TWENTY BOATS OUT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 125, 24 November 1930, Page 4

TWENTY BOATS OUT

OPENING OF SEASON

Twenty boats skimmed along close in to the Petone foreshore on Saturday afternoon on the occasion of the opening of the Heretaunga Yacht Club. Commodore George Hook, of the Heretaunga Club, was on board one of the larger launches anchored off the clubhouse, and took the salute of the other boats as they sailed past in line. After, this ceremony had been completed the season was officially opened by the club's patron, Mr. J. B. MacEwan. In reviewing the activities of last season Commodore Hook said that the club had made good progress and a large number of new members, including one. lady, had joined up. More ladies^ he said, should come along and try a hand with some of the smaller class boats. Drawing the .attention1 of Mr. MacEwan to the fact that the club has been .unsuccessful/in getting the River Board to build a boat harbour at the mouth of the Hutt River, Commodore Hook said that the river was gradually silting up, and they would soon have nowhere to keep their- larger. boats. At the present time the club had about 19 launches and 14 yachts,.and he'understood that five more launches and several new yachts would be in the - witter before Christmas. .Referring-, to- the. matter of boating accidents in the harbour the Commodore stressed the;.importance of members getting into touch with the police and club officials as soon'as:'possible after any mishap. •■" /; '; ' ■■••■■■ i Mr. MaeEivan remarked on-the growth of the club during the past twenty-five years, and prophesied an even more rapid. advancement in the future. He also referred to the value of yachting to the community as well as to the individual. "I think-that if the clubs and the residents of Petone will get together they will be able' to make the bench the finest in the North Island," said Mr. Nash,. M.P., "and I am sure that it will be used ten times.more than it is at present." Mr.'Nash "also said that if the club could prove to the Hutt River Board and the Harbour Board that a boat harbour was really necessary they would have no difficulty in getting it, providing it was possible to carry out the ■necessary work without too great an expenditure. • Representatives of the other Wellington yachting clubs also made brief speeches wishing the Heretaunga Club a very successful season. Among those present were: Commodore WagstafFe'fEvans Bay), ViceCommodore Huggina (Paremata), ViceCommodore Burd (Plimmerton), and Mr. Keenan (Wellington Motor Boat Club). During the afternoon Mrs. Colquhoun (senr.), "mother" of the club, was presented with a bouquet by Miss Sophie Stewart. on behalf of the members, and in appreciation of the.work that she had done for the club over a period of more than thirty years. ..; , V