NORTH END BOATING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12447, 2 September 1902, Page 7

NORTH END BOATING CLUB.

The annual meeting; of the North End Boating Club was held in the Middlemarch Hotel, Frederick street, last evening, and was attended by fully 40 members. The following is a summary of the report presented by tho retiring committee:— 1 Tho membership of tho chlb was largely Increased during the season, and it is gratifying to r-oto the enthusiasm shown by the new membale, amongst whom thero nre several pronaiuent oarsmen. The o'ub was represented at Port Chalmers, R'.wenebonrne, and Waihola, but unfortunately without the success of previous years. Five laces were held during the season, and proved very successful from a racing point of .view, there having been some remarkably close finishes. During the season the boathouse andplant have, received a thorough overhaul, and everything is now in good order.' T,he boats ate at.present receiving particular It is the club's intention to purchase a new double sculler during the coming season. This will nmko the club's plant complete and thoroughly up-to-date. 'Hie season from a Financial point of view has been one of niarked progress. Tho club, besides meeting the current expenditure for the year, has paid oft over £25 of debts incurred during the previous years. This in itself is sufficient evidence of the progress of the club during the season, and should the members of the club co-operate ■with the committee for the clnb's welfare during the coming season, and do their best to increase the membership, there is no reason why a better pcisftion should not lie attainednext year. The hearty thanks of the club nre due to the following gentlemen-—Ouv president (Mr S. S. Myers) for presenting four gold medals and a silver w.ifc'h, also for the kindly active interest he has taken in the club in presiding at several of our meetings: also our viceprosidonte (Drs Close p.ml Fulton) for their handsome trophies and their active interest and support: Mr Brefen for his donation of four beautiful caps; Mr Good for a handsome gold niedal; Mr Kicho-lls for a E-Urermiounted walk-ing-stick. Thanks are. aho .due io Messrs J. P. Donald and J. Duthie (our delegates to the K.Z.A.R. Association), W. Wills and R. M'lndoe , (delegates to O.Tt.A.), to our auditors (Messrs D. Finnegan snd A. T. M'lndoe). and last, but-, by no means least, Messrs A. Binnie and .T.' Breen for their valuable and untiring efforts in coaching during the season. During the year the club lost two of its oMest and mo-.t valued members—Messrs A. E. Jay and J. W. Dick—who have left Dunedin. During the winter months a dance was hekl weekly in St.

