South Canterbury Jockey Club.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6245, 18 June 1890, Page 2

South Canterbury Jockey Club.

The annual meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club was held at the Qrosvenor Hotel Inst evening. There was a good attendance of members, and Mr E. Timaru Rhodes (president) occupied the chair. The annual report was as follows : “In placing before you the annual report and balance sheet of the club for the year ending 31st May, 1890, it is again gratifying to note that the two meetings held during the year have together resulted ;n a profit to the club. 11 As stated at our last annual your committee proposed to materially increase the amount given in stakes at both meetings, and, as mentioned then, the amount of £l3O had been added to tho spring meeting, which proved, in every way, successful, and enabled them to issue a programme for the autumn meeting with an increase of £146, or a total increase of £276 over the year. The total amount paid in stakes during tho year being £1282 10s (spring meeting £536 10s, autumn meeting £746) j the spring meeting, proving the more remunerative of the two, left a net profit of £Bl ss, and the autumn meeting showing a loss of £7O 15s, which is easily accounted for by the inclemency of the weather which prevailed on both days, affecting the attendance to a very considerable extent. Over the two meetings there remains a balance of £9 10s, being the net profit, which shows that the increase in

the stakes was justified. “ During the year very extensive improvements have been carried out on the course and buildings at a cost of £ll2 13s 9d. The track is now in first-class order, and it should be kept so at a very [trifling expense. There are, however, many other improvements which can be made from time to time. “The following members of committee retire : —Messrs E. R. Guinness, W. Gunn, J. Meikle, E. Smith, F. Simmons, all of whom are eligible for ro-eleetion, with the exception of Mr Gunn, who has resigned, owing to his absence from the colony. "James A. Qbaoie, " Hon. Treasurer.” The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year had been £1719 9s lid. The club started the year with a credit balance of £134 13s ; nominations and acceptances had returned £511.. totalisator £624 3s 3d, and race receipts £242 lls. In addition to the items of expenditure mentioned in the report £63 6s fid had been spent in advertising and printing, £9l 10s 9d on expenses account, £72 6s in salaries, and a credit balance of £97 3s lid shown. Under the heading of liabilities and assets there is shown a balance of £284 17s 8d in favour of the latter. In speaking to the report and balance-sheet the chairman referred to the spring and autumn meetings, to the success of the former, and the failure of the iatter through bad weather. One thing he said the club had gained over the autumn meeting. A bettor class of horses had been nominated than for years before; in fact ever since the club was

in existence. Three among the horses had been nominated for the Dunedin Oup, and the fact that only one horse started hero was due to accident and so forth. The club had tried the experiment last year of throwing the gates open to traps, and he thought that members would see that though the receipts from the gates had thus fallen off slightly, the totalisator receipts had been much better than in previous years, and the concession made to traps had thus been a success. Copies of the report and balanoe-sheet were in members’ hands, and it was therefore unnecessary to now read them. Mr J. A. Gracie, hon. treasurer, before the balance-sheet and report were adopted, desiered to explain certain items. The balance to credit this year was not so great as last due to a certain extent to the fact that this year their accounts were closed as to 31st May. Last

year their financial year closed on the 31st July, so that they had tbe benefit of reckoning to credit the rents for two months more than in this year. Members’ subscriptions were virtually tho same, but there were I slight'increases under other headings. He also called attention to the fact that tbe club required to have the names of 50 paying members on their books. At present they had only two over that number, but he understood that several new members were to be put up that evening, the result of which would put the club out of danger on that score. He then endorsed the chairman’s remarks as to the high class of the horses competing at tho autumn meeting, and moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The motion was seconded by Mr F. Simmons and carried unanimously. Tho retiring members of the committee were then re-elected, and Mr H. Gardner being the only candidate nominated to fill

the vacancy caused by Mr W. Gunn’s retirement (owing to absence from the colony) was declared duly elected. Mr F. Wa'son moved that a hearty vote of thanks be tendered to the outgoing committee, and that members wish tbe new committee every success.—Agreed to. Mr W. Collins desired to also record a very , hearty vote of thanks to the chairman (Mr Bhocles). Mr Collins said that he was sura that all would agree that Mr Ehodes had worked very hard for the club, and had loyally supported the sport of racing in South Canterbury. Mr Simmons seconded the vote, which was

carried with prolonged applause. Mr Rhodes, in thanking them for their compliment said that he had always tried to do bis best for the club. It was a proud thing for him to be present that evening and to see so many present. At former meetings they had reckoned that if they got half a dozen members together they had done well. That evening they had got a meeting of five and thirty members, the largest the club had had in Timaru for 10 or 15 years. For what trouble he bad taken the meeting that evening fully repaid him. He hoped in the future to do very much more for the club than he had done, and would faithfully discharge the duties the committee might require of him. (Applause ) The annual meeting then closed.

A committee meeting was afterwards held. Present—Messrs Rhodes, Gracie, Melton, Black, Guinness, Moikle, Simmons, Mahoney, Smith, and Gardner.

The first business was the election of chairman, and Mr Smith moved, and Mr Mahoney seconded, and it was unanimously carried, that Mr E, Timaru Rhodes be reelected chairman.

Mr Rhodes said it was merely loft for him to thank them for the honour they had dene him. During the past year the committee had worked well together, on no occasion bad any fuss arisen, and be hoped that the now committee would conduct business as smoothly.

Mr B. T. Rhodes and Mr T. Tesohemaker were elected president and vice-president and judge, respectively. Messrs Richard Allen, D. Maclean, and M. Sherwin were elected stewards j Mr 1). R, Guinness, clerk of thq

course ; Mr John Moible, starter ; Mr James A. Qraoie, hon. treasurer ; Mr W. St. Lindsay, hon. timekeeper; Mr E. Srailh, clerk of the scales j Mr George Dowse, handicapper. Five applications were received for the position of secretary to the club, and Mr M. t'. Dennohoy was elected by a majority of votes.

A letter was read from Mr W. Spring, of Leeston, asking the club if they could see their way to extend their “ district ” to the south bank of the Selwyu, an extension of some 10 miles further than at present. Mr Spring felt sure it would be tbe means of increasing the number of horses at the club’s meetings. It was agreed to accede to the request.

New members were notified as follows: Messrs J. Egan, M. Sullivan, G. Stumbles, T. Rooney, M. Quinn, J. Shaw, J. 0. Park, T. Tooney, E. Qeaney, T. Peacock, and P. W. Eiby’. The election takes place next meeting |uight. Routine business was transacted, and the meeting closed.