RANGIORA DOMAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 7563, 30 May 1885, Page 3

RANGIORA DOMAIN.

BUBLIC MEETING. A public meeting was held in the Literary Institute Hall, Rangiora, on Thursday evening, ,to consider the question of handing over to the North Canterbury Jockey Club that portion of the Rangiora Recreation Reserves now used as a racecourse. There was not a large attendance at the commencement of the meeting, but before the close fully 150 persons were present. Captain Parsons, Chairman of the Rangiora Domain Board, explained that the meeting had been called in consequence of the receipt by the Board of a letter from the North Canterbury Jockey Club, requesting that steps be taken to hand over tbe racecourse to the Club wholly and solely. The matter could be very easily decided. It was only for the meeting to say whether the proposal should be carried into effect or not. On the motion of Mr J. Johnston, Captain Parsons was voted to tbe chair. Captain Parsons said, being Chairman of both the Jockey Club and Domain Board, he would endeavour to • place the whole question before the meeting, and would give his opinion upon it. It would be remembered that some few years ago the old Race Committee, after a deal of trouble and opposition, obtained permission to make a charge for admission course on four days in the year. A short time since the Committee formed themselves into the North Canterbury Jockey Club, which now numbers over fifty members, and has every prospect of a prosperous future. They had already laid out a considerable sum of money on improvements to the racecourse, and they were prepared to spend £7O or £BO at once in remaking the course, and further sums in future in planting, &c., if the ground were handed over to them. It could hardly be expected that the Club would spend any considerable sum of money on the ground, if they had no more control over it than at present. Supposing a new course were formed, it would be open for any individual to stand on his rights as a citizen, and use or abuse the course or fixtures to his heart’s content. He might here refer to a letter which appeared in one of the papers that morning on the question at issue. If the writer were present he would say to him that he was sorry he had seen fit to exhibit such bad spirit. It was insinuated that the matter of banding over tbe course had been an underhand affair, but he would point out that it was altogether to the contrary, for the Domain Board, agreeing that the people had the right to decide the matter, called the present meeting. The reserves set aside for recreation purposes in the district were exceedingly large. There was thirty acres called the Maria Andrews Park’; ten acres used as a cricket ground, and on which a bicycle track was soon to be put down j fifty-five acres used as the racecourse, and thirty acres unimproved. He would ask whether they did not think that the seventy acres, leaving out the racecourse, would be ample for recreation purposes for hundreds of years to come. The racecourse had natural advantages, and with the improvements the Club are willing to make, it would be second to none in Canterbury outside of Christchurch. Mr W. Simpson thought that the Club should be satisfied with being allowed to charge for admission on the four days in the year. No one had as yet interfered with the course, and it was not likely anyone would do so. The reserves were not only given for their benefit, but for that of future generations, and therefore they had no right to part with them, Mr Blackett suggested that the Jockey Club should put their request into the form of a resolution, and there would then be something definite before tbe meeting.

Mr Pulton said he could not see that in carrying out the proposal to hand over the course to the Club the rights of the people would be much entrenched upon. The racecourse was at present a bleak, barren waste of ground which no persons went near except on race days. As before stated,. the Club could not see their way clear to improve tbe track until they had the sole control of it, and unless such improvements were carried out, owners of good horses would not send them to compete at the meetings for fear of accidents. There had been some talk of forming a Tradesmen’s Racing Club in the place. If the suggestion was carried out, there would not be tbe slightest objection to them using the racecourse for their meetings. Before resuming his seat, he would move the following resolution—- “ That a respectful petition be forwarded to the Government (through the Domain Board), asking that the portion of the public reserves for recreation purposes now used as a racecourse, be vested in the North Canterbury Jockey Club, on tbe same terms as tbe Christchurch course is vested in the Canterbury Jockey Club.”

Mr Mullin remarked that there was no analogy between tbe Christchurch racecourse and the Rangiora reserves. The former was given by the Provincial Council for a racecourse, while the latter was given to the people for recreation purposes, and placed under their control.

Mr M. Duncan seconded the resolution, and remarked that a great deal had been said about the reserves having been set aside solely for recreation purposes, and he

would like to know whether horse racing was anything else but recreation. Mr Simpson: Yes; those who have winning horses make money by it. (Laughter.) Mr Duncan: I should like to ask how it is that in every community you get some adjective sweep to upset meetings. [Simpson being the town sweep, this query provoked a roar of laughter.] Mr E. Evans asked whether, when the ground was given, there was not a certain sum of money also given to plant it with trees, and if so, what had become of the money P The Chairman replied that the_ money was received, and the greater portion had been spent in fencing and planting, and in the erection of the Grand Stand. The outlay on the latter was returning 10 per cent.

Mr H. Blackett said for the benefit of a great many of those present who were not acquainted with the history of the reserves, he would recount it. About 20 years ago, Mr Maude, who was the Provincial Secretary, was in Rangiora, and in conversation with him, he (Mr Blackett) remarked that it was a pity no land had been set aside in the place for recreation purposes, Mr Maude promised to do his best to get land granted, and the result was that the reserves were given to the people. Some time after this the Provincial Council voted money for improving such reserves, and on his application £IOO was given to Rangiora, and used in fencing what is now known as the Cricket Ground, Another grant of .£IOO was made by the Council, and this was placed in the Bank ; and afterwards £2OO was received through the Ashley County Council, and also deposited with the Bank. _ Shortly after this the Rangiora Domain Board was formed, and the money was handed over to them. But what did they do with it ? They spent some in planting and fencing, and a great portion on the erection of the grand stand at the racecourse. The money spent on the latter work was, he considered, misappropriated. The Board had no right whatever to use it for such a purpose, and as far as the people had been benefited by it, it might have been put in the fire. The only way to prevent the expenditure of the Board’s funds in like manner was to have the Board made elective. He would do his utmost in opposition to the resolution before the meeting. , Captain Parsons said he was sorry Mr Blackett had seen fit to cast reflection upon the Domain Board. With regard to the outlay on the grand stand, he would ask the meeting whether they did not consider 10 per cent on the amount expended a good return.

Mr J. Johnston thought that the question before them was a most important one and should be well discussed before being decided upon. It occurred to him that when Mr Bowen was member for the district he gave it, at one of his meetings, as his opinion that the Government had no power to interfere between the people and their reserves. Although he (the speaker) had a decided objection to part with his right to the- use of the reserves, he could see a good deal of reason in the object of the resolution. He himself was not an upholder of horseracing, but he must sympathise to a certain extent with people who were fond of the sport, and although he could not vote for the resolution, he should like to see some middle course adopted, such as leasing the ground to the Club.

After a considerable amount of desultory discussion, the resolution was put to the meeting and negatived by a large majority. Captain Parsons then asked for a show of hands for the following resolution : “ That the Jockey Club petition Government through the Domain Board to endeavour to obtain a twenty-one years’ lease of the racecourse.” A large majority holdup their hands in favour of it, and it was declared carried. Menn<w- tiecine

A vote of thanks to the Chairman was then moved, and the meeting terminated.