NORTH OTAGO COURSING CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 750, 5 September 1878, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO COURSING CLUB.

The annual meeting of members of this Club was held this morning at the County Council Chambers. There was a fair attendance of members, and the chair was occupied by Sir. N. Fleming (Vice-Presi-dent).

The minutes of the first annual meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary (Mr. W. H. Ronayne) read the •report for the past year. The Secretary, in the absence of the Treasurer (Mr. C. S. Allen), read the abstract of accounts, which showed that receipts had been L 843 175., including L 605 3s for nominations of dogs, and L 231 for members' subscriptions ; while the expenses amounted to L 784 lis Bd, thus leaving a balance of Lsoss 4d. Amongst the items in the expenditure were Prizes, &c., L 631 Os 2d ; field expenses (including judge's fee, horse hire, &c., L9O 23 ; advertising, printing, &c., L 53 18s On the motion of Mr. Greenfield, seconded by Mr. Caverhill, the report and balance sheet were adopted. The following members of Committee retired bv lot, according to the rules Messrs. W. Hay, C. S. Allen, E. Menlove. G. S. Lintott, and W. H. Ronayne. Before proceeding with the election of offi.ie-bearers for the ensuing year, Mr. Dunlop asked what was the necessary qualification for entitling persons to ;>n admitted members a? the Club ; wai any social status necessary. The Secretary stated that no quilific.ation was necessary, but that the matter rested with the Committee. Mr. I>unlop : Then it depends entirely upon the whim of the Committee. The Chairman : Just so. Mr. O'Meagher : I had not intended to re-open this question of black-balling, but as tho matter has been touched upon, I shoul d like to say a few words. The Chairman : I cannot allow this discussion to go on before the election of officers has been concluded. Sir. Dunlop : I think we should discus' the matter now, as it may have effect upon the elections. The Chairman : I cannot allow this discussion to go on ; it is irregular. I decide that the election shall ba proceeded with. Mr. Dunlop : I propose that the discussion be gone on with. Mr. T. H. Brown ; I second that motion. The Chairman : I decline to put the motion to the meeting. Mr. O'Meagher ; I strongly object to the Chairman's arbitrary ruling in this matter, and unless he allows the motion to be put I shalll retire from the Club. I o'oject to discussion upon the matter being shirked. The Chairman : I do not wish to stop, the discussion. After the officers are elected, I will stop here till five o'clock if' np<vssary. Some further discussion of a ratherwarm nature took place, after which Mr.. O'Measjher said he would leave the room,, and did so, being followed by Messrs.. Dunlop, M'Lennan, Greenfield, and Brown. The latter gentleman, in reply to the Chairman, saying that he found fault with the Committee for blackballing one gentleman whom he had known for sixteen years. The Chairman remarked that Mr. Brown had better remain and stand by his friend. After this the meeting calmed down,, and the election of the office-bearers fur the ensuing year was proceeded with, tha following being the result Presidents: Messrs. R. M'Auly and G. S. Lintott; Committee. Messrs. W. H. Ronayne, C. S. Allen, H. Connell, A- M'Lean, A. Ot-ferson, and the Hon. M. Holmes, in addition to M -ssrs. Hedley, Steward, Brvdone. and Duncan, who retained office from the previous y-.-ar. Mr. Fleming, who was proposed, declined to act on the Committee. On the motion of Mr. Lintott, seconded by Mr. Caverhill, a special vote of thanks was aocorded to Mr. H iy for his services ai hon. Secretary up to the time of hU leaving the neighborhood, and for th» enthusiastic and able manner in which ba originated and earried out the preliminaries of the Club, and it was decided to minute the resolution and forward a oopy to Mr. Hay. Votes of thanks were accorded to Messrs. Ronayne (hon. Secretary), Allan (Treasurer), and Fleming. Mr- Mason suggested that the Committee should obtain from Victoria a copy of the rules under which coursing meetings are conducted. The meeting terminated with a vpte of thanks to the Chairman.