WATERWAY SPORTS.

Northern Advocate, 28 August 1919, Page 1

WATERWAY SPORTS.

REGATTA ACTIVITIES,

NEW -NAME AND RULES. WHANGA'RE-I HARBOUR REGATTA ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting , was held on Tuesday in the County Council Chambers, under the chairmanship of Mr E. N. Oi-itniston There were present: Messrs W. Jack, K. McKenzie. C. Sowtjv, J. Mason H. ■.Menzies, W T . Lowe, A. Drever, H. Handfortb. F. R. Collins, and A. Weir. BALANCE SHEET. The balance slheet, which, was read and adopted, shows a credit balance of £28. The larger items on the revenue side record: —Gate money, £82 18s 6d; refreshment booths, £55 18s sd; membership fees, £50 ss; dona tions, £40 0s 6d Tlhe largest amounts on the expenditure side are:—Prize money paid out, £112 17s; refreshment booth and social, £60 16s 3d; printing, advertising and stationery, £52 10s. ANNUAL REPORT The president. Mr E. N. - Oriniston. read the report as follows, wttrich was. unanimously adopted; — In submitting the 191? annual report for your information and ap proval I do so feeling justly proud oi the splendid record and "results achieved, It- can be honestly claimed that the past year's fixture eollpsed all previous aquatic events in the harbour, in the .matter of the revenue handled, entries, attendance and pleasure given. These results were not achieved without personal sacrifices and work, and the committee ,may well feel pleased with their success in making the function somewhat of a standard for the annual fixture. A foundation has now been laid -which should make oiir regatta one of the unost popular, both from a competitive and a spectacular poini of view. W r e were favoured with splendid weather conditions and a large crowd of visitors gathered from all points of the harbour and district. The rail and launch transport met all requh'ements and the thanks of the olub are due to those who assisted so materially in; this direction. Meetings—Ten meetings were held during the year. -A-t the first meeting, convened by me as president of the club and presided over by his Worship the iMayor, Mr Dent, and held iri the Whangarei County Council Chambers on the 27th August, 1918, it was decided to amalgamatrtQie interests of Onerahi and Wha- rngarei for the purpose of-creating* a stronger and imore representative committee to carry on the affairs of •the olub. The result of this proposal speaks for itself. As is shown by the attendance at meetings a keen and enthusiastic comimittee was elect etl, and strengthened during the year by one or two additional members. .Membership,—The membership for the year was considerably increased, over 200 membership tickets being , sold, realising £50 ss. Cash donations—The thanks of the club ai*e due to those business people and others who so liberally sup ported the regatta by monetary donations. This source of revenue rea lised £i 00s 6d. Trophies.—To- those who so kindly donated trophies for competition the club records its thanks, particularly to the Harbour Board for its cup. It is the wish of the board that conditions for competition be framed and it will be necessary for the com mittee to confer witih the board in this connection. Entries.—Compared with previous years the revenue from this source show a csonsiderable increase, due chiefly to increased launch and rowing entries. This channel of revenue would have shown a still greater increase had our activities not been so seriously interfered witih by the unfortunate epidemic. This was par tic-ularly so in connection with the rowing portion of the events, as most of the clubs were practically closed down until after the New Year. Racing.—The competition for all launch events was keen and the races well contested, several of the finishes being exceptionally close With tlhe experience gained this year the handicapping should be placed p.n a more .satisfactory footing in future years, and if this is done the interest in •motor-boat racing should be easily maintained. It would be as well for the incoming committee to give tljis aspect of their activities well matured and experienced consideration. Th« sailing , events were fairlj' well patronised, but (this portion of the programme should be better catered for in the way of increased prizemoney, a sure means of 'attracting , man}' , of the better class of racing yachts that will not make the trip from Auckland at present owing 1o lack of encouragement. The rowing events fully justified the prize-money expended on this branch of the programme, and had it not been for ttlie epidemic considerably better fields, and more interesting racing), .would have surely eventuated. Your committee fully ap preciate the advantage of providing substantial encouragement to outside clubs and they honestly believe that this part of the day's sport cannot be too well catered for.

