TIMARU RACECOURSE TRUSTEES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2815, 1 October 1883, Page 3

TIMARU RACECOURSE TRUSTEES.

The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of tbe Timaru Racecourse Reserve, appointed by the Timaru Racecourse Reserve Act of last session, was held at the Ship Hotel on Saturday. There were present — Messrs W. S. Arroitage, T. Hall, T. R. Jones, R. Rutherford, M. Btudholme, and J. W. White, being all the members of the Board except Mr T. Tesohemiker, who is now in England. On the motion of Mr White, seconded by Mr Rutherford, Mr Stndholmo was eleoted Chairman. Mr Bludholme returned thanks for the confidence reposed in him. He then sketched tbe business which had to be done. A Committee must be appointed to draw up rules and report, say in a month, as some time would be required to obtain information from other trust* of a similar character, from which a code of rules could be compiled. The question of allowing the Tradesmen's Club to hold a meeting on the course on the 17th December would have to be considered. The principal points would be the amount to be charged them, and the obtaining a guarantee that any damage done to the growing crop oi the tenant would be made good, — it would not do for the Trustees to have a claim made aaainst them for damages. Ho would suggest that the charge be £25, which, ha understood, they were willing to pay, and that they give a proper guarantee to hold the Trustees scatheless in the event of any damage being done to tbe crop. Mr Rutherford said the Tradesmen's Club were q.ite willing to nivesuoh a guarantee. Mr Jones handed in a letter fr-m the Secretary to the Tradesmen's Club, applying for the use of the course on the 17th December, for a rac- meeting, of whioh the pro-gram-tie was enclosed. Mr White proposed that the application hi acceded to for the ura of the ground for on< day on payment of £25. and a gusrantet being given to the satisfaction of tho Trusteei against all damage. Mr Rutherford proposed as an amendmen that the oharge be £20. £25 was a con siderable sum to pay. Mr White directed attention to the grea advantages the Club would have. Mr Armitage asked if all Clubs would b charged the same sum. Mr Hall replied certainly not. This eas must not form a precedent. Any man migh get up a Club for a purpose, and they ooul not undertake to let any Club bare lb ground for £25. " Mr White ssid that as a matter of fact th Board were not yet properly in a position t grant the use of the ground at all. Aocorc ing to clauie 9of tho Act the obarges mu. bare been publicly notified, and that had nc beeu done. No one, however, would fin fault with them for giving this permiision. Mr Hall suggested that the guarante should refer not only to the crop, but also t the condition of tbe Stand and enclosure.

The Chairman : Certainly. We have spent £2500 upon tho course, chiefly out of private funds. Mr Rutherford thousht ngood deal of that mvi' have pome from rents. Mr White siH no, yort little.. The cour»e wns let for a long timo f>r only £fiO n yenr. It wa« pointed out that a guarantee from the Tradesmen's Club, as a Club, would bo two indefinite, as it had not ytt acquired s •tindine, and it was agreed to demand the pemona! gun anteo of three member*. It. won resr>!»rd — « That the Tradesmen's Club bo permitted the use of the rseeoouive for ono daj'» racing for tho turn of £20, on three membenof tho Club, to be. apprised of, entering into a proper guarantee to bo responsible for all damage done to t Tie course, crop? or improTemontß. tho meeting to be held on the 17lh December." It wos also resolved — "That a Committee consisting of Messrs White, Armitage and Hall b« appointed to draw up rules and bylaws, to report to' a general meeting t>be held on October 27th, and that tho Committee be empowered to approve of the guarantee required from tho Tradesmen 1 * Club." Mr Rutherford asked whether by the present lease training was allowed on (hi course. He had been told by a niombor of the S.O. J.O. th\t training was not- allowed and by the gentleman who drew tho lease that it wa>. Mr White promised to get a copy of the lease. The question of appointing » Secretary was then considered, m view of them being a good deal of work to do m looking after the improvements, besides thoraca meetings, and on the motion of Sir Armitage, seconded by Mr White, it wat resolved to offer tho position to Mr F. W. Cook, at a salary of £10 per annum. Mr Hall complained that the hour at which the meeting was called was a raoit ineonrenient one for town members, nnd he thought these mijht have been osnsulted by tho-e who called this meeting. Mr Rutherford and Mr Armitage explained ihat they were under tho impression that the meeting wai urgently required, and they had lot time to contu't all tho members. They :new tho hour would suit Mr Studholme, and lupposed the town members could mafco it K>nvoni.-nt. Mr Rutherford m turn complained that Ihn old trustees, who should baTe ed the way, took no action. The next meeting waj firad for 1 30 p.m. n Ootober 27th, and a Toto of thanks to the 'hairman terminated the meeting.