ROWING CLUB SITE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2284, 1 September 1908, Page 2

ROWING CLUB SITE.

DEPUTATION TO THE HARBOR BOARD. CLUB’S REQUEST REFUSED. Ab yesterday’a meeting of the local Harbor Board, Mr. E. P. Joyce waited upon the ~oard to' present a petition asking for permission to the Poverty Bay Rowing Club to erect a boat-shed on the bank of the Kaiti river. The club-house would not restrict the view, and would be a handsome acquisition to the appearance •f tho river. The building would bo placed between low and high water mark, and that land was Mbt under the jurisdiction of the Borough Council but under the Board. The shed would not encroach on tho roadway, or interfere with navigation. The proposed building was.of two stories, and the total height about 20 feet.

If th© Board could not agree to grant the site asked for, any other site would be accepted by the club. The petition was signed by some seventy ratepayers and business people, who desired that the sport of rowing should be encouraged. The club would accept a site near Dr Williams’ house, but would prefer to place the now shed oil the Kaiti bank. If the Board could not grant either site Mr. Joyce asked that a site be selected by the Board, as there was plenty of room for a shed on the Point between high and low water mark which the club could use for the purpose. The committee appointed to consider the matter reported that they had been unable to agree upon a site. Mr. Lysnar moved that the site on Kaiti be not granted, but the site at the c-nd of Fitzberbert Street be recommended to the club. Mr. Whinray said, the Borough Council had decided that it was not advisable to grant the site on the Kaiti bank. A petition was also received objeetto the Kaiti site. The Chairman thought tlie shed would interfere with the water mains if erected on Fitzberbert Street. He moved that permission bo given to It was only a few strokes to the Waimata river, but the water channel of. toe Waimata was too''narrow to be encroached upon by a building. Mr. Sievwriglit thought the residents should have an opportunity to object before the site was absolutely granted. Mr. Matthewson said rowing was a sport that should be encouraged, and the club should try and choose a site that would cause no objections. Hams; I don’t think the pubu ° rri’ 1S )orno wail t a rowing club at all. They seem quite satisfied to have. a. bicycle and, go around drinking beer It‘s a little bit of false modesty that causes people to object to men bathing .‘in*-’ proper costume lroin a boat-shed. The members of the rowing clubs arc either ratepayers or the sons of rateoavers, aiid tlie Board should offer the’club an. advantageous site. . Chairman said ho could pee no objection to the shed being placed b n tjj? bank of "the Taruheru next to the Gisborne.shed. I

Mr. Matthewson said whatever site was chosen, some squeamish person would object to it. The Board decided not to grant the request nor to make any recommendation as to a site.