AUCKLAND REGATTA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 282, 27 November 1940, Page 15

AUCKLAND REGATTA.

90TH ANNUAL MEETING. 1941 ANNIVERSARY OFFICERS. The ninetieth annual meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, inaugurated in 1850, was held last evening at the Mission to Seamen's Hal!, the president, Sir Ernest Davis, presiding over an attendance of 80 members. The chairman of committee. Mr. Geo. M. Demies, briefly reviewed the past regatta, which was held under adverse weather [conditions for the small craft, the events for which wore postponed for a week. He thanked the racing official* and all niemlioiw <-f the committee for their loyal support during hk terms as chairman and vice-chairman, and extended his best wishes to his successor. Mr. Dennes also extended a hearty welcome to Sir Ernest Davis, who, lie said, had been an active member of the committee for 40 years and still took a keen interest in what was now Auckland's oldest sporting fixture. The annual report stated that soon after the commencement of war hostilities, the Auckland Centennial Council decided on the abandonment of the Centenary regatta on lines previously agreed to, but the council expressly asked that the 1940 regatta be held, If possible, on a more ambitious scale than usual. They made a donation of £200 to the funds for that purpose. The entries totalled 358 craft of all classes, setting up a new record. Citizens, although not specially asked, contributed their usual donations, making it possible to carry out the regatta successfully and to show a eredlt of £51. The report placed on record the following members of committee now on active service:— Messrs. L. R. Matthews, M. Bellve. G. E. Laycock. C. R. Renner, R. L. Thorpe. N. McGehan. Sir Ernest Davii, when moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, thanked the honorary secretary, Mr. A. J. Colllngs. and the honorary treasurer, Mr. Jas. McOehan. for their work. It was very satisfactory, he said, to see their financial position, which reflected hard work on all concerned. No apology, he said, was necessary to make the decision to carry out the regatta In 1941, as it would be largely a young man's regatta, with a few of the old hands who had done their duty in the last war to help. Officers were elected for the regatta on January 2f, 1941, as follow:—Patron, his Excellency the Oovernor-Oeneral, Viscount Oalway; president. Sir Ernest Davis; chairman. Mr. a. P. Robertson; vice-chairman, Mr. J. C. Hewson; honorary secretary. Mr. A. J. Colllngs; honorary assistant secretary. Mr. W. A. Wilkinson: honorary treasurer. Mr. Jas. McGehan; honorary solicitor. Mr. J. B. Johnston: auditor, Mr. B. W. Beaumont: trustees. Sir Ernest Davis, and Messrs. J. B. Johnston and A. G. Lunn. On behalf of the committee. Sir Ernest presented a chiming clock, suitably inscribed, to Mr. O. M. Dennes. to mark Its appreciation of his good w.ork during his term of office as chairman for the regattas of 1939 and 1940. Mr. Dennes suitably acknowledged the gift and thanked members for their good wishes.

Mr. Tom McKay was elected an honorary life member.

It was decided to hold the next meeting on December 9. when sub-committees and racing officials will be appointed.