RACECOURSE IMPROVEMENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 8 January 1927, Page 5

RACECOURSE IMPROVEMENTS

EGMONT CLUB’S ACTIVITIES NEW TOTALISATOE HOUSE. Visitors to the forthcoming meeting of the Egmont Racing Club will note the completion of extensive improvements, principal! among which will be the new totalisator house built in accordance with the latest designs and being, for such a structure, as up to date as any in the Dominion. A Star reporter who, by the courtesy of the secretary of the club (Mr E. P, Cox) and the foreman of works ,(Mr A. Drinnan), was permitted to visit the work in progress yesterday, found a scene of bustling activity. Artisans in various portions of the building were engaged in the finalising details. It is anticipated that another two weeks will suffice to add the necessary touches, and that the building will be handed over to the club by the 22nd of this month in ample time for the summer meeting, which opens on February 2. Constructed of red brick, painted in vegetable black, the new totalisator building adds greatly to the attractive appearance of the racecourse appointments. To make way for the new, the old structure on the western side of the main stand was completely demolished. On the same .site, though occupying a much larger area, the new house has been erected. It has a frontage of 126 feet and a width of 32 feet on the interior measurements.

Supported on steel stanchions, 4in in diameter and lQft 6in in height, a verandah Bft wide surrounds the building, and the approaches, for a width of 24 feet, are concreted and suitably drained to afford convenience during wet weather. The walls rise to a height of 14ft 3in above ground level, while the gabled roof, carried on nine massive steel trusses and relieved by four sets of dormer windows, add a further nine feet to the height of tlie building. Fifty ticket-selling windows are provided, 28, including the £5 and commission sales departments, being on the inner and 22 on the outer lawn enclosures. Steel railings divide the approaches to the windows, and easy entry and egress ‘are provided. In the rear' of the building’ll pay-out windows are ; situated on the interior enclosure. while a further nine will cater for dividend collectors on the outside enclosure.

STAFF FACILITIES. The “tote” machine is housed in a structure projecting from the front of the building, the indication board being set well forward so as to give a view from the. widest possible angle. On entering the building the visitor is immediately impressed with its airy, well-lighted appearance. Rising above each of the. 70 grills behind which the receiving and paying clerks will operate is a three feet glass window, while 10 sets of .lofty sashes and the four dormer windows allow further daylight to enter. Electrical fittings are also provided. Running the full length of the building, a wide_ wooden gangway, suspended at a height of seven feet, will give accommodation to the calculating staff, and in the rear of the machine a transverse platform gives the required facilities for those engaged in the final calculation and indication of investments.

Occupying a central area of 30 feet bv 10 feet is the hank, furnished with the necessary counters and bronzed grilles to give "convenience to the tellers. The whole is designed to give the greatest possible convenience and speed to the public and the totalisator staff in effecting sales, pay-outs, and the calculation of investments and declaration of dividends. Accommodation is provided for a staff of 80. among whom it is expected that a number of lady assistants will Le included at the coming meeting. To cater for their convenience a special n loak room has been included, while for the purnose of dispensing refreshments to the general staff a counter buffet with kitchen appointments has been installed. IQs LAWN TICKETS. At right angles to. the front of the totalisator house a six foot fence of galvanised iron piping, set m concrete, will divide the. inner and outer enclosures. Last year the club provided four windows for the sale of IQs tickets to ladies only on the- lawn. This proved a popular innovation and for the coming meeting it has been decided to increase the ladies’ windows to six and to provide a further six IQs windows on the lawn for men, in addition, ti the usual £1 and £5 windows. Sales on the outside enclosure will be al' 10s tickets. A,s these will now be also sold as indicated, on the lawn no passes will be available as previously between the two enclosures.

To give the increased accommodation at the “tote” house the old stand has been moved approximately forty yards to the west of its former site. but ti< its new position it affords an uninterrupted view of the course. This stand has been completely renovated and now hears an appearance reminiscent of its

early history, when it gave the principle .sight seeing accommodation .on the course. Another improvement will be noted at the tea kiosk, an inner wall of which has been removed to provide better ventilation and light and also give increased convenience, while a five-sided portico will give a. picturesque appearance to the main entrance. are a.lso being made to erect a stand adiaeent to the finishing post for the use of trainers and jockev.s only—a facility' which will meet with general appreciation from, those enthusiasts adherent of the sport.