ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 357, 19 December 1879, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

A greater number of attractions had been provided for pleasure-seekers in Akaroa on last Tuesday than had ever been the case on any previous occasion. Many anxious looks were, therefore, directed towards any indications of what the weather was likely to be, and the appearance of the glass and sky were narrowly scanned by the promoters of the various entertainments. On Monday the weather was anything but favorable, and the streets began to display a very unpleasant amount of mud, which was eminently disagreeable to pedestrians. Oα Tuesday the weather'was, if anything, worse, rain falling at frequent intervals, and every person and thing in the open air presenting a more or less.sloppy appearance. The obvious consequences ensued. Instead of a large number of visitors from the neighborhood, only a very few put in an appearance, and these were of the male persuasion almost entirely, their wives and olive branches being unavoidably left at home. The Wellington arrived about 3 O'clock, but, as might be expected, she brought only a handful of excursionists, and these hud euHered

all the horrors of th% middle passage on I their short voyage, there being so heavy a ' sea on that at one time the captain had serious thoughts of putting back. Under the circumstances, though things did nqt wear a very lively aspect, yet the only wonder was that so many persons did venture out, and that the variojus amusements provided were supported'so welt as was the case. The Athletic Sports fia'd been postponed till New Year's Day on account of the weather.

The following is a brief description of the day's proceedings, commencing with

the regatta;

Commodore, W. B. Tosswill, Esq; JudgjEs, Justin Aylnicr, Esq ; Starter, H. H. Foil*-* ton, Esq ; Timekeeper, Gγ. La Coste, Esq ;' Secretary, G. Black, Esq. The first race was started at 11.30 promptly, and the various events may be summarised as follows :— < Boys' Pulling Race, under 18, pair oar —Ist prize, £2 ; 2nd, 10s. Entrance, 2s. Larrikin, 0. and W. Watkins 1 Mollie, H. Fenton and W. Parsons ... 2 Spray, T. Newton and — Shepherd ... 3 Dauntless, Jolly Bros ... 4 The Paul Pry was entered, but did not start. A good start was effected, the Dauntless taking the lead, which she kept increasing. At the first buoy she was two lengths ahead, the rest ail of a heap. The Larrikin here commenced gaining. When about half-way to the flag ship the Dauntless, through bad steering, came right across the bows of the Larrikin. A collision ensued, from which time the Dauntless was out of it. A good race home ensued between the first and second boats. Men's Single oar Sculling Race. Prize, £1. Entrance, 2s. Annie Wright, W. Stewart 1 Terror, James Thomas ... 2 Dart,'L.Stewart ... ... ... 3 «,' The winner went off with the lead, and Sfnaintained it throughout. There was '.about half a length between the other two. Men's Pair-oar Pulling Race, under 18 ft. Ist prize, £&, 2nd, £1. Entrance, ss. Annie, Stewart Bros ..." 1 Mollie, J. and J. Thomas .. ... 2 Dauntless, Hammond and M'Kay ... 3 The boats took places as above at the start, and maintained the same relative positions all through. At this stage the Model Yacht Eace and the Whaleboat Sailing Eace were postponed till after the arrival of the steamer. The next event was the

