AQUATICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1293, 10 December 1896, Page 27

AQUATICS.

WELLINGTON ROWING CLUB

The half-yearly general meeting of the Wellington Homing Club was held at the boathouse on Monday.- The captain (Mr W. Boss) occupied the chair, stead *bout 50 members were present. . The captain and other members macic feeling reference to the death of Mr J. *2. HaYesy one of the vice-presidents and trustees ot tne Clnbv aad a resolution was carried placing cm record the very valuable and disinterested services Mr Hayes had rendered the Club tor many year's. A copy of this resolution was ordered to be sent to Mrs Hayes. Mr R. P. Hood was-unanimously elected an auditor of the Club, vie* Mr S. Waters, asnr,, Who has reraovad from Wellington". Mr S. Waters junr., wrote, resigning Ins office as deputy-captain of the Club, owing to stress of private business. Very deep regret" was expressed at the step Mr Waters felt compelled to take, and be was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his past services, extending over very many years. Mr A. Sargeant (who was stroke of the Club's senior crew last year) was unanimously elected to the vacant office. The vacancy on the committee caused by Mr Sargeant's promotion was filled by the election of Mr S. Waters.

The resignation of Mr A. M. Burns as secretary of the Club was referred to by several members, who deplored the lost, to the Club by bis removal from Wellington. A resolution was placed on record in appreciation of his yeoman services, and the captain stated that another opportunity would be taken of recognising Mr Barns' work 'in the interests of the Club during the lasb five years. Mr W. Sinclair (of the Government Railway Department) was elected to the vacant position. Messrs F. R. Curtis, B. J. Finucane and Maudsley were appointed a Club Race Committee for the season. The meeting broke up with three ringing cheers for the captain and Mr Burns.

A light southerly breeze blew on Saturday when the Port Nicholson Yacht Club got off the second heat of the first and second handicap races. The water was smooth. The Maritana, with a start, of lSmin, was awarded the first-class race on time allowance from the Waitangi, scr. The following started for the second-class race :—Rona, scr ; Atalanta, 4tnin ; Mapu, 7min ; Mahina, 9min ; and the Waiwetu, 20min. The finishing times were : Mapu, shrs 14mm 30sec ; Rona, shrs 26uiin 15sec ; Mahina, shrs 18m:n 15sec : Atalanta, shrs 30min 30sec ; Waiwetu, shrs2b"min lOsec. Ihe Waiwetu won on time allowance, the Mapu being second, and the Mahina third. Mr J. B. Speed acted as starter and judgo. The handicapper was Mr F. Biss. Jn the First-class Handicap the Waitangi claims the race, which on Saturday was awarded by the timekeeper to the Maritana. The Waitangi was giving the latter lSmin, and the official announced that she lost by 30sec The watches on board the Waitangi allowed a win by 3min, and independent watches on the wharf gave it 2min. Therefore a protest has boen entered by the owners oV m the Waitangi Mr F. L. Biss has declared the following handicaps for next Saturday's yacht races : First-class —Waitangi, scr; Maritana, lGmin. Second-class—Rona, scr; Mapu, smin ; Atalanta, 7min; Mahina, 9min ; Waiwetu, 15min ; Jennie Beid, 20miu. Yachtsmen are looking forward to this race with a great deal of interest, as it will be the first occasion upon which the start is to bo made in order of the handicap, instead of all the boats starting together, as has been the practice in the past. Tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club's races will be run under the " Mark Foy " time system for the first time on the 19th inst., when several handicap races will b 3 sailed. Tho Star Boating Club has decided to send crows to the Nelson Regatta, to be held on Boxing Day.