NORTH TARANAKI HUNT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 9 November 1914, Page 3

NORTH TARANAKI HUNT.

ANNUAL MEETING. il'he annual meeting of -the North Taranaki Hunt was held at the secretary's office, New Plymouth, on Saturday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of members. In the absence of the president (Mr. Blundell), Mr. A. R. Standish (chairman of committee) was voted to the chair. KEPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The report (already published) and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. The balance-sheet showed that receipts had been £2OO l'2s Id, the principal items being: Members' subscriptions, £79 8s 6d; honorary members' subscriptions, £'29 4s; donations, £l2 1b; receipts from races, £SB l'2s 9d. The expenditure was £'2oß lis 4d, the •hief items being: Huntsman's salary, £110; secretary's honorarium,, £25; races, £37 10s 4d. The bank balance showed a credit of £ls 3s Id. The assets were shown at £7'2 8s ®d, and liabilities at £GG 14s 9d. The chairman, in commenting on the report, referred to the sucochs of the reCent gymkhana at AVaitara, from which nearly £3O had been realised towards the Patriotic Fund.

j THE TOTALISTAOR PERMIT. | _ The secretary of the Stratford Racing Club wrote, stating that, in the event of the Hunt being granted a totalisator permit, the Stratford Racing Club would be pleased to confer with the Hunt Committee in the matter. of holding the meeting on the Stratford racecourse. The letter pointed out that Stratford was the geographical centre of the province, and that the railway time-tables and facilities from north, south, and east were mosi convenient from the public's point of view. It would appear that very material advantage might accrue to the Hunt Club if, as a result of sueli a conference as was proposed, they eventually decided to race at Stratford.

Mr. A. J. Davey, ef Stratford, in forwarding an apology for absence, stated that Stratford members objected to the race meeting being held at Waitara. They preferred that it should be lieM at New Plymouth or Stratford, preferably the latter, which was the most eentral.

The chairman considered that it was premature at present to decide where the race meeting was to be held. At his instance it was decided to thank the Stratford Club for their offer, and to hold over discussion of the place where the race meeting is to be held until a permit has been granted. Later in the meeting the question of the totalisator permit was discussed, and it was decided to write to the secretary of the. Hunters' Association, with a view to calling a general meeting to discuss the matter of permits. It was also decided to write to the 'Minister, urging the claims of small hunt clubs.

DATE OF ANNUAL MEETING. IA motion, of which notice had been given, was proposed by Mr. Cole, that the date of the annual meeting should be altered to the first Saturday in April, the meeting to be held in New Plymouth. This was seconded by Mr. W. Ifookham.

An amendment hv Mr. L. .Tennins, that the annual meeting be held on the night of the first hunt of the season, the meeting to he held in Waitara, was seconded by Mr. S. Paul.

Mr. Jennins stated that there were many members in the Waihi district who were unable to attend at present, and that if the annual meeting was held after a hunt, there would be a much bigger attendance than was the case at present. Mr. Cole said that his idea of altering the date of the annual meeting to just prior to the opening date was because at that time there was keener interest in hunting matters than at the close of the season. After a little discussion the amendment was lost, and the motion carried. GENERAL. It was resolved, in accordance with notice of motion, to rescind the old .••viler, and ad-opt the new rules as approved by the oeimnittec. The Stratford ■Racing Civil) forwarded a donation of £T 7s towards the funds of the Hunt. A vote of thanks was accorded the Stratford Club. Mr. Ilalcombe was authori-cd to obtain a report on the state of the kennels. The meeting was then adjourned until the lirst Saturday in April, when oUlcers; etc., will be' elected.