ANNIVERSARY REGATTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21968, 27 November 1934, Page 7

ANNIVERSARY REGATTA

FIXTURE NEXT JANUARY NEW OFFICERS ELECTED jt _________ * r . ' A decision to hold the next Auckland Anniversary Regatta on Tuesday, January 29, Avas made at the annual meeting of the committee last evening. The chairman, Mr. Ernest Davis, presided over a large attendance. In presenting his annual report, the chairman stated that the donations received last year amounted to £253, as against £196. for the previous year. All other receipts for the year showed a satisfactory increase. The prize-money distributed for 1934 amounted to £254, as against £lB5 for the previous year. The trustees' cash account for the year was increased by £ll6, making a total credit in this account of £227.

Referring to the 1934 regatta, Mr. Davis said it was a pronounced success. On behalf of the committee, he wished to thank Rear-Admiral Burges Watson for his assistance in connection with the regatta, and all very much regretted that his commission would shortly expire. The yacht races, as well as the power events, were a great success, and also the model yacht regatta held in the Orakei Basin. Mr. Davis said that during the year he had made inquiries as to the possibility of reinstating whale boat racing, which in the early days of the regatta was one of its prominent features. He regretted to state, however, that it was practically impossible to do anything in this direction, as the present rowing generation was not keen. In spite of this, however, he thought the committee should have some amateur races on Anniversary Day. Perhaps a suitable race could be rowed in clinker fours practice boats for a cup or trophy. The combined fleet of Auckland's 16 sailing and motor-boat clubs was estimated at 500 craft, said Mr. Davis. Added to these were fully 200 more boats which took no part in club events. A fair average would be six persons to a boat, and this gave a total of over 4000 men all actively engaged in the sport; in a good season's weekend. He wished to thank the commitj tee for its help during his two years' j term of office, and regretted that he could not allow himself to be nominated for the position of chairman for the 1935 regatta. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Bledisloe; vice-patrons, the lit. Hon. G. W. For.bes, Rear-Admiral | F. Burges Watson and Mr. T. B. Clay; 1 president, the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison; chairman, Mr. T. L. Thompson; vice-chairman, Mr. E. Griffiths; hon. secretary, Mr. A. J. Collihgs; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. McGehan; hon. solicitor, Mr. J. B. Johnston; auditor, Mr. B. W. Beaumont. It' was decided to elect a executive Committee at the next meeting. , . •: • . On the motion of Mr. J. Longbottom, Mr. Davis was unanimously elected a life member of the committee in recognition of his services during his long association with the anniversary regatta. -