Opunake Racing Club.

Opunake Times, Volume III, Issue 106, 9 July 1895, Page 2

Opunake Racing Club.

The general meeting of members of the above club, to consider the selection of a permanent course, was held on Saturday evening at Kennedy’s hotel.

Mr E. Shove, vice-president of the club, presided. The hou. secretary read the following offers :

From Mr Breach, offering 80 acres at £1 per acre per annum for ten years, with a purchasing clause at £2O per acre, and a further lease for ten years at 25s per acre, with a purchasing clause of £25 per acre. From Mr O’Connor, amending his offer to a tw«nty years’ lease at £2O per annum, and £5 extra for any additional meeting, with right to remove any buildings erected.

From Mr Pearce, offering to lease 73 acres. One pound an acre to be paid down, and then pay 14s per acre for ten jears, and £l4 per acre, balance bfj purchase to be then paid, with right to pay off not less than £l. per acre at any time, and consequent reduction of 5 per cent in the rent. Mr Newman > presented Mr J. R. Stewart’s report on the course on Mr Breach’s place. He estimated it would take from £l6O to £l7O to make a course there, and the question of ironstone, which underlaid the whole of the proposed course, he would leave to the practical members of the club to deal with. His opinion was adverse to the chances of a good turf being laid there. Mr O’Donnell moved and Mr Vickery seconded. That the course be retained at Opua.

Mr Christie moved as an amendment, .seconded by Mr J. Gardiner, That Mr Breach’s offer be accepted. Mr Wagstaff asked if the subscribers of the £llO for making a course on Mr Breach’s would be agreeable to still devote the money for making the course at Gpua if it should be decided to go there. Mr Newman replied that he did not anticipate they would, as the money was promised so as, if possible, to procure a course close to the town.

Mr G. W. Rogers said before the vote was taken he would like to express his opinion on the three offers made to the club. Firstly, with regard to Opua: It had proved an expensive course to keep up in the past, and it was not well situated from an attendance point of view. The club had been making leeway there for the last two or three years, and he did not think a strong club would bo made by continuing there, as it was not in favor with horse owners. Another great drawback was the Maori paddock on the opposite side of the road, which seriously interfered with the profit derived from the privileges. In order to try and counteract this they had to give free paddocking last year. He pointed out that last year, although Opunake was an older club and gave larger stakep, the Oeo Club, which was a much one, -had far larger entries. With regard to Mr Breach’s, it had been a cherished hope of his for years that they would have a course there ; but apart from the high rent demanded by the owner, Mr Stewart’s report had completely damned that idea. The Course Committee had suggested the matter being referred to Mr Stewart because he was an unbiassed party, and being a sport could give a reliable opinion, which he felt sure every one would accept either for or against, with every confidence. With regard to Mr Fearcs’s offer, he considered it a very favorable one, and even thought as a private spec, it was worth the money, A strong club would be formed there, and it would cost very little to put it in order. Looked at from all points he could not see they could do better, since a’course could not be procured near the town, than go to Pihama.

Mr Knowles called on Mr Maxwell for his opinion as to the probability of making a turf with the ironstone bottom reported on by Mr Stewart. Mr Maxwell was of opinion that there was sufficient soil to make a turf, and referred to the grass on the township, which was a similar formation.

Mr D. McGregor said they would like to hear Mr J. M. Hickey’s opinion. Mr Hickey said he was full up of talking ironstone. The amendment, That Mr Breach’s offer be accepted, was then put and lost, seven voting for it and sixtee% against. A further amendment was then pro% posed by Mr Bransfield, and seconded by Mr Hickey, That Mr Pearce’s offer be accepted. Mr Gardiner asked if training would be allowed all the year round at Opua ?

Mr O’Connor said he would allow it all the year round for a fee of £1 for each owner or trainer.

The amendment was then put, when 15 hands were held up for the amendment and 17 against. Mr Brennan called for a division, which resulted as follows :

Ayes (18); Lambie, Brennan, Wagstaff, Robinson, Dransfield, McKenzie, Edmunds, Carroll, D. McGregor. Pearce, Markham, J. M. Hickey, E. C. Middleton, N. Shove, E. Shove, G. W. Rogers, Scott, F. Carter. Noes (19): C. McGregor, Dudley, R. Pepperill, Rua Mostahuua, O’Donnell, Maxwell. Leahy, Guy, Heath, O'Connor, J. Stewart, Clarke, Vickery, Kennedy, Knowles, J. Gardiner, Christie, O’Brien, W. McLeod. The motion that the course remain at Opua was then declared carried. The following were elected a committee to complete arrangements with Mr O’Connor : Messrs J. M. Hickey, Scott, O’Donnell, R. H. Pepperill.and J. Gardiner.

Messrs Rua Moetahuna, T. Knowles and A. O’Donnell were elected trustees. [Stewart-Pepperill.] Messrs Bailey, Calgher, Kearns and W. Jeffries were elected members.