NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2257, 23 May 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[PBE PEBSS ASSOCIATION.! WANGANUI, May 21, An ExhibitionAn exhibition of art, science, and industry opened this afternoon in the drill-shed. The exhibits are not yet completely arranged, but are sufficiently so to show that the exhibition is a decided success. Amongst the pictures in the original are Rubens’ martyrdom of St. Polycarp, aa original Turner, and many other works by well known modern artists. A beautiful Japanese collection, and also an Indian collection, shown by Messrs A. Duncan and Waphum respectively, excite great interest. The exhibition is in every way superior to the 1877 one, and will remain open for a month. It was opened by an address from Mr Gilbert King, chairman of the committee, and a number of vocal and instrumental selections. WELLINGTON, May 22. An Enquiry. It is understood that a Commission of Enquiry has been appointed in regard to the working of the Stamp Department with a view to ascertain what steps should be taken to ensure better protection against fraud, and also that the Commissioners are Messrs J. E. Fitz Gerald, Comptroller General, chairman; District Judge Shaw, R. O. Hamerton, Secretary for Stamps, and G. B. Davie, Registrar of Deeds. PoliceFor gome days past the Wellington police have taken active stops with a view to the identification of the two men Frederick Seymour, alias William Smith, and James Grant, alios T. Harnett, who committed several highway robberies in the neighborhood of Edinburgh. Seymour shot himself dead before being arrested, but Grant was captured. It was then understood that both men had come from New Zealand, and photos of these desperadoes were sent here to bo identified. The police have been successful in their efforts as to the identification, one being recognised as that of the third officer of the barque Fern Glen, which was here in 1879, and other of a seaman of the same vessel. TIMARU, May 22. FireA most destructive fire occurred here last night, by which Bruce’s Waitangi Flour Mills were almost totally destroyed. The fire was first noticed in the top of the fourth storey, and in half an hour the whole mill was in flames. The building was erected about three years ago at a cost, including machinery, of £12,000, and with the stock of wheat, flour, &0., inside, the loss is estimated at £IO,OOO or £17,000. The insurances, so far as known, ) only amount to £7,000, as follows Now Zealand, £3000; Union, £2OOO ; Liverpool and Lancashire, £IOOO ; South British, £IOOO. Fortunately the night was beautifully calm, otherwise the extensive sawmills adjacent would have been destroyed. The boilers and cylinders alone were saved. There is not the slightest clue as to the origin of the fire. DUNEDIN, May 22. SportingLady Emma is a strong favourite for the Birthday Handicap, on Tuesday, but wet weather is making the course heavy, which may affect her chance. Nautilus, while at her owner’s training ground, fell over a sheep. It is not yet known whether she was much injured, but her arrival here has been postponed, and in consequence she is a doubtful starter. Oar ExhibitionFifty tons of exhibits for the Dunedin Industrial Exhibition are coming from Melbourne by the Te Anau.

| CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB

The annual general meeting of the above club was held at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Present Messrs H. P, Lance (chairman), Bruges, K. D. Thomas, E. B. Deacon, A. Carrick, J. Gould, W. Day, W. D. Meares, T. Acland, P. Cunningham, W. D. Wood, J. T. Peacock, G. G. Stead, J. Studbolme, E. H. Prins, B. Griffith, F. Digby, J. B. Gresson, T. Henderson, A. O. Wilson, and G. T. Williams.

Messrs T. W. Stringer and 0. H. Dowding were elected as members of the club.

