POPULAR SPORTS ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6493, 19 December 1881, Page 6

POPULAR SPORTS ASSOCIATION.

A ,r:g of the Popular Sport* A Modi' li •» w~* htld in the City Council Chamber* at 11 a.*;-: Saturdsj; present—-Messrs 8. F. At (iff »'* (in the c.tair), C.wk*o«, Bear* 11, W»ihu. n, Atkitito's Crook*, Hobb*, Ccr-t., Warner, Farr, Mitchell, Smith, W...Vhn, Hamueb, i ur'.' r. Drcurell, Hi* j Worship ’-he Major, and Mr Haskins (Hon Btc). J he «.■ eti-g proceeded to consider the protest* lodged m e»ncr--:ion will* various evi M» <J Friday’* tparit. The ;i.r*i t&fcea wss -*»lnst M‘Court, who vr-r»sid tn th< t wo walking race, fo; r walking, «h>h was d hallowed. A pr-j-ftt against Uud-r and Nunnery, on «t"--; .n* of tneir strap* slipping down in the r*c», «! disallowed, a* the cc-.i.y-.'vujts had mopp'd to re-adjust their strap*. A h"-r *u read with reference to the pro*' - f ngsinel Goodwin in the Two-mile Ku;.» Handicap, stating that the writer *»• i- to prove that the party who threw wales- over Goodwin was interested in the race t-.> the extent of double the amount of th • stake-, and abo attended him in the dressiag 'c- •. He also drew attention to the conduct 'J. another competitor who retired early in the rar--, and then attended on Good win. A diu-tmion arose cn the biter, the opinion being expressed that the throwing of wa‘-r over a runner, even if it could be prorf.l, w»* not a violation of Bui© 3, which lorbene attendant* from touching runner*. The opinion *u abo expressed that the pr-ciiic «u a very difficult one to stop. Mr Mitchell moved, and Mr Aik in ton M-.-oiubd—“ That the firet prize for the Twomile Sunning Handicap be awarded to Goodwin, the man first past the tape, aud that in future a notice be posted to the effect that no interference will be allowed by the friend* of competitor*, under disquisliueation.” Mr Swell objected to the word# *' under Use Chairman thought that the power of dufualiSndson should certainly be left with UwCownitfee. Mr tknreli that the difficulty

could be met by forbidding friend# of competitor* from coming Inside the course. Mr Warner painted out that if person* did not wish a wan to win, they would be aide to deprive him of the race hy throwing water over him for the purport of haring him disqualifiedThe Chairman taid that imlei# the Commi lire bad final power to deal with the pro* t#»!» the member* would simply he at the mercy of a lot of professional#, or, perhaps, sharpen* Mr Sewrell moted an amendment to the effect—" That the word*, 'under diimiali* flea', ion* ihould be altered to ‘ under pain if liability to disqualification.’" The amendment was not seconded, and the original motion wa* carried. The Chairman asked if any member* had r.jggeiti m* to make for the guidance of the Committee in conductsg nest year* #porie. Mr Alticaon suggested that the number of bot •’ r«'-e« he increased, and the prua* reduced one-half. , , Thu Hsu Secretary look a nolo of the cuggfrtion. Mr Mitchell drew attention to the fact that the Committee room had been wed a* a drawing room by *ome of the competitor*. He thought lhi* should not be allowed. His Worship .the Mayor suggested that, the Committee should hare the. right of objecting to costume* of competitors. Some of the dresses worn at the sports wore hardly decent. ..... . Mr Hobbs said that ho would like that in future the name# of attendant* on competitor# should be tent in to the Com* nitlts? for approval. A good deal of trouble had been experienced at the sport* through the pretence in the dressing-room of a number of men, who simply turned it into a betting-room. flic Chairman said that it. had been the custom of the Committee to allow person* to lit on form* inside the fence of the course on a small payment. Thi* plan had many disadvantage/, and the amount received wa* #o small at not to compensate for the inconvenience. All that had been taken for thi* at the sport* wa* £1 Os «d. The course should be kept perfectly clear. The form# should be appropriated, if to anyone at all, to ladies and children only. Mr Atkinson would make a suggestion that the course should be reserved for competitors, member# of the Committee, and representatives of the Press (Hear, hew). It was molted, on the motion of Mr Samuels, to appoint two gentlemen to audit the accounts of the Association.

Mretr* Mitchell aad doarell were accordingly appointed auditor#. Mr Haskins proposed a motion to tho effect that no member of the Association bo allowed to take part as a competitor ia any of the sports. Mr At Vinson seconded the motion, which was carrivd. After some further important business tho meeting terminated.