HAWKE'S BAY REGATTA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3029, 11 March 1881, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY REGATTA.

The regatta was held on Thursday on the Ngaruroro, and a finer day or a better course could not have been desired. The place selected for the winning post was convenient to the railway, and afforded a view of the river as far as the bridge. There must have been fully 1000 people lining the banks from start to finish. The arrangements were admirable, with the exception of the delay between some of the races, which may have arisen under circumstance! which could not have been foreseen. Mr Tanner acted as judge, Mr Beck as umpire, and Mr W. J. Miller as Btarter.... The following were the events of the day: —

1. WHALE-BOAT RACE-For bona flda whaleboats ; five oars or more, to be steered with a' Bteer-oar; open to all comers. Dlscance about 2 miles. Entrance, £1. First prize, £10 ; second prize, £210s. Mr J. Parker's Never Miss 1 Mr J. Burton's Tawa ... 2 MrH. Brown's Will if I can 3 This was a good race towards the finish between the first and second boats, but Mr Parker's crew gradually drew away and won by two lengths. The winning crew consisted of Messrs Frazer, Iroon, Gordin, Hunt, Chapman, Thomas, Williams, and Parker (steer.) 2- INTERPROVINCTALREPRESENTATIVE RACE —(Open to amateurs (july) for Four-oared Inrigged Gigs of any build, with coxswain. Distance. 2 miles. Entrance, £4. First prize, value£3o; second prize, £5. Napier Rowing Club ... 1 Union Rowing Club ... 2 Gisborne Rowing Club ... 3 All the crews got away to a good start, the Gisborne boat Bhowing in front. Napier gradually drew ahead until near the bridge, when the Union men passed them and tried to take the Napier's water, and a foul was tbe result. The boats, however, got quickly clear, and continued the race. Towards the finish the race betweeu the Union and Napier crews got exciting, but at the most critical moment the Union No. 2 appeared to be in distress; he caught a crab, and the race was over, Napier winning by a few feet. The Gisborae boat ap? peared to be out of the race coon after the start. 3. MAORI CANOE RACE—Not lesa than twenty men in each canoe. Distance, 1 mile. En trance free. First prize, £10; second prize £2 10s. Te Karamu 1 Poraraku 2 Te Awahou 3 This race was watched with great interest, and resulted in a splendid struggle at the finish between the first and second, Te Karamu just winning by a few yards. 4. SENIOR POURS— For Four-oared Inrlgged Gistf. 1 Open to all Amateurs who have not rowed in Race No. 2. Distance, 1 mile. Entrance, £2. First prize, four embroidered bets p.esented by the Ladies of Napier, with Trophy, value £15, added; second prize, Dailt Tblkokaph's Trophy. Union Rowing Club ... 1 Napier Rowing Club ... 2 This was a well-contested race, and towards the finish the Union men appeared to be coming in easily, when Napier made a splendid spurt and almost passed their opponents. At the same time something went wrong in the Union boat, and they finished badly They won the race, however, by over a length. 5. ROB ROY CANOE RACE—Distance J mile (round a buoy). Entrance, 2s 6d; three entries or no race. Prize £2. J. R. Lanauze 1 J. Siddle 2 This was an easy race for Lanauze, he coming in as he pleased. He had much the better boat, and appeared to be a psrfect master of the paddle. 6. JUNIOR FOURS—For Four-oared Inrlgged Gigs Open to all Amateurs who have not rowed in Races Nos. 2 and .. Distance 1 mile. Entrance £2. Prize value, £30. Electric 1 Napier 2 Union 3 This race resulted in tbe best finish of the day, the Napier actually leading until close on the judges stand when the Electric crew made a splendid spurt and and passed their opponents, winning by a nose. 7. TUB RACE—Round "a Buoy placed a short distance off the Bank of the River, First prize, £1103; second prize, 10s. Waterworth 1 Neal 2 8. PAIR-OARED RACE (Amateurs only)— Distance 1 mile. Entrance, 10s. Prize, two Gold Medals, presented by Messrs T. Tanner and R. Stuart, Vice-Presidents of the Napier Rowing Club. Napier Lilly 1 Napier Rose 2 Gisborne .. 3 This was an ca c y victory for Messrs Lanauze and Gibbons in the Napier boat Lily. Messrs Gilberd and Brookin another Napier boat being two lengths behind at the finish, and the Gisborne nowhere. 9. SWIMMING HANDlCAP,—Distance, 440 yards round a buoy. First prizo, a cup, value £4 4s ; second prize £1. Begg, 28 yards 1 J. R. Lanauze, 10 yards ... 2 —J. Stone, scratch, ISimson, 20 yards, and St. Hill, 25 yards, also started. In this race there appeard to be Borne doubt in the minds of some of the competitors as to the whereabouts of the goal. After a well contested race however,