Boys' Single Sculling Race, under 18—Prize, £1, Entrance, 2s. George Henrici ... ... ... ... 1 0. Watkins 2 This was a hollow affair, the half-caste having it a!! his own way, and was only remarkable for the plucky manner in which Watkins stuck to it, and went round the course at his best, although he must have known he was hopelessly out-paced. Oten Boat Sailing Race, under 20ft—1st prize, £8, 2nd, £2. En trance, 15s. Alice Jane, John Thomas ... 1 Dart, W. Stewart. 2 Paul Pry, Glynan 3 The Shoo Fly (Hammond) entered, but did no: start. A good start was effected. The Alice Jane and the Dart kept well together till near the slaughterhouse buoy, when the former got a light breeze and walked awaj" with it, coming in a,winner by about five minutes. Boys' Pulling Race, under 15— Ist prize, £1 10s, 2nd, 10s. Entrance, 2s. Molly, Toaswill and Fenton 1 Flirt, Penlington and Brown ... ... 2 A fiat bottomed boat started, but was never really in the race. The Molly, had it all her own way throughout. Model Yacht Kace, square course. Ist prize, £5, 2nd, £2 Is. I Entrance, ss. Hebe, 4ft 6in, J. Bruce ... ... X Mermaid, sft. H. Watkins . ..... ... 2 Undine, 4ft 6in R. Newton ...% ... 3 Lizzie, sft, G. Black ... ... ... 4 The following also started :—Mr E. S. Latter's Amateur, Mr M. M'Kay's Black Prince. Mr D. M'Lucas' Kangaroo, Mr*||. Burkes Quickstep, and the Levonia, from Lyttelton. This was not the order in which the boats came in, but represents the positions assigned to them after the time allowance for* inches had been made.. There was some talk of the. Mermaid being disqualified in consequence of f & foul, but no protest was entered.

The race was started about three o'clock, and nine came to the line. The course was laid off: in the shape of a square, so that it required some navigation to make them sail round it. The Levonia, from Lyttelton, was the best finished and smartest looking model of the fleet, and would have easily taken the race had it been a dead beat. We hope in future the Committee wiil see their way clear to lay out the course so that it will be mostly beating , , as that is the best sailing point of a yacht. The Hebe would have won by a few minutes sooner had she not been fouled by the Mermaid, who ran into her, and carried away her topmast and gafEtopsail. It is surprising how the Lizzie sailed, as she was made out of paper, and getting soaked, several of the sheets came adrift, stopping her way. She is a powerful boat, and carries a keel weighing lOOlbs. The Quickstep, Kangaroo, and Amateur were in the doldrums most of the time, and could not get a start, but we think if it had been a dead beat they would have been among the winners. The Amazon and a German Bay boat were not started, although entered. We understand that most of them intend going up to compete at the Head of the Bay on the 26th for a £5 prize.

Whaleboat Sailing Race—lst prize, £10, 2nd, £2. Entrance, 20s. T. S. Baker's Avalanche ... ... 1 G. Robinson's Edith Wynne ... ... 2 Mr Baker's boat took the command from the first, and won by over a mile. Sailing Back, for boys under 18, in boats under 16 feet, Ist prize, £3, 2nd, £1. Entrance, 2s 6d, Annie Wright, Fenton ... ... 1 Dart, Henrici ... ... '' 2 Secret, Ferguson 3 Paul Pry, Glynan ... .;. ... 4

The Secret led for most of the distance, but coining towards home the Annie Wright managed to secure a puff of wind before her rivals, and they came in as above,. t ( , tf -

Puck Iluisi-T-Prixe, £2. Entrance, Is

The duck .'made & game struggle, but the drp,k'e'carriccT 100 many guns, in the, shape of ,4 four-oared boat with rudder,' and the jdupk was caught in about five t minutes.

Tin's concluded the day's sports, which on the whole were much more successful than might, have been expected, considering the wretched,state of the weather, and the proverbial hard times. We would suggest to the Committee the advisable■nees pix. a future; occasion Ijofper?)plying jsbme' tfne to act; as secrel&rf CrnM Regatta day. It would not be fair to expect any one so thoroughly to sacrifice his whole ! day a¥tb act honorarily, but that it'eh'buTtt be done is apparent. It was very difficult on Tuesday to obtain any authentic information as to the entries for and results "of the different eVentsT Common rumor is a poor authority to have recourse to for.definite particulars. \ Some of the boats appear to have as many different names as there were planks irt them. All the officers were most courteous irf affording information, but ft clerk of the course with a correct list of entries before him, whpse duty it would be to pdst the result of each race as soon as done !would be a great public convenience and tend to make things run more smoothly for the future. , • .:••..-■-■■-■: