PORT CHALMERS REGATTA

Evening Star, Issue 21320, 26 January 1933, Page 12

PORT CHALMERS REGATTA

A POPULAR CHAIRMAN Last night the Port Chalmers Regatta Committee held a meeting to square tho business end of Saturday’s regatta. After the disbursements were made a credit balance remained. The committee decided not to disband as usual, but to retain office, hold meetings during the winter, and if possible arrange for a queen carnival in conjunction with next season’s regatta, thus making regatta day a gala day at Port Chalmers. Before the close of the meeting its chairman (Mr W. J. Wilson) was asked to accept a memento of his forty years’ association with rowing and regattas. The Chairman said the regatta last Saturday was a gratifying success, and it showed that aquatic sports wore still popular when presented in an attractive way. Despite the weather being overcast, there was a very good attendance on Saturday afternoon, and the fresh breeze, while adding zest to the yachting, did not handicap the .rowing, as wind and tide were in the same direction. There was cause for congratulations on the way the regatta went off, and the visitors, as well as local people, seemed to enjoy the outing. The races started to time, and the rowing would have finished to programme time but for a regrettable delay that took place in connection with the start of the senior fours race. The two crews which were at the starting post on time should not have waited for the other two dilatory crews to turn up. It was not fair to put the programme back in that way, but despite the delay the final race was only half au hour late. The motoring and sailing races went well, and much credit was due to those in charge of them. The committee was indebted to Air R. Percy and Mr R. Miller for their services and the use of the fishing launches; to Mr A. Wiseman for laying off the courses; and to the Broadcasting Company and its announcer (Mr H. Camp). Referring to finance, Mr Wilson said that the present depression and the difficult times being experienced had shown the foresight of the committee in building up for several years past a little credit reserve to meet such a contingency. This was the second regatta held under such conditions, yet the committee would be able to show a reserve credit balance of about £SO when all commitments were discharged. Mr L. Smith suggested that steps he taken to hold a queen carnival and gala dav in conjunction with next year’s regatta. it could he organised throughout the winter months. Mr T. Wright favoured the suggestion, which, ho thought, might very well result.in the next regatta being an Otago championship regatta. Other members were also favourably impressed. Regatta day was an annual event at Port Chalmers, why not make it an annual gala day? The committee decided to ask the rowing clubs and the sailing and motoring club to send representatives to, an informal meeting to discuss the proposal of a gala day. In order to push the matter to practical purpose tho committee decided to retain office as a committee until the annual meeting next December, when the whole subject would be dealt with. When the routine business was concluded Mr T. F. Alack je said the committee had decided to give the chairman a souvenir in recognition of his long association with regattas at Port Chalmers. Air Wilson had been au active member of the regatta committees for about forty years,, first as vice-chairman and later as chairman. But for his services in later years regattas would bv now have been a thing of the past. His organising ability and personal enthusiasm had made Air Wilson's services very valuable indeed. He was a past-president of the Otago Rowing Association, of which body lie was one of the founders; a life captain of tho Queen’s Drive Boating Club; a life member of tho Port Chalmers Football Chib, and of the Referees’ Association, also a past-president of the Otago Rugby Union. Air Alackie then asked Air Wilson to accept a canteen of cutlery as a present to himself and Airs Wilson. Air Wilson said the gift would he highly prized. Ho had given his services freely for the sake of Port Chalmers and his love of tho sport. He had been on the Regatta Committee under the chairmanship of Air K. G. Allen, Air W. Waters, Air N. Dodds, Air A. Cable, and Mr J. Al. Stevenson. He had never been a drone in any sport in which he had taken au active part. It was very nice of tho committee to remember Airs Wilson, who would be as pleased as he was himself.