N.Z. AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Mail, 30 December 1892, Page 21

N.Z. AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.

A speoial meeting of the Now Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was held at the Occidental Hotel last week. There was a large attendance of delegates, and Mr W. H. Field presided. Letters were reoeived from His Excellency the Governor and Mr E. G. Rhodes, of Chrlstchuroh, accepting the positions of patron and president respectively. The election of the Queen's Drive Boatlag Club, Port Chalmers, and the North End Rowing Club, Dunedin, was confirmed. The sub-committee appliod to revise the rules brought up their report. The proposed new rules were fully considered, and several amendments were made. The rule relating to the definition of an amateur was altered to read as follows: An amiteur oarsman or Soulier ia one who (a) has never competed with or against a professional, (b) has never competed for a stake or money prize, (c) has uever derived any pecuniary profit, directly or indirectly, from rowing or Boulling in or from tha funds of his club. Provided alway 3 that no person competing for money for the sole benefit of hia club shall thereby lose his amateur status. Provided further, that the committee of the association may for good cause shown reinstate bb an amateur any oarsman who may have iufringed the abovo rule.

The committee's proposed now rulo, that' all championship races shall be rowed in best and best boats,' evokod considerable discussion. The Canterbury Rowing Club and Cbristohuroh Ueg&tta Club wrote objecting to the new rule. The Canterbury Club Btated that if tho rule was agreed to the Canterbury clubs would probably leave the association. Mr L. Tripp, representing the Canterbury Club, moved that the new rule should be struok out, and that the preaent " rule, that four • oared championship rac:B should ba rowed in boats with coxswains, and the others in best and best boats, should stand. This was seconded by Mr E. Jackson (Nelson Rowing Club), and agreed to. In the discussion several of the delegates expressed regret at the action of the Canterbury Club in threatening to resign if the new rule was carried, and Mr M. F. Marks characterised it an a piece of 'unwarrantable bounce.? Mr Tripp explained that no threat waa intended. If the Southern club had to use coxw&inless boats they would be severely handicapped, and they would have no alternative but to leave the association.

The association adopted the laws of boatracing as approved by the Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and the principal boat clubs in London in 1872.

The committee appointed to consider the question of boats for junior and maiden crews recommended that all maiden raoes should be rowed in boats of the following dimensions :—Length, 38ft; beam, 21in •midships; depth, Bin at bow, Sin amidships, with 4in washboards above gunwale and 7in deep at stern ; slide to be not more than 22in. Outriggers to have swivel row locks or fixed poppets as preferred. It was deoided that the weight of tbe boats should be 1951b5, and clinker built. The committee also recommend that juniors should row in best and best boats. The rrport was adopted.

Applications for re-instafcement ao amateurs were agreed to as follows: —Otago Rowing Club, Measis J. Mo3rath and G. Hogan ; Dunedin Amateur Boating Club, Messrs D. Paterßon, W. Douglas, R. Proctor and J. H. Clarke. The application of tho Q leen'e Drive Boating Oiub tor the reinstatement of Palamouutain, the well-known sculler, was refused. The application of the same c'ub for the re instatoment of Messrs Dow, Cameron, Hornby, Shea, Peteis, Kesuan, Wright and Erridge waa postponed untl next masting of the club. A vote of thanks brought the meeting to a close. WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB. In another heat of tho Junior Pair Oars, rowed last week, S. Dix (bow), and J. E. Gamble (stroke) H. Dix (cox) defeated F. Piosa (bow), E. D. Barber (strode;, and Sullivan (cox) by a oouple of lengths. The Star Boating Club and Wellington Rowing Club crows which visited Nelson for the purpose of taking part in the annual regatta on Boxing D.iy, returned to Wellington by the Rotorua early on Wednesday morning. Owing to the unfavourable weather the Senior Outrigged and Inrigged Fours, and Ladies' Plate could not be rowed. An attempt was made to get'off the Inrigged Fours on Boxing Day, but the three boats representing the Star, Wakatu and Wellington Clubs which started, were swamped after going about a mile. Another effort was made to get the races off on Tuesday morning, but the water was still too rough.

NELSON REGATTA,

(press association,) Nelson, December 26,

The weather has been fine, but strong south winds prevailed. The rowing rapes at the regatta to-day were spoiled owing to the wind, which just suited the yachts. In the Senior Four-Oared Outriggers three started, Star Boating Club, Wellington Rowing Club, and Wakatu Club. Just as the race started the wind blew very hard, and when off the lighthouse, both the Star and Wakatu boats swamped, and when off the wharf the Wellington Club's boat also swamped, but the men got ashore all right. The Star boat bad her

back broken. At 6 o*cl< ck the rowing races were again tried with the Junior Four-Oared Outriggers, which was won by Nelson Rowing Club," 1; Star Club, 2 ; Wakatu, 3. Maiden Four Iniigged Race Wellington Club, 1; Wakatu, 2. The Star Club's boat was again swamped when having a good lead. The remainder of the races were postponed till tomorrow morning.