FEATHERSTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 7

FEATHERSTON

WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB. MEETING OF STEWARDS. . (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club was held yesterday at Featherston. There were present. Messrs J. W. Card, A. Campbell Pearce, D. Cameron, D. H. S. Riddiford, D. C. Collins, T. Benton, H. Lawson, R. N. Benton and E. D. Martin. Mr J. W. Card (vice-president) was voted to the chair. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs C. J. Nix, R. A. Donald, J. F. Thompson, Roy Donald and W. Howard Booth. The following motion was moved by the chairman and carried in silence: “That this meeting of stewards places on record its acknowledgment of the long and faithful service rendered to the club by its late patron (the Hon. A. D. McLeod) and president (Mr Q. Donald) who passed away during October and extends to the families of each its sincere sympathy.”

Speaking to the motion Mr J. W. Card said: “The club’s records over many years of its existence show resolutions of respect and sympathy as our colleagues one by one paid the debt of nature, but today we record a double obituary, that of the two highest of our officers who died within a few days of each other The Hon. A. D. McLeod, whose association with the club extended over a period of 35 years, the last year as Patron and for the preceding 28 years as a steward, was a man who gave practically the whole of his manhood years to public service, commencing with local institutions, then into Parliament in which sphere he reached the position of a minister of the crown. During these years he was very energetic in all matters he undertook and when the war broke out in 1914 he was prominently connected with patriotic work and was one of the original subscribers to the Anzac Club which was erected in Featherston for the benefit of the soldiers and their friends. His close attention to duty took its toll and through failing health Alex McLeod had to retire from his useful work at an age when men of his stamp are in their prime. We salute the passing of a man who served his day and generation well. Our late president, Mr Quentin Donald had a longer association with the club, than his friend and fellow steward. the late Mr McLeod. Mr Donald was a member of the club for over 44 years. For 11 years he served as a steward, 26 years as vice-president and in the last 5 years as president,, following on the death of the late Mr Bidwill. In the early years of the club, round about 1898, when the progressive programme of course alterations and new buildings was commenced he was a live and useful member, giving not only his time to the work as a member of the Course Committee, when the work of that committee was no sinecure requiring as it did almost daily attendance, but also reasonable treatment in the transfer of pieces of hip land from time to time necessary in widening or adjusting the race track and improving the access to the course. Apart from the Racing Club he gave services to other sporting clubs, the farming community and local bodies. He responded generously to all public calls and like our late patron gave splendid help in the many patriotic movements of the, war years, 1914 to 1918. His death records the removal of a man whose actions, while indicating close attention to the. work he had to hand, yet gave a fair share to the service of those around him. To the families of both of our departed officers we extend sincere sympathy.” The following officers were elected to fill the vacancies: — Patron. Mr Thomas Benton; president, Mr J. W. Card; vice-presidents, Messrs D. H. S. Riddiford and D. C. Collins; judicial committee, Mr R. N. Barton; course steward, Mr E. D. Martin. It was resolved to purchase health stamps to the value of £5. Three dozen garden seals are to be purchased for use under the trees on the lawn, the matter being left in the hands of the chairman and Mr Riddiford.

Two new members were elected. It was reported that the course proper had been scarified, topdressed and resown and was now in excellent order. It was resolved to obtain photographs of the late Hon. A. D. McLeod, Q. Donald, S. Cundy and, H. Morison. Vital Statistics. The following are the vital statistics for October: —Births, 3; deaths. 3; marriages, 1. Rainfall Record. The rainfall in October totalled 3.16 inches. Rain fell on 11 days, the heaviest fall being one inch on October 16.