ROWING.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 73, 1 April 1901, Page 3

ROWING.

THE EASTEE CAENIVAL. [By “ Stroke.”] The local representative crews, who have been in training for the last month, are now in very good form for the contests they are to take part in this week, and they should all give a good account of themselves. The Gisborne Club have been very unfortunate with their rep. and junior crews during the past week, the former losing the services of Barclay, who is now in the hospital suffering with typhoid fever, and the latter losing Freer, who injured his back last week, and will not have recovered sufficiently to take part in any of the races, Barclay’s seat in the rep. eiew will be taken by H. Bobinson, who is rowing in the same seat in the ten stone crew. Faram, who is rowing in the throe seat for the latter crew, will take Freer’s seat in the juniors. Both these men can be depended upon to give a good account of themselves, The ten stone crow of the above club have been out almost every morning since they were selected, and are now in splendid fettle. They nre very sanguine of success.

The Poverty Bay crews are the same as at first selected, with the exception that File has taken West’s place in the rep. crew, the latter finding it inconvenient to devote the necessary time for training. The three crews have all been doing good work, and should about hold then - own in their respective races, more especially the ten stone crew, whom it will take a firstclass crow to beat. The first of the races will be rowed tomorrow evening, when the two local tenstone crews will meet, and a very exciting contest should be witnessed, both crews being very confident. On Wednesday evening two races will bo rowed, the senior and junior crew’s of both clubs meeting. Both events are sure to be keenly contested, and two very close finishes arc anticipated. The senior races will be rowed over the two-mile course, and the 10-stone and junior one the mile course. The visiting crews from Napier will arrive on Saturday morning, and the 10stone races will be rowed that day, and the senior and junior races on Easter Monday. The visiting crews will be taken for a drive by the local clubs, probably as far as the Murewai, w’here they will witness the Native hui now being held there. On Easter Monday evening they will be the guests of the Poverty Bay Bowing Club at their annual social, w’hich is to be held in the Academy of Music.

Continued from third page, stock of the district has steadily increased year by year, until last season there were 1,176,192 sheep and 42,472 head of cattle, being an increase of 43,414 in sheep. Ido not know the increase in cattle, but it must be considerable. This increase is likely to be much greater ,in the near future, as large areas of virgin land are being brought into pasture, and more is being brought into the market at an early date. This will mean a regular demand for stocking up, and firm prices for stock for some time to come, and I predict 2,000,00 sheep in five years. It is gratifying to note the continued large export of beef and mutton, and the increase of lamb and tinned goods. I cannot give the figures of export, as most of the killing is done in February and March, and the carcases are not all yetcleared. You all of you know what the lamb trade has done for Canterbury, and also that lambs from the North Island are as good as those from the South. With the low value of wool, it is worth while sheep farmers turning their atteuto breeding for mutton. Once they do so they will soon come to the lamb trade, as then suitable ewes will be obtainable, as for breeding lambs you must have the proper breed of ewes as well as rams, and, further, they should be matured to get best results. Generally speaking, lambs from this district will be milk lambs, and this is the most profitable sort to grow, as they require less artificial feed, and the lambs can fatten during the fall. I feel some difficulty in opening the question of what is the most suitable breed for lamb and mutton breeding, as many of you are wedded to that particular breed you have been brought up to, and in most instances it is certainly not that I should choose for the purpose. Lamb-raising for export is carried on in other parts of the colony, chiefly by small flock-owners, and I would recommend those of this part to give it their consideration. It is pleasing to note the establishment of another dairy factory here, and to hear that it is being well supported by suppliers. This, I hope, is only the forerunner of many more in the near future. We have only to look at the immense growth of the industry in other places to feel it has an assured future here. The railway, if carried into the interior, will carry dairying with it. With dairying, pig-raising must come, and iustead of appearing as importers of bacon we will be exporters. With regard to the best cows for milking, I find that on the West Coast grade Shorthorns are found most suitable, and as I note in the cattle returns a large number of Jersey bulls in the district, I am afraid too much is being made of this breed. Dairymen must remember they live in a fattening district, and thus their calves if graded Shorthorns will always be saleable, whereas Jerseys will not. The less I say about agriculture the better. It is not pleasing to know that we have to import most of our breadstuffs, notably flour, oatmeal, and potatoes. I would remind farmers that tlioro is a Noxious Weed Act in force, and that they may be called upon at any time to eradicate certain weeds. I have not time to say anything about our horse stock, and would be glad if any other member would give his views, either to-day or by paper, as our horses’ success largely depends upon the horse classes. With these few remarks, gentlemen, I will now ask you to nominate someone for the position of President for the forthcoming year. During the past year, when I have hold office, there has been a good deal of work connected with the change of grounds, but things are now in good working order, the membership is increasing, and things are working smoothly. Therefore I would thank you, gentlemen, to nominate someone else for tho position of President for the ensuing year. Mr W. W. Smith proposed Mr Macfarlanc again as President ; he lived near the town, and it required someone so situated.

