GERALDINE RACING CLUB.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1178, 24 November 1883, Page 3

GERALDINE RACING CLUB.

On Thursday evening last a meeting of the members of the Geraldine .Racing Club was held in the Crown Hotel, and bo great an interest was evinced in the question about to be decided that even Timaru members were represented. At the time the meeting commenced there were between thirty and forty present. MrPearpoint, as Chairman of the Com, mifctee, occupied the chair,, and read the ; advertisement inserted in the Geraldine Guardian convening the meeting. He also read the requisition signed by Messrs ,:,, R Taylor, J. Mundell and several others, < asking that a meeting of the Club may be called. He also read the 25 th rule ~ adopted by the Club in regard to procedure at such meetings, and stated that no other business could be transacted at that meeting except in connection with the object for which it had been called. , The Secretary read the minutes of the , last annual meeting, which were put to > ths meeting and confirmed. "*' The Chairman then read rule 5, being in reference to those members who were ' entitled to vote. Mr Shiers asked the Secretary what the peceipts were during the last two years ' ithat the race meetings were held on the new . course, and for the two previous years on the old course. The Secretary (Mr D. Mackenzie), stated that he could give an approximate estimate. In 1880 the receipts were L3941956d, and the expenditure L 387 18a 4d. In 1881 the receipts were L 587 7r 6d, and the expenditure L 582 8s Id. In 1882 the receipts were L 897 18s sd, and they had anj overdraft of LlO9 9s, making a total of LIOO7 7s 5d which was all expended. For the present year they had received L 920 to date, and of this aum was expended L83617s or thereabouts. There were still a few outstanding accounts to Bottle up, and there was at the present time LB3 12s 3d in the Bank. For the first two years mentioned the raceß were held in the old, and for the last two years tbey were held on the new, course. In 1880 the gate receipts, etc., were LB7 ; in 1881, £llß, in 1882, L 306 ; and 1883, L 396.

It was proposed by Mr It. Taylor, seconded by Mr Macdonald—' That this "meeting, in the interests of the general • public, consider it advisable that the next ! * annual race meeting take place on the old ",, course.' Mr Clouston thought the proposed resolution was rather paradoxical. It should read.'in the interests of the residents of Geraldine,' not ' the interests of the general public' Mr Meikle remarked that from the statement read by the Secretary, the present course was the proper one for the club to hold its ruce meetings on. They had got the reserve vested in trustees, and if they removed their race meetings the Government would take it away. He would propose as an amendment — * That the course as at present used be retained for race meetings in the future.' The amendment was seconded by Mr Denoon. Mr Farreli aßked Mr Meikle if the , Geraldine Racecourse Act stated anything in regard to the reserve bsing taken away if the races were not hel3 thereon 1 Mr Meikle replied that he had not seen the Act, but was quite satisfied it would be taken away from them unless the races were hold there. v The Chairman read the clause in the <■ ;, Act showing that races must be held on the reserves, and all moneys accruing from rents and profits arising from race meetings must be expended on the same. Mr Farrell did not see there was anything mentioned in regard to taking the course away. Mr Mundell remarked that by the Act the rents accruing from the endowment were to be used for racing purposes by the Geraldine Racing Club. Tbere was nothing in the Act stating that the land would be taken from them. They could, he'submitted, select a course in any part suitable for horse racing, and the rents ' accruing from the present reserve would be used for the benefit of the Geraldiae Racing Club. The Act said nothing about the ground being taken away, but in the old provincial days it might have been the case. Seeing as the last two years proved that the course was not adaptable for horse racing, it was thought advisable to remove the race meetings to the old course. The racing gentlemen whom he had come in contact with since the last races, had told him that they would never think of running valuable • horses on that course again. It behoved them therefore to take a step in another direction. They could have the use of a course second to none in Canterbury, and he would submit that they had got everything in their favor. They could let tta reserve at present used by the Club, and the profits could be distributed in prizes at the next meeting on the ground to be proposed. That was perfectly in accordance with the Act. There was nothing in it stating that the club could not let ir. Before be sat down he would hand a letter to the Chairman from Mr R. H. Postlethwaite. r The Chairman read the letter handed him. It stated that his father, Mr W. Postlethwaite, was perfectly willing to enter into an agreement with the Club whereby they could have the use of the old racecourse far holding their races on. M Mundell remarked that that letter

