WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 6

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club was held at the Empire Hotel on August 17th. There was a large number of members present; Mr, George Crawford was in tbe chair. The Secretary read the following report;— In presenting their annual report the stewards wish to call attention to the progress made by the club as regards the value of the stakes paid and the increased list of members. The fact that the racing at the last meeting was the best that has been seen in Wellington is n matter for congratulation. The stewards ask your co-operation in adding to the list of members, and draw particular Attention to the proposed alteration in the rule relating to the admission to the grounds, grand-stand, &c., of members and their friends. They trust that before the next race meeting there will be great additions to the roll. From the balance-sheet it will be seen that the total receipts for the past year amounted to £1720 Is. Bd. The amount paid in stakes, after deducting five per cent., was £l3ll. Permanent improvements to the stand, buildings, and course cost £468 Ss. 7d., and the club is indebted to about this amount, the stewards having secured the bank for advances made. It having been deemed advisable to alter several of tbe rules, a list of the proposed amendments has been circulated for the consideration of members. A lease of the racecourse has been obtained from tbe trustees. On the 30th January Mr. JKerby resigned the secretaryship of the club, and Mr. Scales was appointed to succeed him. We regret to state that ill-health compelled Mr. Scales to resign. On the Bth August Mr, Crombie was appointed secretary. Mr. J. S. Held resigned the office of hon- ravy treasurer on the 16th October, and since that date Mr. George has been acting. On the 28th December Mr. J. S. M. Thompson was elected a steward in the place of Mr. Thomas Buchanan, resigned. The stewards now beg to resign their office into your hands. The officers were then elected as follows : —Vice-president, Mr. George Hunter; stewards, Messrs. Diver, Thompson, Jobberns, J. Martin, G. Crawford, George, and Jackson ; treasurer, Mr. Levin ; starter, Mr. Young ; clerk of the scales, Mr. Bromley, On tfie motion of Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Gilligan, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to tbe officer? of the past year.

The next business was the consideration ot the club's rules.

Mr. Thompson suggested that they should be dealt with seriatim.

Mr. Hunter explained that the great drawback to the club was the want of funds, and drew the attention of members to the third clause, which reads as follows:—The annual subscription shall be £3 35., payable on the Ist January in each year, and this payment shall entitle the member and two ladies to free admis ion to all parts of the coarse and grandstand at all race meetings daring the yeas. Mr Hunter went on to say that he had good hopes of the club's future prosperity. The only other alteration of the rules of any public interest was changing the name of the club from the “ Wellington Jockey Club” to the “ Wellington Racing Club.” In referring to clause 13, wherein it is stated that “the secretary shall be appointed by .the stewards," Mr. Smith remarked that he had heard that the present secretary had been appointed without a meeting of the stewards having taken place.

Mr. Thompson said that it came under the notice of the stewards that their former secretary, Mr. Scales, could not continue to fulfil his duties through ill-health, and a meeting of the stewards was called in the usual manner. It was decided at that meeting that candidates for the office should he advertised for in the local newspapers. It was also decided that the matter should be left in the hands of three of the stewards. ■ A number of applications were received, and the present secretary, Mr. Grombie, was selected, Mr. Smith said that the explanation was very satisfactory. He had been asked l»y several persons—applicants in fact—how it was that there had not been a meeting. He had merely asked the question, and was very well satisfied with the explanation of Mr. Thompson. Dr. Diver remarked that he had received a circular relative to a meeting of stewards to consider the question' of the appointment of a secretary in the room of Mr. Scales, but he was unable to attend the meeting.

Mr. Smith called attention to the fact of there being as yet no branch railway from the Hutt line to the racecourse, and said ha hoped before long to see this work carried out. At the last November meeting at Christchurch it was stated that the receipts from the line laid on to the racecourse were £566 6s. in one day. He considered if a branch line were made to the Wellington course it would be sure to pay. He also thought that a steeplechase meetingmightbe established, which would tend to increase the passenger traffic. He suggested that a committee should be appointed to wait on the Government, asking them to do something in the matter. Mr. Hunter explained that the" stewards had not forgotten the fact that a branch railway to the course would be a great acquisition. He thought that it the matter were left in the hands of the stewards they would do all they could to promote the object iu view.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.