AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9126, 7 August 1888, Page 6

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the members of the Auckland Racing Club was held in the office of the club, Durham-street East, yesterday afternoon. There was a fair attendance of members, the chair being occupied by Mr. A. K. Taylor, president of the club. The Secretary (Mr. W. Perrival) having read the advertisement calling the meeting, and the minutes of the last meeting, which were duly confirmed, the report and statement of accounts were presented to the meeting as follows : — Balance-sheet. —Dr. : To creditors, £609 9s ; do., secured, £11,575 10s; to overdraft at Bank, £1206 2s 7d; distressed jockey fund, £'271 10s 8d ; nomination fees, £597 ; Mares Produce Stakes, £2 10s ; capital, £17,903 Pis lOd ; profit and loss, £76 14s : total, £3'2,'242 9s Id. Cr. : By debtors, £769 4s 8d ; unpaid subscriptions, £250 ; racecourse, £17,490 lis 2d; new grandstand, £9143 148 4d ; Derby stand, £1949 2s; totalisator, £268 14s 9d; furniture, £309 12s 6d ; working plant, £432 7s fid ; tan gallop, £1503 13s Id; suspense, £62; Mares Produce Stakes, £6 lis fid; cash, £56 17s 7d : total, £32,242 9s Id. Profit and Loss. Dr. : To secretary's salary, £350 ; handicapper, £150 ; wages, £355 17s ; office rent, £100 interest. £888 6s lid ;to charges as under, £434 9s 5d ; autumn meetin", £253 8s 4d ; winter meeting, £87 10s ; balance, £76 14s : total, £2696 6s 3d. Cr. : By members' subscriptions, £686 ; assumed names, £10 10s ; rent of course, £62 10s ; j training fees, £135 ; spring meeting, £619 16s sd; summer meeting, £1182 Us lOd : total, £2696 6s 3d. Capital Account. Dr. : To balance, £17,980 lis 10d. Cr. : By balance, £17,903 12s lOd; by profit and loss, £76 14s. Report.—The report said :—"ln laying the annual statement of accounts before you, I have to congratulate you upon its condition, considering the very bad times we have had in Auckland, and the depression existing all over New Zealand, which has materially affected the position of your Club. During the year the Club lias disbursed in stakes the sum of £7230. There has been a considerable falling-off in the nett profits this year. This has been caused principally by the receipts from the totalisator, being less by £1068. he cause of which was no doubt owing to the bad times, as the receipts from gates, stands, etc., were also £560 less. The Spring Meeting this year was a success as compared with that of last year, but all the others were not so successful. The profits of the meetings for the two periods are as under: — ISS6-7. 1887-8. Spring .. .. £66 6 1 — . • £*51!) 16 5 Summer .. 2037 1(5 7 _ .. 1182 910 Autumn .. 170 10 0 — : Winter.. .. 65 16 7 £180-2 6 3 Less autumn £253 8 4 £•>•>49 14 3 Winter 87 10 7 Net, ISS7-S.. 1401 7 4 340 IS 11 Difference .. £88$ 7 11 £1401 7 4 —Your committee have decided to try an experiment at the Spring Meeting of allowing ladies and children free admission to the course ; the additional charge of 6d to the ordinary railway fare has also, • your committee believe, tended to decrease the attendance. Application for a reduction has been made to the Minister of Public Works, bnt so far without success, and another effort is now being made. During the year your tan gallop has been completed at a cost of £1503, and has given entire satisfaction t > ill trainers and owners, and I have very little hesitation in saying it is one of the best in the Southern hemisphere. The other gallops are all in good repair, and have stood a great deal of wear and tear during the past year. The stands and surrounding are all in good repair, and very little money will be required this year to be spent upon them. The Metropolitan Club having agreed to a new code of rules for governing or restricting the number of meetings now being held in New Zealand, a social general meeting of members will bo held immediately after this meeting to give effect thereto. In terms of rules the following gentlemen retire from your committee : — Messrs. Philson, Dickey, Morrin, Walmslev, Mitchelson, and Russell, but being eligible offer themselves for re-election. (Signed) A. K. Taylor, President."

