CANTERBURY ROWING CLUB.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 385, 6 September 1875, Page 3

CANTERBURY ROWING CLUB.

The annual general meeting of this club was held on Saturday evening, at Warner s Commercial Hotel ; Mr A. F. N. Blakiston, captain of the club, in the chair. There was a large attendance of members. The chairman apologised for the absence of the president and vice-president, who were unavoidably absent through prior engagements. He (the chairman) must congratulate the meeting on the large attendance of members, which augured well ipr the prospects of the coming season. After the minutes of the last annual and general meetings had been read and confirmed, the secretary read the following retail presenting the fifteenth annual report, your committee have much pleasure in being able to congratulate members on the con-

tinned advance that the club has made in the numbers of its members, as the following figures will show: — 1873- —Number of members, 103 1874- „ 159

<■ Your committee have also the gratification to report that a much greater activity has prevailed among the working members during the season than in past years, and that the club matches on the river have been more numerous and better contested. They have also the pleasure to state that the club has been well represented at the Heathcote and Kaiapoi jjregattas, and that those of the members who have taken part in the races at these regattas have been, in many instances, very well placed. The following is a list, showing the chief races and the names of the winning crews:— SENIOR FOUR-OARED RACES, “ President’s Cup Race —W. Gundry (stroke), F. Barker, H. Tcmpler, J. Gray, R. VV. Mountfort (cox,) “ Inter - Professional Race— J. Knox (stroke), H. Templer, J. Gray, J, 0. Jones, R. W. Mountfort (cox.) SENIOR PAIR-OARED RACES. “ Heathcote and Kaiapoi Regattas, and Captain Blakiston’s Prizes —J. Gray, J. O. Jones (stroke), R. W. Mountfort (cox.) “Ladies’ Prize—J. Revell (stroke), \V. Cuff. W, S. Beans (cox.) JUNIOR FOUR-OARED RACES. “ Boys under eighteen—D. Turner (stroke), J. Lanauze, A. Lean, A. Glasson, A. Hawkins (cox.) “ Heathcote and Kaiapoi Regattas, and Mr S. S. Revans’ Prizes —Holt (stroke), Martin, Duncan, Callender, A. Mountfort (cox.) SCULLING RACES. “ Heathcote, Sibbald ; Kaiapoi, Barron ; Avon, Bowron. “It will be remembered that al the last annual meeting of the club a resolution was passed requesting the committee to take into consideration the propriety of establishing a branch shed on the western side of the town, From the inquiries instituted by your committee, it was ascertained that the water above Lane’s Mill was only suitable for pairoars, After taking into consideration the financial position of the club, the committee did not feel warranted in volunteering to provide the whole cost of building a shed there, the probable expense of which, for the accommodation of two boats, would have been about £3O; but they agreed with certain members, who were looked upon as the leaders of the movement for the establishment of the proposed branch, to pay one-half of the cost of the shed, conditionally on their finding the other half, either by wajr of special contributions, or by the introduction of new members, whose subscriptions were to go towards making up the amount. The committee also agreed to place two pair-oared boats in the shed when finished. They have since been informed that those members were unable to raise the necessary amount. The matter, therefore, remains in abeyance for the present. . “ In consequence of having to provide for custodian’s salary, sinking fund on account of loan, and a large additional expenditure in connection with the boats received from Salter, the receipts for the past season have been insufficient to meet the whole of the ordinary expenses of the club, as will be seen on perusal of the treasurer’s statement of receipts and expenditure annexed hereto.

“ Your committee feel convinced, from long practical acquaintance with the affairs of the club, that the subscriptions for working members was originally fixed too low for properly working the club. Therefore, with a view of making better provision for the future, they recommend that the annual subscription of working members should be increased from £1 to £1 10s, by this means placing the club in a better positiozi than it is at present to discharge its obligations, and to keep pace with the requirements of its members.

