WAIKATO TURF CLUB GENERAL MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 586, 22 February 1876, Page 2

WAIKATO TURF CLUB GENERAL MEETING.

A meeting of the members of the Waikato Turf Club, Was held on Saturday afternoon, at Gvvynne'a Hotel, Hamilton, t6 re-oonsider tho subject of a permanent race course for the Waikato. Mr Carpenter occupied the chair. On the motion of Mr Hammond, seoonded by Mr S Stoele, it was proposed " that in the opinion of this meeting the offer of Mr Cox to hand over £75 to the Club for the purpose of making a course on ilia property on the Ohaupo flat, with the privilege of 'resuming tho present site when Available for running-, be accented," . Sbmo Tittle difcassioh eristiad on thf« motion. Mr Kirkwood strongly advocated the turning the attention of the Club to a purchase of a property of their own, father than to the Acceptance of the offer made by Mr Cox He feared that once ' the offer Was accepted, no farther thought Would be given to the objeot of acquiring a piebe of land of their own suitable for a race course, and' that now offered them coufd only be held' far a limited time. A. piece of land oi the extent 6f 100 aores, ;ip a oontral position, might be purchased for £500, and Would T>e theii»s 'in perpetuity nnd would be a source of revenue If the Oliaupo flat were decidedupon there would be much to do to it. There Was noc sufficient stabling accommodation at Olm'upo, and loose boxes Would have to be erected I for tho \iae of horses competing, for it wa'a 'absurd to sappote, that a horse could be brought on* the morning of the raoe, oven from the nearest township, r'nn on the course, and then taken back the same ■night. Major Clare thought they might advan-^ tageouily accept Mr Cox's offer. It would Hot' prevent them from looking out for a property .of their own. Mr Hill thought that to use 'the Ohaupo Flat would test the sincerity of the To Awamutu and up' oountry people, 'who had promised to mpport the Club to a large extent, if the races were only herd in a central position. Mr Hammond did not see why there should be any hesitation about the matter, The offer was a" most liberal one and JJ7S to pot the course in order would not come out of the Club fundß, dn the contrary, there wduldinall probability bCan overplus, da it would more than cover the cost. By accenting the offer' they would at any rat© get a coarse for the next four years races for nothing.andtheycouldnot tell they but 1 that at the end of that time u hen the partnership in the land between Mr Ctfx and Mr James Williamson dermined, they might be able to purchase' the course, or obtain it on liberal terms from whichever of the two gentlemen or from whoever was the owner of the land. In accepting the offer the Club they would be doiug- nothing which would prevent them from purchasing a property of their own if they had tho funds to do so. Mr Martyn feared tliat £70 would not cover the expense of putting the course on tho Ohaupo flat in order. The Club would probably find itself called upon to spend a further sum, and all additional money so spent would be ho much money sunk for only 3 years' racing. Mr Hill explained that to form a coarse one chain wide, there wonld only ueed to be eight acres in Tall got in order. The whole of the ground had been ploughed by Mr Cox, and that gentleman would grass it. All that was necessary was to break up smooth the aotual course over whioh the hones would run. The land also was already fenced' in. A member present suggested that a property of 100 acre* might be purchased by forming a joint 'stock company to do "so. Mr Hammond pointed out that it might be difficult to purchase land at all in a 'central position. He certainly knew of none for sale. A hundred aores would at least coat £500. Another £150 would be needed at onoo to fence it in, and then they would have the further oost of putting the course into order, fie thought the Club would be acting very unwisely not to accept Mr Cox's offer. Me Kirkwood then moved as an amendment " That the Club should at once take steps to purchase a piece of ground suitable for a race course, if possible in a central position — and that the consideration of the course on the Ohaupo flat stand over 1 until such steps have been taken." Mr Martyn seconded the amendment. The chairman then put the amendment Whioh was negatived and the 'original motion Of Mr Hammond was then put anil carried. Mr Clarke then proposed a vote of thanks to Mr A Col lor his liberal Offjr, which was carried unanimously. . Mr Hammond then moved, and Mr X Hill seconded the following motion whicn" ' Was 'carried unanimously, " That the committee take steps to get the course put in order 'fcni.s autumn, so that it may bo available for racing next year. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business.