AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12070, 13 September 1902, Page 7

AQUATICS.

The annual general meeting of the members of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron will be held in the clubrcoms, Queen-street, on Tuesday evening next. A large attendance is expected on the occasion, as the busiess to be transacted is of importance to the welfare of the club.

The two and a-half rater Daisy, the property of Mr. \V. Lincl, of the North Shore, is offered for sale by her owner. The yacht is a very handy boat and an excellent cruiser, whilst she has a good turn of speed. 1 hear that Mr. W. Wilkinson has had a very good offer made for his yacht Speedwell, which proved such a success last season as a prize-winner, but the owner tells me that ho has not definitely decided whether to accept the offer or not. The crack yacht Rainbow is to return to Auckland again, she having just been purchased by Messrs. Gray Bros., the late owners of Kotiri, from Mr. Mills, of Wellington, who purchased the yacht from Mr. A. T. Pittar last year. Yachtsmen generally will bo pleased to learn of Rainbow's return to her native city, and in the baud 1 ; of her new owners she should soon get into her old racing form. Messrs. Gray Bros, inform me that the yacht will he sailed tin to Auckland, the freight asked by the shipping companies being quite prohibitive to her being brought up on a. steamer's deck. Nothing definite has yet been settled as to the date of Rainbow's arrival at Auckland, but it will probably be about the middle of October. Mr. A. T. Pittar tells me that it is very probable he will have another yacht built next year. This, will be good news to yachtsmen, who will hail Mr. Pittar' return" to the sport which lie has dono so much to footer by the game manner in which lie has had yachts built, and sailed them, not only in New Zealand, but at Sydney. With the return of Rainbow to Auckland and the new clipper Mr. Pittar proposes to build, for she will have to be a. speedy craft to suit him, there is every prospect of some excellent sport in ISM. The annual general meeting of the Ponsonby Cruising Club takes place on Thursday, the 25th inst. It is to be hoped that a largo number of members will be present. The business of the evening is the annual report and balance-sheet, the election of officers and committee for the ensuing year, and the annual subscription, which the outgoing committee strongly recommend to be raised to ten shillings and sixpence. The past season has been a very successful one, and the retiring officers are to be congratulated on the sound financial position of the club. Mr. Chatfield is making considerable alterations to his yacht Rangitira for the coming season which will go a long way to her improvement. The whole of the cabin fittings have been taken out, which will give much more room, and add to the comfort of those on board. A portion of the forefoot and load have been removed, which it is expected will increase the speed of the yacht, and will certainly improve her appearance in the water. PONSONBY REGATTA. The annual general meeting of this club is called for Thursday evening next in the clubrocm, Ponsonby Club Hotel, and it behoves all members to be in attendance at this meeting, no that an early start may bo made with the preliminary arrangements for the, 1902 regatta" Through the energy of the old committee the club has been placed in a sound financial position, and there is every reason to believe that the present season will be one of continued prosperity. The club has the services of last year's secretary in the person of Mr. W. Brooke Taylor, who has gone to reside in Wellington, and the vacancy may be somewhat hard to fill. However, I hoar the name of Mr. G. Stokes mentioned as a likely successor to Mr. Taylor, and I trust the committee will have the good fortune to obtain his services.

WEST END BOWING CLUE. The eighteenth animal meeting of the above club was 'held in the boathouse. St. Mary's Bay, Ponsonby, last evening, there being a very large attendance. The chair was taken by Mr. D. B. McDonald (one of the vice-presidents). The annual report congratulated the members upon the continued prosperity of the club. There had been 35 new members elected during the year, whilst 15 had resigned, the total membership now being 227. The balance-sheet showed that the amount received for subscriptions and entrance fees for the past season was £156 18s 6d, as against £127 10s for tho previous year. The gross receipts, including the balance from last year of £7 12s 4d, were £240 4s lOd, and the expenditure £203 8s Bd, leaving a balance to credit of £36 16s 2d. The assets are £1007 Is 2d, and tho liabilities nil. The report and balance-sheet, were adopted unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. T. Peacock; president, Mr. Murdoch McLean. A large number of vice-presidents were elected, some 53 names. Captain, Mr. C. Wilson (unopposed); deputy-captain, Mr. W. A. Graham; hon. secretary, Mr. If. A. English; lion, treasurer. Mr. .7. C. Gailaher; auditors, Messrs. K. Baxter and T. V. Wells: delegates to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association. Messrs. M. McLean, J. K. Gibbous, and Neil McLean; General Committee, Messrs. Cossar, Stephenson, Mason. Mitchell, Court, Lowry; Selection Committee, captain, deputy-captain, and Mr. G. 0. Stephenson. It was unanimously decided to have a shield made of photographs of all the members who served in South Africa in the Boer war. Mr. .1. A. Mackenzie, who has been removed to Wellington, was unanimously elected a life member in consideration of valuable services rendered. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to all who had assisted in promoting the interests of the club during the past season, particularly to Messrs. Peacock, M. McLean. J. Kirkcr, and A. Holm.

THE NEW ZEALAND YACHT .SQUADRON'S ROOMS.

The formal opening of the new rooms of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Smecton's Buildings, Queen-street, took place last night, and proved a mo.-t successful function. There was a largo gathering of members, and the social room was gaily decorated with hunting. The commodore (Mr ('. P. Murdoch) presided, and cordially welcomed the members and their friends on the occasion of the opening of the new rooms. A very interesting _ programme of songs, recitations and musical items was gone through during the course of the evening, all the items being heartily received. The rooms consist of a secretary's room, social room, billiard room, reading room, and genera! committee room. All have been comfortably fitted for the comfort, of the members by gifts from the members and their friends, including a number of ladies. The reading room is a very comfortable-looking place, with a reading table and stuffed cane chairs, and a writing table, fitted with the necessary accessories for the use of the members. The walls of the rooms are decorated with a series of yachting and other pictures, some of them being valuable works of art. Taken altogether the rooms are all that could be- desired, and the committee who had the arranging of the details are to be congratulated upon the success of their efforts. Ltxx,