AUCKLAND ROWING ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8692, 8 October 1891, Page 6

AUCKLAND ROWING ASSOCIATION.

Last .evening the Auckland Amateur Rowing Association held its annual general meetinK in the Waitemata Hotel. Mr. Malcolm Niccol, patron,* presiding. ' The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. The secretary then submitted the yearly report, which ran as follows : — The committee has to congratulate the Association upon the success which has attended its efforts to promote amateur rowing in Auckland, and it can safely be said that in 110 other rowing centre in the colony are there such large entries or better contested races. Twu regattas were held during the past year. The first, on December 13th, 1890, at Takapuna Lake, was from a' rowing point of view a great success, but financially rather disappointing. The second regatta was held in the harbour on April > 11th, ISOI, and in consequence of two unavoidable postponements was not so successful as was anticipated; ■ at this regatta the Waiteuiata Club's crew (Messrs. G. Moore, M. Keefe, O'Connor, K. : Moore)' won the inrigger gig■ championship of Auckland. At the Mercer Regatta,,'held on March 7th, three races were rowed under the auspices of this Association and were well contested, and the committee desires to express its appreciation of the endeavours of Mr. Porter, of Mercer, to encourage rowing on the Waikato River. Upon reference to the balance-sheet attached , hereto, duly audited, it will be seen that the committee took office with a credit 'bulance of £29 5b 7d, but ■ retires with a balance in hand of only £1 Qs lOd; the whole of the receipts (£B7 4s 9d) together with the balance from la»t year (except the balance now in hand) having bi*en expended in connection with the two regattas of the Association, and the. committee recommend that some action be taken during the coming year to augment the funds of the Association, as hitherto the club and members have provided all the money for prizes and other expenses ; the only means as yet adopted being the charge for admission to the flagship, aud this so far has barely paid expenses. The committee desires to bring before the Association chs*advisability of introducing outrigger rowing into the regattas, in order that Auckland oarsmen may become acquainted with that style of rowing, and so be prepared to enter into contests with crews from other parts of the colony.

The following officers were then elected Patron, Chairman of the Harbour Board; vice-patron, the Mayor of Auckland; president, Mr. John Marshall; vice-president, Captain Parauhar, Messrs. R. Monk, J. H. Coates, J. Palmer, A. H. Nathan, and A. E. Devore; auditors, Messrs.- E. W. Burgees and F. J. Sanderson, It was decided to amend the rules so as to give power to the committee to effect alterations in the regatta regulations, and a recommendation that the classification of maiden oarsmen should be amended was made to the. committee. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, Mr. H. S. Ashton was re-elected secretary, and Mr. D. Miller appointed treasurer. It "was decided to open the season _ by a procession of the boats of all the affiliated clubs in the harbour on October 24. The date of the spring regatta was fixed for November 9, the races to be held at Lake Takapuna, providing suitable arrangements could be made.