WAITARA ROWING CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1926, Page 15

WAITARA ROWING CLUB.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. PAST YEAR REVIEWED. The thirty-eighth annual meeting of the Clifton Rowing Club was held at Waitara on Wednesday evening. Mr. W. R. Johns presided. Lack of support from the general public was commented on in the annual report, which stated that the collections at the competitions dering the past season had amounted to £4 18s 7d only. Donations totalled £2B Bs.

The gross takings in connection with the rowing account for the past season, including £95 10s 2d brought forward from the previous year, were £194 0s 9d, and the expenditure £143 2s lOd, leaving a credit balance of £5O 17s lid. The hall account gross takings were, including £44 8s Id brought forward, £125 13s 7d, and the expenditure £93 4s Bd, leaving a credit of £32 8s lid. The total assets of the club were estimated to be £1273 Ils 6d and liabilities nil. The honorary membership had realised only £6 Is, which was disappointing, but an improvement was anticipated during the forthcoming season.

Thanks were expressed to the president and patroness (Mr. and Mrs. McPherson), Mrs. Fairweather, Mr. M. Fahy and the Retailers’ for trophies. The various vice-presidents who gave donations, and honorary members and others who assisted the club. The ladies had given valuable assistance at the various social gatherings. Four sets of trial fours were competed for during the past season. Good competition resulted, and the medals won by the various crews were presented at the club’s annual ball. Messrs. J. Avery and Son, of New Plymouth, had presented a silver cup through Mr. R. Gribbon and thanks were due to them. The sympathy of the club was extended to the founder and former president, Mr. A. W. Ogle, and his family in their bereavement and to the relatives of the late Mr. T. F. Goddard.

The tender of Mr. W. B. Hoskin had been accepted for additions to the hall. When finished the hall would be one of the largest and most up-to-date in the district. The cost would be £350. Steps had been taken to register the club under the Unclassified Society’s Act. During the past season the landing at the shed was carried away during a heavy flood and the club would be faced with a large expenditure in re-erecting it. The committee desired to express appreciation to the members of the Waitara Harbour Board for the donations of the necessary timber to rebuild the landing and erect a groyne above the shed to protect the bank from further erosion which was going on in front of the shed; also to the Clifton County Council for the use of the necessary gear. During the season the club was represented at the opening of the newly-formed Rowing Club at New Plymouth, and also competed at the carnival held by that club for the McLeod Shield, but, owing to the unsatisfactory state of the weather, the crew did not compete in the final. In moving the adoption the chairman congratulated the club on its activities. He was glad the young men of the town were taking an interest in one of the best summer sports. The balance-sheet showed the club to be in a remarkably healthy state.

The report and balance-sheets were adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows Patron, Mr. A. W. Ogle; patroness, Mrs. McPherson; president, Mr. D. D. McPherson; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. R. Johns, J. Blair, H. I. Chittenden, Jas. Sarten, R. Tate, G. V. Tate, H. Foreman, H. M. Purdie, J. Whitehead, W. Middleton, M. Fahy, Oldershaw, Mockett, H. Wells, A. Rawles, Fletcher, L. J. Rattenbury, T. Fowler, R. Gribbon, W. H. Ndsworthy, Vaughan and Madsen; secretary,. Mr. H. Spurdie; assistant secretary, Mr. D. Hutchinson; hall custodian, Mr. H. Spurdie; captain, Mr. 8. Goddard; vice-captain, Mr. W. Ogier; sole selector, Mr. M. Cain; coaches, Messrs. S. Goddard and M. Cain; committee, Messrs. R. Hutchinson, V. Pennington, C. Tate, R. Fowler, A. Chittenden, O. Keith, M. Sampson; auditor, Mr. A. W. Ogle; gear custodian, Mr. H. Spurdie.

On the motion of Mr. Goddard a vote of thanks was accorded Mr. H. Spurdie for his services. In reply, Mr. Spurdie said he was entering on his 39th year of office, and he trusted to at least complete 40 years. In reply to questions, it was said that nominations of new members would come before the committee. The committee would fix the opening day. The chairman expressed a hope that a regatta on a fairly large scale would take place on the Waitara River this season. He added that in the old days the local regattas were far-famed, and they brought a large number of visitors to the town. The possibilities of resuming those fixtures were worth considering, and no doubt the Retailers’ Association and Chamber of Commerce would give their support to any such movement.—Replying to these suggestions, the secretary said he had in view a Saturday afternoon regatta in which New Plymouth crews, he hoped, would participate, and possibly Wanganui also.

Votes of thanks were accorded all who had helped the club last season, including the Press. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.