Tiegg was given first place and Lanauze second. During the latter portion of the regatta the adventurers on the greasy boom afforded great amusement to the spectators. There were about fourteen competitors, and Chissell ultimately carried off the pig. THE DINNER. The regatta dinuer was held at the , Caledonian Hotel in the evening. Mr Sutton, M.H.R., occupied the chair, and Captain Russell, M.H.R., the vice-chair. Between fifty and sixty sat down to dinner, each club which took part in the regatta being well represented. After the usual loyal toasts had been received with enthusiasm, the Chairman proposed the "Army and Navy," remarking tbat there was no cause to fear any disturbance, as Major Routledge and his men would be ready in a week's time to meet any foe. Major Routiedge, in responding, said the volunteers would not require a week to get ready; their guns were always ready, and so were the men. He suggested that a torpedo corps could be formed out of those who had taken part in the regatta. Mr Swan proposed the toast of " Our Members," which was received with hearty cheers, and drunk with musical honors. Captain Russell, in responding, said , he regretted that a longer notice had not _ been given him that he would be required to speak. It was difficult for those engaged in politics to avoid reference to them. He would try, however, to avoid "catching a crab." He thought such gatherings as the present were valuable in bringing the members and their constituents into closerpersonalacquaintance. He trusted that he and his colleague were fairly good representatives. He would propose what might be considered the toast of the evening, " The Winning Crews." The importance of such regattas was great. Those who engaged in them had to make no mean sacrifices, and they tended to develope good qualities in the competitors. He regretted that some of the honors of the day had not fallen to the visiting crew. He trusted the regatta would now be an annual affair, and that they would again see the Gisborne men amongst them, and that they might have greater success. Colonials bad been achieving great successes in the old country in the way of athletics, ~ and he trusted those successes would be a Btimulus to athletic clubs all over the colonies. He would couple with the toast tbe name of Mr Lanauze. Mr Lanauze responded. The Chairman then proposed the " Mayor and Corporation," and Mr Swan responded. " The Visiting Crew" was proposed „__. by Mr Carlile, and Mr J. Carroll replied. Mr Brooking proposed " The Losing Crews," which was briefly responded to by Messrs Pavitt and Northe. Mr C. Kennedy proposed " The Judge, Umpire, and Starter," which was acknowledged by Mr W, J. Miller as starter, and by Major Routledge, on behalf of Mr Tanner, who had acted as judge. Captain Russell then proposed the health of Mr Bogle, the secretary, and in doing so paid a high tribute to the qualities displayed by Mr Bogle in his efforts to make the regatta a success. The regatta owed its existence to tbe secretary, who had been indefatigable in collecting subscriptions and making all necessary arrangements. Mr Bogle, in briefly responding, acknowledged the great assistance he had received from the committee. The trophies presented by the Club and by a number of private individuals were then presented to the several successful competitors. Mr S. E. Cooper then proposed the the toast of "The Press," which was acknowledged by Mr J. Dinwiddie of the Daily Telegraph. Major Routledge proposed the health of " Toe Coxswains." Mr J. W. Miller proposed " Our Host and Hostess," which was received with hearty cheers, and responded to by Mr Barrows. The toast of " The Ladies," proposed by Mr J. Begg, and responded to by Mr J. Ormond, brought the proceedings to a close. A number of songs enlivened the proceedings of the evening, and tended much to the enjoyment of one of the most successful meetiugs of the kind that has taken place in Napier. The arrangements made by Mr Barrows were admirable, and tended not a little to the thorough enjoyment of the .evening.