BIRCHWOOD HUNT

Southland Times, Issue 23818, 16 May 1939, Page 11

BIRCHWOOD HUNT

ANNUAL MEETING OF MATAURA BRANCH INCREASED MEMBERSHIP The annual meeting of the Mataura branch of the Birchwood Hunt was attended by 25 members. The president, Mr J. McAllister, presided and extended a welcome to Mr P. Amos, a supporter of the club who has recently, returned from a trip to Scotland. The report stated: “The executive regrets to record the death of Dr Grove. The membership has been extremely satisfactory, 30 members being fully paid-up members of the Birchwood Hunt and 206 members of thexMataura branch. This is an increse of 26 members compared with last year. As the balance shows, the credit amounts to £l2/6/3, as against £3/10/6 for 1937. “The cup presented by the club to the winner of the open jump was won by Mr M. O’Brien, Otautau. During the season, the Glenham, Pine Bush and Mataura branches of the Birchwood Hunt held a successful flag-to-flag steeplechase on the Wyndham racecourse. At the annual meeting of the Birchwood Hunt Mr J. J. Ross, of the Mataura branch, was elected a member of the executive. The club wishes to thank the . following: Messrs W. L. Scott, L. McVicar, L. Scarlett and W. Copeland for allowing the hunt to be run on their property; Mrs W. L. Scott for her hospitality in entertaining visit- [ ing members and throwing her home open to the club, the women who as- I sisted with the refreshments and finally all those who assisted in preparing the course.”

In moving the adoption of the report, the president referred to the success of the point-to-point steeplechase at Wyndham. Because of the meeting being held late in the season, several horses, who, it was believed, would have competed, left for the north. This year, an endeavour would be made to hold the meeting earlier, and by doing so more horses would compete before going north. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted: President, Mr J. McAllister (reelected) ; vice-presidents, Messrs A. McKay, F. Valentine, W. L. Scott, J. J. Ross, P. Amos, J. Hewlett, D. A. Bell, and T. McVicar; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Bums (re-elected); auditor, Mr C. D. McConnell (re-elected); general committee, Messrs A. J. Bromby, D. J. Ross, C. Irwin, W. Dodds, R. Scott, G. Scott, W. Scott and R. McVicar, with power to add. It was decided to hold the hunt on July 1 and it was stated that the landowners concerned were quite agreeable to put their land at the disposal of the club.

It was decided to hold a banquet on the evening of the hunt.

It was also decided to communicate with the Glenham and Pine Bush Clubs with a view to completing arrangements for the flag steeplechase. It was agreed that the annual meeting of the Mataura branch should be held before the annual meeting of the Birchwood Hunt, thus enabling remits from the branch to be forwarded to the parent club.

OPENING MEET AT LIMEHILLS The Birchwood Hunt has arranged the following meets:— May 17.—Winton. (At Limehills). May 20.—Oreti. May 24—Drummond. May 26 and 27.—Mossburn. May 29.—Parawa. May 31.—Garston. June 13.—Turi. June 16 and 17. —Pine Bush. June 19.—Glenham. June 21.—Mokoreta. June 24.—Mandeville. June 28.—Riversdale. July I.—Mataura. July s.—Benmore.