Paul's schoolroom. This proved a thorough sviccess from every point of vieAV, and Avas well attended by the members of the club. Mr S. S. Myers, president v of the ciub, Avho occupied the chair, moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, and said the attendance at the meeting augured well for the incoming season. He was pleased to see so many, taking an interest in the club. He was also pleased to notice the increase in, membership last year, and they had every reason to look forward to further increasing it largely this year. They would have among those who /would probably join men well knoAvn in the rowing Avorld, and' he thought they might look forAvard, ae a practical certainty, to the club taking a better position, at regattas- than it had done the last season. It was to be hoped that members would go in for hard practice, ftnd, showing such good form jas they did at the end of the past s season, <jbey would then retrieve the good: name of, the North End Boating Club.HApplause.) That name, a foAA; years ago, Avas well'known as always AVinriing a fair number of prizes, and it was a. matter for regret that last year they did not do so. But they had every chance of retrieving their lost laurels at the forthcoming regatta. The Championship regatta would be held here this year, and perhaps the club Avould come in for some of the good prizes to bo Avon. He Avas glad that the club matches had been so, well contested. Personally, he Avould be- glad to give the medals again this year.—(Applause.) As they knew, the boatshed had had to be altered, and a good deal of money had been spent, and this had kept them a little short of funds. The dances inaugurated by some members had proved great successes, and it Avas to be hoped that they would be carried out again, this year.—(Applause.) In this connection he desired to state that the ladies had appreciated these dances so;highly that they had decided to e-lioav their appreciation by presenting the olub with-a handsome silk flag.—(Applause.) It would be a great ornament to the shed; He might mention that a social Avould take place on September 26, when the prizes Avould be presented. He was pleased that Mr Breen AA-as giving the caps again this year, and in all probability he would continue to give them in succeeding years. The 'balance sliest spoke for itself, but he'might-point out a chief feature in the receipts and expenditure. Some might have noted that there was ft baknoe of £8 7s 4d on the AA'rohg side this year, but they might not have noted that the club had paid off about £25 of old debts, so that they Avere about £20 better off this year than they were last year.—(Applause.) They had also paid for new oars, etc., and Avould be able to commct'noo the year with overy prospect of gotting clear'of their, .'debts still existing and have a chance of providing a new boat —a thing they Avould have to do if they wanted to keep up A\'ith the times; As to liabilities and assets they Avere very Avell off indeed. They had Avritten doAvn their plant. The boathouse Avas put down at £180, and it cost between £300 and £100. Their boats had also been Avritten down, and they had still a balance over liabilities of £322.— (Applause.) So that, although they Avere a certain amount in debt, they had very large assets. He Avould ask them to put their shoulder's to the wheel, and try to relieA'O tho club of tho small debt OAving. It Avould be Avoll if they could devise some scheme to do this. They had got up tAvo entertainments—first, the fireworks, and then the net ball tournament.' He was sorry to Bay that the last was not successful, but the committee had f decided that the nomsucoees should not be the means of bringing the club into debt a shilling. Mr M. BroAvn seconded Mie motion for tlie adoption of the report and balance sheet, the motioh being carried unanimously. The following gentlemen Avere elected office-bearers:—Mr S. S. Myers, president; Drs Clo3s and Fulton, vice-presidents (these gentlemen both sent apologies for absence); Mr James Breen, captain; Mr M. Brown, deputy-captain; Mr R. Jenkins, secretary; Mr (t. I). Wright, treasurer; Messrs D. Finnegan and A. T. M'lndoe, auditors; Messrs W. Wills and R. M'lndoe, delegates to the 0.R.A.; Messrs J. P. Donald and J. Puthie, delegates to the N.Z.A.R.A.; and Messrs J. Breen, M. BroAvn., and -W. KnoAvles, a Selection Committee; Messrs R. M'lndoe, W. Knowles, W. O'Letiry, W. Wills. J. Hutchison, J. G. Osborno, and D. Gillies, a committee. Messrs J. VV. Dick and A. E. Jay were elected life members. Thirty-six neAr actiA'e members and six honorary members avoto elected. It was mentioned that Mr T. Good was giving a gold medal for the dingey race. ■ Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring secretary (Mr W. O'Loavy), the president, and the retiring committee. The Chairman mentioned that members r-ruild bpjfin rowing ae soon as they liked, though the formal opening of the season \vm usually in October.

with the Palmerston arid East Taieri Rifles on Labour Day, and it Avas intended to invite all companies in the battalion to meet ilia Wakari during the season. Sergeant Wm. Dobson, of the Seventh New Zealand Contingent, was unanimously elected lieutenant. The company, with the cadeta and Garrison Band, held a church parade on Sunday at this Koslyn Wesley an Church, Ayhen the church wns crowded, additional seating accommodation having to be provided. The Rev. R. Wilson preached an appropriate sermoli, taking his text from 2nd Chronicles, 31afc chapter, and 20th and.2lst verses, mention being made of iho good Work done in South Africa by the New Zealand contingents, which had been largely draAtfn from the Volunteer Force; and in Avhich the local company had been well represented. Specially selected hymns were used, the singing of Avhith Avas led by the Garrison Band, Ayho also played a, sacred selection. The service Avas closed by singing the National Anthem. The- parade Avas then reformed, aud, headed by the baud, marched to tho Council Chambers, and-, after Captain Washer had thanked Lieutenant George and the band for their.attendance, dismissed. The following Avas the parade state:—Dunedin G-arrison Baud: Lieutenant George and 2& men. Wakari Rifles: Captain Washer, Lieutenants Brydone and Dobson, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 4 corpoi'als, 1 bugler, and 37 rank and file; total, 50. Wakari Cadets: Captain Hawkes, Lieutenants BagshaAV and EdAvards, 1 colour-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 bugler, and 46 rank and file; total, 59.