CHRISTMAS SPORTS IN WESTPORT

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 402, 13 November 1868, Page 2

CHRISTMAS SPORTS IN WESTPORT

A preliminary meeting was held last evening, at the Empire Hotel, with the object of organising horse-races, a regatta, and other public sports during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Among those present were Messrs. Somner, Sheahan, O'Conor, Morey, Milne, Eeid, Eobertson, Seaton, Maguire, Draghicavich, Simpson, Hughes, and Nicols. Mr R. C. Eeid was appointed chairman. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting, and explained the absence of several gentlemen—Mr Franklyn, Mr Emanuel, and others —who had been proposers, and wished to be promoters, of Christmas sportu. Mr O'Conor suggested, as the first necessary step, that a committee, with a secretary and treasurer, should be appointed to collect subsciptious. He did not himself wish to take any active part in collecting subscriptions, but he would be very glad to put his name down for £5 ss, and, if there were to

he horse-racing, he might give more. The Chairman stated that, last year, the sum obtained was £IBO. The Committe collected £9O, and the sale of the booths produced £9O. £BO was ex pended on the regatta but it was unsatisfactory, principally onjaccount of the weather.

Mr Morey asked if there was not a balance in hand.

The Chairman said that, if he recollected, the amount was rather short. There had been a balance of £4 or £5, but it was required for law expenses in connection with a dispute as to one of the races in the regatta. Mr O'Conor thought it highly desirable that a regatta should be held, there being no place on the West Coast presenting such advantages as Westport possessed for such a purpose.

Mr Seaton thought that the prizes for horse-races would not prove to be a heavy item of expenditure. It would not be the intention to hold out any inducemeut for horses to be brought from a distance. There would be a sufficient amount of sport, and the entries, which would of themselves produce some amount of money, would he made as much for tbe sport as for the prizes. Mr Simpson promised that, in the event of horse-races being held, he would give a pair of the very finest description of Jockey boots, worth seven guineas.

Mr Milne (or Mr Morey) said that he had also a promise of a bullock from Mr Freeth.

Mr Sheahan proposed, and. it was agreed to, that a committee consisting of twelve, with power to add to their number, should be appointed; and the following gentlemen were selected ; —Messrs Morey, Hughes, O'Conor, Reid, Simpson, Robertson, Milne, Seaton, Carr, Franklyn, Draghicavich, and Sheahan. Mr Milne was appointed sceretary, and Mr Reid, Treasurer, A list of subscriptions was at once opened, the following result— Mr O'Conor, £5 ss; Mr Morey, £5 ss; Mr Sheahan, £5 ss; Mr Hughes, £5 ss; Mr Simpson, £2 2s (with jockey boots worth £7 7s) ; Mr Dragicavich, £5 ss; Mr Robertson, £3 3s ; Mr Reid, £5 ss. Mr Seaton promised a pig, and Mr Morey also presented a pig; and, finally, the Chairman intimated that there were promises of subscriptions among the few assembled, to the amount of £57 15s. This was a very liberal and creditable contribution, and if others subscribed in proportion, as he had no doubt would be done, Westport should this season be able to have an excellent programme of sports. The Commitee then sat, and proceeded with the appointment of subcommittees to canvass the town for subscriptions. Before they had separated, subscriptions were received from Messrs Dick and Seaton of £5 5s and a pig ; Mr Milne, £3 3s ; Messrs P. F. Smyth and Co., £3 3s ; Mr Emanuel, £3 3s; Mr Franklyn, £2 2s; Mr Maguire, £1 Is ; and the Chairman intimated that, altogether, exclusive of live stock, &c., the subscriptions in the room amounted to the handsome sum of fifty-two guineas.