POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 51, 28 January 1884, Page 2

POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB.

A srrciAL general meeting of the members of the above club was held at the Masonic Hotel on Saturday evening, for the purpose of (1) sonsidering the advisability of folding a Spring meeting, and (2) the acquisition of a permanent course. Amongst others there were present:—Messrs. Pitt (in the chair), Ferris, Winter, Weston, Fryer, Thelwall, Ai« abie, Pollen, Dufaur, Chambers, M. H. Smith, A. Graham, W. Graham, Burnand, Chrisp, Johnson, G. L. Sunderland, &c. On rising, the Chairman said the object of the meeting was to consider, in the first place, the advisability of holding a Spring meeting, and, secondly, to determine as to the feasibility of acquiring land for a new course. The late meetings had turned out most successful. The Secretary had gone into figures, and would show that a profit of £lOO Could be made out of a Spring meeting. There could be little doubt but what the thing would be successful, both from a monetary and sporting point of view. He would now ask Mr. Ferris, who had thoroughly gone into the thing, to explain the matter more fully than he could,

Mr. Ferris said the question of holding a Spring meeting should be well considered before the club fully committed itself to the project. He thought that if £2OO or £BOO was given in prizes that from £BO to £lOO could be cleared. Mr. Ferris then went into the different events he proposed for the meet, ing, together with the stakes. He then went over the probable revenues derivable from the gates, booths, &c., and ended by showing a balance of between £BO and £lOO profit to the club. He thought a Spring meeting would be a great inducement for getting members to join the club. He also thought the best time for holding the meeting would be the day after the agricultural show. A number of horses were idle at that time, and be hud no doubt but what the nominations would bepretty numerous. The Hawke’sßay Club had made £2OO out of their Spring meeting, and he did not think there was anything to prevent the proposed one being a success, If we held our meeting in October, we should just catch the horses who were on their way to Auckland. He had talked this matter over with Mr. Evett and that gentleman had strongly approved of the proposition, Owners of a number of young horses would like to try them at that season, and the meeting would afford them the opportunity of doing so. In his opinion a Spring meeting would be of great benefit to all.

Mr. Oaulton thought the prizes should be of good value in order to induce entries. He did not think that any profit should be looked for during the first year. If the thing paid for itself the first season that ought to be satisfactory, He did not think that any hack races should be allowed. Mr. Mills thought they should be most careful in giving large prizes. If they made the nominations too high they would not get any. He would much rather see money laid out on a new course, Mr. M. H. Smith quite agreed with Mr. Mills. He would not compare this club with the Hawke’s Bay one, as we could not expect people to ship their horses here the same as they did to Hawke’s Bay, on account of the delay which was frequently met with. Sometimes they were delated here for a full week. Then again the Napier horses did not go to Auckland. He did not think the club could possibly make anything out of a Spring meeting. They might try one as an experiment just to see whether it would answer or not. Mr. G. Burnand thought it advisable to hold a Spring meeting notwithstanding what Mr. Smith had advanced. Mr. G. L. Sunderland was in favor of holding a Spring meeting. He thought the Club would make money out of it, but, at the same time, he did not think any Napier horses would come here. He certainly would like to see the experiment tried. Mr. Thelwall did not think it expedient to hold a Spring meeting in October, as the heavy rains precluded horses from training at that season. He certainly should like to see a Spring meeting, but thought it advisable to get a permanent course first. The Chairman, whilst advocating the holding of the meeting, still thought it best to invest their money in a course first. He did not think it feasible to hold a meeting this year. No doubt it would be advisable to hold a spring meeting before long, but thought it too premature at present. What they wanted most was a good course, and he thought they would require all their funds for that purpose. No matter where they looked for a piece of land, they would have to pay well for it. They could not get land anywhere for nothing, and they would find it take all they could spare to acquire sufficient for a good course. Mr. Ferris wished to state that Mr. Cooper had offered the use of the Waerenga-a-hika course as a training-ground for nothing. It would be ploughed up, harrowed, sown down, and put in thorough good order. Mr. A. Graham did not think the meeting should be held this year. If the stakes were

not of good value, there would be no inducement for local owners to buy horses. He certainly thought the thing premature. He thought the Club had far better keep its money, Mr. Ferris said that, with a view of testing the feeling of the meeting, he would propose, " That a Spring meeting be held this year?' He felt certain that it would result In a profit to the Club. ■ . ~ Mr. G. Burnand begged to second the motioh. Mr. Mills wished to move, as an amend, ment, " That the Club do not hold a Spring meeting.” The Chairman ruled that this being a direct negative to the original motion, it could not be taken as an amendment. Mr. Dufaur suggested that the matter be left to a committee, who could go into tlie figures. He did not agree with Mr. Ferris' figures, but the committee could go thoroughly into the matter, and come to a more definite conclusion.

