YACHT SQUADRON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 12

YACHT SQUADRON.

FIFTY-NINTH MEETING. ; I NEW FLAG OrriCERS ELECjjj, ENCOURAGEMENT OF At the fifty-ninth annual meetics " i Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron v,! last evening in the club rooms, fw f W. P. Endean presided over a Wf attendance of members. R In reviewing the past season's aetta« Mr. Endean said the report and bZ sheet clearly indicated that the 81)77*" had been very active 5n ii s rach» gramme, sound in finance, and haiuT taincd a membership of 500. Thol fields in both cruising and harbour constituted a record in the history 0 J 2 squadron, as many as IS and 20 taking part in each event. The trial of n! Mark Foy system of allowing handicaps ,! the start of cruising races proved to be popular that it is doubtful it a-™ will ever be made to the handicap at? finish method. The close finishes in sev ™ cruising races under this system * remarkable. A substantial sum had bet spent in improving the club premi ses tl" reading room had been enlarged, and J open fireplaces added. Their thanks vf due to Mr. J. O. Owen, chairman ol tk house committee, for his close persoßii attention to this work. In February img bers had the pleasure of entertainbColonel Duncan Neill and his brother v? R. G. Neill, of the Royal Clyde Colonel Neill was Sir Thomas chief adviser on Shamrock IV. and v S were taken for a cruise in Thelma the> gulf, and both expressed great apt ciation of our fine cruising grounds, m. Excellency the Governor-General 'tS Bledisloe, presented the trophies at Z annual prize night, and kindly efferefl » prize for competition during the comim! season. The popularity of the dintes r<mm had continued. Mr. Endean leelingivT. ferred to the removal by death of Mesw« E. V. Miller, J. C. Buchanan, H. P.S A. Sutherland, and T. R. Proctor. At hk request members stood for a few monleiih in silence. Next year .the dub wouM celebrate its diamond /jubilee, and Mr Endean suggested that all who possiblv could should take part in a week-end cruise to Kawau, where an old-fashioned "sim: song" could be held and the occasion fi celebrated. The balance-sheet showed the club to be in a very sound position In mite of a smaller credit balance than last year due largely to .±he extra expense incurred in improvements to club premises. Beceinh totalled £3901 3/7, including £1364'4/fl from subscriptions, with assets at £1418 2/4. Prize money amounted to £184. Reserves now stood at £486, and His building fund £300 15/2. * Before proceeding with the election' «t officers, Mr. Endean said that he was. 'retiring from a position only made possible by the hearty co-operation of the officers .anj committee, to whom he expressed Ins best thanks. The club was first started ante a lamp post in Lower Queen Street 59 years ago, and to-day it was the largest yacht club in the Dominion, its"toembers having spread to the four earners of the world. An old member, Mr. T. P., Upfin, from Bombay, was present to-night, and he welcomed him back to Auckland. Speaking of the recent defeat of Shamrock V., Mr Endean said although beaten Britishers were not downhearted, and the prestige of yachting would not suffer. In tlie fixmetre class the four British boats badbeaten the American team easily. At the conclusion of Mr. Endean's farewell words as commodore he was greeted with a round of cheers, and Mr. N. L. Macky presented him with a silver cigarette case, suitably inscribed. The following officers were elected for the season 1930-31 Patron, the GovernorGeneral, Lord Bledisloe; commodore, Mr. N. L. Macky; vice-commodore. Mr. J. ; H Prater; rear-commodore, Mr. E. H. Northcroft ; secretary, Mr. .T. C. llewsoif; assistant secretary, Mr. J. L. Soutar; treasurer, Mr. A. M. Gilmour; measurers, Messrs. C, T. Trevithick and M. K. Draffin; auditors, Messrs. B. W. Beaumont and J. Fotlieringham; lion, solicitor, Mr. John Alexander; general committee, Messrs. M. K. Draffin, A. N. Duder, H. J. C. George; A. ">R. Hodgson,, 11. R. Huxe, A. S. -Miller, G. McKenzie, R B. Wilson, J. O. Owen, and W. J. Reid. Mr. M. K. Draffin said he thought that the squadron should do more than it had done in assisting the boys belonging to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He suggested that they should be taken for a week-end cruise in members' yachts, when they could receive training from their own officers. He moved that the matter be referred to the incoming committee. Mr. E. H. Northcroft said it was part of tlie squadron's duty to encourage the sea spirit _as well as yachting. The motion , was unanimously approved. A vote of thanks to the retiring officers and to the Press concluded the meeting.