UNION ROWING CLUB.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1033, 17 October 1877, Page 3

UNION ROWING CLUB.

A general meeting of this club was held last evening at Radcliffe's Hotel, Mr H. Thomson, commodore, in the chair. There was a full attendance. The Secretary reported that Mr E. Rees had been engaged custodian for the club, at a Balary of £3O per annum. This was in accordance with a recommendation carried at last meeting. The Chairman said he understood that it was proposed that several old members who bad left, not from any want of interest in the affairs of the club but through inability to • attend, living some distance from town, should be made life members. Mr Sharland proposed—" That Mr George Jameson be elected a life member of the club." Mr Kesteven seconded the motion. The Chairman referred in eulogistic terms to the services Mr Jameson had rendered in times gone by, when he had helped more than once to land the colors of the Union Rowing Club in front. The resolution was put and carried unanimously, amid applause. Mr Jameson here entered the room, and thanked the meeting for the honor done him. The club had pulled some hard contests in olden times, and he hoped they would soon be able to get a number of good crews together, and emulate the olden times. Mr W. Harding proposed—" That Mr

R. P. Crosbie be made a life member of the club." . I Mr A. Campbell seconded the motion. J The chairman detailed the services Mr j Crosbie had rendered in assisting to found the j U.K.C. S The resolution was put and agreed to | unanimously. t j The secretary said Mr G. R. Barnes, rice- i commodore, and one of the oldest members , of the club, had sent in his resignation of the j office as he was about to pay a visit to Eng- ' land. He (the secretary) hod omitted to : bring the letter with him, but Mr Barnes had asked in it to be allowed to retain his member.ship. . The chairman paid Mr Barnes a high compliment for the interest he had always taken in club matters, and while regretting his leaving, if only for a short while, felt certain they would all be glad to see him return again. [Applause. [ Previous to their electing a successor to Mr Barnes he (the chairman) might mention that the post was becoming an important one as they had a large fleet of boats now to manage, and it was his intention for the future to leave the whole management of the boats to the vice-com-modore. On the motion of Mr Petrio, Mr A. bharland was unanimously elected vice-commo-dore. Mr G-underson was elected member of the committee in place of Mr Sharland. Some discussion took place as to the advisableness of altering the rule so as to admit coxswains without paying an entrance fee, after which, Mr Sharland moved — li That the latter portion of Rule VI be suspended, so as to allow of coxswains being admitted free of charge." The motion was seconded and cirried. The Chairman said the match committee would shortly have some prizes to offer, and he trusted as many members _as possible would give in their names agreeing to practice as regularly as possible. He then desired, ns an old rowing man, to give tho young members some ndrico. He wished them to avoid double scull?, and also outriggers until they ha*l become perfectly steadied ; to practice as much as possible in pair-oars, and not ta pull half their stroke in the air. He sawno reason why close attention to details oi this kind and regular attendance should not bring the Union flag up to the fore again. [Applause.] Mr Jacobsen referred to the want of some person to attend regularly to instruct the younger members. Ho would suggest that ' not only should names be taken for practice, but that also the old members should volunteer to give their services.

The Chairman said he would be very happy to give his services on an afternoon. Mr G-ain also volunteered to go down of a morning. A number of members here handed in their names to the secretary. This closed the business, after which, the commodore, on behalf of members, presented a handsome gold locket and albert, guard to Mr G. R Barnes, for the services he had rendered to the club during his long membership, and also while acting as custodian. The locket bore the following inscription : —" To G. R. Barnes, from members of U.R.C., October, 1877." After Mr Barnes's health had been drunk in bumpers of champagne, that gentleman, while expressing his surprise at so unexpected a presentation, replied in very feeling terms, and hoped, on his return to Christchurch, to see the U.R.C. continuing in its present prosperous condition. Mr Grossman, who had lent a pianoforte for the occasion, presided at the instrument, and musical and vocal selections, filled in at intervals with congratulatory speeches, helped to make a few hours pass very pleasantly, which were wound up by heartily wishing Mr Barnes " A pleasant voyage and a speedy return."