WAITARA NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1927, Page 10

WAITARA NEWS.

CLIFTON ROWING CLUB. (From Our Own Correspondent.) The 39th annual meeting of the Clifton Rowing Club was held on Thursday evening, there being a good attendance. Mr. R. Hutchinson (chairman of the committee) presided. The report and balance-sheet, which was adopted, expressed satisfaction with the rowing during the past season, practically every trophy providing finishes of an exciting nature. The support of the public was a decided improvement over the previous season, and the committee expressed its thanks. Five sets of trophies were competed for, and the committee thanked the Retailers' Association, Messrs. F. Oldershaw, F. Mockett, M. Fahy and T. Fowler for presenting medals, and Messrs. Avery, Ltd., for a cup. The club provided a set of jerseys and pants to the winners of this event.

The rowing showed a decided improvement and keen interest was taken by the members. At the annual ball no less than 24 medals were presented and three silver cups. The annual competition for the Harris Cup, for competition between the New Plymouth and Clifton Clubs, was h'eld at Waitara and was won by Waitara (W. Ogier (stroke), C. D. Tate, R. St. George and E. Pepperell). This crew also represented the club at the Wanganui regatta. The club hoped to be again represented there during the coming season. The club placed on record the valuable services of the patroness and president (Mr. and Mrs. D. Macpherson), who had now left the district. Mrs. McPherson, before leaving Waitara, gave a set of medals for competition. In connection with the rowing account, including £5O 17s lid brought forward from the previous year, the gross receipts were £155 12s lid, and the expenditure £149 Ils lOd, leaving a credit balance of £6 Is Id. During the season the club had had considerable expenses that should not recur this season. Owing to the severe floods last winter, the old landing stage was washed away, and a new one had to be provided. This had cost £32 15s. New oars were purchased for £2l 7s lid. The hall account gross takings were £l5l 9s Bd, including £32 8s lid brought forward, together with a loan of £350 for the extension of the hall, and the expenditure £451 13s, leaving a credit balance of £49 16s Bd. The assets, after providing for depreciation, were set down as £1584 4s 2d and the liabilities the loan of £350.

The action of the committee in enlarging the hail had been highly commented upon, and the floor space now provided should fill requirements for a considerable period.

The club’s active members numbered 42, and it was hoped that this number would be considerably increased this season now that the Daylight-Saving Bill had become law. Intending members were advised to join as soon as possible to enable them to get into training for the first set of trophies. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr. A. W. Ogle; president, Mr. W. R. Johns; vice-presidents, Drs. Adamson, and Barclay, Messrs. 11. Chittenden, N. Madsen, W .H. Nosworthy, T. Fowler, M. Fahy, W. Middleton, R. Gribbon, R. Tate, J. Blair, G. V. Tate, H. Foreman, 11. M. Purdie, J. Whitehead, F. Oldershaw, F. Mockett, H. Wells, A. Rawles, G. H. Fletcher, L. J. Ratteubury, and H. C. Vaughan; auditor, Mr. A. W. Ogle; secretary and treasurer, Mr. H. Spurdie; club captain, Mr. Reg Butcher; vice-captain, Mr. W. Ogier; custodian. Mr. H. Spurdie; management committee. Messrs. V. Pennington, C. Tate, O. Keith, J. Fitzgerald, M. Sampson, H. Chittenden, and F. La Pouple; selector, Mr. Percy Jones; coaches, Messrs. P. Jones, W. F. Spurdie, and W. F. Richards.

The matter of raising the annual subscription was discussed, but was finally left over to a special meeting. With regard to non-members using the club's conveniences for bathing, a suggestion was made that a small fee should b» el arged.—lt was decided to leave the matter to the committee. The opening day was left to the committee, with a suggestion that it be as soon as possible. The chairman referred to the secretary's long services. He had now entered on his 40th year, a splend-’l record. Mr. Spurdie, in acknowledging the compliment, received an ovation. - DRUIDS LODGE COMPETITION. The annual competition for the Pellew Ritual .Shield between the Druids lodges in the district, took place in the Clifton Hall on Wednesday evening, when the Clifton Lodge (the holders of ,the shield) won by a margin of 15 points. The position of the teams was as follows: Clifton (Waitara) 3701 points, Moturoa (New Plymouth) 355 J points, Inglewood 343. t points. A gavel presented by Bro. Pellew. of the Moturoa Lodge, for the Arch Druid scoring most points in the competition was won by Bro. R. St. George, of the Clifton Lodge, who was nine points ahead of Inglewood, with New Plymouth third. The judges were P.D.P. Bro. Yardly (New Plymouth), P.D.P. Bro. V. Pennington (•Waitara), P.D.P. Bro. Dunkly (New Plymouth), and I*. Secretary Bro. Lamb' (Inglewood/. The members of the successful Clifton team were: J.P.A. Bro. L. Andrews. A.D. Bro. R. St. George, V.A. Bro. M. Sampson, Secretary Bro. G. Bird, J.G. Bro. R. Butcher, O.G. Bro. W. Crow, A.D.B.'s Bros. F. Patten and L. St. George, V.A.B.’s Bros. P. Feek and H. Smaill. P.A. Bro. A. J. Canton was master of ceremonies. At the conclusion of the competition supper was provided by the local lodge, and the shield and gavel were presented to the winners by R.A.D. Bro. V. Pennington. GENERAL ITEMS. At a special meeting of the Waitara Borough Council, alterations to the existing by-laws regarding building and motor traffic were confirmed and will become effective from November 25. The St. John’s rose show committee has had difficulty in finding a suitable successor to Mr. Lawrence, the former secretary. However, Hr. Hamlin lias consented to act, and under his careful guidance and administration the society should continue to be successful. At the meeting of the committee on Wednesday, matters in connection with the forthcoming show were attended to, and there is every indication that the’ 1927 show will eclipse Its predecessors. There died on Tuesday an old and respected resident,<*lr. James Purdie. Mr. Purdie had been suffering for some months and the end was not unexpected. The funeral was held at the Waitara esmetery on Thursday, there being a long cortege. The largo number of floral emblems showed the esteem in which Mr. Purdie was held.