SOUTH CANTERBURY AUTOMOBILE CLUB.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12690, 29 May 1905, Page 4

SOUTH CANTERBURY AUTOMOBILE CLUB.

On. Saturday afternoon, a meeting of those m forming an automobile club st South Canterbury was held. Dr Barclay-, -who - had convened the meeting, presidedfi and there were present—Dr Ga. tater and Messrs S. Clarke, F. Tasker, A. Beck, J. Meikle, A. Wigiey, D. Scott, " H. ©Mribett, J. MaSng, C. ' W. Wood, G. F. Brown, and P. Elworthy. Apologies were received from Messrs J. C. Scott, A. -6. Nalder, S. .Mackenzie, H. Stuaft, and D. J.'Young. The chairman said the question ol forming: a club had loos- bees indefinitely discussed, and he haa thought steps were being taken to do eo. In the course of a recent tour in the district, he recognised mora strongly than before the necessity for such a body, and he took it upon him* ■elf to convene this meeting-.. He hadf addressed u many as he knew were interested in the matter, and had -received satrsfactory replies from almost every one of them. When in Christ church some time ago, he spoke to some members "of the Canterbury Club, aud was assured that, far from being detriminal to their interests, * Sooth Canterbury club would be veiv welcome; and the secretary had offered to come down (if his expenses were paid> and attend their meeting?, giving suggestions ■ where necessary. He himself thought thev , could manage the preliminary meeting J themselver, and could ask for suggestions later on it necessary. The business of . this meeting was to "constitute a club and i elect officers. As to the duties of an . automobile club, there was plenty to do, ) fo approaching focal bodies to improve the j ro®d», and to work together to make them- T Mlvea as pleasant aj possible to tbe public, I tS.,, 88 •? .Pyent the passing of anything t like restrictive legia latum. , ■Sir Tasker moved, and Dr Gabitesee- n

conded, and it was carried—" That a'club be formed for. South Canterbury; to be called . Jlie s?outh Canterbury Automobile Club." *. . The .following were elected members of tie Club Messrs ~H. Stuart, A. Beck, Tasker,. C. W. < Wood, A. Wigley,. F. Brown, Dr Gabites, D. Moore, H. Corbett, W. P. Turton, J. Maliog, S. Clarke, Dr.Barday, J. Meikle, G. Saundarij -E.-^Jones,' D. Elwotthy, A..Q. 2falder, S. Mackenzie, 3. C. Scotr, G. Macdonald, and Mrs Meikle. Profitingby the" experience of the Canterbury And other clubs, where trade membera hiad voluntarily withdrawn frcm office, it Tja*-.infonnally -agreed that the management of .the Club should be free from' trade' membership. It was recognised that tlie trad»ißembers. were valuable, but expei ienoe showed. the advisableness of their having nothing to. da ■rfTth ib" management. The nnderstacdmg was ni..te-.l at with the'full consent .of - the tfade members present. . . Xfaft -following officers were elected : President, Dr Barclay; vice-presidents, Dr Gabites. and Sir P; Elwoithy; secretary and treasurer (honorary), Mr F. Tasker; committee, Messrs Brown, Meikle, Maling, Jones, and Wigley. It. ; was resolved that the committee and : officers iniaet and" draw up draft rules, to submit at-a future "meeting. The membershipfee was fixed at £l,ls. A- general conversation on vaiiora" motor topics, then took place. One of the mem-' bers-said- it was jnst as well the horse--usingpublic should know that, ; whea a motorist appeared to be -treating a driver of & horse with scant courtesy, he was,--in nite.--cases out of ten, actually doing what'-was likely to cause (rouble. F.or instance, when overtaking a horse that was bot actually restive, it was much better to pass Tit- "at full speed than to slow down. .The'motor got by much r sooner, giting 1 "the "torse less time to make investi- ; gationsalanning to itself; a slow-" miming;engine made more nove thaa the saoicTengine at. its proper speed. .Besides,-, almost all motorists drovehorses them" selves,; had-ia certain. amount? of sympathy/and" respect for them.