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copy of the club's last balance-sheet have been forwarded. The racecourse is situated at Hawea Flat, is portion of a public domain vested in a Domain Board, and is a properly formed course. The circumference of the course is 8 furlongs. The accommodation consists of a booth with a dining-room, and offices for the accommodation of the officials and members of the club. The course is fenced in, but not on the inside of the course. The nearest clubs using the totalizator are at Cromwell, thirty-seven miles south, and Queenstown, fifty miles south-west. There are no other meetings of any description held nearer than Cromwell and Queenstown. The day's sport provided by this club is the only meeting of its kind that takes place throughout the year in the Upper Clutha Valley, a district comprising an area of over 800 square miles, where the people have not the same facilities for enjoyment or attending race meetings possessed by more favoured places owing to lack of communication, the nearest rail-head being from fifty to seventy miles distant. Furthermore, it is a rising district and a district eminently adapfted for the breeding of thoroughbred horses, and the increased stakes which the use of the totalizator would enable the club to provide would act as a stimulus to the breeding of a better class of horses. By the Deputation. —We would like to point out that this deputation, though small, is a representative one. Our strongest argument for a permit is our isolation. We are fully thirtysix miles by road from Cromwell, where the nearest racing is held. This district is growing every year, and Hawea is only a small portion of it. It also includes Wanaka, Mount Barker, Hunter, Cardrona, and the Terrace. All these districts combine in this day's sport, which is the only day's sport we have in the year. Our population is increasing all the time owing to the cutting-up of big estates. The railway is also approaching the district in the direction of Cromwell. We lay special stress on the fact that this is a rising district in the backblocks. At present we are heavily handicapped in carrying on our day's sport for want of a permit. We have a fair amount of funds in hand, and the Domain Board also has funds, and in the event of securing a permit we are prepared to make whatever improvements to the course are deemed necessary. This is a very old-established club. There was racing at Wanaka forty-six years ago, and we have continued the sport with more or less success. If we get a permit we have no fear but that our meeting will be a success. Our meetings have always been conducted on good lines, and we have never had. a complaint. Our racing is hack racing. All the farmers round about like to have a good horse, and if there is a stake worth going for it will encourage them to breed better horses. We have no other amusements here. We are far removed from the centres of population, and we think we are entitled to one day's sport in the year. Wairau Valley Hack Racing Club. The headquarters of the club are at Wairau. The club has been formed for over seven years. It is a registered club. The last meeting was held in December, 1913. A list of the present members of the club and a copy of the club's last balance-sheet have been forwarded. The circumference of the course is 6 furlongs. The tenure is Government reserve and part private property. The accommodation consists of saddling-paddock, officials' room, and usual appointments for one day's country meeting. The course is fenced on the inside. The nearest clubs using the totalizator are distant thirty-five miles. The nearest clubs not using the totalizator are distant fifty-two miles. Since the Government cut up the Hillersden Estate some months ago there has been a considerable influx of population, and each jrear should now show a considerable increase of stakes and attendance. This is the only function held in the Valley during the year, Boxing and Christmas Days being the only holidays observed here. By the Deputation. —We have a very pleasantly situated course, and we are a sporting community, but without the aid of a totalizator permit we have not the means to carry on. Settlement is extending on both sides of the river, and this will be a very important centre in the near future. We think this is one of the cleanest little places for sport in New Zealand. No drink is sold on the course. We never give any liquor rights on the course. Our membership is about a hundred, and is composed mostly of settlers. We gave £86 10s. in stakes last year in addition to a ten-guinea cup. We had an attendance of four hundred people last Boxing Day. We took £15 at the gate, independent of members' tickets. For the seven races we had an average of six starters. AYe ate within twenty-five miles of the nearest totalizator clvb —not thirty-five as stated in the formal application — but we have no train service. There is only a motor-car service, and many of the people here cannot go to those meetings. So far as the course is concerned, we have arranged with a surveyor to lay off a mile course, and we intend to put up a permanent refreshment-booth. We have a natural stand, and we think when we have these improvements made we will have an ideal course. Now that the Hillersden Estate has been cut up we have many more permanent settlers in the 'district. Ours is the only holiday meeting we have, and our settlers cannot go far away from home to attend other meetings. The private portion of the course is only held by the courtesy of the owner, but by the new survey we are going to bring the racecourse right inside the recreation reserve. Havelock Hack Racing Club and Pelorus Hack Racing Club (amalgamated). The headquarters of the club are at Canvastown. The club is a registered one. The last meeting was held in December, 1913. We beg to apply for a totalizator permit for our annual meeting, held on New Year's Day. In support of our application we will state that before Mr. Hunter's Bill was finally passed a deputation of both the above-named clubs waited upon the Premier, the Hon. Mr. Massey, at Canvastown, placing before him our claims for one of the new permits on becoming law, showing we were situated midway between Blenheim and Nelson, and were well supported by the public and horse-owners generally. We also wish to point out that Canvastown, the place where our meeting is held, is situated at the head of the Pelorus
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