AKAROA REGATTA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 549, 18 October 1881, Page 2

AKAROA REGATTA.

A public meeting to decide whether the R-gctta should be held an the 16th Dec. was held in the Town Hall on Friday night. There was a good attendance, his Worship the Mayor occupying the post of Chairman. That gentleman then read tho petition that b id been sent to him. asking him to call the meeting which had been signed by twenty burgesse_, and called upon those signing it in rotation to deliver their view.. Mr Billens said that when ho put down his name first he did not know that it meant he had to make a speech. Ho might say, however, that ho was strongly in favor of the regatta, and would bo glad to subscribe towards it. Mr Roderigues, who came next on tho list, refused to mount the platform, but liko the former speaker declared hhn.elf greatly in favor of the regatta being held. Mr Meech did not think we had the iren to make a regatta here. There were few people in the town who knew anything at all about boating, and this was the roason die regattas failed. He had only signed his niun>->, iv order that he might make a protest. He was str ugly in favor of the land sports, which were always more successful than the regattas, as the latter had been made a complete farce. Mr Adams said that if there no sailors or lovers of boating in Akaroa, tho best thing was. by the regatta and other means to endeavour to make j'oiing peopl. take an interest in these pursuits, for bo believed these aqaulic sports did a great deal of good, being both healthy and strengthening. He would beg to move •'That a regatta he held on the 16th of December next." (Applause.)

Mr Westenra had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. It had been their custom to hold a regntta on that day • and he thought it would be great folly to leave it off. He certainly could not help repeating that he thought it would be folly to let the Anniversary day go by without the usual regatta. As to the land sports, they were held on a different day altogether, and were quite distinct from tho regatta. It wa. a fact that seven years ago the regattas were far better then they had been bitterly, and he thought an effort should be made to make them as good as they onco were, better if possible. A great many people used to come to see the regatta, and would come again. He did not know whether many came really to see the regatta, or whether tbey came just because there was one being held ; but he was afraid that they had not seen much when they bad come. They should this year endoavor to arrange a good day's sports, so that the visitors could go away and praise it, and bring more with them when they came next year. He hoped sincerely tbat something would be done to make the regatta a great success, and had much pleasure in seconding the resohnion. (Applause.) The Mayor asked if any gentleman woukl liko to speak to the resolution. The Rev 11. Stocker said that ho would like to say a few words with regard to the general feeling that was abroad repecting the regatta. The fact was that the Akaroa regatta had been so poorly managed that the public looked on it as a ■ farce, andt hat threw a damper on it. To make the regatta a success it must be well managed, and every endeavor should be used to attract outside boats to compete. He must say that he thought the reason that the last regattas had been unsuccessful was that they had not been conducted as they should hayo been, and might have been. (Applause.) Mr Black said he bad heard what had fallen from Messrs Stocker and Meech regarding tho regatta having been a farce tho two last years. He as one of the committee in those years, might point out that the real reason of their comparative failure was, that the general public would not help ; that was the reason they had come to nothing ; if they had given their assistance, those regattas, like their predecessors, would have been successful. Again, he might point out that the regattas

in Lyttleton, Dunedin and Wellington had not been so successful during the past two rears as they had been previously, no doubt owing to the general business dep.es won. and that probably had .some effect here, and should'be taken into consideration. He hoped they would unite to make the regatta a success this year, and that no one would throw cold water upon it. It was a benefit to all as it brought money into tbe place and did gocd iv a great iffany other ways. (Applause.) ' Mr W. H. Henning said he should much lilc-. to know if there were any funds in hand, that had been left after the last regatta. Mr Black said that a small sum had been left, and Mr T. Grange, Jun., said he thought it was about £10. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. The meeting next proceeded to the election of officers. Mr W. B. Tosswill was elected Commodore and Mr H. C Jacobson Hon Secretary and Treasurer. It was agreed on the motion of Mr Stocker, that there should be a committee of ten appointed, with power to add to their number. The following gentlemen were then elected as committee men :—Messrs W. 11. Henning, G. Armstrong, Black, Westenra, Adams, T. S. Baker, M. Daly, H. Aylmei, J. D. Garwood, E. S. Latter, and the Rev. H. Stocker.

The Hon Secretary then at once commenced bis duties by asking those present whatprecuniary assistance they;would give, and met with fair success, £12 8s being subscribed in tho room. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated n very successful and animated meeting.