COURSING CLUB.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2688, 28 January 1881, Page 2

COURSING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the North Otago Coursing Club was held in the County Council Chambers yesterday morning, there being present — Mr. Otterson, vicepresident (in the chair), Messrs Thomson, J. F. Reid, Grant, J. B. Reid, M. Taylor, Paterson, Fleming, Lintott (treasurer), and W. H. Ronayne (secretary). The Chairman regretted that there was not a larger attendance of members, and called on the Secretary to read the minutes. The Secretary stated that more than twelve months had elapsed since the last annual meeting. They should have met iv October, but from one cause and another they had not done so until the present. He then read the minutes of the last general meeting which were confirmed. The Treasurer read the report and balance-sheet for the past year. The report stated :—: — Your Committee, in presenting their report for the past season, are sorry to notice a considerable falling off in member*, only 30 subsjriptions having been received as against 64 of the previous year. This falling off is solely owing to the prevailing bad times, as the sport given under the auspices of the Club and the general management of the meetings showed a great improvement over previous years. But, by a little perseverance on the part of the members, there is c 'cry reason to suppose that the subscriptions n-ay again reach and even exceed, their former number, many new members having expressed their desire for election. During the past season the Urge sum of L 521 16s 6d has been competed for, besides the President's and Vice-Presidents' Cups, Members' Plate, and Derby Bracelet ; and in spite of the heavy expenses incurred in scouring a thoroughly competent judge, etc.. your Committee can congratulate the members upon the financial position of the Club, as displayed in the balance-sheet. The Committee wish to tender their thanks to the President and Vice-Presidents for the handsome cups given by them at their respective meetings; and beg to suggest that * speci il vote of thank j bt accorded to the several landowners in the district for their kindness in placing their land at the service of the Ciub. From the balance sheet it appeared that the total receipts, including the balance from last year, amounted to L 634 11s, and the expenditure had been L 549 15s 6d, leaving a balance of LB4 153 6d. During the year prizes to the value of L 458 had been given away. The report and balance sheet, as read, were adopted. The Treasurer said there were outstanding liabilities which, when liquidated, would leave a deficit of LlO. He drew attention to a number of members not having paid up their subscriptions. It was pointed out by the secretary that a great item of expense at the matches was the charge for horses. In Christchurch there was no expense incurred in this direction. In the course of a conversation which ensued it was suggested that some of the more prominent members of the clubs might lend horses to the others. Messrs Ronayne, Lintott and Thomson were appointed to collect the outstanding subscriptions. The election of officers vras then proceeded with. On the motion of Mr Ronayne, seconded by Mr Grant, Mr Neil Fleming was unanimously elected President. Office-bearers : Messrs W. H. Ronayne and J. F. Reid, vice-presidents j Mr G. S. Lintott, hon. treasurer; Mr W. H. Ronayne, hon. secretary. Committee : Hon. M. Holmes, Messrs M'Pherson, J. B. Reid, M. Grant, E. S. Otterson, A. C. Paterson, G. S. Lintott, and W. H. Ronayne. The following gentlemen remained in office as committeemen, not requiring to retire— - Messrs T. Brydone, A. Thomson, T. Y. Duncan, and R. M'Auley. A letter was read from the Secretary to the Christchuroh Club, asking to be supplied with information respecting date of i meeting. It was proposed by Mr Ronayne that a conferenco of members from the various clubs should be held at Dunedin, at race time, in order to fix the place of the next Waterloo meeting, and the dates of district meetings, to avoid clashing and allow the services of the judge to be obtained. The Secretary said he had been spoken to about making the Derby open to members of uther clubs. Hitherto it had been only open to members qf the Qlub, but in other plaoes the Derby was being made subject to general entry. On the motion of Mr Ronayne, seconded by Mr Fleming, it was resolved that the Derby be open to all, and that the Members' Plate be open to members only. New members were elected as follows : Messrs E. P. Burbury, W. Carver (Dunedin), J. Drumm (Qunedin), C. P\ Roberta, and T. Hannon. On the motion of Mr Thomson, a rote of thanki was accorded the retiring officers and chairman. Mr Fleming in returning thanks expressed a hope that the Club would soon be in a sound financial position.