The following officials of the club were electedforlhe year 1881-2, viz.—Judge, Mr M. Studbolme j handicappor, Mr E. G. Griffith ; clerk of the scales, Mr 8. Garforth ; clerk of the course, Mr E. W. Millett; hon. treasurer, Mr G. G. Stead; starter, Mr J. Brabazon. The ballot for committee and stewards resulted as follows : —Committee — Messrs H. P. Lance, T. Acland, J. Birch, J, Studbolme, Wynn Williams, J. E. Gresson, F. J. Kimbell, A. 0. Wilson, Capt. Ologstoun, Drs. Prins and Frankish ; stewards—Messrs P. Cunningham, J. B. Gresson, L. Walker, A. O. Wilson, Wynn Williams, J. Studbolme, and Capt. Clogstoun. Mr Stead, the hon. treasurer, brought up the statements of receipts and expenditure for the season ending 30th April, 1881. The receipts up to that date amounted to £6894 ss, and the expenditure £5817 15s lOd, thus showing a balance to credit of £1076 9a 2d, which, after providing for overdraft from last season, £246 7s Id, loft a cash balance of £B3O 2a Id to credit. The following report was also road by Mr Stead, the hon. treasurer :

In presenting tho balance-sheet or statement of receipts and expenditure, I have pleasure in drawing attention to tho satisfactory balance of -2830 2s Id standing to the clnb’s credit with the Union Bank of Australia. This credit balance is the more satisfactory, as it has not been gained at the expense of tha stakes, which, it will be seen upon comparing the present with the previous balance-sheet, have amounted to £1938 Bs, as against £1562 10a for last year. The increase of revenue is apparently considerable, but it is mainly dne to the fact that, having completed the payments for the cost of tho line of railway, the whole of the earnings for the November and April meetings, amounting to £llO Is 6d, have gone to swell the general funds of the club. There is also another, and by no means an unimportant item, of £3lB 2s, received from Messrs Hobbs and Goodwin for the right to use tho totalisator in November last on the course. The funds have further been augmented by a sum of £llO. which was outstanding for rent at the last annual meeting, this amount, together with £l3O for the current year’s rent, having been received during the financial year just closed. With respect to disbursements, it will be seen that sundry expenses, including repairs to the course ■ and advertising, show an increase of £153 0s 6d, but of this sum £l3 16s Gd represents the cost of printing new rules, and os greater attention has been paid to the training grounds the expenditure has proportionately increased. In turning from the past to tho future, I am glad to be able to congratulate the clnb upon tb a certainty of having the new stand completed by the November meeting. Judging by the plans, there is every reason to believe it will be tho most convenient and handsome stand in the colony, and no donbt visitors will find it a welcome improvement on the old stand, which, however, did good service for very many years. It will, nevertheless, be as well to bear in mind that the cost will be heavy and far in excess of the estimate first furnished to the club. The labor and material, including tho iron work, will cost at least £3750, in addition to which a new weighing room and judge’s box must bo provided, together with many hundreds of feet of new fencing, &c., which, at a low estimate, will cost some £350 or £750, or a total oil £I4OO to £ISOO. To provide for this expenditure, we have £BOO in hand, while for the remainder the Union Bank has arranged to advance upon very liberal terms £3OOO (to bo repaid in six yearly instalments), and I estimate that with care the balance can be provided for ont_ of a surplus that should accrue at the ensuing November meeting. As. however, we shall have to make the annual repayments to tho Bank of £SOO in addition to the interest upon the total advance, rigid economy over the expenditure must be exercised if the stakes are to maintain their present level. While upon the subject of ths stand, I think it due to Mr Armson that members should De advised of the very handsome manner in which he has acted towards the club, not only in carrying out bis promise of supervising the work, but when, having fonnd it necessary to almost re-construct the plans, he provided gratuitously the most complete drawings and specifications, and I think it would bo only a slight recognition by the clnb of its appreciation of Mr Ar arson's valuable services if he were elected an honorary member for life. Before concluding I beg to_ recommend that in view of the early completion of tho new stand, the incoming committee be authorised to issue tickets which will admit a member and two ladies, and also that subscribers of five guineas and upwards shall have sent to them a ticket to admit one gentleman and two ladies for each sum of five guineas which they may subscribe. I would further beg to recommend that in future no charge bo mado for admission to the saddling paddcck. Mr Stead concluded by moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet as presented. Dr. Prins seconded the motion, and spoke in terms of high commendation of the report brought up by Mr Stead, and of the present state of the club.

