CAMBRIDGE JOCKEY CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1424, 18 August 1881, Page 3

CAMBRIDGE JOCKEY CLUB.

A meeting of the above Club was held at the National Hotel, Cambridge, on Tuesday last at 3 o'clock. There were present : — Messrs. E..H.D. Fergusson (in the chair), Hughes, Isaacs, Hewitt, Gnce, Moore, Aaher, Cotton, Scott, Allwell, Smale and Kirkwood. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained that M Hewitt had entered into a bargain with Mr Taylor regarding 20 acres of that gentlemen's property for racecourse purposes. The amount was £600 for the 20 acres and as a guarantee of good faith Mr Hewitt on behalf of the Club had made a deposit of £5. Ho was sorry that Mr Kirkwood was not present as representative of the Domain Board, so that they might have the views of that body on the matter, especially regarding the pending lease of 35 aorea of the domain reserve to be attached to the property got from Mr Taylor. Mr Hewitt thought that in writing their last application to the Domain Board for the lease of this ground they should not have exempted the Farmers' Club or the Co airy but have made application on behalf of these institutions also. The Chairman could not see why they should apply on behalf of other institutions. They should apply for themselves, but no others. He could not see why they should purchase Mr Fantham'a property on. which the present course was situate. As the Cambridge' Railway would shortly be constructed they were desirous of obtaining a site as near the station as possible. Mr Kurkwood, who had since entered the room, remarked that it was desirable that they should lease this 35 acres from the Domain Board, He had been on the • ground during the day in company with a practical surveyor, who had informed him that a good mile course could be nude together with an excellent site lor a $rand Bttwd, Shaking iv

reference to the letter sent by Messrs. i FergUBson and Hewitt to the, Domain^ Board he thought it-wa s not explicit enough. As t «* a member of the Jockey Club he .Understood that the reserve in questioa-waa to.be available for Volunteer reviews, arid Cattle Show purposes, and there hacl, been nothing mentioned in the letter to the Domain Board of either the or Farmer's Club. He would /therefore recommend that another letter he written stating that the ground would be available for the use of all thette institutions. Mr Smale recommended that a meeting of the Farmer* Club, the Cavalry, and the Jockey Club be held to consider the matter. Mr Kirkwood did not think that the Domain Board would be in any way antagonistic to the object, if their application notified that the property would be available for Volunteering and Cattle Show purposes. Mr Fergusson could not see why they should arrogate to themselves the duty of applying on behalf of the Volunteers and the Farmer's Club. Mr Kirkwood was certain that as this was the pudlic reserve the Domain Board would nofc let the Jockey Club arrogate to themselves the property. If they ap pealed on behalf of the other two institutions they would be were certain to have their request acceded to, for the three bodies in question represented the public. Mr Allwill was anxious as to the monetary aspect of the undertaking, a matter which Mr Hewitt at some length explained. Mr Isaacs proposed, and Mr Hewitt seconded, " That the Secretary be instructed to write a suitable letter applying for a lease of the 35 acres from the Domain Board, with the understanding that it could be used for Farmers' Club and Cavulry purposes, and also that if the lease is granted, the Club will bind itself to clear the ten acres adjoining." — Carried. Amalgamation of Waikato and Cambridge Turf Clubs. Mr Buckland, in speaking in reference to the above matter, remarked that he did not take any more interest in one Club than he did in the other, for he was n member of both, and attended both raeetiDgs. He thought that neither clubs would do any good until both were amalgamated into one Waikato Turf Club. He would therefore recommend them to take no decisive steps until after the meeting of the Waikato Club on Thursday, (to-day.) Mr Isaacs remarked that as Mr Buckland would be at the other meeting, he could inform them (the Waikato Club), that they had no objection to amalgamation, providing they agreed to have all races on the Cambridge ground It was then proposed by Mr Buckland, and seconded by Mr Grice, "That this meeting do no further business until after the Waikato Turf Club had done their business on Thursday next." — Carried. For the satisfaction of the Club, Mr Hewitt's memo of agreement with Mr Taylor re the purchase of 20 acres of the latter's property wai read. This terminated the business.