'The annual meeting of the Shanghai Paper Hunt Club was held on Wednesday (17th Nov.)atthe Shanghai Club. Me. F. J. Mait-Jand' presided, the numerous attendance including Messvs. Perrott, Midwood, Courts, Ellis, H. Maitland, H! Keylock, MR. Davies, Souter, Chish dener, " Ayscough, Malherbe, Pirie, Machado, Crane, Craven, Daniel, M Middleton, G.'E. Buryoyue, Cummins, ite, des Veeux, Callaway, Edblad, Jackson, Dudgeon, J.
yue, Craviord, Burkill, The Chairmm, in proposing the tion of the report und accounts, Gentlemen, my remarks st were ty the effect chat we had again lowered the record by having brought off successfully in all seventeen crus: country events, point steeplechase During the s I regret to say we had only ten hunts. he point-to-point and the annual hunt handicap and the rice meeting, after all preparations had been made, had ta be abandoned... Throughout the season 1896/7 our great enemy: tas the weather j of some of the hunts that were run mud larking" was about the only term that could be used, but ponies were fit and riders anxious to make the best of things, however bad they. were; and your Stewards deemed it best to lay paper in order that those who so carol might have a run. Last year we changed Rule 12 from reading that the heavy weights must finish among the frst six or in the event of five heavy weights finishing, the first to receive the prize, even though not in the first six. Thus the first rider whose standing weight is over 12 stone will receive the prize provided he finishes amongst the first eight. This we found worked satisfactorily. We n to thank Mr. Mann for so very iyeing the paper for us, as in former As regards the accounts last year our balance was $327.01. This last season we have a balance of $497.98, but included in this amount is $72 unreturned entrance fees of our rice meetin, which did not come off, so after deducting this the amount stands at $425.98 or $98.97 over lust year. Included in this amount the same as last season ix th+ sum of $100 which we have put aside against a new Challenge Cup should th~ present one be won outright, which brings the amount down to $325.98, and included in this amount ix $110 which we have in hand for the purchase of Miniature Cups to be given when the Challenge Cup changes hands. Our subscriptions Inst year were 133 against 148 this; the.number of ponies nominater amounted to 172 last year, but for the season under review only 146; this may have been caused by the bad going, and so many hunts not taking place. For the handicap our total entries Inst season amounted to $201 against $213 this year.
No questions being asked, the Eh proposed and Mr. C. J. Dudgeon seconded the adoption of the accounts us presented, which was agreed to.
"Yhe election of Stewards was then proceeded with; the result being that the following gentlemen were elected: Messrs. Ayscough, Midwood, Perrott, Callaway, Souter, Ctawford and Cout Mr. D. W. Crawford, whilst the voting was proceeding, suggested that instead of the point-to-point there should be a fingyed-out steeplechase in the country. From jumping point of view the point-to-point was a farce, and if his suggestion were eat ried out he believed it would answer very well. There might be two steeplechases started at different times for the heavy and light weights.
Mr. 0. Middleton strongly urged the reduction of the age limit for membership—18—contending that many present well-known riders had taken part in the hunts before they reached that age. He proposed an alteration of the Rules leaving it to the discretion of the Stewards.
Mr. J. W. H. Burgoyne opposed allowing boys to take part in the hunts, declaring that experience had shown them to be "+n confounded nuisance."
Mr. Crawford seconded Mr. Middleton's proposed amendment.
The Chairman said that ax an alteration in Rule 1 wa about to be made, he thought they might alter it further still. One port of it read: Honorary n i riding members, one dolls a nonced in enllecting jeulty lind been the subscriptions. They had quite enough money, und it would be better if ther would propose that the clause in Tute 1, now i eluded the si "Honor. ary members, nun-riding members, one dollar," should be left out.
This latter suggestion was agreed to, but upon being put to the meeting Mr. Middleton's amendment was lost.
Mr. Middleton suggested a Gymkhana in place of the point-to-point.
Mr. Crawford opposed the idea,
which had attended upon previous gym-'The Chairman pointed out the dificulies Khanas, and doubted whether they could be successfully brought off on cold afternoons. cluded, At this stage, the ballot not having con-
The Chairrran introduced the subject of the Cross-Country Riding Fund. In so doing he said—The Cross-Country Riding Fund has been in existence, I think, for four years. During the past season Mr. Daniel, Mr, Shaw, Mr. H. G. Gardner, who hud kindly acted as secretary, and myself looked after matters, and fee! thankful to those who suggested where iuaprovements could be made in the country as regards platform jumps, the mending of bridges, cutting of reeds and Billing up of holes. While I think it must be acknowledged that yood work has been done in. many places. we' suffer under" great many disadvantages. One is that the Chinese not allow the platform jumps to, remain throughout. the yarr and so get properly hard. The amount of money to be paid for thi ent tin ds, making of jumps, ete., has always been and always Will be "most unsatisfactory business. regards accounts last year ILL subscribers gave $221, This season the subscriptions mount to $209, the amount contributed has been left to the givers, and in some cases has been $1, in some $2, but mostly $3. Last year we had n credit balance of ton this occasion we have a No questions were asked, and the Chair-tan proposed, and Ds. Garrive: seconded that the accounts should be posyed. Curried.
The Chairman proposed that the Master of the paper Hunt Club, the Master of the Drag Hounds, (Mr. Daniel), Mr. Shaw and Mr, H. G. Gardner, should serve as Stewards of the Cross-Country Riding Fund.
Mr, Souter second d. Carried.
The Chairman said the next business was the election of n Master for the ensuing year, and he bogyed to propose a gentleman who had done more f r the Glub than any man he could mention, acting as Secretary for many years, and bearing the brunt of the battle. He proposed Mr. Ayscough.
Mr. Perrott seconded the resolution, which was carried by acclamation.
Mr. Ayscough in response thanked the Chairman for the kind reference which had been made to him and the members for the cordiality with which they had carried the resolution. He regretted particularly that Mr. Maitland had resigned the Mastership after so Jong an occupancy; and that following such a, Muster he would He knew, too, the work connected with the post, though he accepted the Mastership with's grent deal of pleasure, because he had always regarded it as a post of special honour. He asatmed office with all humility, and promised to do his best to carry out the work satisfactorily.
The Chairman having thanked the mem-hers for their attendant-e, the proceedings: terminated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.