SHEEP DOG TRIAL CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2432, 22 February 1909, Page 6

SHEEP DOG TRIAL CLUB.

FOURTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING

There was a large attendance at thy fourteenth annual general meeting of the Poverty Bay Sheep Dog Trial Club, which was held at the Ormond Hotel on Saturday evening, upwards of 40 members attending. The President (Mr. J. A. Caesar) was in the chair. Mr. It. Thelwall presented the annual report and balance-sheet, which were deemed highly satisfactory, and adopted, amidst applause, on the motion of the president.

The report was as follows: “Your committee have pleasure in submitting the fourteenth annual report of the club, and in doing so congratulate members on the satisfactory position disclosed, both by the report and balance-sheet. During the past year increased interest was taken in the work of the chib, both by competitors, station-owners, and the general public. Last season’s trials, which were again held on Bruce’s Estate at Ormond, were the most successful in the history 'of the club, the number of entries constituting a record for the district. The balance-sheet shows that receipts for the year amounted to-£l2B 12s. The donations received from patrons'-of the club amounted to the satisfactory total of £'44 14s, and the thanks of members arc due to those gentlemen who contributed so liberally to the funds of the club. £l7 os was received from members’ subscriptions and £3B os from entrance fees. The principal item of expenditure was £35 for prize money, and £ll 12s 6d for trophies and medals won at the trials. The credit balance on th“ year’s operations, including tlie balance in hand, amounts to £67 6s 3d, which must be deemed to lie highly satisfactory. The thanks of the club are due in a large measure to our worthy president, Mr. J. A. Caesar, who took a keen interest in the club throughout the year, and did much to make the trials such a success, and special thanks are due to him for so liberally entertaining the guests at the trials, during each day, at his own expense. Your committee also wishes to place on record the thanks of the club to the owners of the ground on which tile trials were held, to Messrs. Burgess for supplying the sheep, and to “Messrs. McKenzie Bros, for grazing the sheep while the trials Lasted. Your committee, in conclusion, wishes the club every success during the incoming year, and trusts that members will combine to make the approaching trials even more successful than those of last year.” The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—President, Mr. J. A. Caesar (re-elected); viqe-presi-dcnt-3, Messrs. E. Murphy, E. M. Hutchinson, and A. Dewing; patrons, Hon. Captain Tucker, Messrs. W. D. S. Macdonald, M.P., D. Cameron, M. Hingston, A. F. Kennedy. C. J. Parker, J. Russell, R. Sherratt, W. G. Sherratt. \Y. Graham, A. F. Wachemann, J. W. Bright, T. H-oldcn. Geoff. Maclean, Con. Neon an, A. H. Wallis, F. Hall, C. White, D. J. Barry, G. Hawkins,' W. D. Lysnar, R. S. Chilton, F. J. Lysnar, and J. A. Lucas ; general committee, Messrs. Geo. Hinton, A. Devery, ' jun., E. Tait, A. Thompson, K. McDonald, W. E. Aston, A. McKenzie. J. Hyde, W. Bonis, A. Burch, E. Bilham, F. Caleott. A. Anderson, E. Steggall, F. Cook, F. McKenzie, D. McKenzie; secretary and treasurer, Mr. R. Thelwall (re-elected); judge, Mr. C. Davis (re-elected); the appointment oi a timekeeper was left in the hands oi Messrs. J. A. Caesar, R. Tlielwall. and C. Neenan; ground committee, Messrs. G. Hinton, A. McKenzie, F. McKenzie, C. Neenan, and E. Biiliam.

It was decided to hold the trials on the loth, 16th, and 17th of Apr',! at Ormond, and to liold ,a meeting of the general committee on March Gth to draw up the programme. The following special prizes were offered:— Mr. W. E. Aston, a guinea to the competitor who casts his dog in the best style in Class I. Mr. E. O’Sullivan, a guinea for the dog under best command at the trials. Messrs. A. Anderson and W. Bonis, a challenge cup, of the value of £3 3s, to the best all-round dog scoring not less than 20 points in each class, to be won twice before becoming the property of the, competitor. A recommendation was made to the general committee to include a driving class in the programme on the third day of the trials if time permits ; post entry, ss. The secretary intimated that lie had received a silver matchbox to he awarded to the owner of the best maiden dog in the three classes at the trials. The advisability of increasing the prize money, as the club had such a •substantial balance in hand, was brought up, and, after discussion, was left to the general committee to consider. The meeting terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the President for presiding.