REGATTA MEETING.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 353, 26 January 1876, Page 3

REGATTA MEETING.

PußstrANT to notice a public meeting was lield at the Tauranga Hotel on Saturday evening 1 , for the purpose of electing a committee and making preliminary arrangements for the Annual Regatta. The attendance was very limited, which, however, may be accounted for in some measure by reason of the hour fixed being rather an early one for the business people in town.

Mr T. D. Wrigley presided in the chair.

Mr E>. J. "Wood informed the meeting that there was a balance of £24 13s 3d remaining to credit from last year's regatta.

The Chairman explained the object of the meeting, and referred to the fact that the last year's regatta had taken place under the especial patronage of Sir Donald McLean, who was then at Tauranga. He thought it would be advisable that a Regatta Club should be formed, and that Sir Donald McLean should be asked to become its president. He would, however, leave the question for discussion by the gentlemen present, and would ask them to proceed with the business of the evening.

Mr Firth Wrigley did not consider the attendance at the meeting was sufficiently large to warrant taking into consideration the question of forming a club, but thought it would be better to confine the action on the present occasion to forming an influential committee, and that subsequently perhaps a club might be formed.

Mr C. N. Roberts pointed out that if a club was formed it would be necessary to fix the annual subscription and form rules, &c.

As a pi^eliminary motion Captain Forster therefore proposed that the Annual Regatta be held on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. Seconded by Captain Marks and carried.

Mr C. N. Eoberts moved, " That a committee be formed, to be composed of the following members : — Messrs E. M. Edgcumbe, W. Kelly, B. J. Wood, J. C. Young, Firth Wrigley, D. McKellar, D. Sellars, H. Marks, sen., Hamiora Tv, August Tupaea, A. Forster, J. Bodell, H. Marks, jun., H. Clarke, John Cook, John McLeod, T. D. Wrigley, Hori Ngatai, Enoka, Te Kuka, Te Ranapia, G. B. Morris, E. G. Norris, and Hoyte, with power to add to their number."

Mr Firth Wrigley seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Edgcumbe, referring to the apparent intention of the meeting to re-elect those gentlemen who held office at last year's regatta, x^roposed as an amendment, " That Sir George Grey, X.C.8., be requested to act as patron of the Regatta for 1876 vice Major Eoberts." Mr H. Marks seconded the proposition.

Captain Forster pi'oposed as an amendment, "That Sir Donald McLean be asked to be patron." Seconded by Mr C. N. Eoberts.

Mr Edgcumbe withdrew his motion in favor of Captain Forster's, which was carried unanimously. Mr Trimble suggested that there should be a patron, president, and vice-president elected, and that Sir George Grey should be asked to accept the office of president, and Major Eoberts that of vice-president. The Chairman informed Mr Trimble that until a club was formed there was no necessity for electing a president ; and vice-president.

Mr ( Firth "Wrigley proposed, Captain Marks seconded, and it was unanimously carried, "That Mr Ifc.JV "Wood "be Honorary Secretary." Mr "Wood said he would be glad to perform £he duties as Jong as he was m the district.

Mr Edgcumbe proposed' Captain Marks as Starter, Mr R E. Hamlin as Umpire, and Mr T. D. Wrigley as Treasurer.

Mr 0. N. Roberts seconded tKe proposition, which was carried unani-

mously. Mr Firth Wrigley referred to thb' satisfactory basis on which the present year's regatta started. There were some £25 in hand, and he thought another £100 could be calculated upon. He would like to see a really good regatta, but as that could not be looked for without subscription it devolved upon the committee to use all their exertions towards getting subscribers to the regatta.

Mr Edgeumbe proposed, and it was duly seconded and carried, " That subscription lists headed with, the names of the committee be prepared by Monday, and that each member of the committee should be favored with one of them.

There being no other business to be brought before the meeting, a vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the proceedings were brought to a conclusion.