AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 30

AQUATICS.

N.Z. AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION.

The annual general meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association was held last week in the Trocadero. Mr A. G. Pell (Picton) presided. The annual report and balance-sheet (which have already been published iu the New Zealand Mail) were read and adopted without discussion.

The Hokitika Boating Club was admitted to the Association. A number of alterations were made in the rules, the principal being : —That there should be a half-yearly meeting of the Association, to be held at the place where the championship events are decided ; that the seven delegates to constitute the Managing Committee of the Association should represent seven different clubs, 'and that the seven members of the Appeal Council should represent as many different clubs; that all championship events should be decided on smooth water, a sub-committee consisting of umpire, starter and chairman of local committee to be judges as to the suitability of the water. The election of officers resulted as follows : —President, Mr S. H. Gollan (Napier;; vicepresidents, Messrs J. Mills (Port Chalmers) and S. T. George (Auckland) ; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. M. Burns (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr W. Ross (re-elected); appeal council, Messrs A. S. Biss, E. C. Batkin, W. H. Field, A. G. Johnson, G. H. Bethune, G. F. C. Campbell and W. Ross ; managing committee, Messrs A. S. Biss, W. H. Field, G. H. Bethune, N. Galbraith, W. Ross, G. Fache and A. G. Johnson. Association representatives—Auckland, Mr E. W. Burgess ; Hawke’s Bay, Mr A. Simmonds ; Wanganui, Mr W. Bodwell; Marlborough, Mr G. B. Richardson ; Otago, Mr J. James; Southland, Mr W. J. P. Hodgkins ; Canterbury, Mr J. F. Grierson. The selection of a representative for the West Coast was left in tho hands of the Managing Committee. When the election of secretary and treasurer was before the meeting, the chairman said that Mr A. M. Burns had notified him that ho would not bo eligible for re-election to tho office, owing to his proposed removal from Wellington. Mr Burns would not be leaving Wellington for about three weeks or a month, he would render every assistance to the new officer, and would clear up all the business arising out of tho meeting. Mr A. S. Biss said that he hoped that Mr Burns would be again elected, and on his removal from Wellington the Managing Committee should have power to elect another secretary. Mr Burns had done a lot of important work for the Association, and he had now a quantity of important busines on hand which tho delegates would like him to deal with. He hoped that Mr Burns would again be elected to the position. Mr Burns signified his willingness to fall in with the proposal, and he was elected unanimously amid applause. Mr A. G. Johnson moved, and it was carried, that .£ls 15s be voted to Mr Burns as an honorarium for the services rendered by him last year. Mr G. H. Bethune moved, “ That the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association provide the prize-money for the championship events.” This was seconded, and an amendment moved by Mr A. S. Biss that the Managing Committee should consider the practicability of a scheme for providing the rrize-money, and that, if it was approved, it should apply tu this season. Mr G. F. C. Campbell reconded the amendment, which was carried It v/:n decided that tho Championship Regatta i’or 189o‘-7 should bo again hold at Pic ton.

following were reinstated as amateurs t —Stuart McDonald, Port Chalmers Rowing Club ; J, J. Mclntosh, J. Howat, J. McMillan, A. ijennie, A. Dale, Hohitika Bo&tiilg Club. An application froi&,R. A. Palanlountain for reinstatement Was refused.

It was resolved that no action should at present be taken with reference to the amateur definition governing intercolonial Contests. Mr Field moved u That this Association views the imposition of Customs duty on imported ■oars as a serious and unjustifiable tax op. the sport of rowing, and that a deputation consisting of the Managing Committee wait on the Commissioner of Customs and urge him to remove the duty.” Mr A. G. Johnson asked that Mr Field should insert in his motion words to the effect that < the deputation should ask the Commissioner to remit the duty on wood used for making oars and on fittings used in boats. Mr Field agreed to have the words inserted in the motion. The motion as amended was carried.

Mr Field proposed a very sincere voto of thanks to Mr A. M. Barns for his past services to the Association. Mr Burns, Mr Field said, had filled the office of secretary to the Association with zeal and signal ability, and it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fill his shoes. Mr Burns was departing from them shortly and his loss would be severely felt by his own club, the Wellington Rowing Club, and by all clubs in New Zealand. In mailing these remarks he was only re-echoing the opinion of all rowing men in New Zealand. Ho hoped ere long that Mr Burns would again bo amongst them. Mr Partridgo, on behalf of the Union Rowing Club, Christchurch, seconded the motion, and read a communication from that club regretting Mr Burns’ retirement. The motion was carried unanimously amid loud applause. Mr Burns returned thanks, and said that though he would be aw r ay from them he would still take as great an interest as ever in rowing matters. He was pleased to know that his services had boen appreciated, and thanked Mr Biss, the late secretary of the Association, for the assistance he had given him in carrying out his duties, and also the members of the Council, who had also aided him.

A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded tho meeting.

The finals of the Star Boating Club’s Pairs were rowed last week in excellent water. In the seniors a splendid race ensued, A. W. Newton and W. H. Tripe beating E. C. Crauford and F. Widdop after a brilliant spurt by a length and a half. In the juniors S. Harcourtand A. J. Curtis had a “walk over,” entirely out-classing tho other crews, C. VV. S. Cox and T. R. Hickson being second, a length and a half in front of G. J. Reid and F. J. Archibald.

On Tuesday evening, in a heat of the Club Fours, Wellington Rowing Club, Duff (bow), Cooke (2), Calnan (3), F. Fanning (stroke) defeated Tindall (bow), Graham (2), Cuthbertson (3) and T. Spencer (stroke) by two feet, after a great race. The heats were continued last evening, wlion Pearce (bow), Feeney (2), Kelly (3) and W. Shilling (stroke) won very easily from Skelly (bow), McKenzie (2), Hutson (3) and W. 11. Jackson (stroke). In the first heat of the second round Fanning’s crew secured a two lengths’ win over Slinn’s crew.

The action of the Auckland Regatta Committee in adding a champion whaleboat race to the programme for its annual regatta in January is most unfavourably commented upon in aquatic circles, being generally regarded as a retrograde step, and one that cannot be too strongly denounced by all who desire to see the advancement of scientific rowing in New Zealand. In some quarters it is felt that tho Auckland Regatta Committee, by its ill-advised action, has completely ruined any chance the northern city had of being chosen as the locality for this season’s championship regatta of tho Row Zealand Amateur Rowing Association. Had the Auckland committee allocated JOIOO as the first prize for a four-oared outrigger race instead of a whaleboat race the probability is that entries would have been received from all the crack crews of the Colony, but a whaleboat race must necessarily be confined to crews in tho Auckland province, for the simple reason that in no other part of New Zealand is whaleboat racing countenanced by amateur clubs. Outside of the Auckland province it is regarded as an antiquated form of rowing. There is also reason to believe that the race may involve an infringement of the amateur definition of tho New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, and the officials of the governing body will require to watch the progress of events very closely.