MARLBOROUGH RAGING CLUB.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 179, 29 July 1905, Page 4

MARLBOROUGH RAGING CLUB.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

Thi annual meeting of the Marlljorough Racing Olub was held last nieht in the Olub Hotel. Mv H. D. Vavasour (President) occupied the chair, and there was a representative meeting. The report was as follows :—• It is with much pleasure your Committee are able to report most satisfactorily regarding the progress ol the Olub during the past year. The resolutions passed at the general meeting of the Club in May, 1904, have borne abundant fruit. Debentures to the extent of £915 have been taken up, and more promised, whilst the increase of the subscription from £1 Is to £2 2a has cost the Club but few members. The success that has attended oar efforts with the issue of debentures has enabled your Committee to remove all the old buildings from the Riverlands racecourse, and erect a new grandstand, with refreshment, dining, and ladies' room ; a Stewards' stand, with Secretary's office, Committee room, press office, weighing room, and jockeys' room ; besides a new totalisator house, stabling, latrines, etc. The course is now entirely fenced in, the tree-planting completed, and the lawn, Stewards' lawn, and saddling paddock considerably enlarged. This work has cost the Club about £2157, but it is regarded as likely to prove reproductive, rendering the course more convenient and attractive to horse-owners, the general public, and all concerned. A caretaker has been engaged at a salary of £100 per annum, whose whole time will be devoted to the Club, and it is considered that by this appointment much that is required at the course will be economically done, the training track will be kept in good order, and the place, generally, considerably improved. In order to protect the debenture holders, a second mortgage has been given over the course, making a total liability on the property of £1783, the value of which, after deducting £200 for the old buildings, now amounts to £3562. Judging from the autumn meeting, at which a profit of about £300 was made, the ensuing year may be regarded as promising in every way, and with the convenient buildings and appliances now poasessea by the Olnb, a prosperous future should be assured.

In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet the President said it was a matter for satisfaction that the raising of the subscription1 to two guineas had not resulted in any material diminution of the membership. The number for the ensuing year was 98; that was only 12 less than the number for the previous year, and he himself now had applications for enrolment from six persons. Ha •anticipated a considerable increase in the number of members during the ensuing year. Up to the present time 198 £5 debentures had been taken up, representing £980. There was still £700 worth of debentures under offer. Referring to the ground improvements, he said that the appointment of a caretaker ought to have a very good effect as far as the buildings, the lawns, and the coarse were concerned. The expenditure of £100 a year would, be was convinced, result in a considerable saving to the Olnb in this direction, the advantage being that any work that was found necessary would be opportunely and efficiently carried out. The President also acknowledged the aonsiderateness extended to the Club by Mr Carr, the contractor for the buildings, who enabled the" Club to finance the enterprise by accepting £1000 and allowing the remainder of the money to stand over at Bank interest.

Mr Conolly, in seconding the motion, referred in 'congratulatory terms to the ground improvements, and said that the grandstand would do credit to towns of much larger size. The Club was now on a up-to-date footing ; and it was Mr Vavasour whom they, had to thank chiefly. He referred to the gratifying success of the Autumn Meeting, which was attended by His Excellency the Governor; and said it was evident that the Club would lose nothing in adopting a progressive policy. Captain Falconer hoped that while due attention was being given to the buildings, the racing track would not be neglected, and that every encouragement would be given to owners and trainers to return. The President said that in appointing the caretaker the Committee had acted on the principle that a stitch in time would save nine, and he was certain this step would tend to the great improvement of the course, which was now being top-dressed in a workmanlike manner.

Mr C.' Tesohetnaker expressed the hope that all the fees for the use of the track would be duly collected. Mr Weld asked for information with respect to the item " £175 due contractor for extras."

The President explained that the " extras" meant necessary work for the finishing ofE of certain parts of the new building. Mr T= Horton opened np a disonssion in regard to tbe presentation of the Club's accounts, the outcome being a resolution that a statement of profit and loss be included in future balance sheets.

The election of officers resnlted as follows :—President, Mr H. D. Vavasour (re-elected unopposed); VicePresident, Mr G. T. Seymour ; TreaBurer, Mr H. L. (Jackson (re-elected). Committee, Messrs E, A. Weld, B. Ward, F. Redwood, R. J. Bell, J. Greenfield, J. Conolly, O. Teschemaker, G. Lane, T. O'Laary. There were eleven nominations for the Committee.

Mr Vavasour, in acknowledging his election t said ho did not think the Presidency should remain for all time in the hands of one man ; but he ac ■ cepted the posit on on this occasion the more readily because he thought that, since the erection of the new buildings was undertaken while he was President, the responsibility of presiding over the completion of the scheme should rest with him. Mr Vavasour referred to the success of the autumn meeting, and said that among the 82 clubs in New Zealand the Conference placed the Marlborough Club twentieth on the list. This advancement of the Club was a matter for very hearty congratulation. He announced that 150 more £5 debentures were awaiting disposal, and he hoped that the canvass to be taken up would meet with cordial response.

Mr J, B. Rayner was re elected auditor ; ana the remuneration was increased to five guineas, though Mr Rayner intimated that he would not accept the increase, Mr E. F= Healy moved that the Club place on record its appreciation of the services of Mr W. L, Clifford, the retiring Vice' President and conference representative ; and that the 'resolution be forwarded to Mr Clifford, who is on a visit to the Old Conntry. Mr Conolly seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Weld referred to the proposal that the A. and P. Show grounds be established on the Riverlands raoecourse. The President explained that overtures had passed between the Club's Committee and the A. and P. CommitP tee, but nothing defioite had been , acme. Mr Meehan said that as the referendum being taken by the A. and P. Association closes that night the proposal might be too late After a lengthy discussion, it was, on the motion of Mr J. Greenfield, resolved that it be a recommendation to

the incoming Committee that, should the A. and P. Association desire to lease the course as a show ground, the Committee act as they think fit. Mr T. O'Leary moved that ib be an instruction to the Committee that the gentleman who handicapped for the first day of the meetings should also make tbe handicaps for the second day.

The President said he could take a recommendation but not an instruction.

The motion was altered accordingly* Mr Teach emaker seconded the motion.

The President having spoken, the motion was carried.

At the instance of Mr Bell, a bonus of £10 was voted to the Secretary, Mr C. J. Griffiths^ in recognition of the satisfactory and successful maune in which he had performed his duties during an exceptionally busy year.— Several members, including the President, praised the work of tha Secretary. On the motion of the President, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr W. Carr for the liberal and sportsmanlike manner in which he had met the Club in connection with the erection of the new buildings. The usual act of courtesy to the Chair terminated the proceedings.