EGMONT RACING CLUB

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume III, Issue 266, 26 June 1882, Page 2

EGMONT RACING CLUB

A general meeting of the club was held at Messrs. Nolan's rooms on Friday evening last, there being present Messrs. F. R. Jackson, Nolan, Ransou, Martyn, Crocker, Hughes, Davis, Adamson, Yorke, Wilson, Thomson, Riddiford, Buchanan, Adams, Paneti, Cook, Bainl, "Wauklyn, Owen, and others. Mr. Freeman R. Jackson was voted to the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Racecourse Committee reported that they had examined a number of possible racecourses, and had received definite proposals to three, viz: from Messrs. Fantham, Goodson, and McGuire. Mr. Goodson, offered a course at a rental of £40 a year, under a lease for five years. Mr. McGuire offered a course; for three days' racing in the year, at a rental of £130 a year, for 11 years. Aud Mr. Fantham was willing to give the club a right to hold meetings on six days in the year, for 99 years, upon condition that he were allowed a third of the gate money of each race meeting. He would allow the use of the grounds for shows or sports at other times, on payment of 10 per cent, of the gate money, alter two days' notice. The general feeling expressed was against accepting either Mr. McGuire's or Mr. Goodson's offer, on the grounds that if possible, a longer lease was very desirable. Mr. Jackson impressed upon the meeting the desirability of obtaining a course, where they could fence off both a course, and a training ground. There could be no good lacing unless horses were trained and the advantage of having a training ground within the district was a very great one. He believed that it would be necessary to appoint another committee make final arrangements. An informal discussion followed, iv which Mr. Hughes stated that he had joined the Egmont Club upon the understanding that the district between Hawera aud Opunake was to be chiefly considered, and that the racecourse was to be on Mr. Livingston's land on the other side of the Waingongoro. Several speakers thought that the club should try and get hold of the Mokoia Racecourse without delay. It was pointed out that all funds arising from that racecourse would have to be expended upon it, aud that in the meantime, as there was no railway communication it would not suit. Mr. Martyn thought that uuder any circumstances the racecourse should be near a railway, he hoped, and believed that some day Manaia would be the chief town in the district, and was fully as anxious as anyone conld be for the racecourse to be near there, if it could be, without interfering with the success of the meeting. But the railway would briug people and horses, and money to the club, and that was a first consideration. Mr. Wanklyn proposed that a committee should be appointed, to consist of Messrs. Nolan, Hanson, Martyn, Crocker and Yorke, to interview Mr. Fantham and others, with a view to finally arranging a racecourse, and to draw up a form of agreement to be submitted to a future meeting of the club. Mr. Hughes thought that a more central position should be chosen. He called upon the Secretary to explain why they had not asked Mr. Livingston to plough up, and prepare a course, as the latter had expressed himself willing to do last year ? The Secretary stated that at the last general meeting of the club, it was unanimously agreed that a course should be chosen near a railway. Mr. Crocker suggested that Honi Pihama would be able to grant au excellent course near Nornianby. He believed Honi Pihama held a Crown grant, and though he could not sell, yet he had sufficient control to vest a course in the club. Mr. Hughes urged that on his joining the club, Mr. Nolan had said the racecourse was to be at Mr. Livingston's as tho most central between Hawera and Opunake. Mr. Yorke reminded Mr. Hughes that on the first meeting of the club Mr. Hughes had specially urged the appointment of Mr. J. D. Davis as clerk ot the course, and Mr. John Burke as starter, because those gentlemen lived at Kakaramea and Paten end of the district, and it was very desirable to secure the support of settlers down there, and to make the club representative of the whole coast between Opuuake and Patea. Mr. Martyn directed the attention of those present to the fact that the cost of making a good course, with stands, fenced, and all complete, could not be much less than £2000 or so. He had had experience of these things in Waikato, and Mr. Jackson would bear him out. Under these circumstances, aloug lease was needed, or the club money would be wasted. Mr. Hughes proposed, as an amendment, That a froehold should be procured for the course. He hoped the Government would provide one — in fact, they had been in treaty for one betweon Manaia and Norinanby. Mr. Martyn agreed that this was so, and was anxious to procure the course mentioned, but it was of more importance now to have a course near a railway. As Mr. Hughes did not press his amendment, the original resolution was carried. The meeting concluded with the usual vote of thanks to the chair.