AQUATICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12071, 15 September 1902, Page 7

AQUATICS

NEW ZEALAND YACHT SQUADRON. The annual meeting of the members of the Now Zealand Yacht Squadron will be held in the club rooms, Queen-street, to-morrow evening. The following is the committee's report to be presented to the mec-ting : — In presenting the annual report your committee takes this opportunity of congratulating the squadron in, at last obtaining club rooms commensurate with the position of tho leading yachting body in the colony. Tho proposition to trench upon practically the whole of the squadron's liquid assets in fitting up the rooms now in the occupation of tho squadron has already resulted in a considerable acquisition to the squadron's membership, and has, in the committee's opinion, given sufficient proof already to warrant its members in believing that, in the near future, the squadron will be a much more powerful body—both afloat and ashore—than it lias oyer yet been in the history of yachting in Now Zealand. Your committee would point out that though the new rooms have been fitted up and paid for, still the whole success or non-success of the new venture depends on the rank and file of the squadron. So far the attendance has been all that could be expected, and your committee hopes that the members will continue to show their appreciation of the new venture as enthusiastically throughout the coming year as they have done since possession was taken of the rooms. The total number of members now on the roll is 261, being a gain on the number shown in the last annual report of 104. Your committee regrets that the interest shown in racing has been very poor. _ While recognising that the attractions of cruising are very great in Auckland, your .committee thinks that more interest might be shown in class racing, and that some of the enthusiasm which was evoked by the two ocean races might well be shown in the class races and in the general hand: caps. The interest taken in the ocean races, inaugurated in the season of 1900-1901, was again markedly shown in the past season, and the question cf having more events of this kind on the programme is well worth the consideration of the incoming committee. Only one club cruise was held during the past season, but owing to weather conditions and a counter attraction on the weather shore, the muster at the appointed destination was only poor. Despite this your committee feels that more might be done in the way of holding club cruises, the more so as man) - impromptu cruises eventuated and were thoroughly enjoyed, apparently, by all hands. The success which attended these impromptu cruises and the two cricket matches between the married and single members of the squadron is ample evidence that a much stronger feeling of esprit de corps exists among squadron members than ever before and that the expenditure of a little time and trouble would result in making the club a much more live body afloat. Your committee feels that more attention might bo paid to the flying of squadron colours, especially in entering and leaving bays. The club uniform, too, might well be more generally worn by members. Your committee has to report that 20 boats have been measured by the Customs Department, and the measurements forwarded to the Admiralty to enable Admiralty warrants for these boats to lie issued, and also that a petition has been forwarded through His Excellency the Govormior to the Colonial Secretary, the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, M.P., requesting His Majesty the King to grant the squadron the permission to add the prefix " Royal" to the title of the squadron. This application, the committee has been informed, has the entire approval of His Excellency tho Governor, and the committee hopes to be able to announce at the annual meeting on the 16th inst. that it has ben granted. A scheme for promoting the usefulness of the squadron in other centres of the colony by appointing a port captain to represent the squadron in each such centre, has been proposed, and will have to be dealt wit! by the incoming committee. Your committee has to congratulate the members on the fact that the squadron has met the heavy expenses incidental to fitting out such comfortable and commodious rooms as are now in its occupation and is yet able to show a respectable credit balance. The committee trusts that the same hearty support which has been extended to them by members during the past year will be accorded to theii successors, and that the progress shown since the last annual report was issued will be eclipsed in the coming year. The balance-sheet shows that the receipts, including a balance of £79 16s lOd from last year, were £364 16s Id, and the expenditure £320 15s 9o\ leaving a balance in hand of £44 0s 4d. The cost, or fitting up tho new rcoms was £100 15s frl. The assets are valued at £259 19s 3d, whilst the liabilities are £8 18s 4d.