OTAGO ROWING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 18058, 28 August 1922, Page 7

OTAGO ROWING CLUB

ANNUAL REPORT, It is interesting to note that tho Otago Club -will this season enter upon fte fiftieth year of its existence. The ■wty-ninth annual report, to be presented ■ the annual meeting to bo held in Kroon’s ■all on Saturday evening, September 2, States that the membership is still very Satisfactory, the total being 109, which in Comprised of seventy-five active, twentythree honorary, andi eleven life members. There were admitted to the club during the season sixteen active members and one

honorary. A number of resignations were received, but mostly from members who 'have left the district. At the commencement of the season the usual overhaul of the plant was carried out very thoroughly, with the result that everything was in first-class order for the opening. A racing ' clinker four-oared boat had been ordered from Messrs Edwards and Sons, of Melbourne, and it was anticipated that this boat would be shipped to Dunedin early in November, in ample time for next season’s regattas. The receipts side of the balance-sheet

was not so satisfactory as last year, in consequence of a number of subscriptions still outstanding, but it was hoped that a number of these would be collected im-

mediately. A good deal of expense had, as usual, been incurred in the maintenance of the plant, bub this was less than that spent the previous season. The question of providing the necessary finance for the new boat, which was expected to arrive last season, caused the committee some concern, with the result that the trustees of the investment fund were approached in regard to the accumulated interest on the club’s investment. The trustees were agreeable for this money to be utilised in this direction, and this was ratified at a special general meeting of the members held last opening day. The club was represented at the carnival

and the Otago regattas held during Carnival Week last year. The club was not represented at the Queenstown regatta last year, which is perhaps the first time since this regatta was initiated. It was hoped 1 , however, that members would be prevailed upon to.attend this popular regatta next season should the new boat come to band as expected; All the club races were com-

peted for during the season, also two swimming races. Messrs P. S. Anderson ami R. Dickson tied for the Aggregate Cup with seven points each. It was regretted that the club was compelled to relinquish the undertaking of training boys from the Otago Boys’ High School. This scheme had been mooted for

many years, and during last season was initiated. The boats were placed at the disposal of the boys during such times as they were not needed by the members, but it was found that senior members were not available to coach the boys, with the result that the committee had with great reluctance to abandon the scheme. Advice had been received that a most handsome cup was to be presented to the club by Mrs Howlison in memory of her late husband, who was for many years as active member. Together with the cup is a replica which was to be presented to the holder of the cup for the first year. The committee had been requested to make this event a single sculling one, and, in view of the fact that -this* cup would undoubtedly be the most valuable one, yet presented to any rowing club in the dominion, it was hoped that the members ■would make the competition for the cup a moat worthy one. The cup was expected to coma to. hand in time for formal presentation to the club at the annual meetiaa. ■ - The thanks/of the club were due to the following gentlemen for donations:— Messrs F. W. Mitchell, L. L. Kirkcaldy, and J. F. M'Grath;- also to Mr Mitchell for the presentation of two medals to the coxswains. The thanks of the club were also extended , to the North End and the Port Chalmers Bowing Clubs for the use of their boats in connection with the carnival regattas.