“ In conclusion, your committee have to report that the shed plant and boats are in good repair, a fact which is mainly due to the care bestowed upon them by Mr Rees, the custodian. The following is a list of the boats and plant belonging to the club : —1 six-oar, 5 fours, 7 pairs, 1 skiff, 2 pleasure boats, 93 oars, 77 sculls, and a large supply of mats, &C.” The treasurer’s statement showed receipts to have been, for the season 1871-5, £474 16s 7d, and expenditure (including £IOO repaid to Union Bank), £470 16s Id, leaving a credit balance in bank of £4 Os 6d. The statement of assets showed balance in bank £4 Os 6d, sinking fund for loan (fifteen shares in P.I. and L. Association) valued at £63, estimated value of club property £6so—total £717 0s 6d. Liabilities—loan for three years (at 10 per cent) £2OO, outstanding aacounts (including quarter’s salary due to custodian on September Ist) £36 5s —total £286 ss.

The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted as read. After some remarks from the chairman, in which he referred to the necessity of increasing the shed accommodation for the coming season, Mr Denham moved “ That the annual subscription be increased from £1 to £1 10s per annum.” Mr Revans seconded the motion.

Mr Thomas proposed as an amendment, “ That Rule 5 of the club be altered so that the entrance fee shall be increased to £B and the annual subscription be allowed to remain as at present.” His reason for moving the resolution was that with the probable large increase of members during the coming season the club would be put to considerable expense to provide boats, &c, to seat them, Mr Collins seconded the amendment.

The chairman, without wishing to bias the meeting, would remark that if the amendment were carried it could be only a recommendation to the committee, and the matter would have to remain in abeyance for a month, to be then submitted to a general special meeting, and the new members to be proposed that evening could not be elected until the question had been settled. Mr Denham trusted the amendment would not be carried, as his sympathies were altogether with young members who did not receive a very large salary, and if they were kept out the club would simply resolve itself into one of “ old fogies.” (Laughter.)

After some discussion the amendment was put and lost. Mr Jones moved as a further amendment—- “ That the entrance fee be raised to £2, and the subscription to £1 10s per annum.” The amendment was seconded by Mr Sclanders. On being put the amendment Was declared to be carried amid loud applause.

The chairman said the next business was the amending of rule 8, so as to allow of the election of two vice-presidents and a deputy captain. On the motion of Mr Denham, seconded

by Mr Templer, rule 8 was amended as proposed. The election of officers was then proceeded with.

On the motion of MrE. Denham, seconded by Mr M. J, Kilgour. Mr R, J. *S. Harman was unanimously re-elected president. The chairman said that Mr Harman had informed him that day that if elected he would be happy.to present a cup to the club, to be rowed for during the coming season in any way the committee might decide. [Applause.] Messrs J. H. Herdson and A. F. N. Blakiston were elected vice-presidents. Messrs J. 0. Jones and H. Templer were nominated for the post of captain, and on a ballot being taken, Mr Jones was declared to be elected.

Messrs J. Gray and H. Templer were proposed for the post of deputy-captain, a ballot resulting in the election of Mr Templer. In reply to a member, The chairman said he took it that the duties of deputy-captain would be to take charge in the absence of the captain, and hold the same authority as he (the captain) would, should he be absent. The other officers elected were as follows : —Hon sec, Mr M J. Kilgour ; treasurer, Mr E. Denham; committee, Messrs Revans, Thomas, Mounier, Knox, Gray, Gordon, and Gundry. Mr Jones gave notice of motion, to be considered next meeting, of an alteration in Rule No 3, to the effect that all the names of new members should be posted in the boathouse a fortnight before being elected. Messrs E. L. Coster, W. W. Cobb, and George Bowron, were elected honorary members of the club.

On the motion of Mr Douglas, seconded by Mr Gordon, a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to the custodian, for the care taken by him of the boats during the last year. Votes of thanks were also passed to the officers for the past year. In reply to a member, the chairman said that the election of the new members on the list in the secretary’s hands, would be deferred for the present, in consequence of the resolution carried that evening. It was resolved that it be an instruction to the committee to confer with the other clubs as to the date on which the opening day shall be held. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of the meeting.