Sporting.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 243, 15 July 1876, Page 21

Sporting.

On Saturday a football match was played on the Basin Reserve. The contest which had been arranged between seventeen members of the Football Club against twenty-seven allcomers did not come off, owing to the absence of most of the twenty-seven, but a scratch match was got up and some good play was shown. Mr. Rees, M.H.R, was amongst the players, and proved a great help to the side on which he was chosen. We learn by telegraph from Dunedin that fresh terms have been offered by Mr. Bennett, agent of the All England Eleven. They are, that the five towns, Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, and Nelson, shall contribute between them £3OO towards the expenses of the trip, and give the eleven the respective grounds at those places free of charge. The team will be prepared to visit New Zealand. A meeting is called for this evening to discuss the matter. MEETING OF THE WELLINGTON qf , JOCKEY CLUB. The annual general meeting of the Wellington Jockey Club was held on Monday evening in the Empire Hotel at 8 o'clock. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. George Crawford occupied the chair. The first business before the meeting was to receive the annual report, which was read as follows : In presenting their annual report, the stewards congratulate the club upon its present position. The club now numbers some seventy members, and may be largely augmented ; and the unusually large number of entries for the various events of last year s meeting, prove the estimation in which the "Wellington Jockey Club is held by the racing community of New Zealand generally. ~ ~ The financial position of the club may (taking all things into consideration) be also considered satisf»c~

torv for, as members are aware, the second days races of last year's meeting had, through the extreme inclemency of the weather, to be postponed till the 16th day of December, when a third day's events were added to the programme, with prizes amounting to about £2OO, thereby adding very materially to the expenditure for the year, and the total amount of prize money was £IOSO. The assets nearly counterbalance the liabilities, as per treasurer's statement now on Several alterations and improvements were made during the recess to the grand stand and saddling paddock, and they are now in good order and condition Some expense, probably not large, will be necessary to put the course in good order for the ™xt race meetanft as some of the culverts are entirely rotten andieqmre of the club are speciallymflue to Mr Braithwaite, for the amount of J».me and wtaaWg assistance rendered to the club by his atteniiontoaU matters in connection with preparing the course ana talcing charge of the grand stand Mr G. H. Jaekson's connection with the ciuD.m the office of secretary, ceased in the early part of the year, and Mr. J. W. Kerby has been appointed to th The*?teWds now retire from office but aU are eligible for re-election. They recommend that the programme for the next spring meeting should be published without delay, and urge upon members to assist the stewards by the introduction of newmem--6 The balance-sheet was then read. It showed a balance in the bank of £6 19s. Id. Against this there was an amount owing by the club or. £SB 7s. 3d.; and against that again, there were outstanding amounts to the credit of the club amounting to £4B 18s. Mr. George said that an amount of &16 l»s. set down as owing by the club to Mr. Magmity and two other amounts to the extent of £l4 4s were in dispute, there being some doubt as to who gave orders for the things on account of which the charges were made. As to £l3 for refreshments charged by Mr. Maginity, Mr. Andrew Young said £l3 would have fed the whole field. The matter was not further discussed. On the motion of Mr. George, seconded by Mr. McDowell, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. debentures. In reply to Mr. Mace, Mr George said there were a thousand pounds worth of debentures, bearing interest at 10 per cent. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers was then proceeded to the rules of the club the president holds his office for life (Mr. Fitzherbert is president) ; therefore the election of vice-presi-dent was the next business. Proposed by Mr. George, seconded by Mr. BOND, and carried—That Mr. Hunter be vice-president. , , , Proposed by Mr. McDowell seconded by Mr. Thompson, and carried,—That Mr. Edward Pearce be judge. Mr George was elected treasurer ; Mr. McDowell, secretary; Mr. Young, starter; Mr. James Prosser, clerk of course; Mr. Bromley, clerk of scales. The following gentlemen were elected stewards :—Messrs. Braithwaite, McDowell, Paul, Thompson, G. Crawford, Martin, and Dr. Diver. NEXT RACE MEETING. The meeting then proceeded to the consideration of the programme for the race meeting this year. . „ Mr George thought that the Cup for 18/6 and the Derby for 1876-7 should be advertised; but the date of the meetings being considered of importance, j n t. aa n f The Secretary announced the ciates oi meeting at other places, being as follows : Christchurch Pace Meeting, 7th Bth, and 10th November; Dunedin 20th November ; Autum Meeting in March ; Auckland, 28th December, and Ist and 2nd January, 18/7 , Wanganui and Nelson, in May. M? Young thought the races should be held at a later date than last year and that the proper time would be the latter end of January or early in February. Mr Bromley considered there should be an autumn meeting, and that the spring meeting should be earlier than Mr. Y oung thought. Mr Crawford suggested that the races should be in January, say on the anniversary da Mr McDowell said if an autumn meeting were held the spring meeting should be held m D M r m WAUACE suggested that the date of the races should be the 23rd and 24th January The subject was then referred to the stewards. MEETING OF STEWARDS. The stewards met and decided that the meetings should be held on Thursday and Friday, 14th and 15th December. It was resolved that Messrs. Young, Paul, and Thompson be a committee to prepare the programme and advertise the same as soon as possible, the prizes not to exceed £ISOO. STAB. BOATING CLUB. A largely attended meeting of the members of the Star Boating Club was held at the Pier Hotel on Thursday evening, for the purpose of considering various questions of importance to the club. EXTENSION OF THE BOATSHED A proposal to extend the boatshed has been under consideration for some time past, and a discussion took place at a meeting held in £rilast, after "which a sub-committee was appointed to consider the question and report. The report was now brought up by Mr. G. W. Gair, the hon. secretary, and recommended—m That tenders be called for extending the shed about forty feet (harborwards), thereby providing additional boat and dressing-room Accommodation. (2). That in the event of . inv tender being accepted, the amount required to carry out the undertaking be raised by means of debentures to be floated by the club suc h debentures to bear interest, and be of such currency as may hereafter be determined udou A letter was read from his Honor the Superintendent, dated 25th May, in which he stated the Provincial Government knew of no objection to be offered to the extension of the sheds as proposed. It was therefore decided to call for tenders for the Avork immediately. NEW BOATS. A discussion arose as to the purchase of

