne replied, that while he had dona so last year he had not followed that plan this year. At the time of the races ho was exceedingly busy with other affairs, the Industrial Exhibition and so forth, and had merely taken down the totals of each list. Mr Hossack gave in a list of amounts which had been paid, and a statement of sums contained on Mr J. Burt’s list.

In reply to tho Chairman, the Secretary said the item “sundries ” were amounts paid into the Bank direct. Tho Chairman referred to the total amount of £3B 12a Gd as a very small sum to collect from tho public, when it transpired that a number of subscriptions were owing, and there were amounts on collectors’ lists which bad not been collected. The several items of the balance-sheet were carefully gone through. Mr Abemo then inquired if tho meeting was satisfied. The books were open to any audit which they might require, and if there were not more subscriptions paid, it was either because collectors had been lax, or because he this year positively refused to advance amounts which there might bo some delay in getting refunded. In fact, in previous years he had been a loser by that system. Mr Duncan was anxious to know if all the stewards had paid up. Mr McGrath pointed out that they could not pass tho accounts till they were satisfied with the same.

Tho Chairman said that the statement was sent in at last meeting in a take them or leave them sort of style, without the smallest information regarding them. He again wished to see the “ little black book. ”

The Secretary explained that he had loft it at home, and it would give no hotter information than the balance-sheet with respect to the subscriptions paid, Mr McGrath pointed out that there was no idea of insinuating anything wrong in respect to keeping the accounts. All the meeting wanted to get at was, who had and who had not paid. Mr Aherne complained that the action of the club at last meeting had been to cast a reflection on him by passing a resolution asking him for an explanation, and this was unfair as between himself and the subscribers.

Tho Chairman thought their secretary ought to blame himself for not attending the meeting which he had himself convened, but had instead sent a bare statement, and o highly improper letter reflecting on tho action of the club.

Mr McGrath wanted to know why the church meeting should have boon allowed to interfere with their race meeting. The former might have been arranged by Mr Aherne for another right. The Secretary enquired if the meeting was satisfied with the accounts and explanation given, otherwise it might be made to appear to the oublio that he had tampered with the accounts.

Mr McGrath denied that there was the least disposition to impute anything of that kind. 'JLhore was not the slightest grounds for suspecting Mr Aherne had done away with any of their money. Mr Aheme observed that the reports in the papers had given a sort of color to something of t! e kind. Mr McGrath did not care a dump for pap r reports. He did not believe any of the reports in the “Lyttelton Times,” which never reported him correctly, and he would tell boaa Beeves so some day, 1 Laughter.]

j Mr Hossack thought Mr Aherno, of all men in tho room, should not be sensitive about 1 what newspapers said. Mr Aherna urged that he did feel sensitive about what had been published. , Mr Cone said that as mover of the motion 1 calling for an explanation, he wished to say that ho did not then impute any reflection on the secretary’s honesty. He was quite satisfied i that the accounts would be correct, but it was evident from the amount of arrears shown to be duo that tho committee should have every information about them. Tho secretary having failed to attend at last meeting, he thought they could do no less than ask for an explanation. Ho now moved—“ That tho accounts as presented by Mr Aherno bo accepted and pissed, and that gentleman bo thanked for his past services in tho interests of the races.” Mr Hossack, as seconder of tho motion calling for the explanation, had great pleasure in seconding this. A member here observed amid laughter that their secretary’s action in ehowing a preference for a church meeting on the same evening as the race meeting must have been tho cause of the hubbub. The motion was put and unanimously agreed to. The Chairman said tho next business was to ask their secretary far au explanation of his letter, and his reasons for not paying tho stakes of tho Canterbury Cup race to Randwick. Tho wanted to know wby Messrs Mason and Yallanoo had not been paid, though ho had given written instructions that the stakes were to be so paid. Mr Aherno said he had no sooner got the latter and was walking down the street possibly with the intention of obtaining a cheque, when he heard some reports of an arrangement being talked of to bo brought about between the owners of Randwick and Farewell to avoid any further unpleasantness and question of disqualification being considered. Tho matter in question was fully discussed, but it was deemed inadvisable to allow it to be published further than that it was decided to hold over tho question of paying over the Cup stakes. Mr Aherne maintained that he had as much right as any of them to express an opinion on what was going on, which ho had done in his letter. He gloried in fair play, and could not help saying that a little of it would be a good thing here. Tho Chairman thought the secretary might have acted up to his precepts, and refrained from endeavoring to mislead the 0.J.0. Mr Aherue observed that all he wanted to do was to show the 0.J.0. that the meeting from which the committee sprung was not authorised.

