Wellington Rowing Club Social Gathering.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 115, 16 May 1895, Page 4

Wellington Rowing Club Social Gathering.

0 The Wellington Rowing Club's annual social gathering was held at Thomas' Hall last night, and proved a brilliant success. More than 100 couples were present. The Decoration Committee— Messrs. W. Ross (Deputy-Captain), J. Pateraon (Hon. Treasurer), A. J. Bishop, and J. R. Crawfordhad shown remarkable taste in decorating the hall, having blended bunting, club colours, rowing trophies, photographs, ferns, *o , with the brippiest effeot. At the conclusion of the fourth dance, Mr. A. S. Pat*rson (Captain of the club) addressed the gathering with ppeoial referenoe to the proceedings at the late Picton regatta, and vho present position of the club. It had been urged that the club was not now enjoying such a successful oareer as in the past, but he pointed ont that whereas some few years ago only three or four clubs competed in championship regattas, the number had now nearly doubled. The olub was proud of its senior representatives at tho Pioton gathering, considering the difficulties under whioh they had laboured, and the serious drawback to their' succeasentailedin their detention in Wellington by the gale. The jnnior orew had undeniably established its olaim to be considered the finest junior orew in tbe colony. Kaon and every man had done bis utmost to aohieve success at the regatta by constant' attention to training. He referred to the aotion of Mr. Swindley, who, after rowing in the Champion Fours, filled the vacanoy in the junior crew's event caused by Mr. Sargeant's enforoed departure. Mr. Paterson referred in eulogistic terms to his predecessor in office (Mr. A. G. Johnson) to whose efforts while holding the position of captain the suopess of the olub at the present time was' due. 'Iheir Seoretaiy (Mr. A. M Burns) w»s the right man in the right place. His whole heart was in the work of the club and he was one of the best secretaries it wafposiiible to seoure. -The Treasurer (Mr. J. Pat arson) also performed his thankless dnties efficiently. It was to be regretted that Mr. J. E. Hayes, a Trustee of the club, was at present lying on a sick-bed. Ihe speaker read apologies from the Premier and Mr. A S. Bias, Secretary of the New Zealand Rowing Association, and also read telegrams hoping for tbe success of the '* sooial " from several Southern olubs, inoluding the Queen's Drive (Port Chalmers), holders ol the four-oared championship, and the Union Rowing Club (Christohurch). In conolusion the Captain referred to the valuable services of Mr. W. Ross (Deputy-Captain) at Picton, and CVotain Falconer's assistance to the club in the past. He was also happy to announce that the financial position oi the olub was satiafaotory. At the rcqneat of the Captain, Mrs Seddon here presented Mr. A. G Bishop with a case containing' two silver-mounted pipes, subscribed for by the Junior Four, oared orew, in recognition of his services as their trainer for the regatta. Dauoing was kept up until an early hour this morning. Messrs. G. N. Goldie, A. M. Burns, W. Fountain, and A. W. Smith aoted as M.C.'s. Minifies String Bond supplied the music, and the catering was done by T. Rowell and Son.