MASTERTON OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5158, 17 October 1895, Page 3

MASTERTON OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

MKETffiG OF STEWARDS. A special meeting of Stewards and officers of the Mastorton-Opaki Jockey Club, was held yesterday afternoon at the Club Hotel, the President (Mr A. W. Cave) in the Chair. The minutes of the last meeting of Stewards was read and confirmed. A letter was read from Mr T. G. Mason with regard to tho Club's debentures, suggesting that a number be balloted out. STARTING MACHINES, Messrs Bright and Morrison wrote stating they would bo glad to supply their starting machines, and Mr Morrison to act as starter, at £1 por race, or to sell to tho Club at a royalty of £1 per day and £2O for the machines. The matter was left in abeyance, THE I'ROfIBAMJIE. Tho Secretary 6tated that haying received no reply to several wires to Mr Lyon, the Metropolitan Club's Secretary, he had telegraphed to Mr H. D. Bell, the President, with regard to the delay in dealing with the Club's programme. Mr Bell had replied that tho matter had been referred to the Conference and to the Colonial Secretary, and no unnecessary delay had taken place. He hoped to be able to send a reply by the 16th October

Correspondence from Mr Hogg, M.H.R., and. Mr Bell, was discussed.

Discussion ensued regarding the term of office of the present delegates to the Riiciug Conference, and the opinion was expressed that the Mas-torton-Opaki Jockey Club's interests were not being fairly dealt with by the present delegates to the Racing Conference.

Mr Macara thought they should ascertain how long before now delegates would be elected Mr T, Thompson said in his opinion the Metropolitan Club ignored its own rules. The Martinborough Club's programme had beon passed out of the ordinary way. Mr Macara said he was of tho same opinion,

The Secretary said that when he went to Wellington on tho Club's busiuoss, he had attended a meeting of the Metropolitan Club's steward's. Mr Hogg had, unfortunately, been unable to attend the meeting, and Mr Buchanan, who was present, mado a strong appeal ou behalf of the Lower Valley Jockey Club, which ho stated had held races on Boxing day for the last thirty years. In representing tho Masterton-Opaki Club's caae he (Mr Wnddington) had given several reasons why the Mas-terton-Opaki Jockey Club was entitled to consideration. (I). That the Metropolitan Club for the past ten years had passed the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club's programme. (2). That the programme had been duly passed at the annual meeting of members, and sent down to be placed before the new Metropolitan stewards as elected for the current yenr. (3), The clubs are over thirty miles apart, (4). At the end of 1894 circular letters were sent round to the country clubs recommending them not to speud funds upon land or holdings as the number of meetings would have to bo reduced, (5). That tho Act deals with the year 1893, clubs buying or leasing land after that date doing so at their own risk, (6). The Lower Valley has now three clubs and six days' racing, against tho North County's ono olub and two meetings of one day ennh. (7), That tho M.O.J.C. has held a freehold of 126 aores foroverlßyearsthe value being £1,650. (8). That in tho oveut of thestowardsof the Metropolitan Club taking upon thomselyes to decide the day, each Olub should receive due notice, and be allowed to put in •vidence to be considered by the Stewards. (9), Tho position and : standing of the Club's in 1893 should be considered. The population of the Borough is over 3,500, and thero is a large surrounding district, Mr Hogg had, at a subsequent meeting, strongly supported theM.O.J, Club's claims.

The Chairman, after some discussion, said he thought perhaps it would he as well for a deputation of three members to wait on the Metropolitan Club's stewards.

The opinion was generally expressed that Masterton was being treated very unfairly. Mr Thompson said there was evidently something going on behind the scenes, He had beon told by a Lower Valley man, who was supposed to bein the know, that "Lower Valley was all right and Masterton was not all right." It was pointed out that Martinborough was not easy to get at, and there was very little accommodation for the public or for horse-owners, Mr Macara said that practically the whole of the improvements effected at Maryborough, had been made since the circular of 1893. He also believed that if thero was a grandstand there, it had been put up since the programme was passed, Mr Thompson wanted to know if a proper balance sheet had been sent in by the Lower Valley Jockey Olub when its programme was submitted, The rules provided for this.

Several others present expressed themselves strongly on tho action of the Metropolitan Club with regard to the M.O.J.C, and it was finally decided to adjourn the meeting until 8,30 p.m.,' to see if any reply of a definite nature was sent from Wellington, The stewards met again at 8.30 p.m., the secretary staling that no word had comofrom Wellington, It was then resolved that Messrs A.W. Cave (President), E.H.Waddingto'n (Secretary), and I Mandel wait on Mr H, D, Bell (President of the Wellington Racing Olub and Chairman of the Racing Conference) as a deputation from the M.0.J.&, to obtain a- definite answer with regard to the programme,