Your committee would advise their .successors in office to eliomin'ate fram the programme in future all swimming , events and side-shows with the exception, perihaps, of the greasy boom and high dive, two items that might be arranged for with little trouble and expense. Experience undoubtedly proves how inadvisable, and almost impossible it is to successfully carry out this part of the pro gramme This suggestion is made entirely in the. best interests of the regatta and in no waj' antagonistic to swimming interests which, in the opinion of the comimittee, should b« l strong!y supported. This end would lie better attained by making a grant, or donating a suitable trophy to the Whangarei Swimming , Club, who devote a day to the sport and are better able to carry, out activities in this direction. Championship Meeting.—-An effort should be made to have a championship meeting held in Whangarei harbour, to .get sportsmen from all over New Zealand Centres with less facilities have arranged such championship meetings, and there is no reason why this harbour, tttian which there is no better, should not organise a most popular meeting. Revision of Exiles.—You will be asked, gentlemen, to consider a draft of proposed new rules that should do much to lighten the burden and smooth the path in the future I:o asking- you to adopt tlhe rules as drafted we do so feeling sure of the advantage of having , a comprehensive and up-to-date, constitution. Finance, —The balance-sheet shows a turnover of '£'336 ss, a sum that has not been approached in any previous year. This is.a safe indication, gentlemen, not only of the popularity of the annual regatta, but a sure sign that tlhe people of the Whangarei harbour are more than willing to support the event most liberally if they are asked to do so. The expenses have been unduly large duo principally to the fact that the prize money was increased to £131 10s. Your committee in their desire to lay a solid foundation for future fixtures* advertised lavishly and provided visiting competitors with an evening entertainment at which the prizes were presented and at which the conduct of the regatta was free ]y discussed. Not only did this function provide a fitting finale to a most successful day, but it enabled the visitors to show, in no feeble way, their appreciation of the sport provided After-meeting , all liabilities tihere still .remains a credit balance of approximately £28. The assets of the club have been increased to £15 and much of the expense shown on the balance sheet is of a non-re curring nature. With this informa tion before you, gentlemen, you should have no difficulty in arranging next year's programme. Personal.—-Owing to transfer, Mr G. H .Mackley, secretary, has found it necessary to resign (his position in the club and as a mai'k of the committee's appreciation ot the work done by Mr Mackley he was elected a life member. Messrs Jack and Menzies have carried ou the duties of the office in the interim much' against their wish but materially to the club's advantage. I would record herein tlhe best thanks of the club for the work they have done. Both Messrs Jxirakovieh and Mai lendine, first and second respectively , in the auxiliary yacht race, have handed their prize-money back to the club so that a suitable trophy might be purchased for the. same event next year. It will be for the incoming , committee to decide in what manner the money can-best be spent at the same time keeping , in view the wisih. of the donors, In conclusion, gentlemen, I ■wish to record imy thanks to the members of the committee who have all worked so hard and made many personal sacrifices to benefit the sport. I sincerely hope that wise judgment will guide you in selecting , the members who are to guide the destinies of the 1920 fixtures. I regret exceedingly that I shall not be able to so actively associate myself with the affairs of the regatta during , tihe coming , year,-but-so far as it anay lie in my power you may rest assured o? all the helep I can find it convenient to render Thanking all who have supported the regatta in any way anri bespeaking for the new committee a continuance of that support so thai the name of the Whangarei Harbour regatta may continue to flourish and grow in keeping with the importance of the splendid waterway s,o generouslj' provided by nature. X'E'W RULES. The proposed new rules were read, discussed and adopted: A mption that the association should have eqlours was put to the -meeting, but lost on a show of hands, NEW OFFICERS. Patron, Mr F. Mander, 'M.P.; presidenti, Mr A. R. Pickmere; vice-pre sidents, Messrs H. Handforth and J, D. McKenzie; treasurer, Mr W. Jack; acting secretary, Mr W. Jack; committee, Messrs 11. Menzies, F. Nash, W. Abbott, K. G. M. 'Kelly, T. Thomp son, H. A. Deig.hton, 11. Skellern, \Y. Spratt, A. Weir, C. Sowery, J. Mason W. Lowe, A. Dreyei", and JI. Me , Kerizie. PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, As representing , tihe rowlngi, aail ing , , and launch branches of the as sociatlon, Messrs Menzies, Jack, So wry, Lowe, A. It. Pickmere and Drever were appointed .a sub-com-mittee to present a programme to the first committee meeting.

THANKS TO OHAIRiMAN. Mr A. Drever moved i hearty vote of thanks to Mr E. N. Ormiston for the great interest shown in the work of the association and'for 'his ever ready assistance; and regrets were expressed that he was unable to still further serve the society as an official. Mr W. Jack seconded the motion, referring to Mr Ormiston's untiring and helpful-service. The motion was carried by .acclamation. In replying, Mr Ormiston expressed his pleasure at having been able to help forward the cause of the organisation. He remarked that we were a maritime people, and that the work of the association was not'bnly the Cultivation of good sport, but ;. ifiie rendering of a national service. <He hoped and believed that the work would be pushed on with enthusiasm, and he predicted a still greater prosperity to the cause of aquatic sports.