CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 57

CHRISTCHURCH HUNT CLUB.

I Tne annual meeting of the Christchurch i Hunt Club was held on Wednesday, Mr F. D. } S. Neave presiding ; The annual report stated that the past season was the first under which the club had made arrangements for hunting and keeping the hounds without entering into a contract with the master for that purpose, the master agreeing to act on payment of his actual expenses and for the keep of his horses. As a result of the year's operations it appeared that the actuaJ expense of hunting and keeping the hounds for the year amounted to about £400, which included the cost of keeping the master's horses. In addition to the expenses of hunting and keeping the hounds, the club had spent £500 in the purchase of three and a-half acres of . land, with cottages and stabling, , at Upper Riccarton, the old kennels being . shifted on to this property, so that the club ; now possessed premises suitable for all hunt- \ ing requirements, and was in a position to make arrangements with the master to provide everything necessary for hunting and to entirely relieve the master of any responsibility in that direction. The club purchased a horse during the season at a cost of £46, the other horses used being lent by members. In the opinion of the committee the change had been a success, and the position of the club { in that respect was better than it had been for many years. The hounds at present in the kennels compared favourably with those of the past, while there were six and a-half couple of young hounds ready to enter for I the coming season, and two more litters of pups which would be available for the season after that. The hunting days included visits to the Ashburton district. As these visits appeared to combine good sport for the members with the encouragement of the sport in the Ashburton district, the committee | thought that they should be continued if such were the wish of the Ashburton people. The usual Point-to-Point Steeplechase was bold at Weedons for a trophy presentetd by Mr G. Palmer, and was won by the Messrs Elworthy. As nothing had been done in the direction of entertaining the farmers during the past season, the committee decided that it would be I advisable to arrange to obtain the services j of a thoroughbred stallion, at a reduced fee, i and in accordance with that decision arrnngaments were made with Mr J. B. Reid and Mr C. M. Jackson, the owners of Sant Ilario and St. Cyr respectively, under which those gentlemen, in consideration of a premium paid to them by the club, agreed to sillow i their horses to serve a limited number of mares of farmers nominated by the club at | a guinea each, in the Templeton, Broadfields, Kirwee, and Darfield districts. The cost of this arrangement to the club had been about £30, and the committee hoped that in the future the club would be in a position to accord the same privilege to other farmers. Mention was made of the fact that the districts in which members hunted were very deficient in breeding stout hacks suitable for I hunters, and that it was time thai something was done to encourage the breeding of such horses, as the services^ of the Government ftallions in the districts did not appear to have achieved much success. If the club were to continue any such arrangement for reducing the fees of thoroughbred stallions for farmers' mares, it would be advisable to ascertain whether further assistance could not be obtained by way of co-operation with the Department of Agriculture in giving premiums for stallions approved as suitable in consideration of their serving mares at a reduced foe. An arrangement similar to that under which stallions in England received King's premiums would, in the opinion of the committee, tend to produce a better class of horse than was bred in the district at the present time. A contract had been entered into with Mr J. H. Selby to hunt and keep the hounds for the 12 months ending on August 81, 1905, on the same terms and conditions as last year. The report concluded with recording the thanks of the club to the farmers whose country had been at the disposal of the club, and also to those members who had assisted j the club by special donations, and the use of horses for the Huntsman and Whip. The balance sheet showed fliat the year opened with a credit balance of £210 5s 7d, and closed with a credit of _71 lls Id. The chief items of revenue ■were subscriptions, £229 14s, and donation from Canterbury Jockey Club, .•£2oo. The expenditure included _100 towards the purchase of the new Hunt premises, and £48 17s 6d for a horse. The report and balance sheet \vere adopted. It was decided that, if the funds permitted, the club should continue to assist farmers by arranging for the services of suitable thoroughbred stallions at a reduced fee. Mr W. G. Stead was elected a member of the club. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Bond, who acted as master last year, and he was again appointed to the position. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: — President, Mr R. Heaton Rhodes; vice-president, Mr F. D. S. Neave ; secretary, IMr J. D. Hall ; treasurer, Mr C. Palairet , I committee — Messrs A. E. Gr. Bhodee, T. Eaa-

sett, P. Acton-Adams, G. Gould, W. G. Steal K. Neave, G. L. Stead, G. Palmer, J. C. _ Grigg, D. Westenra, W. E. Symes, and G ' Gerard , delegate to New Zealand Hunt Ass< | , ciation, Mr J. D. Hall; Qualification Coinnii ! ' tse — Messrs T. Rassett, P. Acton-Adams, ( ' ; Palairet, G. L. Stead, G. Gerard, L. Parku 1 ' son, 1). Westenra, J. D. Hall, and the maste ' I __________________—_--_——-_-_______-____