AWARUA BOATING CLUB

Southland Times, Issue 21194, 22 September 1930, Page 3

AWARUA BOATING CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. (From Our Correspondent.) The Awarua Boating Club held its annual meeting on Saturuay night in the Kia Ora tea rooms, the president, Mr R. V. Weir, occupying the chair. There was a satisfactory attendance, more than 30 members being present. Before the business of the evening was proceeded with the president spoke feelingly of the loss sustained by the club through the deaths of Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs W. and R. Hunter (original members of the club) and Mr E. Spencer. The latter, he stated, was a very successful oarsman of recent years, haying rowed as a youth for several seasons without a single defeat. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased gentlemen was passed, members standing in silence. It was mentioned that Sir Joseph Ward was the first secretary of the club, which began in 1877 as the Bluff Harbour Boating Club. The following year he took his place as an oarsman and rowed with a Bluff crew. The club was later reconstructed (after an idle period) and Sir Jospeh became patron, a position he held till his death.

In his address the president said that the club began the 1929-30 season with a credit balance of £134 16/S. After paying accounts to the amount of £155 15/5, a credit balance remained of £9B 11/3. The club’s largest expenses were for the purchase of oars at £2l 15/- and a new racing pair for £57 18/-. Rowers are now well supplied with training boats, the club having two practice fours, one pair, one sculler and also a single sculler for which it exchanged the old practice four Kotare early in the season. No more would be needed for some time‘‘io come. The opening day last season was on October 12, a large number of members being present. A smoke concert, held in the Radio Hall on February 1 of this year, proved a great success. At this function Mr A. McGregor was presented with a fountain pen by his clubmates. The club was represented at the following regattas: Riverton, Bluff and Queenstown, while the youth’s fours also competed at Oreti at the Invercargill Outboard Motor Club’s regatta. The prize money won at these places was £33 10/8, £3l 2/6, £2l 16/- and £2 2/- respectively, making a total of £BB 11/2. This meant a decrease of £l5 compared with the previous season, but in that year an extra regatta had been attended. The membership roll stood at eight life members, 38 active and five honorary members. Owing to the bad weather experienced the club races were unfinished, but better luck was hoped for in the coming year. The thanks of the club were due for donations to the late Sir Joseph Ward and to Messrs R. Kirkwood and W. Spencer, Junr. The latter gave a cup for the most successful coxswain of the past season. This trophy’ was won by “Chum” Calder. Thanks were due also to the officers and members of the Awarua Boating Club who had worked so hard and loyally in the club’s interest. In conclusion the retiring president warmlythanked members for their hearty co-oper-ation and hoped that the club’s prosperity would continue in the approaching season. The election of officers for the coming season resulted: Patron, Mr Vincent Ward; president, Mr E. Budd; vice-presidents: Messrs W. B. Dixon, R. Kirkwood, F. Parsons, the Pion. P. de la Perrelle, J. R. Hamilton, P. Smith, H. Campbell, Captain G. N. Lindsay, Messrs L. P. Denton Senr., W. H. Johnston, P. Ford, E. Bradshaw, A. J. Walker, P. McQuarrie (re-elected) and Captain Haszard, R. V. Weir, J. Forde and E. Campbell; secretary and treasurer, Mr B. McDonald (re-elected) ; club captain, Mr W. Burtenshaw (re-elected) ; deputy’-cap-tain, Mr H. Tall (re-elected); delegates to Southland Rowing Association, Messrs B. McDonald and W. Calder (re-elected) ; vice-president to the Southland Rowing Association, Mr A. Tall (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr E. Bradshaw (re-elected) ; committee, Messrs K. McKenzie, T. Ross, C. Hunter, N. Beaton, J. Dixon, J. Potts, G. Niven, A. Morrison, A. Roberts, J. King, W. Calder and the captain and deputy-captain; selectors, Messrs W. Burtenshaw, W. Calder and A. Morrison; caretakers, Messrs C. Hunter and H. Johansen; social committee, Messrs H. Johansen, J. Dixon, N. Beaton, G. Niven, L. Johnston and the secretary. The subscription to the club was fixed as before at 12/6, with honorary- members at 5/-. The opening date was left for the committee to decide. The club, it was stated, was in an exceedingly healthy state, its assets totalling £933 11/3 made up of shed property, equipment and £9B 11/3 in cash. After discussion it was decided to place £75 of the latter in the Invercargill Savings Bank. Mr W. B. Dixon congratulated the club on the conduct of its members. The boatshed behaviour was a credit to all and he considered nothing could be better for a youth than to join the Awatrua Boating Club. Rowing was a clean, manly sport and in it, both at home and on visits to other regattas, one came in contact with the best of good fellows. Messrs R. V. Weir, E. Budd, W. Calder and others spoke in similar vein, urging members to bring other youths into the club. After Mr Budd had thanked members for electing him president, votes of thanks were passed to the retiring president and officers.