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Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1928, Page 2

Tiie Wstland Racing Club lias been regarded for many years [last now aw one of the town’s most important local institutions in the matter of facilitating sport and maintaining the prestige of the district for good sportsmanship. The Club has had its share of ill-luck. Apart from the weather conditions which often operated adversely in regard to a financial success of the race meetings, the Club, as was mentioned at the recent annual mooting of members, had three adverse visitations which have been very costly. The first was the unroofing of the main stand by a whirlwind. It was a complete devastation at flic time, and cost a larg sum to replace the roof and restore the building. Then came a cyclonic storm which unroofed the totalisator house, and considerable outlay was incurred in restoring the building to usable orderagain. The last visitation was The late disastrous lire which wiped out tjic main grand stand and the stewards’ stand. Both, were very fine buildings of their kind. Excellently placed and well fitted, and served their purpose admirably. The total lose of the buildings as well as much valuable and necessary equipment for tile conduct of the sport, has been a. heavy one. ’Hie Club has now set about making the best of the situation and purposes racing as usual at Christmas on the Hokitika racecourse. It was felt by the Committee that the Club owed it to the town to conduct the meetings locally and ensure the holidays passing off with the usual busy aspect which a race meeting creates. The Committee on its part is now looking for more supjxirt in the matter of mcnibershir locally, and from the district as a whole. A considerable burden of expense lvas to he undertaken, and the desired to see the list of members extended considerably. Already there is a response, indicating that when the appeal becomes more widely known the aggregate results' should he rather satisfying and justify tiie steps now being taken to increase the membship. No doubt business people in tile town and the sporting public in the country " ill he disposed to rally t< the help of the Club at this important juncture in its history. It will be felt, we are sure, that it is in the inter „f the town and country to maintain the prestige of the Club in every way. and a strong membership will he, undoubtedly, an incentive to that end. It would be an encouragement also to the members to find the citizens rallying in a practical way to the support of the Club .and it is to he booed the forthcoming support will he in that valued direction, fully assuring the future of the Club as an important factor in the local institutions.