THE OTAGO ROWING CLUB.

Evening Star, Issue 3479, 17 April 1874, Page 2

THE OTAGO ROWING CLUB.

To the Editor. Sir,— l was highly amused on reading the production of “ jNeptune,” in your issue of yesterday. I have always been under the impression that whenever a body of men chose to band themselves together as a Rowing, Cricket, or any other Club, and to receive members in their own peculiar fashion, and impose certain restnotions upon persons joining them, in the shape of aubscnptions, they were at perfect liberty to call themselves by any name they thought fit. I am not aware of anything to the contrary, and therefor© presume that the Club holered with the notice of “ Neptune” have as much right to call themselves “ The Otago Rowing Club” as your correspondent has to call himself “ i'* eptune.The only difference is that the one distinction involves an expenditure on the part of each member of L 6 Is for the privilege, and on the part of “Neptune”— thanks to the openness of your columns nothing. With reference to the remainder

of his letter, permit me to remind him that on three occasions—one within the last few months—attempts have been made to start a Bowing Club with LI Is subscription, and strange bo say, despite, his ideas on the subject, they have failed. With the natural disadvantages the town possesses, it requires at least L2OO to start a Club ; and I should like to ask “ Neptune” where he is going to get the money in LI Is subscriptions, and find boats for the members ? The Otago Rowing Club have spent over L2OO on their shed and boats, and seeing

that it consists of only some twenty or twenty-two members, I think the result is highly creditable to them. It is the same old grind, Mr Editor: “ Neptune ” wants a luxury he must pay for or go without. As » membtr of the 0. B. C., i deny that the vlub is in any wa y exclusive, as their roll will show; and if any person is duly preposed and seconded at a meeting of the Club, he is elected without further parley. Until then he must do as “ Neptune ” does —look on and growl. In conclusion, the 0.K.0. decline to allow “Neptune” or “ any other map. ” for the liberal offer of LI \ Is per annum to use their boats or shed.

As for the amount of work the Clu (booses to take out of its boats and plant, nprehend, seeing it has bought and paid f< hem, the Club has a right to do as : jleases with them.—l am, olc., Bow. Dunedin, April 17.