FEATHERSTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 January 1939, Page 7

FEATHERSTON

WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB. INCREASE IN STAKES FOR EASTER MEETING. (“Times-Age” Special.) The President (Mr J. W. Card) occupied the chair at a meeting of Stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club held yesterday afternoon and also attended by Messrs D. H. S. Riddiford, A. C. Pearce, D. C. Collins, Thos Burton, E..D. Martin, Roy Donald, E. R. W. Bidwill, J. G. Donald, H. Lawson, C. J. Nix, R. A. Donald and the Secretary (N. C. C. Shepherd). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs D. Cameron, K? N. Barton, J. F. Thompson and H. W. Booth.

The Chairman welcomed Messrs E. R. W. Bidwill and J. G. Donald, the two new Stewards, stating that they were carrying on two names well known for many years in the administration of the Club.

Three new members were proposed and elected.

The Secretary stated that since last meeting receipts amounted to £12,459 9s Od, and submitted the report of the Financial Committee which immediately after the New Year meeting had authorised the payment of accounts amounting to £9102 18s 6d. The report was approved, and further accounts amounting to £266 14s 9d were passed for payment. A volume of routine correspondence was read and received arising out of which permission was given to the Bidwill Co-operative Dairy Coy to hold a picnic on the course on Saturday, and the Featherston Fire Brigade on February 5, subject to the usual conditions. In response to an application Mrs Hugh Morison forwarded a photograph of the late Mr Hugh Morison, for many years a Steward and Vice-Presi-dent, which it was decided to frame and hang in the Stewards’ room. The Deputy Stipendiary Steward, Mi’ A. S. Jones, of Timaru. reported that the meeting was very successful and smoothly run.

Mr A. C. Pearce referred to the necessity of making some arrangement with the Donald Estate for the paddock now used for car parking, suggesting that the Club should pay for the same. To this Mr J. G. Donald stated that as long as he had anything to do with the matter the Club would continue to have the use of the paddock on race days for car parking as the family desired to carry on in this respect the same as-the late’President and did not desire remuneration. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Donald. ‘lt was resolved that the Course Committee meet the Totalizator Supervisor at an early date to go into the question of minor improvements.

A programme for the Easter Meeting, showing an increase in stakes and providing for a High Weight over 1 mile, 1 furlong, 80 yards, the first day, and 1 mile, 1 furlong the second day, was submitted and approved. It was decided to purchase 30 additional garden seats for the lawns. The Course Committee was authorised to carry out several minor improvements before the Easter Meeting.

Messrs Card, Collins and Nix were appointed a Committee to meet the Power Board and go into the question of the provision of additional electric power.

It was resolved that Mr H. F. Toogood, Civil Engineer, be instructed to proceed • with the tar sealing of the roadway into the racecourse. The date of the next meeting was left to tho Chairman to arrange.