H.—22.

37

subscribers. No other place outside the main centres has attained anywhere this number of connections. All the leading mercantile firms—viz., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited), National Mortgage and Agency Company (Limited), New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, Dalgety and Co., and Watson and Co.—have permanent offices and wool and grain stores in Methven. The population has doubled in the last few years, so much so that a movement is on foot to form Methven into a borough. As a last and likewise the most important reason, our club, situated as it is in the centre of all the aforesaid clubs, and in one of the best-known agricultural districts in New Zealand, would in a very short time, if a permit be granted, attain the position of being one of the most prominent country racing clubs in Canterbury. In conclusion, we beg to say that we are pledged to carry out whatever conditions, such as purchasing grounds, erecting stands and appointments, ivc, are necessary to secure a permit. We have forwarded a copy of lust season's programme, which, save for a few minor details, has been the same for many years, and would point, out that ours is the only non totalizator club in Canterbury that makes it almost a. regular practice to include a hurdle race on its programme. By the Deputation. — Up till nine years ago our club was in a struggling financial position, but for five years after that we started to go ahead, and then we had £500 in hand. Then the bookmakers were abolished, and though we have since held meetings and made them pay we have not progressed. Last year we gave stakes to the amount of £150, besides a ten-guinea cup. The nominations amounted to 111. In this district we have horse-owners and good stables, and a certain number of horses are trained in the district. The present membership of the club is eighty-four. If we get a permit we are prepared to purchase the freehold course referred to and effect whatever improvements may be deemed necessary. The Methven district is bounded by the Rakaia and Ashburton Rivers, which form natural boundaries. We have good roads, and a train service which could be made good. Methven has made very great progress within the last ten or twelve years, and is being recognized now as one of the best districts in Canterbury, and therefore the best in New Zealand. It is noted for growing an exceptional orop of grain in a bad year, and this year it is safe to say that within a radius of ten miles of Methven the average crop of wheat will be fully 40 bushels and of oats 60 bushels. This district is also noted for the large number of fat lambs and sheep it sends away. Mount Someks and Spbingburn Racing Club. The headquarters of the club are at Mount Somers. The club was formed in October, 1883, and is registered with the Canterbury Jockey Club. The last meeting was held in March, 1914. A list of the present members of the club and a copy of the last balance-sheet have been forwarded. The racecourse is in a domain, and has a circumference of 7 furlongs. We have the consent of the Domain Board, and have a very reasonable prospect of obtaining the use of the domain annually for the purpose of holding race meetings. Ihe accommodation consists of refreshment-rooms, jockeys' and weighing room, secretary's office, all conveniences such as saddling-paddock, judge's box, number-board, and starting-machine, The course is fenced on the inside 10 chains and outside 20 chains, with all distance-posts erected and numbered. The nearest clubs using the totalizator are at Ashburton, twenty-five miles distant, and Geraldine, thirty miles distant. The nearest club not using the totalizator is at Methven, twenty miles distant. For many years we have held our annual race meeting on Boxing Day successfully »till 1911, when an Ashburton club with a totalizator permit secured our day. This, together with the exclusion of bookmakers from i aceeourses, resulted in the club having to face an annual deficiency in their income, and the club cannot continue without some source of revenue such as a totalizator permit will provide. We claim that we have a racecourse with facilities equal, if not superior, to any in Canterbury. The course is only 15 chains from the railway-station, and is well sheltered with plantations on three sides. The Railway Department always runs an excursion train on race day from Christchurch and Ashburton. By the Deputation. —This district has been carrying on racing for thirty-seven years. Our meeting is a sort of holiday for the district, and gives the people a chance to get to a meeting. They have no other opportunity till the year round. This is the centre of a large district which is well served by the railway. There is no other permit between Hororata and Geraldine. Our race meeting used to be very well patronized, and even under our present adverse circumstances it is very well patronized. We think this is the only place in Canterbury the residents of which cannot get to Christchurch and back in one da}'. It really spoils three days to go to Christchurch and back. The financial position of our club is good. Ihe Domain Board has spent £200 in improvements on the racecourse, and will do everything in its power to assist the club should we get a permit. Orari Jockey Club. The headquarters of the club are at Geraldine. The club was formed in 1904, and raced one day a year for the following eight years. The club is a, registered one. The last meetingwas held in April, 1912. A list of the present members of the chili and a copy of the club's last balance-sheet have been, forwarded. We race on the Geraldine Racing Club's course, situate handy to the Orari Railway-station, and have every opportunity for holding successful meetings. The course is 8 furlongs and a few yards in circumference, and it has a training-track as well, 8 furlongs. The tenure is Government reserve, vested in trustees. The accommodation consists of grandstand to seat eight hundred people, with caterer's rooms underneath ; there is also the stewards' stand, together with secretary's office, weighing-room, jockeys' room, cloak and Press rooms. The totalizator-house is practically new and commodious, and has seventeen windows. There are also scraping-sheds for twenty-one horses, and also the ambulance-room. There is a