Mr Tombleson : Where does my notice of motion come in ? The President said it was usual to take such motions afterwards, but as it affected the presidentship, he would be inclined to put it now. Mr Smith : Well, I decline, and that will save time. The President said the motion was that the President retire each year and tho vice-President took the place. It was a big order, and it practically meant electing the President for two years at that meeting.

By consent the motion was put, and Mr Tombleson briefly spoke in favor of it.

Mr Bright thought it was a good thing to establish a rule that the President should retire each year, but it was too stringent to ask that the vice-President should take the office—that might shut out mauy a good man. Mr Tombleson: What bettor system can you have than that the man who proves he is the best should be elected '? Mr Gray thought it bettor to keep as they were. A man might make a good vice-President, but would not suit for President, and many a man might take the former who would not take the latter.

Mr Smith: The position of President takes up a lot of time. Mr Gray: Ido not see why we should bind ourselves in this way. By consent Mr Tombleson’s motion, which was seconded by Mr Bobbie, was put to the meeting, and was rejected, Mr Dewing seconded the nomination of Mr Macfarlane as President, and that gentleman was unanimously elected. Mr Macfarlane again thanked the members, He was sorry they had not elected some other member, as there were many well qualified for the position. However, as it was their wish- that he should hold office for another year, he would be pleased to accept it, as there was still a good deal to do in connection with the new grounds, and he would be glad to do what he could in promoting the interests of the Society. Mr W. W. Smith proposed, and Mr Dobbie seconded, Mr Holden as vicePrcsident.—Carried unanimously. For General Committee the President said that there were two additional nominations —Messrs John Tombleson and A. Hegarty ; Mr Guthrie Smith retired, Mr Holden had been appointed Vice-Presi-dent, and then Mr W. W. Smith (who had retired from the position of vicePresident) remained on the list. As the Treasurer was ex-officio a member of the Committee, his name was deleted from the Committee, thus leaving the Committee as follows : —Messrs F. B. Barker, D. Dobbie, A. Dewing, C. Gray, H. Guthrie-Smitb, A. F. Kennedy, D. Kirkpatrick, W. Sherratt,. C. White, 11. N. Watson, Tombleson, Hegarty. Mr Bright was re-elected Treasurer, and Messrs A. F. Kennedy and L. T. Symcs auditors. The President said that after liquidating accounts there- was £56 12s Sd in the Bank, and there was ,£l5O on fixed deposit.

Mr Gray referred to the large amount of outstanding subscriptions, etc. Mr Mason explained that a good deal of that had been collected since the end of the year when the balance-sheet was made up. Mr Harley Evans : I sec an item for outstanding entrance fees ; I thought everything was to be paid in cash. Mr Mason said that it was difficult to strictly enforce cash in such cases, say, as o a man on the Coast sending an entry by wire.

Mr Dewing said that should not make any difference.

Mr Kennedy said it was a matter that the auditors had gone into, and they proposed that the Secretary should be given authority to get a card printed, to be hung in his office, notifying that he was personally responsible for entrance fees and instructed not to receive an entry without the cash ; they also proposed to make it an instruction to him that he would be personally liable, so that he would not have any option tn the matter ; if an exceptional case occurred he would have to ger the consent of the Chairman. Mr W. Smith : It would be well to put a notice in the papers as well. Mr Cyril White : There is a rule on the subject. Mr Bright : But it is more honoured in the breach than in the observance. Mr White said in that case the Secretary would be taking the risk. Mr Chambers : Charge them 10 per cent. (Laughter.) After further general remarks the suggestion of the auditors was approved of, and the meeting concluded, •