SURFING AT OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1935, Page 9

SURFING AT OPUNAKE

SUCCESSFUL SEASON REPORTED. ERECTION OF NEW CLUBHOUSE. The twelfth annual meeting of the Opunake Surf Life-saving Club was held in St. Patrick’s Hall on Wednesday evening when Mr. W. H. Haggett presided over a good attendance. The president reported that the season had been a most successful one from all points of view. The financial position remained sound, there being a credit balance of £3 12s 9d in the general fund. The sum of £lB 5s was transferred from the general fund to the building fund, besides an amount of £1 10s spent on the building. The general fund showed an increase of £8 19s 4d. Credit was due to the members for the way they had paid their subscriptions, the total of which showed an increase of £3 12s 6d compared with that of the previous year. A recommendation from the last annual meeting urging the committee to make efforts to raise funds for a new clubhouse was carried into effect, £93 3s 9d having been raised and £l7 10s paid for the stone wall in front of the new section. Efforts would be made to raise the balance required, said the president. The membership comprised four life members 21 senior active members, 42 senior honorary members and 11 active members, a total of 81. With the exception of one new belt required, the equipment was sound Club teams entered for all the Taranaki championship* held at Opunake and the club won the Tabor Shield, the Patea Beach Shield and the pennant and junior championships. The club was second for the Weston Cup, second in the march past (Grey Shield and Anson Cup) and second in pennant competition. In the New Zealand championships at New Plymouth the club teams performed creditably. The club congratulated the Fitzroy Club on winning the New Zealand four-man competition and the other clubs on their success at the New Zealand championship meeting. Congratulations were extended to G. Harrison on having attained , high honours on football. R.L’.S.S. proficiency certificates and bronze medallions and S.A.S.M. were gained by the following members: F. Walker, R. Campbell, L. Northcott, P. Hardwidge, J. C. Barraclough, C. Burton, D. Coltart, M. Crofskey, L. Wilson, C. Humphries, J. Feaver. J. Dudley, B. Connor and F. Fitzsimmons were awarded surf medallions. The club’s thanks were extended to Mrs. Wilson, London, for th presentation of four John Wilson Memorial Cup medals, and to all those who subscribed to the building and other funds or assisted the club in other ways. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. (re-elected); president, Mr. W. H. Haggett; vice-presidents’, Drs.' T. N. Watt and E. M. Griffin, Messrs. R. S. Jenkin, N. Reardon, W. A. Sharp and C. Clare; secretary and treasurer, Mr. S. M. Smith; club captain, Mr. W. E. Smith; instructor, Mr. P. Smith; honorary medical officers, Drs. Watt and Griffin; committee, Messrs. J. Clouston, W. McCullum, G. Cundy, W. A. Sharp, ■C. Humphries, R. Barraclough, H. E. Smith and C. Burton; delegates to Taranaki Surf Association, Messrs. W. A. Sharp, W. H. Haggett, J. Clouston, S. M. Smith; house steward, Mr. Dudley. A letter from the Taranaki Surf Association stated that a suggestion had been made by the Railway Department that a contest should be held on Ngamotu beach on Sunday, February 29, a date that would fit in with the band contest. The events proposed were the Weston Cup (junior championship), Tabor Shield and march past, and other beach events. The meeting opposed the holding of any championship swimming events at Ngamotu as it was not a suitable surfing beach. The secretary was voted an honorarium of £4. Members’ fees were fixed at the same amount a; last year. The president, in thanking members and others for he interest taken during the past season, referred to the activities in connection with th=» erection of a clubroom. Very good headway had been made but a special effort would be required tb raise the balance of money required without having to borrow. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and Press.