UNITED HUNT CLUB.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1198, 15 February 1895, Page 24

UNITED HUNT CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the members of the United Hunt Club was held at the Royal Oak Hotel on the 13th. Mr H. Crawford (Master) presided, and there was a fair attendance.

The hon secretary (Mr J. Myers) read the annual report, which stated that the members are to -be congratulated on the success of the past season. Financially the Club is in a much sounder position than was shown by the previous balance-sheet. Members’ subscriptions amounted to .£125 19s, as against .£IOB for the previous season, and about £B2 for the season 1892. Great economy had been exercised in conducting the affairs of the Club. Hunting and general expenses were set down at £156 16s 3d, as against £174 for the previous season, and. £333 13s for 1892. The hunting expenses, although kept well within the c receipts, were much higher than was anticipated. This was partly accounted for by the removal of the hounds from Carterton to Wellington. The hounds were removed because it was found inconvenient to keep them such a distance away. New arrangements were made and Mr McDonald was appointed huntsman in place of Mr Roalce. The expenditure incurred in satisfying Mr Roake s claim against the Club was provided for in the balance-sheet. The dinners given by the Club to their farmer friends at Porirua and Taita were largely attended, but were not financially successful owing to the members,' not subscribing more generally. 'The Club’s concert was a success beyond all expectations, and, notwithstanding that the expenses were heavier than usual, the Club derived a net profit of £6l Bs. The Club’s race meeting was also a great success, and unlike the previous one left a very substantial balance, the net result of the meeting being £ll2 8s lOd. It was expected that the surplus would have been much larger; but as the Club had to pay its own totalisator tax, which amounted to £46 16s, the result should be considered highly satisfactory. After paying off a of £32 16s 3d incurred over farmers’ dinners, and all expenses up to date, inolud-

ing the keep of the hounds for the best part of two seasons, the Club’s debit balance was now only .£53 Os sd, as against <£l49 18s 8d at the beginning of the season, and a liability of something like <£4oo at the beginning of the season 1893. Against the present small debit they had a guarantee of <£2oo. If the Kennel property was allowed for as in previous balance-sheets, and the hounds taken in at their full value, there would be a surplus of about <£22, instead of a deficit. The present financial condition of the Club should be very gratifying to the members, a- great number of whom were under the impression two years ago that the Club could not pull through its .difficulties, and were anxious to wind up~ its affairs and give up hunting. Although it had passed through a very expensive season, and had provided for several items of expenditure which would not occur again, the Club was .£IOO better off than it was last year, and <£3so better than it was two seasons ago. The hunting last season was exceptionally good, and well patronised by members. The Club had sustained a heavy loss through the departure from Wellington of Mr G. L. H. Cuningham, who had always taken a great interest in its affairs. The Chairman said he did not think they could have had a more favourable report, and great credit was due to Mr Myers for his efforts on behalf of the Club. He hoped that officer would continue to serve idiem for many years to come. (Hear, hear.) Mr D. R. Caldwell said members owed Mr Myers a deep debt of gratitude for the manner in-which lie had pulled the Club through its difficulties. ' Mr F. Dyer moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, with the addition of a vote of thanks to Mr Myers. Mr C. P. Skerrett seconded the motion, and spoke of the prudent management and assiduity of Mr Myers in his position of secretary, who had shown that hunting was quite possible here. Mr D. G. A. Cooper also spoke of the time and attention Mr Myers had devoted to the affairs of the Club, and said he was the best secretary he had ever known. Mr Myers said he had done his best. It was not as good as he would have liked, but he had devoted as much time to the affairs of the Club as possible, and he had been favoured to some extent by circumstances. The motion was carried unanimously. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow : : —Patron, His Excellency the Governor; presidents, Messrs H. ■D. Bell, M.H.R., J. Coates and Dr Newman, M.H.R. (re-elected) ; master, Mr H. Crawford (re-elected); deputy-master, Mr D. G. A. Cooper (re-elected). Mr Jos. Myers was proposed for re-election to the position of hon secretary. He explained that he could no longer fill that office, and proposed that the hon treasurer (Mr J. F. Mills) should fill the position. After some discussioii this was agreed to by Mr Mills, and Mr F. Harley was elected hon treasurer. The Committee of Management was elected as follows : —The Master, DeputyMaster, Dr Cahill, Dr Gillon, Messrs Mills, Skerrett, Dyer, Myers, Harley and Caldwell. The following new members were elected : —Captain Campbell Preston and Messrs J. C. Hknna, D. B. Turner, L. O. H. Tripp, Morley, D. Aiken and G. Coulson. It was decided to open the hunting season on Saturday, April 6. A vote of thanks was passed to farmers and others for allowing the Club to hunt over their property. The meeting concluded with the usual yote of thanks to the chairman.