Taranaki Jockey Club.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7845, 10 June 1905, Page 2

Taranaki Jockey Club.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tha adjourned annual meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club was held at the Chamber ol Commerce rooms on Friday night. Mr 0. Samuel (President) occupied the chair, and there was an attendance of thirtythree members. I Mr Samuel, in opening the pro- " ( ccedings, thought there would be no ( difficulty in getting a suitable man to fill the position of President, provided be was not expected to be a, mere figurehead, but was act'vely associated with the policy of the club as chairman of tho coirtHfftftec. He hoped the suggestion thrown out that the club should be disbanded would not be seriously maintained. The club was in a thoroughly solvent position, and though not gaining ground so far as finances were concerned for some years, it held a responsible and important position as one of the eight metropolitan! I clubs in the colony. This Was a I position • of - which they might bo proud, and with prope* management the club shoulidl have a gpod future. lln nominating Mr James Paul to [the position', he paid him a high (tribute as a hard worker n the interests of the club for many years, ■ and he thought he was eminently ■ fitted for the position. Mr Paul ; was a man who neither owned nor I was interested in the ownership of - horses, and—what he (Mr Samuel) ' thoughf. was an additional recom- , mendation—did not bet. With the a assistance of Mr M. Fleetwood, who • was a most capable secretary and an I authority on the rules of racing, ho Z thought that Mr Paul if elected j President would supervise the manIj agement of the club in a highly „ satisfactory manner.

Mr Newton King seconded the nomination. Mp Paul, in accepting nomination, said it simplified matters e. great; deal, for the President when the. club had suclTan efficient secretary- He would like to make it a condition of accepting office that Mr Fleetwood continued n the capacity of secretary. Mr Samuel said that no conditions could be stipulated, but ho had no doubt that members thoroughly, appreciated Mr Fleetwood's abilities, and desired him to retain the position. (Applause.) Mr Paul was unanimously elected President. In returning thanks, he mentioned that he had had close on iO years' service, and he desired to do what he could in the interests of the club and racing' in the district. He referred to the long service of Colonel Ellis and Mr W. L. Newman, und hoped they would be induced to take office again. Mr Samuel had done great service to racing throughout the colony, which in his (Mr Paul's) motion merited him being made a life member Of every club in the colony. He moved that Mr Samuel be made a life member of till! club. Mr K. Cock seconded the motion. Mr' Samuel expressed his pleasure at the good fcelinß 'which nnimatea the proposition. He admitted that at times he may have been rather intolerant, but his excuse was the amount of time he had devoted ta the particular subject, having during the last .sear made no less than six special trips in connection with tr.o re\ isioii of rules and other matters llr Paul put the motion to confer life membership on Mr Samuel, which was carried unanimously, the members joining in singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Mr Samuel briefly returned thanks. On the motion - of Mr Newman, Captain Mace was elected Vice-Presi-dent. . , As Mr Newman adhered to his determination not to stand for reelection as treasurer. Colonel Ellis was appointed f.a tho position. The other elections resulted : Judge, &r A. W. Budge; clerk of scales, Mr A. Gold-water ; stewards : President, Vice-President, .and Treasurer (ex officio). Colonel Messenger, Messrs O. Samuel, T. Elliot, Newton King, C. M. Ivopper, F. Watson, W. U Newman, Claude H. Weston, A. Standish, W. L.. Fitzherbert, J. H. Clayton, and T. G. Bayly ; Committee : President, Vice - President, Uessrs F. Watson, C. M. liepper, J. Hcmpton, W. C. Weston, A. It. Startdish, Newton Kipg, W. L. Fitzherbcrt, E. H. GJrJlbons, Geo. Gray, (loldwater, and It. Cock ; hon. surgeon. Dr. Leatham ; auditor, Mr T. 0. Kelsey (fee to bo fixed by committee). A vote of thanks was accorded tc Messrs C. H. Weston and «. Gray for their work at hon. auditors. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded tho proceedings. At a preliminary meeting of tho newly-elected committee, held subsequently, Mr Paul (President) was elected Chairm a n.