new boats, and it was decided to order four new boats from Melbourne, two of them *o be four-oared clinker-built gigs, and the other two pair-oared boats for carrying coxswains. CLUB REGATTAS. The main object to be served in securing the~se boats is the establishment of club recrattas The scratch matches last season bad a good effect in inducing competition and creating an interest in boating affairs, but it is thought that by the introduction of club regattas a greater impetus would be given to boating matters, and it was decided to establish Star Boating Club regattas. While on this subjecs the meeting determined to arrange a series of contests between creAVS in the whaleboats Titokowaru and Orion, to settle the vexed question as to which is the faster of the two. THE NELSON REGATTA. ' A letter was read from the secretary of the Nelson Begatta Committee, asking for the assistance and co-operation of the Star Club in making the forthcoming regatta a success. The secretary was authorised to reply that the Star Club would be quite willing to co-operate heartily. NEW AUDITOR. Mr H. F. Logan was appointed auditor, vice Mr. Frank Allen absent from the colony. CHANGE in colors. It was decided that the colors of the club should be changed, and in place of the white guernsey hitherto worn, a white guernsey with blue stripes should be the costume. FINANCIAL. t _ In a conversation upon the financial position of the club it transpired that during the past season the club had purchased four new boats, consisting of a four-oared gig, pair-oared racing bats wing, four-oared racing gig, and a wlialeboat; and that at the end of the present year, after paying for all boats and wiping off all outstanding debts, there would be a small debit balance. This was regarded as very satisfactory. However, as more money would be required, it was decided to give an entertainment at an early date in aid of the funds. Distinguished patronage was promised, and arrangements are to be put in progress so that the entertainment will be of a high-class character. The meeting then adjourned.