DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 8504, 1 May 1891, Page 2

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

The regular monthly meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Committee was held at the secretary’s office last night. The Secretary reported the result of the appeal against the rating of the course, which has already appeared in our columns. Mr Sydney James also reported that a memorial against proprietary trotting clubs had been sent down from Christchurch for the chairman’s signature, and that at the Hon, G. M'Lean’s request he (the secretary) bad obtained the consent of the different members of the Committee, after which Mr M'Lean, as chairman, had signed the same and forwarded it back. This memorial will be signed by the whole of the chairmen of the clubs throughout New Zealand, Re the Mandeville totalisator dispute, the Secretary reported the correspondence which had taken place, and read a copy of his last letter to Mr Moffatt, of Invercargill, who is acting for a number of investors. The letter stated that if Mr Moffatt, on behalf of his party, would consent to withdraw legal proceedings, and abide by the decision of the Dunedin Jockey Club, and if the Mandeville Club would also agree to abide by the same decision, the D.J.C. would have pleasure in considering the matter. If the two parties would not agree to that, the D.J.C. would not undertake the task.

An application was received from Thomas Chapman, who had been disqualified for malpractice in the Selling Hurdle Race at the Anniversary meeting, asking that he be reinstated.—The application was declined. A programme for approval was received from a new club called the Kawarau Gorge Trotting Club. The amount of stakes to be run for was L 5 3; the totalisator was not to be used, and the meeting to be held on the 26th May,—The Secretary reported that the peculiar circumstances of this case were that a club, called the Kawarau Gorge Trotting Club, had applied to the Dunedin Jockey Club and afterwards to the New Zealand Trotting Association for permission to hold a meeting, at which the totalisator would be used, on the Cromwell racecourse. In both instances the application had been declined in accordance with the wish of the Colonial Secretary that there should not be a multiplication of clubs in districts already provided for. The present programme was stated to be only for a day’s sport, and as the totalisator was not to be used permission was granted under rule 21 for the applicants to hold their meeting on the Cromwell bourse, and the programme was passed subject to the rules of the New Zealand Trotting Association. The following disqualifications received from country clubs were endorsed:—From the Vincent County Jockey Club: The trotter Vici, nominated as Second Attempt, and the owner, Aitchison, for malpractice at the Vincent meeting on January 2, 1890; the disqualification being for ever. From the Southland Racing Club: The bay mare Marie, 5 yrs, Moses M'Carthy, the owner, and George Johnson, the rider, for malpractice in the Consolation Race on the 23rd April, 1891; the disqualification being during the pleasure of the club. A letter was received from the Beaumont Club stating that at their meeting on Easter Monday a horse named Vici was protested against as having been disqualified, and asking for instructions from the Dunedin Jockey Club.—lt was resolved that the secretary reply that, as this was evidently an attempt at a swindle, if the Beaumont Club disqualified the horse the Dunedin Jockey Club would endorse the same. The circular letter from Mr F. D, Luckie, of Hawke’s Bay, respecting the holding of a conference during the ensuing session of Parliament was laid before the meeting, and it was resolved to leave consideration of the same, especially so far as the appointment of delegates was concerned, until next meeting. Only two ladies in the United Kingdom, it is stated, have taken the degree of LL.D., and both, up to a recent period, were pupils at the Methodist College, Belfast. Dr Letitia Walbiugton and Dr Frances H. Gray are the ladies who have attained to this unique distinction.