UNION ROWING CLUB.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 700, 16 September 1876, Page 3

UNION ROWING CLUB.

The annual meeting of this club was held last evening at Warner's Hotel; Mr H. H. Hennah, commodore of the club, in the chair.

After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, the chairman called on Mr Webb, hon secretary, who read the following annual report:— "Your committee, in presenting their annual report, have to congratulate the members on the sound financial position to which the club has attained. From the treasurer's report and balance-sheet it will be; seen that the club will very probably be free from debt by the end of the present year, or at least the liabilities will be so materially reduced as to relieve the clu ! > from fear of embarrassment. The property is also in a satisfactory state; a new pairoared boat with sculls and oars has been ordered from Messrs Salter and Co, of Oxford, which may be expected very shortly. Pairs sculls have also been ordered from Sydney. " The committee did not feel themselves in a position to carry out the wishes of the club with respect to a new four-oared boat, as they did not consider they would be justified in incurring further liability. It remains with the members to decide whether the order shall be sent for next season. The committee have also to congratulate the members on the successful completion of the new shed and staging. " During the past season the club competed at the Heathcote and Kaiapoi regattas. At the former, in the junior four, and senior pair-oared races, and at the latter in the senior pair-oared race. In this latter, the club's boat obtained second prize. It is a matter for very great regret, that there there should have been so little energy shown by the members during the season. The committee believe that the inability of most of the office bearers, through pressure of other business, to attend properly to their duties, has had much to do with this, and they hope that, during the ensuing season, more life may be shown both in the management and ordinary work of the club. " During the past year twenty new members joined the club, and the committee have already received the names of others desirous of joining. It is only necessary for the members to be energetic to place the club in a very satisfactory position. In accordance with a resolution, passed at the last annual meeting, the committee appointed a sub-com-mittee to draw up new rules. The committee regret that they are not in a position to propose new rules for adoption by this meeting, but trust that their successors will be able to do so during the season. The entrance fee has been raised to one guinea. This has been found beneficial, and in no way deterrent to those desirous of becoming members. The committee have to express their regret at the loss sustained by the club through the resignation of Mr R. P. Crosbie. Mr Crosbie has kindly offered his services to the club whenever occasion may require. Mr 0. B. Stewart resigned his membership early in the season, and the committee elected Mr James Drake to fill his place on the com mittee. At a meeting of members held in January last, a match committee was elected, and under their direction matches were arranged. For one of these prizes were pro vided by members of the committee, and the commodore kindly provided cups for another; the latter not having been competed for last season, Mr Hennah has consented to allow them to be contested for this year. The committee would strongly recommend members to carry on the appointment of the match committee, as they think much of last year's apathy might have been avoided had the committee been appointed earlier in the season. The committee recommend that a paid custodian be appointed, as the calls of the office are too great for any honorary officer."

After some remarks from the chairman, The statement of accounts was submitted by the treasurer, which showed the receipts for the year to have been £127 5s Id, and the expenditure (inclusive of £4 9s 2d interest), £l7O 13s 9d, leaving a debit balance of £4B 2s. The treasurer stated that since he had made up the stated that since he had made up the statement £5 5s had been collected, and there was still £ll lis subscriptions due from last year. The adoption of the report and statement of accounts was carried.

The report of Mr Barnes, custodian for last season, was read, in which he complained of the carelessness shown in the use of the boats and oars, and suggesting that stringent rules in this direction were desirable, a fine to be imposed, or in extreme cases, expulsion of members.

The report was approved. The election of officers then took place. On the motion of Mr Webb, seconded by Mr Barnes, Mr Geo Gould was unanimously re-elected president. On the motion of Mr Sharland, [seconded by Mr Gunderson. Messrs H. H. Heunah, W. Montgomery, and J. Anderson, sen, were elected vice-presidents. Mr H. Thomson was elected commodore, and Mr J. R. Barnes vice-commodore. Mr A. M. Webb was re-elected secretary, and Mr George Jameson, treaijurer. Ten names were nominated for the committee, and on a ballot having been taken the following were declared to be elected : Messrs A. H. Noble Campbell, Harding, Shfvrlaud, and Caterer. On the motion of Mr Webb, seconded by Mr Steele, the committee were authorised to engage the services of a paid custodian. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Barnes for his services as custodian during the past year. The usual vote of thanks to the cl: airman terminated the meeting.