Canterbury Jockey Club.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held yesterday afternoon at the Commercial Hotel. There was a large attendance, and Mr W. H. WynnWilliams was voted to the chair. OFFICERS. The following were elected unanimously, being the only nominations made : — Judge, Mr F. J. Kimbell ; Hon Treasurer, Mr G. G. Stead ; Clerk of the Scales, Mr S. Garforth ; Clerk of tho Course, Mr Dundas ; Starter, Mr P. Campbell ; Handicapping Committee, Messrs Gresson, Brabazon, Cotton, and G. P. Williams . TREABTJEER'B STATEMENT. Mr G. G. Stead made the following statement : — "In presenting the balance-sheet and statement of receipts and expenditure for the past season, I have pleasure in referring to the satisfactory financial position of the Club, notwithstanding the large amount that has been spent upon improvements, as well as the great increase in the stakes for £he past year. A comparison of the present with the two previous years' balance-sheets will show that £9624 16s has been paid away in stakes during the past season, against J87710 3s and J36676 8s respectively for the two preceding years, a progressive increase which cannot but be satisfactory both to the Club and to jthe public. The receipts from members' subscriptions are J8540 15s, against JG535 10a for the previous year, but the general subscriptions have fallen from .£289 11s for 1883 and J2212 2s for 1884, to .£162 15s for 1885. Nominations and acceptances Bhow the marked improvement, of ,£555 10s on the year, while the totalisator receipts have increased from £3643 10s 2d to £4178 3s Bd. The grand stand, &c, receipts, however, show a falling off of £85 12s 6d, as the receipts this year have only been £1954 3s 6d, against £2039 16s for 1884. The rail fares and entrances received by the railway have improved from £886 4s lOd to £955 2s lid. The sales of the booths and privileges have fallen from £582 6s to £568 10s 6d, and these items, together with a few sundries, bring- up the total receipts (excluding £500 received from the Union Insurance Company) to £12,123 12s 7d, against £11,243 3s 6d for 1884. On the other hand, the expenditure has increased from £9046 10s 4d last year to £12,226, 18s 2d for this. This increase in the disbursements is mainly due to the large addition that has been made [ to the stakes and the permanent improvements authorised by the Club at the last annual meeting. The stakes have increased from £7710 3a to £9624.165, while the large sum of £1431 3s 5d has been spent upon improvements. These improvements consist principally in the erection of a suite of horse boxes, a new weighing and jockey's room, &c, new entrance gates and carriage drive, and the laying out of the lawn and flower borders at the back of the stand, together with the plantation which almost surrounds the running ground. These improvements have been carried out under the general supervision of the Committee, but the alterations were mostly conceived and planned by the Secretary, who has been mainly instrumental in the successful completion of the various works. The outgoing Committee contemplated other improvements for the purpose of further contributing to the comfort and convenience of the public, aad doubtless their successors for the coming year will carry out the projected additions. It will be in the memory of members that the Club sustained a loss by ithe burning of the half-crown stand in November last. This stand was insured for £500, a sum that was unfortunately far below its cost and its value to the Club. The outgoing Committee have taken preliminary stepsto replace it, and Mr Strouts has generously offered to prepare the necessary plans and specifications for same. He has already submitted sketch plans, which have been conditionally approved of, and i 3 now preparing detailed plans, which in due course will be placed before the Committee for final approval. Another important work now in progress is a tan gallop, tenders for the construction of which have already been called for. This much-needed convenience has long been asked for by trainers, and, when finished, will add much to the attractiveness and completeness of the course as a training ground. In conclusion, I may point out that, as the ordinary revenue (excluding the item of £500 received for insurance) was £12,123 12s 7d, and the expenditure for stakes and working expenses (excluding the sum of £1431 3s 5d spent upon permanent improvements), £10,835 14a 9d, the net profit on the year was (after deducting £52, nominations belonging to other seasons), £1235 17s lOd. Hence, if the receipts for the coming year equal those of the past, and the stakes and ordinary outgoings be tne same, there will be some £1600 (including the balance now brought forward) available for the erection of the stand, the laying down of the tan gallop, and the minor works contemplated by tho outgoing Committee." The total receipts for the season 1884-5 were £12,631 13s 4d, including £8 0s 9d balance from last year, and the expenditure £12,266 18s 2d. The receipts for the three meetings were : — Spring, £7o72 6s Id; New Year, £936 19s 2d ; Autumn, £3183 19s lOd. On tho first and last there had been a profit of £8[»0 6s 4d and £586 14a lOd respectively ; on the second there had been a loss of £150 14s lOd. The statement of liabilities and assets showed — assets, £9364 15s 2d, and a credit balance of £8970 15s 2d. Mr Stead moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. Mr E. D. Thomas, in seconding the motion, suggested that the Eailway Company in connection with the Club should be extinguished. Technically, the railway did not belong to the Club, but it was now paid for, and the sooner the Club took over a conveyance of it the better, Under the Act tho Company, could be wound up, and this would obviate the necessity for an annual meeting, &c, as required by the Act. The profits had already paid for the cost of the railway, and the time had arrived for vesting tho property, which was a very valuable asset, in tke trustees of the Club. Mr Stead agreed with the proposal, but must say that the Committee had found a difficulty in in-ranging for the transfer. The railway at present was worked under the District Railways Act, and, if transferred, the Government might object to work it for the Club. The present and tho previous i Committees had been of opinion that the J railway should be transferred to tho Club, j which, however, was not a corporate body. ' No doubt the incoming Committee would

take practical steps to put the railway on a better footing than at present. In his opinion this ought to be done. The subject then dropped. Mr Stead moved— "That it be an instruction to the Committee to revise the Canterbury Jockey Club's rules of racing. , and to submit same to a general meeting of ? the Club, to be specially called, for their • consideration." His object in moving the f resolution was to amend the rules so as to i make them more in accordance with the I most recent racing ruleß in force in other ; leading Clubs. For instance, a rule was ) necessary to provide for the more efficient l punishment and control of jockeys. It was I also advisable to provide more stringent • rules with respect to naming horses ; and i there were several other directions in which l a manifest improvement to the present . rules could be made. It was also desi- • rable to endeavour to prevent the blackmailing of the drawers of jsweeps. He was not certain that any set of rules could be framed to protect the public, but it would be as well for the Club to give an expression of opinion on the matter. Most sporting men would think it was prostituting horse racing when an owner said to the i drawer of a sweep that he would not start his horse unless he (the owner) had a share in the amount. The rule which he (Mr Stead) thought could be made to bear upon this point was that which empowered the Club to punish men who acted unfairly. In his opinion when drawers of sweeps had taken their chance they should have that .chance of winning irrespective of the owner. Dr Prankish, had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. It was desirable that the rules should be revised in accordance with the spirit of the times. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Stead move/1 — " That the Committee be requested to take into consideration the practicability of providing regulations to • control racing at country meetings in the Provincial District of Canterbury." In England the Jockey Club controlled country meetings, by enforcing the insertion of the advertisements in the Calendar, and refusing to allow those which they disapproved of. It was desirable that Buch scenes as were constantly reported to be taking place at country meetings should be put a stop to. Mr Gresson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. NEW MEMBERS. The following were elected members of the Club : — Messrs D. Caro, George Fletcher, Frederick Hobbs, C. P. Hulbert, M. Lewin, Peter Donald, C. Miles, John Monsen, E. Moore, S. Smithson, Henry Thomson, Sir Julius Yogel, K.C.M.G., and E. Walton. STEWARDS AND COMMITTEE. The following were chosen by ballot as the Stewards : — Messrs J. Brabazon, G. Clifford, P. Cunningham, J. D. Frankish, L. Harper, M.H.E., C. Hawdon, J. D. Lance, M.H.R., H. H. Prins. Hon W. Reeves, M.L.C., Lancelot Walker, A. C. Wileon, and H. Wynn- Williams. The following were chosen the Committee : — Messrs T. Acland, J. Brabazon, P. Campbell, J. D. Frankish, S. Garforth, J. B. Gresson, F. J. Kimbell, Hon E. Parker, H. H. Prins, G. P. Williams, C. H. Williams, A. C. Wilson, and H. WynnWilliams. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr Stead gave notice of the following motion : — " That members of the Committee absent from three consecutive meetings without leave, shall vacate their seats.' ' VOTE OF THANK 6. A vote of thanks to the Auditor, Mr Carrick, closed the meeting.