SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 226, 6 January 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

PATEA RACING CLUB. _. The annua] meeting of the Patea Racing Club was held on Friday evening, Mr. Geo. Williams in the chair. The committee reported that the course proper and training track had received every attention during the year, and both were in good order. Financially, the result of the last meeting was highly satisfactory. The balance "sheet showed the following: Assets, building and plant, £550; fencing, £210; cash account, £277 l'3s Hd; sundry drs., £92 15s; total, £ll3O Sa lild; liabilities, nil. Profit and Loss.—Expenses of last meeting, £704 4s sd; course improvejments, £9B 03 3d; rent, salaries, depreciation and sundries, £172 17s 7d Total, £975 2s 3d. Revenue from nominations, fees, subs., etc., £962 14s sd. The cash balance of the club is therefore only £l3 less than last year, in spite of the fact that £9B -was spent during the year in effecting improvements to the course.

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that Mr. R. 1-J. Nolan, of Hawera, one of the country club's representatives at the Racing Conference, had paid a visit to Patea, and was talcing a great interest in ' the club. As it was likely that a change would be made in connection with the Gaming Act, they did not know what posf tion they would be placed, in. But, judging from remarks made by Mr. Nolan, the club- would stand as " good a chance of remaining in existence" as others. He had shown Mr. Nolan over the course, and he was perfectly satisfied with it in every respect. No doubt there would be a conference, and he (the speaker) thought it would he well if some senior member of the club attended, to fight for the Patea Club, as other clubs would undoubtedly do.

Mr. A. Chriatensen said the club had every reason to be proud of last year's meeting. Considering the unsatisfactory nature of the gaming legislation, he recommended the committee to act carefully as regards improvements to the course, grounds, etc., until the exact position was known. The election of office-bearers resulted: President, Mr. A. Pearce; vice-presidents, Messrs. Jas. Patterson and Gilligan; judge, Mr. Geo. Williams; treasurer, Mr. G. AV. Booth; cleric of scales, Mr. Jas. 'Paterson; committee, last year's members re-elected, viz., Messrs. Geo. Williams, Jas. Paterson, J. R. Paterson, S. Mcßae, T. Jones, T. Campbell, A. Pearce, C. E. Honey field and J. McCarty; stewards, the committee; hon. surgeon, Dr. Simmons; auditor, Mr. J. K. Mitchell. It was decided to hold the. meeting on Easter Monday. Before the meting adjourned, Mr. ■ Williams stated that since last meeting the sandy patches on the course, which had been complained of at the last meeting, had been rc-turfed, and he was sure owners would not have any further cause for complaint.

The committee re-elected Mr. George Williams chairman for the ensuing year.