AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13277, 8 September 1906, Page 8

AQUATICS.

Mr. Gollan, commodore of the- Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron, has been on a visit to Auckland, and has been accorded the usual courtesies by the officers of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The annual meeting of West End Rowing Club will be held in the boathouse, St. Mary's Bay, Ponsonby, on the 2l6fc inst. The report and balance-sheet to be submitted by the committee are of a very satisfactory character, the club having made very good progress during the year. The plant is all in good order and condition, and two new pair-oar sculling boats should be delivered at the. beginning of the approaching season. A good attendance is assured at the meeting, as the members evince great interest in the club's welfare.

Dick Artist, the New Zealander, who hasbeen sent to George Towns, at Sydney, to learn to row, with the view of becoming champion, is out daily, and shaping well. Tie. has, a bit to learn about an outrigger, however, but his pluck and perseverance are serving him well. As a result, of the negotiations between the backers of Webb, the Wanganui oarsman, and the Australian supporters of Stanbury, Stanbury's people cabled offering to make a match with Webb for £100 or £200 a-side. At a meeting held at Wanganui last Wednesday night it was decided to accept Stanbury's offer for £200 a-side, to row Webb on the Wanganui Riyer on Boxing Day. This match .-.'ill be looked forward to with keen interest by all New Zealanders interested in lowing.

AUCKLAND ROWING ASSOCIATION. The fourth annual meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association will be held on October 12. lam indebted to Mr. G. S. Mitchell, the hon. secretary, for a copy of the, annual report and balance-sheet of the association for the past year, from which I glean that there arc now 12 clubs affiliated to the association, representing 318 active paying members. Regarding the Championship Rowing Regatta, the report stales that it will probably be held at Lyttelton this year, owing to the Exhibition, but the Auckland Association are of opinion that . the strongest representations should be made 'to the New Zealand"Amateur Rowing Association to have the 'championship meeting of 1907-8 held in Auckland. The report states: "It is pleasing to note that clubs have at last seriously decided to encourage sculling and double-sculling, and order* have been placed by some of the clubs for boats to permit of racing at regattas in this class of rowing The senior race at the Ngarnawahia Regatta was rowed in ' best-and-best' boats. This evidences a go-ahead policy, and should give local men a better opportunity of meeting Southern rowers on equal terms at championship meetings. A movement is on foot to introduce eight-oar rowing into Auckland, and is likelv to be attended with success. These remarks tend to show that clubs are pursuing a vigorous progressive policy, and rowing is undoubtedly at- the present time very strong throughout the Auckland district. It is with regret we note the Auckland Anniversary Regatta. Committee— admittedly the pioneer committee of the colony —cannot, in its wisdom, see fit to catet for the clubs of Auckland in gig racing. Great interest is always displayed bv the public, and such racing would -undoubtedly tend to the interests of the regatta. We' trust that on January 29, 1907, rowing men will have a full programme provided." The balancesheet shows that the association 13 in a sWund financial position, there being a credit balance of £52 15s 9d, without any liabilities.

NEW ZEALAND ROWING ASSOCIATION. [by TELEGRAPH —ritEss ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington-, Friday.' At. « meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association the Canterbury Association gave notice to move at the- annual meeting on October l.Si the, direction of deleting the weight re*t?Aaon in connection with the. maiden-weights. The council decided to favourably recommend the application for reinstatement of A. H Acinan. of Auckland. Four new clubs were affiliated during the season, and tho membeiship was increased by 242. The balancesheet shows a credit of £77. L TNx