There was a somewhat prolonged. eet ing of the members of the Shanghai Paper Hunt Club held on Saturday evening at the Shanghai Club for the purpose of considering the proposed rules for the Paper Hunt Club Challenge Cup. steeplechase, provisionally approved at the meeting on the previous Wednesday. Mr. Frank Marriaxp, the Master, presided. In order that the course of the discussion may be more easily followed it may be better to give the conditions as originally proposed:
jub Challenge Cup, value...
ponies that have won " light or heavy prize during each season, Entrance fee 85 for each pony, a forced entry for all winners of a light or heavy weight prize during exch season, To be won three times before becoming the absolute property of the winner by the same pony the property of the same owner or owners, Course twice' round the steeplechase course Weight 11st. 7lb. Half the stakes to go to the second pony, and the other half to $300 towards the cost of a new eu; the event of the present cup being won wut-right. Wi to be engraved on the cup each time it is won and another cup to be given to the Into owner on the cup changing hands, No rider will be qualitied to win unless he has ridden through at least one hunt during the season."
Upon the meeting being called to order, Mr. E. C. Puaxce proposed a number of alterations in the conditions, these fixing the value of the cup at $300, and the weight to be carried at List. 7Ib, for ponies of 13 hands and under, with an increase Bib. per inch for every inch above 13 hand He wished the distance to be four miles across country, over a course chosen by the Stewards, instead of on the Race Course, and only those who hat ridden through at least two hunts during the season should be qualified to start, Mr. W. G. Moons having seconded the Hig ceed x lively discussion commenced.
it. SOUTER opposed the forced entry, and was supported by Mr. Carzaway, who also contended that Mr. Pyaxce's' proposal with regard to the course was quite impractiouble, as a good test-course of four wiles across country could not be out, and that moreover it would be sible to run for the cup across country utter the paper hunt season closed. Mr. Mippteron argued that the cup would never be secured if it had to be won three times by the same pony before it be+ came the absolute property of the winner. It would be more sportsmanlike if the conditions were that it should be won twice by one pony, or three times by ponies owned cly the same person. On the otver hand Mr. Ayscovan fancied the cup under the proposed conditions could be and would be won sooner than many anticipated, whilst Mr. Dupceon said the idea of the Stewards was not to make it easy to win- the cup, Mr. Hurrex proposed that ponies finishing four times in the first six during each season should be eligible to compete, which Mr. Craxz seconded. Just about this stage of the proceedings a regular epidemic of amendments seemed to break out, and those who were nut actually drafting proposals on their own account appeared busily occupied in assisting their neighbours in the task. From all sides amendments and riders" were being handed in until the Master plaintively remarked that they must be careful for he was afraid they were getting "a bit mixed." Mr. Scuurraxnacee and Mr. H. P. Witxixson were in favour of all that fairly passed through the flags ix times during the season being allowed 0 compete, which caused Mr. CaLLAWa¥ and Bir. A¥scoveE to point out the difficult ive of obtaining a record of all, those who passed the fags. Mr. R. Macoxzcor upon this had a tilt at the Stewards for their laxity
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.