CORNWELL CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 296, 17 December 1940, Page 9

CORNWELL CUP

REGATTA IN WANGANUI NEXT MONTH

QUESTION OF HARBOUR BOARD Assisting The question of whether the Wanganui Harbour Board would be able to provide a launch tor the Cornwell Cup contest, to be held in Wanganui next month, was discussed at the board’s monthly meeting yesterday, when it was decided to give the Wanganui Sailing Club every u-ssistance possible. A sub-commntce consisting o£ the chairman, Mr. N. G. Armstrong, the Hon. W. J, Rogers, M.L.C., aim the Harbourmaster, captain R. D. Stewart, was appointed to go into the matter

The Wanganui Sailing Club wrote advising that the contest wifi oe ' held in Wanganui from January 20 onward, and would probably last a ween. The club also requesteq the loan of one of the board's launches. "I understand that we have no spare launch, and there is also Hie question of petrol,” said the chairman, who moved accordingly. in reply to a question by Mr. J. Robertson, the engineer, Mr. K. R. Dawson, said the board had three launches, one of which was under overhaul at present. Mr. Rogers said he would like to see something done toward helping the Cornwell Cup contest, it was a national event and Dominion-wide interest was being taken in it. Many visitors would come to Wanganui for’" the occasion.

Mr. J. J. Scott moved that subject to satisfactory arrangements being made regarding petrol, the engineer oe instructed to place a launch at the disposal of the Regatta Committee. The chairman: What about the wages of the men?

Mr. Scott said that aspect was included in his amendment. He added that every possible assistance sho.Xa be given the Cornwell Cup contest, tne object of which was to commemorate a naval hero of the last war, Jack Cornwell, and give young New Zealanders training in seamanship. Some of the races might be neid outside the river bar, and this was one of the reasons why a launch might be required.

The only launch suitable for working outside the bar was that of the harbourmaster, said tne managingsecretary, Mr. W. J. Gardner, who added that this vessel had a 60 horsepower engine and was "hard on petrol." "This regatta will bring a lot of people to Wanganui and other ports would be glad to have It," said Mr Scott.

Seconding the amendment, Mr. Rogers said that Mr. Scott might agree to the question being left to a small sub-committee.

The races may not be held outside the bar, in which case there wcl.ld be no necessity for the harbourmaster's launch being used, said Mr. Robertson. One of the other launches could be used on the river.

Mr. Gardner suggested that it might be in the interests of the board to make a grant toward the cost of the Regatta Committee hiring a private launch which would use less petrol than any of the board's launches. The cvhairman agreed that such an important yachting contest should be given all possible assistance.