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Waimate District Hunt Club, The headquarters of the club are at Waimate. The club was formed in 1882, under the name of " Waimate County Harriers," but for a number of years previous to 1906 the club was defunct, it being revived in April, 1906, under the name of " Waimate District Hunt." Owing to the past records of the club not being available we cannot give the exact number of years the club was defunct. The club is registered. The last meeting was held in July, 1914. 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 7$ furlongs. The steeplechase meeting is held on the Waimate Racecourse, which the Waimate Racing Club and Racecourse Trustees grant the use of annually for one day only. The accommodation consists of grandstand, stewards' stand, Press room, jockeys' room, weighing-room, luncheon-room, twenty-four horse-stalls, lawn, saddling-paddock, total-izator-house, motor-car paddock. The course is fenced inside and outside of the track. The nearest clubs using the totalizator are at Timaru and Oamaru, thirty miles distant, Among some of the reasons why we consider we have a special claim for a license are the following: The club, though a fairly strong one numerically, is not at present self-supporting, and were it not for the donation received from the Canterbury Jockey Club (£5O) annually and for the generosity of several of our members and supporters it would be impossible to carry on, which would be the means of a number of men in this district giving up the breeding of horses suitable for hunting. The club owns a freehold property of some 8|- acres, where hounds consisting of some fourteen and a, half couples at present are kennelled during the year under charge of Ihe huntsman. Our hunt, which is a hare hunt, is situated in the centre of a large farming community, the farmers themselves being among the staunchest supporters of the hunt, no less than sixty-eight of our members being farmers, and, with two exceptions, the whole district is available to hunt over. The district extends from the Pareora River lo the Waitaki River, and at present we have under consideration a request from the North Otago Jockey Club to hunt in North Otago during next season, a request which is almost certain to be acceded to, thus considerably extending our district and tending to increase the interest in bunting in that locality, and which would also be the means of encouraging breeding of a good class of horse. Amongst the farmers in our membership the majority of them are breeders of horses — i.e., horses with a large proportion of thoroughbred in them, eminently suitable either for remount or hunters. And lam sure you will agree with us that one could not get a better remount than the well-bred hunter; and, in fact, until the present serious crisis arose, the only demand for this class of horse —that is, one about three-quarters thoroughbred—was from members of the hunt, and this has already proved itself by the number of horses qualified with our hunt that have won races over country at different places in recent years, amongst others being Stone Ginger, Otaio, Bugle, Craigdugald, Wainon Melibreus. Included in our members are now some fifteen members of the Mounted Squadron, and we might also add that fourteen members of the club have joined the Expeditionary Forces. Again, in our district we have only a one-day totalizator license in the year, this being the Waimate Racing Club, which holds its annual meeting in March in each year (the nearest clubs holding totalizator permits being Timaru, with four permits in the year, and Oamaru, with five permits), and this, we might add, is one of the reasons why we consider we have a special claim for consideration. By the Deputation. —Our district is a very large one, and there is more country than it is possible for us to hunt over. There is no drag hunting at all. Ours is absolutely a harrier pack. It is one of the oldest in New Zealand, and goes back to about forty years ago. It has always been recognized as a sporting pack. There has never been any question of running for money at our races. We have always raced for trophies in a genuine amateur way. At our meeting we generally clear our expenses, and that is about all. Our horses have done remarkably well in all the hunting competitions in the last few years. We took prizes last year from Christchurch lo Invercargill. We took thirty prizes in hunters alone. We got first and second in every competition for heavy weights between Invercargill and Christchurch. The horses of our members are getting distinctly into the thoroughbred class more and more, and we want a permit to help this movement along. Horses have deteriorated very much indeed in the sense that there is not the same number of good horses nowadays that there used to be. and unless we can offer some inducement to farmers to breed good horses they will mil lie bred. There can be no doubt that the best troop-horse is a good hunter. That is the greatest argument in favour of hunting and in favour of granting a permit, so as to provide a market for the farmers when they breed good hunters. Otago Hunt Club. The headquarters of the club are at Dunedin. The Otago Hunt was originally formed thirtyseven years ago, and was a very live institution until the year 1903, when we ceased activities owing to lack of financial support. Four years ago a number of the old members with a large reinforcement of new members revived the sport, and since then the club has opened branches at Middlemarch and Taieri. We propose next season to form branches at Palmerston and Milton. The club is registered. Our last meeting was held at Wingatui on the sth September, A list of the present members of the club and a copy of the club's last balanci-sheet have been forwarded. The course proper is 10 furlongs in circumference. Ihe inner steeplechase course is about 8 furlongs; outer steeplechase course is 16 furlongs. The jumps erected on the inner steeplechase course are the property of the Otago Hunt, and the Dunedin Jockey Club permit the use of the course and strongly support the club's application. The accommodation on the course consists of large inside and outside grandstands, stewards' stand, members' stand, weighing-rooms, tea-rooms and conveniences, horse-boxes, and the usual enclosures. The course is properly fenced on the inside, The nearest club using the totalizator is

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