SOUTH OTAGO TROTTING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 20317, 28 October 1929, Page 2

SOUTH OTAGO TROTTING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING L [From Our Correspondent.] The annual meeting of the South Otago Trotting Club was held in Sinclair’s Hall, Balclutha, bn Saturday night. The president (Mr D. Sinclair) occupied the chair, and there was an attendance of over .seventy, including the mayor (Mr S.. White) and representatives of the various sporting bodies in town and country, and other societies, who were present by invitation. CONDOLENCE. Before commencing business, the President referred to the sad calamity that had that afternoon overtaken two well-known townsmen, Messrs D. G. Algie and A. Hayward, who lost sons by drowning. He also referred to the de&th during the week of M. Angelo, a member of the club, and moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives. This was carried by all present standing in silence.

ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCESHEET.

The.balance-sheet showed the receipts to have been £4BO 14s Id, including £5 Is lOd carried over from last ybar. Subscriptions and donations totalled £l9O 19s, race books £36 3s, gates £ll6 2s, nominations and acceptances £122 15s, sundries £9 13s 3d. On the expenditure side the chief items were: Stakes (less tax) £164 7s, fees to associations £25 3s, amusement tax £l2 Is, insurance, etc., £9 4s lid, donations and trophies £l6 ss, advertising and printing £29 6s 3d, preparing track and labour £lO6 12s Id, race day officials £7 11s Id, genera] £l4 3s 3d, leaving a credit balance of £SO 7s 6d-

The report detailed fully the work done by the club in preparing the track for the race meeting, and stated that a long-felt want had been filled by the formation of the club. It commented on the generous support of owners and trainers, and the public generally, and extended thanks to all who had in any way assisted in making the first meeting the success it was. In moving the adoption, the President said this was the first annual meeting of the chib, and the year’s work showed that they had been very successful; The result of their first day’s racing had been gratifying, ft hail been the first trotting meeting held in the district for over twenty years, and everything had passed off well. They could look forward with confidence to the future, and there was no reason whv they should not become one of the foremost clubs in Otago. One of their greatest difficulties had been the preparing of a track, but this had been overcome with the assistance of the A. and P. Society and Sports Committee, to whom they wore grateful. Their membership was remarkable when the scattered nature of the district was considered, and the fact that they had over 3UO members showed the interest that was taken in the sport in the district. They finished the year with £SO credit, which must bo considered satisfactory. A lot of their expense was non-recurring, and the money spent on the track would suffice for some time to come. They looked forward to the day when they would have a totalisator, and they had reason to believe that that dav was not far distant. Their turnover for the first year had been really wonderful for a new club, and they'had every confidence in, the future. The year’s operations showed that the committee had been active, and that its efforts had been rewarded. _ Mr ,F. M'Guinness seconded the adoption, and the motion was carried amidst applause. CORRESPONDENCE.

The New Zealand Trotting Conference notified that Mr F. J. Beer, of Christchurch, would again act as stipendiary steward at the 1930 meeting. —Received. The Minister of- Internal Affairs wrote to the effect that there was no totalisator permit available at present, but that the club’s claims would be considered when one was available. —■ Received. Mr €. J. Connell, Owaka, wrote resigning from the committee, as he bad not tho time to attend meetings.—Received. ; ELECTION OP OFFICERS. Office-bearers for tho ensuing year were elected as follows :—Patrons, Hon. D. T. Fleming and Mr F. Waite, M.P.; president, Mr D. Sinclair (re-elected) ; vice-presidents—Messrs P. Clent and W. 15. Duff (re-elected) ; committee— Messrs W. Hutchins and W. Kean (Balclutha), G. Hay (Owaka and Romahapa), "J. G. Somerville (Milton), W. C. Sinclair, (Paretai), T. Little Stirling), Edwin Smith (Clutha Valley) ; solicitor, Mr G. J. Kelly; auditor, Mr A. E. Russell; treasurer, Mr John Gold; secretary, Mr J. A. Henderson. GENERAL. Tributes were paid to the president and secretary for the work they had done, while a minute of appreciation was passed to tho retiring officers. Tho President referred to tho work of the secretary, and said that, although they could not recompense Mr Henderson for the work he had done, they could show their appreciation in some small way, and he would move that he bo granted £lO 10s. It was not enough, but it was all they could do at present—The motion was carried by acclamation, and Mr Henderson suitably replied. The President announced that a section of the trades people had offered a stake of £3O for the coming meeting, an announcement that was received with applause. Tho following recommendations were made to the incoming committee:— That a race book box be erected at the gates; that a scratching board be also erected at the gate; that horses be scratched half an hour before starting time; and that a penalty be imposed if this was not adhered to. - It was decided to hold a special general meeting of the club in February, so that members could be brought together and matters for the welfare of the club could be discussed. The meeting then went into “harmony,” and an enjoyable time was spent. A lengthy toast list, inter spersed with songs, recitations, etc., was gone through, representatives of the various bodies present congratulating the club on the success of the initial meeting. During the course of the function the mayor donated a -goldlyountcd whip to be allocated as the committee decided. Messrs Bilzon and Smart, made a similar donation. During the evening a pleasant little cere mony was performed by the president, ho presenting the -secretary with a goldmounted engraved fountain pen as a' mark of esteem from club membersMr Henderson feelingly replied. A happy meeting concluded with the sing ing of '■* Auld Lang Syne.’