ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 330, 30 January 1871, Page 2

ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Yesterday having been the 31st anniversary of the foundation of the colony, to-day has been kept in celebration of the birth-day of New Zealand with all the honors. Nothing could be more suitable for the right enjoyment of the holiday than the style of weather with which we have beeu favored. A heavy canopy of clouds extending from horizon to horizon kept away the glare, indeed so dark were the masses of clouds that one would almost have feared a downpour were it not that there was something good tempered looking about them that showed they did not meau mischief. A light refreshing breeze from the south pleasantly fanned the faces of holiday keepers, and filled the sails of the racing craft. The day ha 3 been kept as a close holiday, and all Auckland with sandwiches in one hand and lorgnette in the other, has been abroad. The houses and flagstaffs have becu gay with bunting, and the streets and wharves with ribbons and muslins and pretty faces, and everyone was in good temper aud high spirits ; and enjoyment has been fi.st and furious. Several excusions have been carried out. The Devonport went crowded with a cargo of life to Motutapu. North Shore has been literally alive, and its noble heights presented at times very pretty sights from the numbers of people who crowded there to have a full view of the yachts and trading vessels on their way to and from the island of Tiri Tiri and Drunken Bay, and to have a bird's-cyo view of the Eegatta generally as proceeding in the harbour below. The Domain was not without its patrons, and many a pleasant little flirtation and love-making was enjoyed in its sequestered walks and shady retreats. Cremorne was in fulljblast, and had a fair proportion of the holiday-keepers.

THE EEGATTA. But the great event of the day has been, as on all previous occasions, the Regatta, which was carried out in circumstances that could not do otherwise than ensure success. The Government steamer Luna, kindly lent as flagship by the Defence Minister, was a perfect blaze of bunting, and moored out in midstream, her decks crowded with the "beauty and chivalry" of Auckland, presented really a lovely sight, while the surface of our unrivalled harbour was all in motion with steamers, yachts, cutters, smacks, and craft of low degree. The wharves, Breakwater, and Fort Britomart, were crowded with people ; and the interest in our annual games never was surpassed in this city. The Royal Alfred, Lalla Eookh, Enterprise, and various other steamers were making periodical cruises round the harbour, and to and from the Flagship. On board the Luna were most of the principal people of Auckland, the ladies mustering in great force, and by the waving of cambric handkerchiefs and the glances of bright eyes nerving the competitors in the races to redoubled effort. His Honor the Superintendent came on board about 11 o'clock, and appeared to take a great interost in the progress of the regatta. The Eegatta Committee was present on board, and had made arrangements of the