The adoption of the report and balancesheet was moved by the President and was seconded by Mr. Nathan in brief speeches, the latter suggesting that members should do all they could to stop the indiscriminate racing in little meetings all over the country. Mr. Marshall took exception to the report and balance-sheet not having been printed. The Secretary explained the reason why it had not been printed was that he had been engaged collecting money up to Saturday, but promised in future years it lihould be printed before the meeting. Mr. Marshall asked why the money for the Distressed Jockey Fund had been taken out of the Savings Bank ? The Secretary said because the stand and gallop had cost so much. Mr. Marshall: "Then it is a loan to the Racing Club, drawing 5 per cent The Secretary : " Yes." Mr. Marshall also asked as to the dispute relative to the totalizator, with Mr. Adams. The Secretary explained that it had been inquired into, and found that Mr. Adams was not indebted to the Club. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. Committee. —The following were the retiring members of the committee : Messrs. Philson, Dickey, Morrin, Walmsley, Mitchelson, and Russell. These gentlemen were re-elected. Handicapping. — Mr. Marshall asked whether the club was going to continue to pay a handicapper, or let the committee do the handicapping ? Mr. T. Morrin said he was in favour of the committee doing it, and he would like to have an expression of opinion from the meeting. Mr. Nathan agreed with this. Mr. Marshall urged that expenses at least be paid, express-, ing a belief in having one man in preference to a committee. No resolution was adopted, and this p.ndud the k..-- " SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING. Immediately at the conclusion of the above annual meeting, a special general meeting was held, when the following new rules were placed before the Club. Their adoption was moved by the Chairman, and seconded by Major Isaacs. They were as follow: — 1. That all Programmes shall bo submitted to the Metropolitan Club for approval. 2. That the Programme, when submitted, shall be accompanied, if required, by a properly audited Balance-sheet, showing the receipts and expenditure of the Club for the past year, and that in no case shall any Programme be passed unless it clearly appears from the Balance-sheet that all moneys received by the Club have been expended in Stakes, making improvements to the Course and Stands, or payment of interest and sinking fund on purchase money, or generally in the interest of racing. 3. That no Club shall be allowed to hold more than five meetings in the year. 4. That any Club holding more than three Meetings in the year, must give an average of at least £500 per diem in Stakes. 5. That any Club holding three Meetings in the year must give an average of at least £400 per diem in Stakes. 6. That any Club holding two Meetings in the year must give an arerage of at least £200 per diem in Stakes. 7. That subject to the foregoing Rules, and the Rules of Racing, there shall be no restriction as to the amount of money added by any Club holding only one meeting in the year. Mr. Alison moved an amendment to clause 5, objecting to the £400, and moving that £350 be substituted. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Grey. On being put to the meeting, the amendment was lost by 11 to 6. The original motion was then put and carried without opposition. Votes of thanks to the president and committee concluded the business of the meeting.

There is great excitement in Coromandel at present over the Kapanga gold mine. There is still greater excitement in Auckland over the great sale of boots and shoe's at Mr. Budge's, 108, Victoria-street. They comprise portions of two assigned estates ami the greater portion of balance of the stock of Mr. M. J. Moore, who is retiring from the boo! and shoe trade. Special reductions on Saturdays. The new tariff will considerably increase the price of drapery and clothing. Our readers are informed that McMaster and Shalders are selling at and under old prices. Girls school ulsters, ss; ladies' stylish mantles, from 'J7s (id; dress series, SW; girls' stockings, from .'ld per pair ; boys' suits (knickers), from .'is lid; men's Onehunga tweed suits, for 32s tjd, at McMaster and Shalders'. If you should happen to meet a Well* dressed Gentleman, you may depend upon it he patronises A. Woollams and Co., the Tailors, of Sydenham Bouse, Grey-street.