The mol ion was put and carried. Mr Stead, in reference to the new stand, said that had Mr Armson charged his ordinary fees to the club it would have gone far beyond £IOO. Mr John Studholme moved—“ That in consideration of the valuable services of Mr Armson to the club in connection with the grand stand, he bo elected an honorary member of the club for life.”

Hon. J. T. Peacock seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to, Mr Aoland moved—“ That the recommendation of the treasurer as to the right of members to introduce two ladies, and also the same to any subscriber of £5 ss, beadopted.” Mr J. B. Gresson seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Garrick for auditing the accounts of the club. Mr Cunningham pointed out that in Melbourne there were honorary members elected for the mooting only, who had all the rights and privilege of the ordinary members of the Y.R.O. for that period on paying the subscription. Mr Stead called attention to theffact, that by the issue of the £5 5s tickets this was practically met, because by these tickets the subscriber of £5 5s received all the privileges of members, including the right to bring in the ladies.

It was resolved that the incoming committee be requested to draw up the programme of the ensuing spring meeting, to report to an adjourned general meeting next Saturday.

Dr, Prins moved—“ That it is advisable that premises bo secured for the use of the C.J.0., and that the matter bo relegated to the committee for their consideration.”

Mr Griffith seconded the motion, which was agreed to. A letter was read from the Auckland Jockey Club disqualifying Joseph Byers (the owner), Wm. Byers (the jockey), and the horse Golden Crown.

Mr Thomas inquired whether any grounds of disqualification had been forwarded, as provided by the rules of the O. J.C. The Chairman said that there had not been any reasons forwarded. Mr Thomas said that the rule was particular, and they could not entertain the letter now.

The secretary was instructed to write to Auckland asking for particulars of the reasons for disqualification. A letter was read from the stewards of the Ellesmere Jockey Club forwarding a protest against the winning of the Cup race by Mr Lunn’s horse, Coldstream, which protest had been entered by Mr Powell, the owner of the second horse. The facts were that, unknowingly, a wrong entry was made by Mr Lunn, Coldstream being stated as syrs old, by Ham —Little Lady, whilst ho should have been entered as 4yrs old, and. out of Flying Fish.

The Chairman said there was no doubt that the nomination was a wrong one, and therefore the horse must be disqualified. It was resolved—“ That the stewards of the Ellesmere Jockey Club be informed that Mr Dunn's horse must be disqualified.” Mr Stead moved—“ That the sum of £SO be voted to Mr Griffith as honorarium for his services as handicapper at the Autumn Meeting.” Dr. Prins seconded the motion, which was agrc ei to. Mr Stead said that there was another matter which he should like to have settled, and that was whether the oommittee should bo authorised to use the totalisator on the course. He himself was strongly in favor of the totalisator being used at the meetings. A general expression of opinion appeared to prevail amongst the members that the totalisator should be used. It was resolved— ■** That the committee be requested to arrange, if possible, for the use of a totalisator at the spring meeting.”

Mr Stead brought before the meeting the necessity of some stated place and hours being fixed at and during which the secretary might be found. He should like therefore to see some such resolution as that the secretary should be requested to attend say two hours per day for say two days a week. Ho should like to hear what the members of the club thought of it. Mr Cunningham thought that the C.J.O. had now attained such a status as that the members should bo able to go into their room at any time. Some little discussion occurred on the subject, and ultimately it was resolved that the hours of attendance of the secretary be 2 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, and 11 to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, at the rooms of the club. Mr Stead moved, pursuant to notice—- “ That no member bo permitted to vote at meetings unless his subscription be paid.” Hr. Prins seconded the motion, which was carried. The meeting then adjourned to Saturday next, at 2.30 p.m.