MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2404, 20 September 1886, Page 2

MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB

The annual goneral meeting of the Club was held on Saturday. The attendance was.large, and Mr Lowes, the President, occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence was read from tho Island Bay Park Racing Club ro new> rules of racing. _ From 6, Dixon tendering his resignation as a member. The resignation of Mr Dixon was accepted with an expression of regret. The Chairman said the' matter of the Island Bay Racing Club placed their Club in a peculiar position, as they had to choose which of tho three promier Clubs, the Island Bay, .Wellington, or flawke's Bay they should elect to submit their programme to. Ho thought they should wait for further information. It was a compulsory thing on their part, for if they did not submit their programme to one of the three superior clubs, any horse running at their moating would be disqualified for the big meetings. It seemed an arbitrary rulo, but there was no help but to submit to it.

The Secretary ppinted out the awkwardness that would arise from tho Wellington aud Island Bay Club's'mceting but once a month, and that on the samo day. Mr Vallance said the thing'would settle itself vory soon. Tho consideration of the circular was held over till the next meeting. An account of £1 Is subscription to the Roferee was passed for payment. The balance sheet and Steward's report for the past year was read:—lt is a pleasure to your Stewards to present you with the annexed satisfactory balancesheet, At the summer meetings, held on the 25th and 28th December last, there was airincreaso. in the value of the stakes given amounting to £l3O, beim; £625 against L 495 in 1884, £347 iu 1883, £248 in 1883, and £245 in 1881. In 1884-5, and 1885-6, autumn meetings were also held on St Patrick's Day, and stakes to the value of £235 were given on each occasion. The prises paid away at both meetings amounted to £B6O against £730 of the previous season. Tie receipts from both meetings from all sources were, Summer £7OO 2s, Autumn £289185. The expenditure on the Summer meeting was L 670 3s 9d, Autumn L 261, leaving a profit on each meeting. In the balancesheet will be found full particulars of receipts and expenditure, which loaves a credit balance in favor of the Club of L7l 12s lOd. A contract has been let for excavating 4 chains of straight opposite to the saddling paddock, and refilling the samo with good soil at a cost of Ll9, ■ whioh, when in grass, will srreatly add to the appearance and improvement of the race course. Your Stewards beg to tendor their thanks to Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R., for the valuable services he rendered the Club in obtaining a mortgage at a satisfactory rate of interest. They also beg to thank Messrs 6.' Beetham, A. Elkms, and Jas. Muir for becoming Trustees of the racecourse, The President said the balance sheet was satisfactory. There were extra expensos incurred for permanent improvements which had used up their rovonue considerably. In the forthcoming year, having none of those expenses to look forward to, they should show a credit balance. The amount of assets over liabilities—L264 Cb 7d—was not an available asset, but was in the value of the improvements on the course. Thoy had not yet commenced a sinking fund, but that was no reason why they should not do so in the coming year. The last season they considerably increased their stakes, and came out with a fair amount of profit, as well as having gone to considerable expense in acquiring tho course. The sooner they paid off the first L3oothe better, to reduce tho interost. Also, there were still further and extonsive improvements required, and with those objects in view he should suggest that no increase be made in the stakes, That was a matter for them to discuss, and to enable them to do so ho would formally move tho adoption of the report,

Mr J. C. Vallance seconded the motion. Mr T. Chamberlain thought tho balance sheet very satisfactory. The Secretary said the Trustoos had givon a guarantee not to increase the Stakes until the mortgage was reduced to £1250,

The Chairman said they might repeat the programme of last year, which was a very good one, Of course they could alter the items but they need not increase the amount.

The report and balance sheet worn adopted. On behalf of the ground committee Mr Parsons reported tho contract for the excavating and re-filling on the course was now completed and had been done in a most satisfactory manner. Thoy had gone to some further slight expenso in picking off stones, rolling and harrowing, and on Monday they intended to sow grass seed. The seed and additional exponse amounting to £2l7s 6d was approved The election of ofucors then took place.

Mr T. Chamberlain said he had much pleasure in proposing that llr W. Lowes be re-elected President for the ensuing year. He had fillod the position for the past two years with honor and profit to the Club, and he did not think they could chouse a hotter man.

Mr J. C. Vallance seconded the proposal. Ho fully endorsed the remarks of the previous speaker. Mr Lowes thought it would bo wiser to make the office rotatory. He did not for one moment wish to shirk -the duties of the office, but at tho same time he was of opinion that the Club would benefit by changing the office bearers.

Mr Parsons supported the appointment. The motion was put by the Secretary and carried unanimously. Mr A. Elkinß was re-appointed Treasurer; Mr A. W. Cave was re-elected Judge; Starter, Mr T. Parsons; Secretary, Mr R. J. Fitton; Clerkß of Course, Mr W, lorns and H. Yates; Clerk of Scales, Mr J. Harding; Handicapper, Mr J. 0. Evitt (conditionally); Stewards, J, C. Vallance, T, Chamberlain, E, Chamberlain, R. Campbell, R. Welch, J. Rosb, T. G. Mason; Auditors, W. Sellar and J. Payton

Mr R. J. Fitton before again accepting the appointment of Secretary' took the opportunity of the proposition to demand an explanation in regard to certain reflections which ho considered had been cast upon him by one of the Stewards in referenco to heading a subscription list to the jockey injured on the course last year with a donation of £5 on behalf of the Club without first having obtained the

sanction of the Stewards, The explanation on all sides was allowed to be satis--,.,-?■ factory, arid-Mr Fitton again undertook ''. the office of Secretary/ •■ ■ ■ -:. ■. Mr Fitton moved that Mr Efltkbe • again ■ appointed handicapper provided ; that he would guarantee to be there on the first day's racing to make the handi" : caps for the second day, at a. salary not ' exceeding fifteen guineas.," Mr R. Welch suggested that Mr Evitt ■:■ should be bound in some way. _ Mr Parsons seconded the motion, which was carried.The President said he had no doubt . the appointmontofftgndicapperregulated the nominations, If outside found the local stewards appointed ihmf' Bolvcß liandicappers they would naturally imagine that they would not get fair consideration, and the. appointment of a - known independent handicapper was a benefit to the Club. ,\M Mr Parsons brought forward ™e question of training fees. Ho suggested that a training gallop should be fenced off and a trial track bo left on the outside, and the outgoing Committee recommended that a fee should be charged. The President thought horse-owners would only be too glad to avail them- - selves of the opportunity. It was resolved that a charge of LI be i made for training fees each horse up to . two, and 10s eacli horse above that number. The Stowards met afterwards to arrange. a piwraminn