JUBILEE REGATTA

Evening Star, Issue 21565, 10 November 1933, Page 2

JUBILEE REGATTA

PRELIMINARY PUBLIC MEETING Seventy-two years ago the first regatta was held at Port Chalmers. Last night at Port Chalmers a public meeting was held to arrange for making the annual regatta tin's season a special jubilee fixture. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers, and Mr W. J. Wilson, a regatta veteran, was in the chair. There was a good attendance of rowing and yachting men, and people interested in aquatic sports generally. The last-named included visitors from the city. The mayor (Mr J. Watson) sent an apology regretting his inability to be present at such an important meeting. The Chairman said that the outgoing committee, at a recent meeting, devised a tentative scheme for marking the seventy-second regatta. In past years, on Boxing Day, it was not unusual to see six or seven thousand people at the regatta. The committee wished to have something done to restore the popularity of the annual regatta. Last year the small attendance at the general meeting was very disappointing. Year by year a little money had been put away, and that little had come in very handy at this time of depression. Smaller prizes had been given, but nevertheless theirs was the best prize list in the harbour. The regatta date had been changed Horn Boxing Day to a later date. The altered date proved unsuitable, last season for Canterbury and Southland oarsmen. The outside clubs had been written to with a view to arranging a date wheih would suit them. There was a balance of £4O in hand for this season’s regatta, but it would not be advisable to exhaust the reserve fund. Air Wilson thanked the citizens for attending the meeting. He also thanked Mr Glengarry (the president of the 0.R.A.) for.coming to the meeting. Last year’s committee did not disband at the end of the season, and something had been done in the way of arranging, for the raising of funds, without waiting on the same people year after year for financial assistance; The committee had arranged with the local clubs to run a queen carnival. The queens would be children. The Regatta Committee would run a queen, which would practically be the citizens queen. Permission bad been obtained to bold an art union, and it would be drawn probably on the day after the regatta. In conclusion Air AVilson referred to the recent death of Air W 7. Coleman, who had taken a keen interest in regattas in past years. He asked those present In stand as a token of respect. Air T. Anderson moved that a regatta be held, and that a working committee he appointed, as it would be a pi tv to see the town go hack. He suggested that outside, assistance he sought. A Ladies’ Committee would help materially, Cr A. Love seconded the motion, which was carried. Air AVilson was reappointed chairman. He assured the meeting that he would do all he could to make the regatta a success. It would he a success iT the citizens backed him up, and he looked tn them to do so in the interests of the town. The following other officers were appointed :— Secretary, Air L. T‘.. Smith ; committee —Messrs F. C. Smith, A. AViseman. L. Neilson, J.'Colthorp, J. D. Morgan. C. AFDouald. T. Anderson. J. At‘El wee, H. Campbell. AY. Afjdigau. D. A, Bell. P. Jeuks. T. Harrison. AA 7 . Seotwich, T. F. Afackie, and 1. B. AA T ilson. . The Chairman emphasised the. important factor of finance, and said he was pleased to have so mauv citizens on the committee. Air L. F. Smith had worked out the queen carnival scheme, and his services as secretary would be valuable. It was gratifying to syc the postmaster (Air P. Jenks) taking a hand Mr AVilson said lie would be pleased to hear suggestions in regard to raising funds. Air AA 7 . Glengarry was pleased to sec the interest being already taken in the regatta, and he felt sure the Rowing Association would do all in its power to assist to make the regatta successful. The Secretary read correspondence from the Atinis'ter in regard to a request for a grant of. say, £SO allotted from any surplus in hand from the large art unions. The Minister, in reply, gave permission to hold small art unions, hut could not assent to a regatta grant being made from any of the larger art union funds. Air A. E. Ansell, ALP., had helped the committee in making representations to the Al mister. The Secretary said local business people had their own difficulties, and it would he better if arrangements for raising from £BO to £l(M) from the public generally could be arranged. Boat races on Saturday afternoons, say a Sanders Cup race, would help, as well as other minor fixtures. Captain F. Duncan was not against a queen carnival, but he thought a house-to-house canvass would be more effective. The Chairman explained that the committee had considered the suggestion made by Captain Duncan. and if a shilling were obtained from every bouse the regatta would be financed. But the committee thought a queen carnival would be preferable. Dr Edgar said he was pleased to assist. Air T. Maekie paid a tribute to the bard work already put in by Air Smith. Mr Wilson said care had to be taken that their regatta did not clash with regattas in Canterbury and Southland, or. ns far as possible, with other sports fixtures. The Press had given publicity to the regatta, and the people were now aware of what was being done. Saturday, February 3. was fixed for the regatta. Mr L. Neilson said be was unable to act again as secretary. Air Smith bad taken an active part in regatta affairs, and the queen carnival was his suggestion. The Chairman said that Air Neilson had been a faithful servant of the committee for a number of years, and had done his host to further regatta interests. Air Neilson was now residing out of the town. On the motion of Cr T. Alackie. it was resolved to minute appreciation of Air Neilson’s services and to embody it in a letter to Air Neilson.