CYCLING

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8148, 20 April 1887, Page 6

CYCLING

The Pioneer Bicycle Club celebrated their eighth anniversary last night at their rooms. There was a large attendance, and the evening was enlivened by songs, &c., by various members. The following toasts were proposed, and drunk with, enthusiast!: —“ The Queen and Eoyal Family ; “ The Patron of the Club, Sir William Jervois, Governor of New Zealand ; ” “The President, Hon E. C. J. Stevens ; ” “ Pioneer Bicycle Club,” coupled with the name of Mr P. R. Duusford ; “Our Racing Men,” coupled with the names of Messrs N. Hall and Charlesworth. Other toasts of less note were honoured, and, altogether, a very pleasant evening was spent. The following history of the Club will, no doubt, be of interest to many of our readers The now so well-known Pioneer Bicycle Club was founded on April 19,1879. Of course, the start then made was only on a very small scale. The first meeting was held at the Commercial Hotel, when the following gentlemen were present; —Messrs B. C. Farr, H. S. Hobday, Dudley, Dumaresq, Applegate, Evans, A’Court, H. C. Clarke, E. W. Gough, and J. W. Twentyman. At this meeting the Club was formed, Mr H. C. Clarke being selected as Captain, and Mr E. C. Farr Hon Sec. and Treasurer. The HonE. C. J. Stevens, M.LC., consented to become President of the Club, which position he has filled up to the present time, and. it is to be hoped will do so for some time to come. The. following gentlemen comprised the original membership of the Club : Messrs Evans, A’Court, Applegate, Gough, James, Seareli, Walnutt, Dumaresq. England, Hobday, Farr, Clarke, and Dudley—thirteen in all. The receipts for the first year were JEIS 4s, and showed a credit balance of £2 17s 2d. During the year 1880 the membership was increased to twenty. Naturally the progress in respect to membership was very slow, as it must be remembered that cycling was then only in its infancy, not only in New Zealand, but also in England. The receipts show an increase this year, being .£39 9s 2d, and leaving a balance of £3 9s. The year following was not a very favourable one in regard to Club affairs, as, although the receipts increased to £55 8a 7d, yet the year closed with a debit balance of £5 15s lid and showed no increase in the membership. This state of affairs was caused by the loss on the first Club Race Meeting, which did not draw such an attendance in those days as is now the case. Mr F. E. Dunsford was Hon Secretary this year. The value of prizes won by members amounted to .£27 12s. • Messrs Langdown, Dunsford, Allison, Seareli, and Preece being the principal winners. The year 1882 closed more favourably ; the membership showed an increase to 33, the receipts were £IOO 6s 4d, leaving a credit balance of 8s 6d, and the prize-money had increased to £95 19s. Mr E. C. Fart was re-elected Captain, Mr T. Seareli sub-Captain, and Mr J. F. Norris hon Secretary and Treasurer. The year 1883 showed an increase in the membership to 50, the receipts were £B4 16s Id, and there was a debit balance of £l7 4s 7d; 1884 was another very quiet year for the Club, only two members being added to the roll. However, the receipts showed an increase to £l-18 4s Bd, and the debit balance a decrease to £2 Is 2d. The winnings of the members amounted in value to £66 19s. Mr E. C. Farr was elected vice- President this year while Mr T. Seareli was Captain and Mr W. A. Langdown sub-Gaptain. Mr A. Lowry held office as hon Secretary and Treasurer from 1883 to 1885. During the following year, 1885, affairs assumed a more promising aspect. The membership increased to 60, and the annual race meetingproving a great success, the year closed with a credit balance of £45 6a 2d. The receipts for the year amounted to over £2OO, and value of prizes won by members was £7l7s. The year 1886 showed that the Club was progressing very successfully. Daring October, 1885, efforts were made to obtain a Club-room for the use of members, and after some enquiries, the room now occupied _by the Club was fixed on, combining, as it did, a central position with quietness and privacy. The membership of the Club now shows a very material increase to 83; as gentlemen joining could now derive some benefit from their Club, whose rooms now are as well furnished with books, music, games, &c.,_including British, American, and Colonial newspapers, as any other Club in the Colony. The receipts for 1886 were £239 17s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £32 7s Bd. The winnings of members amounted to £BO 7s fid. Mr F. Cooper was hon Secretary, and Mr W. H. Langdown Captain. From the end of last year to the present time the number of members on the roll has been increased to a total of 138. The Club now offers, amongst other inducements, the amusement and instruction to be derived from a Debating Class, meeting every week, glee party, free library, consisting of over 100 volumes, and files of all the cycling newspapers of England and America.hesides a very good piano and supply of music. During the present year it was found expedient to enlarge the Club premises; and another room was added to the accomodation, During the winter a series of monthly musical evenings will be held. A great amount of the success and progress of the Club may, without exaggeration, be attributed to the energetic manner in which Mr A, Lowry, late hon Secretary and Treasurer, and now Captain, has managed its affairs. Mr H. J. Jenkins is now hon Secretary, Mr J. H. Parker hon Treasurer, Mr F. Cooper sub-Captain, and altogether the Club’s prospects at present give promise of a prosperous future. The total income of the Club since its founding in 1879 presents the respectable total of £683 6s 7d, and the winnings of members £379 0s Gd.