most complete kind for the right conduct of of the various events. The Volunteer Baud was on board, and under the skilful guidance of Mr. Bandmaster McComish, contributed, by its enlivening strains, to the enjoyment of the occasion. Mr. John Copland atced as heretofore as starter, and his old fanihar voice, ringing out like the tones of a speakingtrumpet, was a guarantee to all that no lack in the office of starter would mar the satisfactory progress of the Regatta. The following office-bearers were present on board the Luna :-Coramitte : Yon cler Heyde, Esq., (Chairman), Captain Anderson, Mr. H. Brett, Captain Casey, Captain Clayton, Mr. J. Copland. Messrs. D. B. Cruickshank, G-. H. Fletcher, George Henderson, T. Niccol, M. Niccol, J. Waymouth, Captain Williams. Umpire: Captain Clayton. Starter: Mr. J. Copland. The following were the events proceeding up to the time of oar going to press : — First Pace, 9.30 a.m.: Trading Vessels, over 25 tons. Prizes : Ist, Silver Cup,, presented by Messrs. Shaw, Saville and Co., value 25 guineas, and £10 added ; 2nd, £10 ; 3rd, £5. Course : From south side of Flagship, round Tiri Tiri, passing from west to east, keeping Tiri Tiri on starboard hand, coming in on south side of Flagship. Four vessels started in this race, the Sovereign of the Seas, Saucy Lass; Nautilus, and Mary Eliza. All vessels got well away together, when rounding the Heads the Sovereign had a considerable lead, the schooner Saucy Lnss second, Mary Eliza third, and Nautilus fourth. The vessels had not returned when we went to press. Second Pace, 10 a.m.: Trading Vessels, 15 to 25 tons. Prizes : Ist, .-£2O; 2nd, £10 ; 3rd. £.*>. Course: From south side of Flagship, round a black buoy off "Drunken Bay, thence round ilagboat off Stokes' Point, coming in on south side of Flagship. Eleven boats started for this race, the Wanderer aDd Avon taking the lead, closely followed by the Kolarua, Bowerdalc. The other vessels left- in a cluster, and they presented a very pretty sight, The race resulted as follows :— Avon, 10 tons, (Warm) ... ... 1 Third Pace, 10.30 a.m.: Sailing Boats or Yachts of any class, under 7 tons. Prizes : Ist, £10 ; 2nd, £5 ; 3rd, £3. Course : From south side of Flagship, round flagboat moored off Stokes' Point, thence round chequered buoy in Pangitoto Channel, coming in on south side of Flagship. Centre-boards (if any) will be sealed up or down. This was decidedly the best race of the day. A capital start was made, unci the vessel's stood away up harbour. One of the best scenes we have witnessed at ony regatta was presented. The Lily, a boat built by Mr. Clare, was the first to round the flag-boat, closely followed by the Ripple. In running down*they maintained their position, but in beating up, the Foam, which was considerably behind, headed nearly all her competitors, aiid a pretty race ensued between the Lily and Ripple. The Lily maintained her ground, and would have won the race, only that she passed on the wrong side of the ship. The other boats passed the flagship in the following order : — Ripple, 7 tons, White 1 Foam, 4?r tons, San ford ... ... 2 G-alatea, 5 tons, Smydon ... ... 3 Lilly, 6£• tons, Hunt 4 Fourth Race, 11 a.m.: Licensed Cargo Boats. Prizes: Ist, £12 ; 2nd, £0; 3rd, £2. Course : Same as second race. The Albert took the lead in this race, followed by the Sumpter; a pose entry, the Annie and Diamond, followed close in their wake, and the race resulted as follows : — OumDtcr 1 Fifth Pace, 11.30 a.m. : Amateur Scullers Match. Prize : Ist, Silver Cup, value eight guineas. Course : From south side of Flagship, round flagboat off Cooper's Bay, coming in on south side of Flagship. Once round. Three boats started, two from the Auckland Rowing Club, and one named the Colonial Tiger. The latter wont away with the lead, but was soon collared. The Mosquito unfortunately met with an accident and upset. The race was then left to the other two, and Amateur, rowed by Fletcher, continued to pull on the Colonial Tiger, and shortly before arriving at the Flagship took the lead. The race ended thus :— Amateur (Fletcher) ... ... 1 Colonial Tiger... ... ... ... 2 Sixth Pace, 12 noon: Licensed• Watermen's Boats, pair-oared. Prizes: Ist, £S ; 2nd, £1 ; 3rd, save stakes. Course : Same as fifth race. Prince Alfred, Pellinger ... ... 1 Helen, Hunt 2 Blonde 3 Seventh Pace, 2 p.m.: Four-oared Gigs, the property of any recognised club in Auckland, rowed by members. Prizes : Ist, £15 ; 2nd, £5. Course : Same as fifth race, twice round. Spitfire ... ... ... ... 1 Manukau Maid 2 Sons of Colonists ... ... ... 3 Eighth Pace, 2.30 p.m.: Merchant Ships' Gigs. Prizes: Ist, £10 ; 2nd, £5. Course : Same as fifth race. G-olden Crown ... ... ... 1 Kenilworth ... ... ... ... 2 Royal Alfred ... ... .... 3