WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1894, Page 4

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

♦ The annual meeting of tho above Club was held at the Club Hotel last orening. There was a large attendance of members, and the President, Mr. H. D. Bel), oconpied the chair. The annual report and balance-sheet were taken as read. The Chairman, in moving their adoption, said that while last year the Club brought forward a balance of .£157, the liabilities wore £165, so there was really nothing to tho good. This year they had n. balance in hand of .£239, and tho liabilities did not amount to .£SO, and that notwithstanding that during this year they had had to pay totalisator tax and had hold one meeting less than usual. The training track, whjph had caused considerable expenditure, he hoped would now bo a success ; it was as good as it could be made under the natural difficulties which tho Club suffered. The intention of the stowards had boon to extend tho saddling paddock so as to include tho trees, and he hoped that the incoming stewards would carry out that intention. Mr. G. H. Harbroo seconded the motion, which was agreed to after some discussion. The Chairman mentioned that Dr. Newman had intimated that he did not intend to seek re-oleotion as a steward. He regretted the determination of the worthy member. Mr. Bell said he had also received a letter from Mr. W. Eoss acknowledging the references made in the report to the death of his father, and regrotting on that account his (the writer's) inability to be present. Tho meeting then proceeded to elect officers for tho ensuing > ear. By the rnles of the Club Mr. H. D. Bell retains the office of President. Ho remarked that he would like to see the rnles amended in the direction of making the office eleotive. Messrs. E. Pearce and T. 6. Macarthy were re-eleoted Vice-Presidents, Mr. G. H. Scales as Judge, Mr. J. Wilkins as Clerk of Scales, Mr. N. Grace as Timekeeper, and Mr. J. Maginiiity as Treasurer. The following were appointed Stewards : — Messrs. C. P. Skerrett, G. H. Harbroe, F. Franklin, J. Duncan, J. Ameß, J. B. Harcourt, and W. E. Bidwill. Mr. J. Maginnity regretted that the many services which had been rendered in the past by Mr. J. Sauuders in the capacity of steward, Ac., had not been recognised by his re-election as a steward. Tho appointments of starter and handioapper wore left to the Stowards, these being paid officers. It was resolved that the next annual meeting should be held on tho second Monday of August, 1895. Mr. F. Turnbull moved— (l) "That the entrance fee be abolished." (2) " That tho annual subscription be reduced to £2 2s to new members." Mr. Harbroe seconded the motion pro forma. The meeting was almost unanimous against the proposals, and they wore lost. TJio Chaiiman suggested that Mr. Harbroo's motion (proposing that all the officers of the clnb, except the President, should retire annually, and that two of the Stewards, to bo decided by a ballot amongst themselves, should not bo eligible for re-election for a period of 12 months) should bo postponed, as ho intended calling a special meeting at an oarly date for the amendment of the rules. Mr. Harbroe agreed with this suggestion, and withdrow his motion. Dr. Cahill suggested that the incoming stewards should consider the advisablone3s of admitting members cf metropolitan clubs as mombers of the Wellington Raoing Club without the payment of the entrance fee. On the motion of Mr. T. K. Macdonald, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to last year's officers for the services which they had rendered the club. The Chairman replied on behalf of the officers, and tho meeting thon terminated.