PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 9

PORT NICHOLSON YACHT CLUB

Tke Port Nicholson Yacht. Club hold its annual emoko concert and distribu-1 iion o* prizes last oveiinip;- Commodore W. Duncan presided over u lnrgu attendance of members. The chairman explained tlirtt Ilia president (Mr. J. J. Clark) was- ininblo to attend owing to illness, lie wished to rxtr.nd to returned soldi?! , members a iienrty v/olcoffie. Tim club held a position i--«coiKl to that of no other in tin.' Dominion, '['ho success of (Ji« rnci;i!J 'diwing the year, lie believed, had been duo to tho'good starting, seort hamli-! capping, and good judging of jiLr. J. Gomlnll. (Applause.) Mr. ,M. Cnrr, in proposing tho toast of "The Club," said that it was evident from the attendance that the club was a live one. He was pleased lo learn that it hart a prospect of erecting a. clubhouse of its own shortly. He know of no cleauer, bettor sport than yachting, and he reminded his hearers of the fact that Britons had always considered the sea as their heritage. » Major Petherick, in responding, paid that the "Wcllinstan Hnrbonr Hoard hud offered at a nominal rate a site for the clubhouse it was proposed lo orect. The sport of yachting was "tho best sport going." The men who competed for tho prizes that lveio offered by the club were real sports, not men who were out to make something. The racing of the past season had been very .'-uccessfnl. lie hoped that the services of the snine handieappcr would be available next season. The- club had been fortunate in its commodore, than whom no one had worked harder in its interests. The Boat Harbour was a good one, though the accommodation was limited. The club was deeply indebted to the Harbour Board, which had been very good to it. Mr. Wilkinson proposed the toast of "Soldier Menvbors." He said that lie was pleased to notice among thoss present a number who wore the silver badge. Ho hoped that they wonl<l-/oe remembered when tho office-bearers for the coming year wore" appointed. Mr. Gendall replied, thanking the Members for the heartiness with which they had honoured the toast. It was very encouraging to ]>c back and to sec how yachting had gone ahead. The returned men had some old member? of tho club to (hank for very kind assistance, lie had learned while away that New Zealand was not the hub of the universe; but he would say to its detractors: "If you know of a better 'ole, go to it;" '

Captain Johncon presented the prizes won during tho past fionson. It was stated in tho couko of the prnsentatioii that the winner of one of the races was a young lady not ten years of age! Captain Johnson counselled the nieinlinrs of the club to put into the foundinp of their clubhouse the energy that Lloyd George had' put into winning tho war. Then they would' surely emerge triumphant. Toasts honoured in addition to those mentioned . above wero "The' Wellington Harbour Board" and "The 3'ress." "Delightful musical, items fliul lecilations were civeri durimr.the evening.