AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8958, 16 August 1892, Page 6

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the members of the Auckland Trotting Club was held at the offices of the Club, Durham-street East, yesterday afternoon. Mr. W. Adams presided, there being alfoub forty gentlemen present. Mr. C. F. Mark, the secretary, read the annual report, as follows :—

Your committee have much pleasure in presenting their second annual report and balance-sheet-, and have to congratulate you on having had another most successful season. The net balance on the year's working amounts to £126 13s, which, added to last year's balance of £435 18s Id, makes the substantial total of £562 lis Id to the credit of profit and loss account. This your committee consider most satisfactory in view of the amount given away in stakes, the small percentage charged for entries, and the very considerable extra expenses to which the i club has been put during the season in connection with several unusual matters the now notorious Brandy-Rufus case, the sending of representatives to Christchurch, and law expenses. These extra expenses amount in all to over £100; so that the members will see that the actual net profit on the year's proceedings would be £226 13a in the ordinary course. With regard to the New Zealand Trotting Association, your committee has good reason to believe that the difficulties which existed in the past are in a fair way towards a final settlement, and they desire to put on record their appreciation of the friendly spirit in in which the executive of that association met the representatives of the club who were sent to Christchurch. Your committee regret to have to report having had a serious ringing-in case in connection with the Auckland Trotting Cup. As you are no doubt aware the stewards of the club followed the matter up most thoroughly, and spared neither pains nor expense in collecting evidence to enable them to arrive at a just decision, with the result that the owners of the home Rufus, alias Brandy, which competed in the Auckland Trotting Cup, and the horse Rufus, alias Brandy, were disqualified for life, and warned off all courses where the club's rules are in force. Your committee think the thanks of the members are due to the stewards for their thoroughness in this matter. As is, no doubt, well known to the members, the club now occupies the position of premier Trotting Club in the colony, and has given away almost as much money in stakes as any other two clubs, and this notwithstanding the fact that it has only been two years in existence. Your committee desire to recommend to their successors the same liberal policy in the future which has been pursued in the past, and would suggest that at least £1200 be given away in stakes at the Summer Meeting, the leading item to be the Auckland Trotting Cup of 30ftsovs ; iu connection with which race they would also recommend that a substantial purse be offered for any horse breaking the New Zealand record, as they think it desirable that there should be some special inducement for owners of lirstclass horses to compete for this, which will be the largest stake ever offered for a trotting race in the colonies. According to the rules six members of committee retire, viz., Messrs. A. R. Harris, J.P., W.Paul, C. E. Abbott, D. Hat-ford, J. G. Wattie, and R. Webb. The first five being eligible offer themselves for re-election. Messrs. J. S. Kidd, D. Tonks, J. Hunter, J. Turk, and E. J. Smith have also been nominated as candidates for election.

The balance-sheet presented showed the total receipts for the year to amount to £2356 14s Bd, and the expenditure to £2230 Is Bd, leaving a credit balance of £126 13s. Adding to this the balance of £455 18s Id from last year, the Club has assets to the amount of £562 1 Is Id, after clearing off all liabilities.

In reply to a question by Mr. Lambert, the chairman said that law expenses to the amount of £20 had been incurred in connection with the case pending in the Supreme Court against the bookmakers. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the Chairman stated that the members were to be congratulated on the success of the club in the past, and he had no doubt, under the same careful management, the club could hardly fail to continue its flourishing career in the future. The report and balance - sheet were adopted. Th& election of six members of committee for the ensuing year was then proceeded with, Messrs. Jack, Ralph, and Eynon being elected scrutineers. .The result of the ballot was as followsVV. Paul 37, J. S. Kidd 36, A. R. Harris 34, C. E. Abbott 32, J. Hunter 31, I). Harford 27, D. Tonks 7, J. Turk 7, E. J. Smith 4, arid J. G. Wat-tie 0. The first six gentlemen were declared elected. Votes of thanks to the outgoing committee, the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Chairman terminated the proceedings.