WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 266, 29 August 1895, Page 8

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

[BY WIRE —FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

August 27.

There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club held last night. The meeting wa. a very qniet one, Mr F. Turnbull being the only member who criticised the balance-sheet, taking exception chiefly to the bonus to the secretary and the present unsatisfactory means of access to the course after alighting from the train. The president, Mr H. D. Bell, warmly defended the action of the stewards in voting a bonus to Mr H. M. Lyon, pointing out that he had performed the secretarial duties without compensation when the club was in financial difficulties, and, therefore, it was only proper that Mr Lyon should be rewarded for the energetic manner in which he worked for the Club. Mr Bell also stated that the Course Committee would endeavour to make better arrangements for the convenience of visitors in getting to the course. With respect to Mr Turnbull’s suggestion that the entrance fee should be reduced so as to popularise the Club and to induce new members to join, the president disagreed with the proposal. Old members bad to bear the burden when the Club’s finances were at a low ebb, and if anyone desired to join‘how when the Club was in a flourishing condition they should have to pay for the privilege. Only four new members had been elected last season and three during the preceding ■season.

The election of officers resulted as follows : — President, Mr H. D. Bell ;.vice presidents, Messrs T. G. McCarthy and E.. Pearce (re-elected) ; judge, Mr G. H. Scales (re-elected) ; clerk of scales, Mr J. Wilkins (re-elected) ; time-keeper, Mr N. Grace (re-elected) ; treasurer, Mr F. Franklyn; stewards, Messrs W. E. Bidwell, C P. Skerrett, G. H. Harbroe, J. Duncan, J. Ames (re-elected), and J. Saunders. Dr. Purdy was appointed Hon. Surgeon. The report and balance-sheet are as follows : — “ In presenting their annual report and statement of accounts for the past twelve months, the stewards have much pleasure in recording the continued prosperity of the Club. The three meetings held during the past season were most successful, both .from a sporting and financial point of view, thus fully justifing the action which your stewards took in increasing the added money. The Club was favoured with exceptionally fine weather on the various race days, which no doubt contributed greatly to the success of the gatherings. Included in the receipts for the past two years is the sum of £2lB, received for licenses of trainers, jockeys, and apprentices. This money, in accordance with the decision of the last Racing Conference, will be transferred to trust accounts, viz , trainers’ provident fund and jockeys’ provident fund, and the amounts to the credit thereof will be available in cases of accident or distress. During the year the racecourse and appointments have been kept up to their usual standard, but the expense connected with the tracks was considerably added to owing to the exceptionally heavy storms and floods at Easter time, when practically the whole of the new sand track was washed away. The track has, however, since been replaced, and is now in excellent order. The starting machines used for the first time in New Zealand during the past season have proved a success, and are a very great help to the starter in despatching his fields evenly, and the chances of false starts are now reduced to a minimum. The machines, however, require to be manipulated by an experienced starter, and your stewards were fortunate in inducing Mr Andrew Young to resume the office, the duties of which he had so ably performed in an honorary capacity in past years.” Receipts and Expenditure.

Receipts : —Balance from last year, £239 Bs. lid; entries, £1134; booths and cards, £220; lawn and gates, £Bl5 4s 8d; admissions, per railway, £310; totalisators, £3,536 15s 6d, less State tax (£571 15s Id), £2,965 Os sd; members’ subscriptions, £llB 13s ; members’ entrance fees, £l2 12 s; trainers’, jockeys’, and apprentices’ licenses, £lO2 10s ; miscellaneous receipts, £B3 8s 4d; total, £6,000 17s 4d. Expenditure : — Liabilities, July 31st, 1894, £l4B 4s 6d; stakes, £3,773 ss; handicapper, £9O; starter and expenses, £32 8s; clerk of the course, expenses and part of outfit, £l9 12s ; secretary, salary and bonus, £221 ; caretaker, wages and bonus, £140; caretaker’s assistant, £65 ; advertising and printing, £194 4s 4d; rates, £l5 4s 8d; bands and expenses, £2B 3s 2d. Rents —'Pipe Bridge (two years), £5O ; steeplechase course, £10; secretary’s office, £l5. Clerical assistance and wages on race days, £5B 14s ; wages (general work on the course), £269 Ils 8d; racecourse improvements and plant, £193 Is Id ; insurances, £2O 17s 6d; police expenses, £l4 18s lid; hire of marquee, £l3 10s ; auditor’s fee, £5 5s ; starting machines, £5O 16s 6d ; starting machines’ royalties, £8 8s ; Hutt Park Trustees, contribution towards gorse clearing, £lO ; jockeys’ provident fund, £5; general expenses (stationery, cab hire, railway fares, exchanges, telegrams, postages, and petties), £47 8s 6d. Balances—Fixed deposit, Equitable Building and Investment Company, £400; Bank of Australasia, £129 0s 4d ; in bands of secretary, £2 4s 2d; total, £6,000 17s 4d.