MANAWATU ROWING CLUB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3776, 8 October 1907, Page 2

MANAWATU ROWING CLUB.

The animal meeting of the above club was held in Mr J. W. Rough’s rooms last night. The President (B. G. Gower Esq.) presided. The annual report stated that the season has been a very successful one. Early in the season the committee purchased two four-oared clinker outriggers for club races, together with two complete sets of oars, with a view to putting the club on an equal footing with other clubs of the Dominion. The attempt at getting off a club race in the four oared boats met with half-hearted interest, and out of a total of 47 active members, only four crews could be got out. One heat was rowed, and the other crews, through lack of interest by their members, fell through. A pair oar race suffered a similar fate after two heats had been rowed. In view of improvement among the members, and the desire to enter for outside regattas, the committee decided to affiliate with the N.Z. Amateur Rowing Association. During the year the committee effected many improvements to the shed, including a dressing room and sliding door. The pleasure boats were all thoroughly overhauled and put in good repair, and the committee earnestly hope that the members, more especially the younger ones, will exercise due care with this valuable asset. During a heavy flood the skids at the river entrance were washed away, and the bank on which the shed now stands is being slowly encroached upon by the river, leaving the shed in a very dangerous position. The committee recommend that the incoming committee construct skids upon floating pontoons, so that they may rise and fall with the tides, thus leaving no high step at low tide, and so arranged that they may be unshipped and swung round out of the current in time of flood. Regarding the finances of the club, the committee report a loss of £6 6s 8d on the year’s working, but this loss is not considered great when the improvements to the club are considered. The total receipts amounted to £76 ns nd, against diture was ,£B2 15s yd, against 3s 8d last season. The assets are set down at ,£149 10s, an increase of ,£l9 since last year. The liabilities amount to £y 13s Bd, leaving a balance of ,£l4l 16s 4d amount of assets over liabilities against ,£126 7s 8d last season. The report and balance sheet as read were adopted. The following officers ware elected: —President: B. G. Gower Esq. (re-elected;; Captain, Mr Gordon (re-elected); Vice-Captain, Mr Gardner; Secretary, Mr R. G. Hickson ; Treasurer, Mr G. Fowler ; Auditors, Messrs A. R. McDonald and J. Hennessy; Committee, Messrs J. Gillespie, J. W. Rough and R. J. Jeffries ; Messrs B. G. Gower, and P. J. Hennessy were re-elected trustees. It was decided to open an account at the Bank of New Zealand, in the names of the Trustees, and all payments to be made by cheque. It was decided to debar defaulting members from using the boats until their subs, were paid. Several new members were elected. Votes of thanks to the outgoing officers and to the Chairman concluded the meeting.