UNION ROWING CLUB.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6033, 15 September 1887, Page 4

UNION ROWING CLUB.

Annual Meeting.

The. twenty-first annual meeting of the Union Eowing Club was held at Warner's Commercial Hotel last evening. There were 56 members, present. Mr F- Fqller. took the chair.

After preliminary business, the. Secre-. tary read the following report from the Committee :--." In presenting the twenty-. first annnal report, yonr Committee* while congratulating the Club on a year of rather more than average success, regrets that it is not equal to some, that have preceded it. The mosb gratifying achievement has been the completion of the addition to the boat sheds, consisting of an enlargement of the. shed, a commodious dressing-room, bath; \ _c, and the Club, is now in a position to i accommodate a much larger number of ! members and boats. And while on this I subject the Committee would urge on ! members the desirability of doing their utmost to largely increase the membership of the Club, which it hopes will bo accomplished before the season com* —•ences, as it is the only way by which the Club's fleet of boats can be materially added to. There are now on the Club roll 122 active members, 11 honorary members, and 8 life members, total 141. Two new practice clinker pairs of double-scull boats, combined, have been ordered from Salter, of Oxford, together with a stock of sculls, which may be expected to arrive about the end of November. The Treasurer's statement showß receipts J2536 10s 6d, expenditure _529 6s Od, leaving a balance of £7 3s 9d. Your Committee would impress upon members desirous of representing the Club at regattas, the absolute necessity of entering for the Club races, as that is the only way of getting into form fit to compete against other Clubs, especially. as the Christchurch Eegatta Club has at last found a better course for its regatta, large fields may be an* ticipated. As it cannot be doubted that the Lake Forsyth course will attractmore competitors from other Provinces, as witness the last * regatta, when the Star Boating Club entered cre.vs for six events. The Club races were more keenly contested than ever, a large number of entries being received for every event on the programme. Thia was especially noticeable- in the President's Fours, for whioh no lesß than four crews contested. The annual picnic and sports for coxswains was held at New Brighton, and the coxswains certainly owe a debt of gratitude to Mr Allard for the energy he displayed in organising the affair. And it is to be hoped these gatherings will encourage the coxswains to attend regularly at the sheds, and members should bear in mind the advantage to bo gained by having a number of competent coxswains to choose from, and so not to confine themselves to one or two, but endeavour to train aB many as possible during the coming season. The annual match with the Star Boating Club was rowed at Wellington, and resulted in a win for the Stars. Five matches have now been rowed, of which the Star Club has won three. .The custodian is now engaged in getting the boats ready for the opening of the season, and will shortly have everything in order. The thanks of the Club are due to Messrs Henry Thomson, A. Sharland. F. D. Kesteven, and G. Bonnington for prisres kindly presented. During the winter efforts have been made to complete the formation of a Eowing Association, and a meeting of delegates from the various Clubs was held at Wellington on August 22. The Club was represented by Mr J. W. Shand, and proposed rules revised to date would be read during the evening. The Committee recommend that the Club should join the Association, as they are convinced that such an Association would give a great impetus to rowing throughout the Colony." A list of winning crews for the past season was also read.

The rules proposed were then read by the Secretary. The report and balancesheet were adopted on the motion of Mr Whiteside, seconded by Mr H. N. Martin.

The following officers were then elected : — President, Mr Geoge Gould ; Vice-Presi-dents, Messrs H. Thomson, J. Anderson, and J. W. Shand ; Trustees, Messrs George Gould, H. Thomson, J. Anderson ; Captain, F. Fuller ,- Deputy-Captain, F. E. Hyman ; Secretary, Mr H. T. Smith (re-elected) j Treasurer, Mr H. N. Martin ; Committee, Messrs G. F. Whiteside. G. H. Mason, J. Fuller, J. W. Shand, F. D. Kesteven, A. Louisson, and W. G. Atack. Messrs F. D. Kesteven and T. L. Smith were elected auditors.

The action of the Committee in ordering the double-sculling boats from Home was approved of.

On the motion of Mr F. Fuller, seconded by Mr C. Allard, Mr S. C. E„Bteven was elected a life member in recognition of his valuable services to the Club. The motion was carried with loud applause, and the compliment was briefly acknowledged by Mr Kesteven.

The usual votes of thanks to officers and others were passed.

It was a recommendation by the meeting to the new Committee to make some allowance to coxswains joining the Club "as active members," and also " to make the fee for lockers 5s for the first year and 2s 6d afterwards."

Twenty-six new members were then elected.

The desirability of the Club affiliating with the New Zealand Eowing Association was then discussed at 6ome length, and it was then resolved — "That Messra F. Fuller and T.L. Smith be appointed delegates to meet the Eowing Clubs of Canterbury to consider the rules of the Eowing Association, and reported back to a general meeting." The meeting then adjourned.