AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16349, 2 October 1916, Page 10

AQUATICS.

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON. The annual meeting of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was held on Friday evening, Mr. J. B. Johnston, rear-commo-dore, presided. The annual report, which was submitted, stated that the squadron had reason to be iiroud of the public spirit and patriotism displayed by its members, no fewer than 157 having already joined the^colours. The committee recorded with deepest regret the deaths during the year of W. B. Robinson, formerly lion, treasurer, and Victor Rhodes, ivho were lost on the troopship Marquette, and 'also of the Hon. W. G. Nicholls, Mr. Athol Foster, and Captain Gibbs, The committee docided at the beginning of the season to hold its usual racing events, but after, the first race, believing that it was acting in accord with the feeling of the members due to the present international struggle, decided to abandon the programme. As mentioned in the previous report, ; the committee had \ under consideration the question, of . removing" to new. premises, lifter due consideration tlipy decided that nwing to tlio unsettled state of affairs they 'fould' not be warranted in incurring the Liabilities, involved. A - fire, however, occurred *at: the old rooms. The: squadron' was adequately insured, and , the companies were t prompt. in the payment of ■ claims. It ,then became, a question as to whether it was advisable to spend the insurance money on refitting the old rooms, the lease of which had ' only •' a little over a year to run. r After due consideration it.was decided that it was ' better to\taket. over . the new rooms -i at \ EndeanV Buildings, and spend, the money in fitting : them out.■ The', committee g felt /. sure I that their j action would > meet with the approval of j; the • members, and I it: had been :■ justified. by ' results. , The new clubrooms ;had- fully realised expectations, and '& the y committee believed that": these ; rooms would be highly , instrumental; in . the promotion 'of the best interests, of the club. . In this connection • the thanks of. tho s squadron - were .vdue;; ; to the commodore : > and Messrs. C. 'E. HortOn.V 'A. Burt, 'jun.'. A and -. E. H. 'Davis: for > their handsome j donations. % During the., time .the squadron was without accommodation owing to tho ; fire,' the Com-; mercial - Travellers' : : Club : and ; .the,;; Junior, Club : placed the , privileges \of; their ,; respec five club's at the disposal 'of the' squadron members, and'the committee, on behalf, of the members, desire to, record their appreciation' of -the ; generosity of theseclubs. The squadron commenced <the year .with -.a membership of 200. town, 58 country, 59 absentee, and •15 honorary and v lifo members. New. members had been elected as follows:— 25 town and 6 country. -The total . membership .with which the squadron will commence the coming season was 178 town, 57, country, 82. absentee, and 11 honorary and life members. , :■%:•'v'.' : < ; %The ; : balance-sheet showed:—Liabilities: Debentures, , £83 debenture interest; accrued, £26 17s : 8d; > special donations, '£52 15s 2d: reserve ' fund,' £103 18s 7d; 1 billiard ' prizes unexpended, . £2: 2s; - rates, £5; accumulated fund, balance at August 31et, 1915. £492 \l3s lOd; plus exccss of income over expenditure for the year ended August 31, 1916, £117 8s; total, £883 16s 3d. Assets: .Billiard tables, £120;. furniture, £138; fittings, £28 19s 6d; lockers, safo, flags,', etc., ' £15 - pictures, £66 Pittar Cup, £10 30s; sundries detailed, £41 7s. 4d• - lunch room effects. £10 2s' 9d; outstanding subscriptions estimated . to produce £51'.'9sj "outstanding account,. £10 C-s '.Id; reserve fund . investment.', £103 18s 7d; special : donations deposit fund, £52 15s, 2d: investment in • Auckland Savings ■'Bank,'' £103 18s;- cash in hand, £100; ; cash; in j National Bank lof New. Zealand, • £21,155; 7d; total,' £883 - 15s 3d,v>> : v' The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers wore clected:— Commodore. , Mr. " J." L. R. Bloomfield; vicecommodore, Mr. E. C. Blomfield; rear-com-modore, Mr." J. B. Johnston;- lion.'secretary, 'Mr,' B. W. Beaumont; hop.' assistant secretary,'; Mr. B. C.' Massey; hon. treasurer, Mr. S. C. Heigbwayr general , committee, Messrs. Murdoch,' Reynolds,: Gilford, vi A. Burt, ' jun., Frater, Le Huqnet, *,Foster, Dawson, . Lonsdale, and Holloway. ' "... ' > Votes of thanks were passed to the officers, committeemen and others who had assisted the squadron'during the past year.'v-i^--.