sPORTING

Levin Daily Chronicle, 24 May 1917, Page 3

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HOROWIHENTJA RACING , GLUB. ANNUAL' GENERAL MEMttNG

The annual general, meeting of the Howwhenua Uacing Olub, OUervjin. woa held on Tuesday night, there being a fair attendance of members. 11l the abscnce of Mr R. A. {McDonald, president of the club (incapacitated through illness), Mr Ja&. McLeavey was voted to the chair. The annual report ran ns follows: "iMejmbers and iGentlemien, —Yiour Stewards havo pleasure in placing be- . fore you the second annual balancesheet of the Horowhenua Racing Club since its having been reinstated in : 1915. • You afo no 'doubt aware of the ■ fact tbot lb* club started olf in July of 10-wjilKtt* any capital .Whatever and held its first race meeting under the new conditions on the 30th September, of the same year, which proved to be most successful in every respect. The meeting of 1916 was even more successful than the previous year, inasmuch aB the amount passed through the cotalisator showed an, increase of £2654, the respective figure®' being: 1915, £875 ; and 1916, £11,399. After paying all liabilities the club started the year of 1916 with a credit balance of £46 8s 3d; and after increasing the stakes by some £85, improvements to buildings, etc., £100; painting £33; and rent to Horowhenua Park Company, £100; in addition to other necessary expenses wfifcfi flfd Unavoidable, 'they have to-day a credit balance at the Bank of Australasia of £153 19s lid. Although the entries in the various events were not quite equal to last year, the receipts generally were in excess. The lawn gates showed an l'rtCfense of some £13, and the totalisatdr revenue £524 ss, which gpes to show that the attendance must have been muoli greater, and will no doubt improve as the club' advances. You are all no dombt aware of the movement «t presept taking place with' a view to curtailing racing and other amusements on account of the very great crisis the country, is facing in this national war, which, of course, makes it very uncertain whether or npt many of the smaller clubs will be jcut out until the war ends. Should we be fortunate enough to be one of those to retain their permit, I -feel confident that with carefuK handling, and judgment, the Horowhenua 'Racing Club's meeting will become one of the most popular on the coast. 'Wishing you every success in the future—Your faithfully, Ei. A. Mc-

Dtonn4d> President." /The as submitted was "received and discussed. The. secretary announced that there wree additional moneys to credit' since compilation of thei balance-sheet, and an allowance for painting was be made to the clot* by, the ' Park Company.' With, prospective amounts to come, the club was Jikoly to begin its new season with a credit balance of close upon £200. The meeting expressed itself as being pleased with the ' financial (position disclosed by the balance-sheet and the secretary's statement. The president's report was read, and on the motion of Mr B. Ling, seconded by Mr W. Bull, it was adopted. [New. members werle elected as folJlowts: —Messrs H. M., Thomson, (E. Nash, F. (J. Walker, E. Yuile, P. 'H©al«y, Levin; H. Rowlands and A. MoLeavey, Qhau; L. Procter, Foxton. THE OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing season were appointed as follows:—Patron, Mr W. H.' Field, M.P., president, Mr James MefLeavey. Mr R. A. McDonald, the retiring president, in his letter apologising for unavoidable absence expres-

ped has view that the office of president should revolve annually, as was i the case in Hawke's Bay. . Mr. T. Bevan proposed and Mr Fleming seconded a motion that Mr B. R. Gardener be elected president. Mr Gardener declined nomination; not, he Eaid, because -he wished to shirk any a freelance in a public sense, and his duty, but because he was no longer time was fully occupied with his clerir rind-duties. ""Mr -Bevon turged Mr Gardener to Teoonsider his decision, remembering tjhat the main work fell uplon tha eeoretary, and that Mr Gardener could fill the office fairly to his duties as Town Clerk.

Mr George "Watson also urged Mr Gardener to reconsider his. decision; but Mr Gardener said 1 that as ,a public servant he must decline. (Messrs J. iM'oLeavey and T. (Bevan respectively were nominated, but botli asked to be excused. Mr' McLeavey said his' health was not as good as it used to be, and he would not be able to come out nti night to iatifcemd meetings. The meeting then resolved to elect a chairman of stewards, . if Mr McLeavey would accept the office, and on this understanding Mr MoLeavey was elected president. Vice-Presidents for the ensuing year were eleoted aa follow:—Messrs T. Bevan, R. A. McDonald, C. Blenikliorn, B. Ling, P. 'Bartholomew, B. R. Gardener, W. Tompsitt, Winiata Pataka.

{Sixteen nominations were received for the twelve stewardships—namely, Messrs J. W. Procter, W. Bull, W. Baker, H'. George, E. Nash, ,Martin Winiata, Alf. MclLeavey, R. W. 'Fleming, H. Thomson, H. Rowlands, J. Grant, H. Windley, E. S. Lancaster, A. B«ev«, J. Broughton. A ballot was takeji, Messrs Gardener and J. Hannan acting as scrutineers. ' The following wire elected Messrs WatBon, Procter, Bull, ißaker, George, Winiata, Mcl&fcvey, Fleming, Lancaster, Nash> ReeVe, and Grant.

On the moticm of 'Messrs MoLeavey and Gardener, a hearty vote df thanks -was passed to the retiring president and other officers for their services to the club. • 'Mr. W. Bull was elected clerk of the scales and Mr Harry O'lXmnell clerk of the course. Messrs Gold and Aifeus wlare reappointed auditors. iMr R. D. Wallace was re-elected secretary and Mr. Bull was appointed treasurer. It was resolved that acknowledgment of Mr. R. A. McDonald's services to the club in his capacity as president be recorded on the minutes.