YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 226, 23 September 1940, Page 10

YACHTING.

MANUKAU CLUB'S JUBILEE. Past and present members of the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club assembled in the clubhouse on Saturday evening to do honour to the club's Jubilee season, it having been formed on September 21, 1891. ■ The president, Mr. L. Bray, presided, supported by the patron, Mr. M. H. Wynyard, the commodore, Mr. R. Baker, Mr. E. V. Sutherland, representative of Manukau on the Auckland Harbour Board, and Captain H. H. Sergeant. Over SO old members were present. Including a few who attended the first meeting when the club was formed. They were heartily welcomed by the chairman. He said, when proposing a toast to early members, that the gathering was held, to do honour to them and thank them for laying a good foundation which all subsequent officers and members had striven to worthily uphold. Mr. Bray briefly reviewed the club's history, which was enlarged on by other speakers during the evening. A toast to the visitors was proposed by Mr. Bray, who apologised for the absence, of Mr. Arthur McLeod, one of the foundation members, who had done good work throughout the past 49 years, and had helped materially with the arrangements for the present celebration.

The toast of "Local Bodies" was proposed by Mr. J. Park, one of the old members who held office as commodore and later as president. He recalled many Incidents in the early days of the club, mentioning many of the yachts which compected. The toast was acknowledged by Mr. S. E. V. Sutherland, who referred to the great traditions of the club. Stating that he had been "bailer boy" on Mr. A. Grundy's open boat Myrtle, and later in the crew- of Mr. Don Sutherland's keeler Anahera. Mr. Garslde, Mayor of Onehunga, also acknowledged the toast and congratulated the club on attaining its Jubilee.

Mr. Bert Heard proposed the "Army and Navy," referring to a number of club members who were with both forces. Commander C. H. Palmer responded and said that 300 members of the R.N.v.R. were now serving overseas and over 1000 yachtsmen had joined up.

The toast of "The Visitors," proposed by Mr. R. Belshaw, was acknowledged by Mr. c. H. Palmer, chairman of the Yacht and Motor Boat Association, and Mr. G. V. Thorpe, president of the Manukau Cruising Club, who offered his club's congratulations.

The honours board was unveiled by Messrs. C. Herbert and J. P. Auger, past and present hon. secretaries, at the request of Mr. Bray. It bore the names of all past-presidents, commodores, hon. secretaries and treasurers, with their year of office, also the names of life members. The board, in kauri, rimu and puriri, was designed by Mr. J, Park.

The foundation members present included Messrs. Arthur and James Jeffs, sons of the founder of the club, .Mr. A. Jeffs, the first secretary, and Mr. L. Sutherland. Also present were Messrs. J. Skynner, W. Grundy, T. Bray, H. Siebert, W. Phlpps, and W. Catley, who joined in the first year.

Other members for over 40 years present were: Messrs. A. E. Osborne, W. Marks, N. Brown, H. Davis, A. Houldsworth, J. Gilbert, J. Colecutt, W. Vaughan, T. C. Turnbull, A. and A. E. Brain, W. Phipps, E. Short. H. Slebert and Jas Mclntyre,

Several old officers of the club were present. Including a former commodore, Mr. Norman Wilson, who came from Dargaville for the occasion, and Mr. J. W. Rawlinson, hon. secretary for many years.

Mr. J. Jeffs presented the club with a cup won by Jeffs brothers' Mabel in the first race held by the club. Mr. I. Sutherland also presented a cup won by him in the Myrtle during the club's first season. Mr. Bray thanked both donors and said It was unique that the club's first trophy should be re-presented 50 years later. Both cups would be greatly valued.