WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 262, 22 March 1898, Page 3

WAIKATO HUNT CLUB.

The annual meeting of the members of the above Club was held at the National Hotel, Cambridge, on Saturday, at 4 p.m. There were present : Messrs W. M. Douglas (the Master), A. Bach (Secre tary and Treasurer), W. Brown (Hunts man). M. H. Pickering, E. Hewitt, T. A. Hicks, N. Banks, W. T. Carr, W. Hume, R. Dodd. W. H. Wright, G. Comer, B. Selby, R. Hine. W. G. Park, W. Gregory, C Hunter, T. Walker and Ralph Brown, of Tauranga. Mr Pickering was voted to the chair. Retort.— The following report was submitted by the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr A. Bach: Gentlemen,—l have to report tint the season of 1897 was a successful one. In 1896 there were 74 subscribers representing £9O 15s, and in 1897, 66 subscribers representing £B7 8a 6d, being eij<ht less subscribers and £3 6s 6d, less in subscriptions. The usual number of meets were held during the season, and good sport was the general rule. The visit of the hounds to Tauranea was a most pleasant one ; I understand the residents of that distiict are preparing for another visit this season. After paying travelling expenses, salaries, etc., the £2O paid by ihe Tauranga Committee left a balance of £5 to our funds. The Hunt Club Rice 3 this year passed of ruccessfully, and paying stakes and all other expenses, a balance remains of £1 7s 6d. Although the subscriptions were slightly less last season than the previous one, our credit balunce at date is better than last year, it etanding to-day at £l2 19s with only a liability of less than £ I Is I submit my balance sheets of the race 3 and the Club, which Lave beeu duly audited. I must request to be relieved of the duties of Secretary during the ensuing season hs my time* is fully taken up with other duties, and I trust you will appoint auother Secretary and Treasurer at this meeting. Balance-sheet. Receipts : Balance in hand at 20th March. 1897, £8 8s 9d ; subscriptions, £B7 8s 6d ; subscription from Tauranga, £2O ; profit from races, £1 7s 6J ; total, £ll7 4s 9d. Expenditure : Huntsman's salary, £72 ; dog registration, £3 10s ; special prize at the Aaricultural Show, £3 3s ; expenses going to Tauranga, £9 ; advertising, £1 2s 6d ; Secntary's account, £3 8s ; food account, £ll 13s 3d ; repairs, 9s : credit balauce in bank. £l2 19* ; total. £ll7 4s 9d. —The Chairman thought the finances were in a most satisfactory state ; with fewer subscribers they had a better balance than at the prcvir us annual meeting. He thought they should get as much money as possib'e and hunt as long as they could with the amouut they had to spmd. However, they had even more urgent business than that to attend to, and that was to get Mr Bach to reconsider the information contained in the latter portion of his report, or to appoint a succesor to him, which would be a difficult matter. —Mr Hewitt said Mr Bach had resigned on a previous occusion and they persuaded him to withdraw it ; he trusted they could act in a similar manner that day, for there was no one so fit for the billet and he wa3 sure no one could manage the affairs of the hunt better than Mr Bach had done.—Mr Bach said he had thoroughly made up his mind to withdraw, for he really could net afford the time necessary for the wcrk. He liked the sport and hoped it would continue to flourish in the Waikato, but he must a?k them to appoint someone else to be secretary. —A very lengthy discussion ensued, and several were nominated for the office, but they all declined, and eventually Mr Bach was re-elected.—He kindly consented to act as everyone else rtfused, but intimated he should be happy to hand over the dutiis as soon as a successor could be found.—This announcement met with much applause, and several remarked they were all right for another season. The HcjiTiN'G Days.—Mr Douglas moved that the regular hunting days be on Saturday. He thought those who followed the hounds regularly were in favour of that day. Mr Gregory rcconded the motion.—Mr Carr moved an amendment that the hunting days be Saturday and Wednesday alternately, which would avoid the Cambridge sales. —This was argued for a considerable time and several votes were taken, but eventually Mr Carr's amendment was carried, a tacit unde: standing being arrived at that if the auctioneers did not object the hunts should be held on Saturday. Huntsman. —Mr Wynne Brown offered to hunt the hounds on similar terms to last year, and the offer was accepted at once. The Master.—Mr W. M. Douglas was unanimously appoiuted Master, everyone agreeing that he " could not be beat." He kindly consented to officiate. Managing Committee.—The following were elected : Messrs A. J. Storey, VV. M.Douglas, M. H. Pickering, W. G. Park, A. H. Storey, G. Comer, T. A. Bicks, E. Hewitt, W. T. Carr. N. I. Hunt, H. Bullock-Wcbater, Thornton Walker, and C. Hunter. Meet Committee.—This will consist of Messrs Douglas, Comer, Bach, Webster and Hewitt. New Members.—The following were elected members of the club : Messrs J. D. P. Morgan, S. Banks, R. Brown (Tauranga), Hewett (Waingaro). Commencement ok the Hunt.—lt was resolved to call in the hounds by the 2nd of April and commenco hunting on the 23rd of that month, the last meet to be on the 27th of August.—lt is understood, the hounds will have to go to Taufor a fortnight sometime during the season, but nothing definite has yet been heard fro™ our sportiug friends of that district. The Hunt Club Races.—lt was decided to hold a race meeting at the conclusion of the hunting scjsoh, but the date was not fixed.