WINGATUI RACECOURSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 70

WINGATUI RACECOURSE.

NEW STEWARDS' STAND.

LAYING FOUNDATION STONE.

After the second event at the Wingatui races on Friday the Hon. Sir George M'Lean (president of the Dunedin Jockey Club) laid the foundation stone of the new stewards' stand. A large crowd witnessed the ceremony, which was brief but interesting. Mounting the platform prepared for the occasion, Mr James Hazletfc (vice-president of the club) addressed the assemblage. He said that Sir George M'Lean had kindly consented, at the stewards' request, to lay the foundation stone of the. new buik..ug, and there was no doubt that, like. everything else that Sir George took in hand, it would be- well and truly laid.—(Cheers.) Sir George had been president of the club for 25 or 26 years, during which time he had done all in his_ power to forward its interests, not only by running his horses but in other ways. When the club left Forbury Sir George M'Lean was the man who planned out the greater part of the Wingatui course.—(Cheers.) H© was sure all patrons of sport would be very pleased when they saw some of the president's stock on the course again.—(Cheers.) Sir George had imported a splendid horse from Home, and, without doubt, when its progeny came to the fore they would again see the well-known and popular colours sported at Wingatui and elsewhere. — (Cheers.) He would now call upon Sir George to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. ,

Sir George M'Lean was greeted with hearty cheers. He said he was very pleased indeed to accede to the request to lay the foundation stone of the new building. He had in the first place to thank Mir Hazlett for the kind remarks ho had made concerning him. He had also to thank ether members of the club for the assistance they had given him in bringing the course to the state in which they saw it that day.— (Cheers.) They had ail worked with a will. Thev were a united family, and they had worked for,the good of thq club. —(Cheers.) They had now been racing at Wingatui for over 11 years without having had a reverse, neither had they had a loss on any meeting.—(Cheers.) They took the course amidst many prognostications of failure and dismal croakings, and with only as much money as barely paid for the land. They were now in a very independent position.—(Cheers.) They had provided every convenience for their inside and outside patrons, and, having done this, he did not think any of them would grudge* suitable provision for the stewards, who hitherto had had to carry on a large business with very scant accommodation, especially when he stated that the money for the work was in hand.—(Cheers.) Their creditors need have no fear for their debenture money, as the club owed only £2900, and if a fire stick were put to all the buildings, which 'he mijrht say, were insured.—("Hoar, hear"), —they could cut up the land and realise more than their money.—(Cheers.) At fijst there was a good deal of making shift to provide accommodation for visiting horses, but these wore well cared for now by private enterprise. The club was not a close borough. Every gentleman of good repute, by paying £3 3s, could enjoy alt the privileges of the meetings ana also bring some of his lady friends with him. At the same time ho would have the great privilege of showing his friends alkthe fine buildings on the ground, and could say, " This is all our property," instead of " all the club's proto.wait until the other was just as pleasant, tendance had been increasing, notwithstanding" the tunnels—the great bugbear at one time. Those who had passed through the tunnels that morning found that in one of them there was no smoke to cause discomfort, and they would not have long to wait until the other was just as pleasant. —(Cheers.} And where could they find a better place than Wingatui to spend a holiday ? One got clear of tho town and enjoyed a. much better climate, for it must be admitted that it had happened that at Wingatui they had been racing in sunshine while in Dunedin they had had to postpone their sports on account of the rain.— (Cheers.) But he must not keep them longer. He hoped that they would find the stewards the next meeting housed in a fine, substantial building" worthy of Otago's great emporium of sport—Wingatui.—(Cheers.) The stone was lowered to its bed, and, having been properly levelled, Sir George M'Lean gave it its final stroke, and declared it well and truly laid.—'•(Cheers.) Cheers were given for Sir George M'Lean. Mr Peter Miller said a mission had been entrusted to- him which he accepted with much pjeasure, and that was to present Sir George M'Lean with a suitablyinscribed memento of the occasion from the architects. Mr Miller handed Sir George a greenstone mallet and a gold trowel in the shape of a watchguard trinket, inscribed on tho front:—"To the Hon. Sir George M'Lean, K. 8., M.L.C. 3rd June, 1910," and on the reverse: " A souvenir of his laying the foundation stone, stewards* buildings, Wingatui Racecourse."—(Cheers.) Sir George M'Lean accepted the memento, and thanked the architects for their generosity. Cheers for tho Dunedin Jockey Club closed the ceremony. It is proposed to extend. the present stewards' building by 50ft on the ground floor and to add an upper storey. The verandah will be removed and a new balcony .erected, 10ft wide and 60ft long. The upper portion of the building will be devoted to the stewards and visitors. Ample provision will be made for jockeys and trainers. Messrs Mason and Wales are the architects, and Mr Gabriel Hodges is the contractor. The foundation stone bears this inscription: —"This foundation stone was laid by the Hon. Sir George McLean, K. 8., M.L.U. June, 1910."