The Chairman said he called the meeting. What did Mr Aherno mean ?

Mr Aberne meant that no one reading the advertisement would know that it referred to the North Canterbury Club. Tbs advertisement was here read, and was considered by nearly all present to be sufficient to show tho object of the meeting. Here the proceedings became somewhat excited in reference to what was termed quibbling and nice points. It was alleged by Mr Aherno that “ some people ” did not attend the meeting owing to the ambiguity of the notice. Tho roll afterwards was gone through and only two were, however, found who stayed away for tho foregoing reason. The allegation in Mr Aherne’s letter that

“ the statement sent in to the 0.J.0. by Messrs Lee, Duncan and McGrath was calculated to somewhat deceive the public ” provoked a sharp discussion. The statement in the same letter that Mr Aherne “had never told the stewards or any one that Mr Busch did not accept with Farewell till Monday afternoon,” seemed to bring the proceedings up to red heat.

Mr Gone remembered that it was said Mr Busch had not accepted in the forty-eight hours.

Mr Ahorne admitted that he gave Mr Busch till 10 a.m. on Monday to accept and pay his money. Mr Duncan complained that before the committee of stewards the secretary had “ fenced ” the question when asked the time at which Farewell did accept. They tried to get at the facts, but he evaded them. Mr Aherne repeated that ho gave Mr Busch till 10 a.m. on Monday to accept. Ho was not quite clear when Mr Busch did accept. Mr Hoseacksaid that the secretary told him Mr Busch had accepted before 10 a.m. on Sunday. Mr McGrath objected to their secretary doubling on them.

The Chairman hoped that now they would get at the truth. Mr Hossack appealed to Mr Aherne to gay all he knew about the matter.

Mr Aherne said it was a quarter to 10 a m. on Sunday when Mr Busch gent his money for the acceptance by a boy. Mr McGrath (warmly)—And yet we were allowed to ask this question to which we could not get a satisfactory answer, and went to the 0.J.0., believing from what information we did get, that Mr Busch did not accept till Monday afternoon. Mr Cone, who was appealed to, denied having made two statements about this matter.

The Chairman pointed out that the secretary said in his note, “ that there were circumstances connected with the running which certainly do not reflect credit on anyone connected with the races.”

Mr Aherne said the word “ races ” ought to have been race, and maintained that it had been pointed out that there was gome “queer” riding in the Cup race. The Chairman remarked that it was preposterous to bring up that now. People who were disappointed over racing frequently attributed motives to the riders. If there had boon anything “ crooked ” it was the duty of those who thought bo to have brought it forward long ago, and not allowed four months to elapse. Mr Aherne thought it was plain that Bandwick’s rider was holding back, and he wanted to know what the meeting called that. The Chairman observed here that the fact was their secretary wanted to make out that be was the man to manage the races, and the stewards must be ignored. A very heated debate, in which there was an average of two speaking at once, here took place. Mr F. Busch was admitted to make a statement re the acceptance of Farewell. He said Mr Aherne gave him till Monday to accept, but he accepted on Saturday night, and was tendering a cheque, when Mr Aherne said, “ That will do on Monday.” Mr Cone believed this was so.

The Chairman —Mr Aherne says you did not accept till Monday. [Mr Aherne—“No.”] Mr McGrath was at a loss to know why the committee had been allowed to go to tho C.J.O. with a'statement that the mare was not accepted till Monday, when it appeared now the acceptance was made on Saturday. Mr Duncan to Mr Aherne —Did we not ask you the question up stairs—“ When did Farewell accept?” and did you not say, “On Monday afternoon.”

Mr Aherne —I did not. Mr Duncan—Why did you not speak out iko a man.

Mr Buaeh —I wrote the cheque on Saturday night. Mr Aherne would not wait, and I oant it to him on Sunday.

The Chairman —If this had come out bo

fore, we need not have referred to the 0.J.0. I could take an oath on a heap of books that wo have all been kept in the dark as to the exact time of your acceptance. It has never been stated to us before that Busch accepted on Saturday night. Mr Aherne —I never told anyone that Busch did not accept till Monday afternoon. lam not certain when he did accept. That seemed a point for settlement as to whether what he did on Saturday was accepting, or whether he could accept at any time up to 10 a.m. on Monday, and that this was the hour for acceptance. The Chairman —Why could you not have acted straightforwardly ? Mr Aherne—l acted quite as well up to the lino as some in this room did.

After a very desultory discussion, it was decided to adjourn the meeting till Tuesday evening week.