NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 28

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held at Christchurch last week. Mr H. M' ll wraith occupied the chair, and the following delegates were present : — Messrs Sydney James, J. A. Connell, A. Myers, J. S. Williams, T. Marr, J. Miln, A. Johnson, H. Hearfield, W. F Ricketts, Donald. H. Mace, J. Kerr, G. Wilson, W. Kerr, H. F. Recce, A. S. Clarkson, A. Barry, J. P. Calvert, J. Faith, G. E. Currie, T. Free, F. Beverly, E. Olarkson, J. A. Holmes, H. Britain, R. Richardson, R. Pollock, C. S. Howell, H. J. Derrett, J. L. Wilson, W. T. Delamere, W. Smithson, J. Bishop, J. Carl, D. Barns, E. Ravenhill, F. Fuchs, and A. I. Rattray (secretary). The Secretary read the minutes of a spe cial meeting called to amend the rules. Mr Sydney James rose to protest against the minutes. Several rules had been omitted which it had been intended to include. One special rule, No. 7, had been excluded as passed, and an old rule included which curtailed the powers of the metropolitan clubs, and he would like to know why the alteration, bad been made. He represented the Dunedin Jockey Club, and could safely state that unless rules giving more powers to his club were agreed to it would withdraw from the association. He should like to know if tho rule had been left out intentionally. The Chairman stated that the rule mentioned had been printed as passed at the meetjug. He quite agreed that it did not give euougif powers to metropolitan clubs ; in fact they had no power beyond the passing of programmes. The rules had been passed, but to get out of the difficulty he thought that a special meeting might .be called to amend certain rules which required alteration. Mr James thought that as he represented at least 40 clubs, he might have been forwarded a proof copy of the rules, so that he might have been able to detect mistakes before the rules were printed. Mr J. S. Williams explained that directly the rules were printed the mistake had been detected. He would give notice of motion at the proper time that certain words should be added to Rule 37, which would give more power to metropolitan clubs. The Chairman stated that he thought it was necessary to go on with the business, and Mr James replied that he would withdraw his objection to the minutes beiug passed if the necessary words would be added. This was agreed to as satisfactory, and the minutes were passed as read. The Secretary read the report of the Executive Committee, which showed the continued success and expansion of the association. The number of clubs affiliated had increased from 59 to 74-, and they extended throughout the length and breadth of the colony. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report, and congratulated the association on its position. Mr C. Hood Williams seconded the motion, which, after an unimportant clause had, on the motion of Mr James, been eliminated, was passed. The election of officers resulted as follows :—: — President, Mr H. M'llwraith (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr J. S. Williams ; Executive Committee, Messrs C. Hood Williams, T. Marr, C. Howell, H. J. Dernstt, and R. Richardson. The secretary's salary for the coming year was fixed at L 25, and it was agreed to vote him LlO for past services. Mr James proposed that the powers of the Metropolitan Clubs shall continue in force until the proposed special meeting is held. 3 Mr A. S. Clarkson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. It was agreed that the meeting to consider the proposed amendments should be held on August 4-. Mr James proposed — " That instruction be given to the incoming Executive Committee to call for a properly audited balance sheet from all clubs before passing their programmes." Mr O. H. Williams beeonded this, which was carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. — Ly ttelton Times, SOUTHLAND SPORTING NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Messrs Carswell and Co., who I told you in my last notes have May King and Watermark for sale, tell me they have had inquiries from all parts of New Zealand for particulars about May King, and that business is likely to eventuate. A few of our local horses have commenced preparation for the Southland Amateur Turf

Club's meeting in September. J. Belsham has Surefoot at work ; Aitken, Loiter ; James Lawson, old Victory and Matamata ; and Mr Timpany, Reflection and Dandenong. Of course most of the races at this meeting are over obstacles, and our jumping horses are qualifying and training with the Birchwood hounds, The Birchwood hounds -met on Saturday at Groper's Bush, and hunted over the Ermdale estate and the properties of Messrs Allan, Jones, Stenhouse, and Borland. As you will no doubt have full descriptions from your usual contributors, I need not enter into details. I hear there is a remote chance of Gipsy King (I mean the original Gipsy King by Le Loup), now located -near Hawera in the Taranaki district, becoming the property of a Southland sportsman. The Southland Stud {Company held their annual meeting on Thursday last. There were about a dozen shareholders present. The report expressed regret that the company's prospects were so seriously injured by litigation into which they say they were forced. The wages account had been unusually heavy owing to an accident to the stud groom. The raising of service fees to non-shareholders had proved a financial failure. Tho balance sheet showed a lost of L 530 10s 6d on the year's transactions, which only left a balance of L 126 9s 6d of assets over liabilities, and L 73 of capital to be called up. It was decided to carry on the business for another year.