TARANAKI HUNT CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1934, Page 9

TARANAKI HUNT CLUB

SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE. TRIBUTE TO RETIRING HUNTSMAN. The enthusiasm displayed at the annual meeting of the Taranaki Hunt Club last night following on a successful season, augured well for the success of the coming season. Mr. A. R. Standish, chairman of the committee, presided over an attendance of over 30 members, including several ladies. The meeting was held at Waitara.

The twenty-seventh annual report stated that notwithstanding the depression the past year had been a very successful one on both the hunting and the financial sides. For that the thanks of the club were due to the many keen and generous supporters of the hunt, both. town and country. Special thanks were again due to Mr. Rook, the huntsman, who had the hounds in good fettle and gave followers some excellent sport. The committee had received a further taxation rebate of £BO from the Government. This would enable the club to effect further necessary improvements at the kennels, a pumping plant for .an improved water supply having already been installed.

The annual race meeting and the point to point again proved very successful. The point to point, which was held on the racecourse and which, unfortunately, clashed with the Maori representative football match held at Pukekura Park, was well patronised. If a date could be arranged so that there would be no opposition it should be a great attraction, and members were requested to start early and qualify their horses and get them in condition to race. The committee desired to thank Mrs. Standish and all those ladies who assisted with the afternoon teas, both at the race meeting and point to point, also all those ladies who assisted at the ball at Motunui, and farmers who so generously entertained members and over whose properties the club hunted, the Taranaki Jockey Club for the use of the course and conveniences for the point to point and the race meeting, the donor of the. cup for the Hunt Club Cup, and Mr. J. Power for donating a cup for . the Maiden Hunters’ Steeplechase and Mr. B. Tippins for a handsome cup for. the Ladies’ Steeplechase at the point to point. The Ben Tippins Shield, which again created great interest and keen competition, among members, was won by Mr. Ron Foreman, who would hold it until the end of the current season. . FINANCIAL POSITION. -The balance-sheet showed that receipts totalled £lllO 10s 6d and expenditure £964 16s lid, the year showing a credit of £146 17s 7d. Liabilities were £447 8s 5d over assets as compared with £594 2s 7d last yea?. . , The hunting last season had been up to the standard of previous year, remarked the chairman in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet., Indeed, one run had been practically a. record. There was some splendid .racing, particularly in the Ladies’ Steeplechase for the Tippins Cup. Unfortunately the weather was. not favourable but nevertheless the meeting must be regarded as very successful, particularly in view of -the fact that, they .had succeeded in securing the extra rebate of 1} per. cent, from the Government, amounting to- £BO 8s 7d. Subscriptions were down £lO, which in view of the times must be regarded as very, satisfactory. Nominations and acceptances were down, which was only to be expected, but it .was hoped they would improve this year. • Other items were about the same. ■ < Mr. A. H. Halcombe seconded the motion.

Replying to questions the chairman stated that water had now been connected with the kennels. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. A. H. Halcombe; vice-presi-dents, ten elected; treasurer, Mr. W. T. Hookham; secretary, Mr. E. L. Humphries; auditor, Mr. C. B. Webster; master, Mr. W. T. Joll; deputy masters, Messrs. R. G. Foreman, Ivan Cole and C. Honeyfield; honorary surgeons, Drs. Adamson and Fookes; general committee, Dr. Adamson, Messrs. R. H. George, I. Prichard, H. j. M. Wells, M. Fahey, J. Edwin, G. Jago, J. Mabin, A. Cole, J. Loveridge, P. Sampson,. R. Topless, W. T. Hookham, j. Devine, J. Power, Mrs. McGreal, Misses H, Cole, M. -Cole, M. Knight and E. Hicks, with nine ex-officio members; fixtures committee, Messrs. A- R. Standish (convener), W. T. Hookham, A. H. Halcombe, W. T. Joll, M. Fahey,. P. Cole, C. Honeyfield, S. Topless and H. Tippens; grounds committee, Messrs. W. T. Joll (convener), A. T. Moore, P. Cole, A. Cole, C. Honeyfield and Dr. Adamson; race committee, Messrs. A. H. Halcombe, B. Tippins, P. Sampson, W. T. Joll, C. Honeyfield, A. R. Standish, L. A. Nolan, W. T. Hookham,. R. H. George, W. D. Graham, A. Alexander, G. Jago, W. C. Weston, J. McLeod, J. Devine and J. Power. Last year's canvassing committee was reappointed. Messrs. H. Dulieu (New Plymouth) and L. Nodder (Inglewood) were elected members. DATE FOR POINT TO POINT. Some discussion took place over the question of the date for the point to point meeting. The chairman stated that he had discussed the matter with Mr. Jas. McLeod, chairman of the Taranaki Rugby Union, who stated that there would always be an important representative match at New Plymouth on June 3, and he suggested that it might be possible to hold the point to point on a Saturday when there was not an important Rugby fixture.

Mr. Nolan said that he felt- assured that the hunt had the sympathy of the Taranaki Rugby Union, and it was decided to refer the matter to, the racing committee with a recommendation that a date be fixed late in June if possible. Mr. Cole said there was considerable opposition by horse owners to holding the point to point at New Plymouth. Mr. Halcombe pointed out that finance should be the first consideration at present Mr. • Tippins considered that given fine weather and no counter attraction the Hunt Club would clear £l.OO over the point to point at New Plymouth. The chairman intimated that Mr. Tippins had again promised to donate a cup for the Ladies’ Steeplechase. It was resolved that for the present year instead of the master and two deputy masters acting as judges the master, Miss Knight and Mr. S. Topless should be appointed. A vote of thanks was accorded the chairman of the committee (Mr. Standish), whose work was eulogised, members also expressing appreciation at his recovery from a serious illness. Three huntsmen’s cheers were accorded Mr. Halcombe, who had been huntsman since the foundation of the hunt 27 years ago. In acknowledging the compliment Mr. .Halcombe thanked members for the loyal support they. had. always given him, and he asked the same support for the new master. He also stressed the importance of preserving the property of the farmers who permitted them to hunt and asked that they give all assistance possible to new numbers.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. Standish was re-elected chairman. , ,