Mr. M. H. Smith did not agree with Mr, Dufour's suggestion, as he considered it was contra to the purport of the meeting, Their business was to decide whether or hot they would hold a Spring meeting, Mr, Winter, m advocating the holding of a Spring meeting, thought the prizes named for too high, but he could not see that It would result in a loss to the Club. With respect to doubting the figures Mr. Ferris had quoted, he (the speaker) had always found Mr, Ferris' figures perfectly correct, and eo could rely upon them in the present instance. Let the meeting be tried as an experiment, and he was confident that it would result in a profit to the Club. The Christmas and Boxing Day meetings here always resulted in a profit, and such was certain to be the case with a Spring meeting. He advocated the measure strongly, on account of its being a great inducement and encouragement to' breeders of horses. Mr. Johnson would support the proposition, as he felt certain it would induce the breeding and keeping of horses in the Bay. The committee could see to the details. The Chairman then put the motion to the meeting, and it was carried in the affirmative by 12 to 6. Mr, Mills wished to know whether the balance of the £l5O which the Secretary had just referred to had really been paid up, or only on the books. He certainly should like to know for the sake of information. The Secretary said the accounts were net made up yet, VHOeOSKD NBW eovMX. The plane of Matawhero B. were then laid on the table by Captain Winter; Mr. Pitt said he and Messrs, Nolan and Ferris had inspected the land which had been selected by the Gisborne Park Company for a course. There was a quantity of land to choose from. The soil at the near end; by Messrs. Harris’; was of a very sandy nature, and would require top-dressing, but the land was better at the Makaraka end; Captain Tucker had informed him that there would be no difficulty in obtaining sufficient land at the other end of the block, as it belonged to the New Zealand Native Land Settlement Company. If the Club bought the land at the Makaraka end they would be able to lease a portion at a good price. Captain Tucker said the Company were willing to sell the land at £25 per acre, on the same terms as those offered at the sale.

Mr. Winter said he had inspected the land in the block close by Harris’, and found it good and suitable. The Childers Boad, which would run at the back of Mr. Bees’ property, would not interfere with the course at all. It would cost somewhere about £3OOO for 90 acres. The soil opposite the cemetery was certainly superior to that at the other end, and would not require top dressing. He would strongly advise the Club to decide that evening. The present course was altogether too hard, and was very trying to the horses. The terms offered by Captain Tucker were certainly very easy, ana they oould not possibly get a more convenient spot. The site oould be made fit to train ori at all seasons. They need not decide as to the spot which they would select, as that oould Best be decided by the Committee, Mr, Pitt thought it better for a committee to go into the matter, and then to lay plans and proposition before the meeting. Mr. M. H. Smith wished to know whether an estimate of cost of fencing and clearing, levelling and draining had been made. Mr. Ferrie thought it best to appoint a committee to see the land and ascertain the terms, and lowest price, &o, Capt, Tucker had said the Company were in no want of the money, He thought it best to adjourn the meeting until something definite could be put before it.

Mr. G. L. Sunderland said it would cost more for preparing the land and making it fit to race on than the £B,OOO purchasemoney. Horses could not race on sand, and there was only about three inches of soil on the best portion of the tend in question. Mr. Mills oould not see how the Club oould possibly entertain this project. They oould not afford the outlay of somewhere about £3,500 in the first place, and then it would cost far more to put the ground in racing order.

Mr. G. L. Sunderland did not wish to say the Club was not fo get a course at all, but they should consider the matter well before deciding. Mr. Weston thought that Mr. Fanis' suggestion should be carried out. Mr. A. Graham thought a committee should look into the matter well, and look all around and sec where the moot advantageous site laid. They need not confine themselves to one locality, Mr, Aislabie hoped the committee would set about it at once. If Mr, Sunderland had a horae he would soon see the necessity which exioted.for a new course. Horses had actually to be sent away from thia place tor training. If the Club bought the piece of land offered by Captain Tucker—which had bean proffered for £25 per acre for ninety-five acres—they could let the portions adjoining the Glacfstone Boad for as much as would meet the annual payments made to the Company. Ho Strongly advised the purchase of the tend at once.

Mr. G. Burnand quite understood that Mr. Aislable spoke feelingly when he advocated the purchase of this particular land. The best place for the course would be across the river, where the soil was tar more suitable. Mr. G. L. Sunderland said if the olub wished to have a good ground they must certainly have it entirely under their own control. They should be careful in their selection of a site. If they took the one now offered, it would cost upwards of £3,000 to improve it ready for use. He had noticed that the land at the back of Mr. Bees’ piece was nothing but bare sand, and when a horse galloped across it, the sand went flying up. They could not possibly race horses on such ground, as it was worse than the beach. If the land had to be levelled and top-dressed it would cost a large amount to make a course there. Mr. Aislable said a small place like Wanganui had made a good course on sand, a*fi he did not see why we should not do so. ' ' Mr. Caulton said it was very difficult to deal with sand. Loamy soil was the best for both summer and winter. The nearer the town the course was the better for the gatemoney and other things. The land in question would cost somewhere about £2 10s. per acre clearing and putting in order. He thought the club should take advantage of this offer. Mr. Ferris then proposed, and Mr. Johnson seconded, “ That a committee be formed to inspect the whole of the Matawhero B block, or any other site suitable for the purpose, and report to an adjourned meeting, accompanied with price, terms, &c., and estimate cost of preparing the ground; the following gentlemen to form the committee: —Messrs. Pitt, Winter, Weston, Aislabie, Coulton, and Ferris. The report to be made in a fortnight.” On the motion being put to the meeting it was carried. The meeting then adjourned.