was preparatory to an agreement being drawn up. The terms were that a very nominal sum, in fact almost nothing, would be charged for the use of the land. In fact.-it was a gift to the Geraldine Racing Club, and they all knew "what kind of a gift it would be, for it was a boon. He thought they would all say they took a step in the right direction in calling the meeting.

The Chairman, whilst agreeing with Mr Mundell in regard to the old course being a. good one, would correct him in one particular. There was nothing in the Act to the effect that they would lose the new course, but it distinctly told them that all rents must be used in improving the reserve. Mr Meikle would ask Mr Mundell if any of the raciner men said they would not run their horses on the course if it were altered and improved? ! Mr Mundell, in reply, said he had not heard them say so. Mr R. Taylor remarked that, on behalf of Mr Pilbrow, he had told him, when he left the course at the conclusion of the last races, that he would not bring his horses to race again on that course. The Chairman read a telegram from two members of the Club, whose horses had raced on the course, who stated they were perfectly satisfied with the present reserve if altered. Mr R. Taylor pointed out to the meeting the expense which the Club had incurred already in improving the reserve, and it was likely to cost them a great deal more. Mr Meikle asked, supposing they held their race meetings on the old course and expended LSOO in the erection of grand stand, would Mr Postlethwaite, in the event of his telling the Club to clear out, allow tbem to remove it 1 Mr R. Taylor remarked that if Mr Postlethwaite did not draw up an agreement in a proper businesslike manner, he, for one, would not be a party to such agreement. The matter should be treated as a purely business transaction. The Chairman asked Mr Mundell as to the length of time the Club could have the old course. Mr Mundell said they could have it for any length of time. Mr Farrell urged the meeting to consider the question well, as he did not think they would have the chance again. Mr Mcllwraith asked if there waß sufficient accommodation at Orari, and if they had been properly treated ? The Chairman said that for his part he had been treated most rascally. It would not pay cnyone to provide accommodation at Orari for two or three days, and if it was not found there, why they could go to Geraldine.

Mr Mundell remarked it was purely a question of supply and demand. It was not either right or fair to speak at that meeting of charges that had been made for accommodation. Let them stick to the object for which they went there that night. Mr Meikle asked who had full power over the course ? The Chairman : The trustees. Mr Meikle : Then everything that this meeting could do will be useless.

Mr Mundell remarked that a trust estate was this:—lf the trustees are elected by the public they have to do what the public wish, or they can be ousted out of office, for they don't hold it in perpetuity. The Chairman said the public could not oust them out as they were appointed by the Governor. Anything from that meeting could only go before the trustees as a recommendation for their consideration afterwards. All they could do that night would not be final.

At the request of Mr Mundell, the Chairman read the whole of the ' Geraldine Racecourse Act.'

There being no further speakers, either in regard to th? resolution or amendment, the Chairman put the latter to the meeting, asking for a show of hands for and against, with the following result:—For the amendment, 20; against it, 10.

The Chairman declared the amendment carried and the original proposition lost.

Mr Shiers asked if there was not a v acancy on the Board of Trustees. The Chairman replied that there was, and at the first meeting they would see about applying to the Governor to appoint another trustee. If the meeting liked he was perfectly willing for it to discuss the matter, but it would only go as a recommendation, as even the Committee could not elect a trustee.

Proposed by Mr Mundell, seconded by Mr Cunningham and carried -' That it be a recommendation to the trustees that Mr R. Taylor be appointed to fill the vacancy.'

Proposed by Mr Farrell, seconded by Mr Bowden and carried—' That a vote of thauks be accorded to Mr Postlethwaite for his kindness in offering the old course.' A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.