USES OF A RACECOURSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1909, Page 14

USES OF A RACECOURSE.

CURIOUS STORY FROM LAL LAL. An extraordinary condition of affairs with regard to the Lai Lai racecourse was related to the Victorian Minister for Lands by a deputation on 23rd June. The deputation consisted of the president, vice-president, and secretary of the race club. They explained that in former years the Lai Lai races had been among the most important of the country meetings. The trustees of the ground had invariably been elected as ollJcers of the club, but they so mismanaged affairs that the finances fell into arrears, and the meeting lost its importance. About four yeais ago the residents elected independent officials, under whose management the finances had been restored to a sound position, and the meeting had regained some of its former importance. The trustees of the ground, however, were working against the new officers, and they were legally masters of the position. One of them had actually grazed his sheep on the coarse, and used the grandstand as a, shearing shed. One of the trustees had died, and this gave the Government an opportunity not only to appoint another trustee, but to increase the number of trustees. The deputation asked that the number of trustees should be increased from six to ten, and that the trustees should be elected by a public meeting of the residents. The Minister agreed that the suggestion would be a desirable one, and asked the deputation to arrange with the residents to elect those they desired, and submit tho names to him for appointment.

The Flag Committee of the Otago Rugby Union has decided to close down the club season on the 7th August, or, ab latest, 14th August.