The Ocean Race.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 39, 15 February 1901, Page 2

The Ocean Race.

KEEN INTEREST IN AUCKLAND,

A SPHINX AT HEADQUARTERS.

[Special to Times.]

Auckland, last night,

Local interest is very keen over the race across to Sydney between the Union Company’s steamer Mararoa and the new mail steamer Sonoma. Tho Mararoa left the Quay street jetty at five minutes to twelve on Tuesday night, and when she straightened up between the wharves, the clock was just striking the midnight hour. The Sonoma was somewhat delayed, owing to discharging cargo and taking in coal, and did not get away from the Queen street wharf until a quarter past five o’clock yesterday morning, her time being five minutes later when she crossed the line passed by the Mararoa, the American steamer being thus five hours and twenty minutes later in leaving than the Mararoa.

The Mararoa is reported as having passed Cape Maria Van'Dioman at 10.20 p.m. yesterday, which gives her a record of about 16 knots per hour on the run up the coast, the distance, a matter of 300 miles, being covered in 13 hours and 28 minutes.

The Sonoma passed the Cape at 6 p.m. last evening, having made the run in the fast time of 12 hours 40 minutes, or 40 minutes less than the red funnel liner. It will be seen that the American boat is gaining on her opponent at the rate of 40 minutes hi 200 miles, and allowing her to keep this up for the passage should gains in the 1280 miles somewhere about 3 hours and 20 minutes.

The Mararoa, with the start she has got, is almost bound to arrive in Sydney first. The event has been one of the chief topics of conversation in Auckland since yesterday, and there are many who still stick to the Mararoa to come out on top. They argue that the Mararoa, having left at midnight, had all the worst of the run up the coast, as against a boat starting at. daylight. The Sonoma’s officers do not consider they are altogether on even terms in the race, as the engines are new, and do not run as smoothly as those of the Mararoa. In six months’ time, they say, they would be better prepared for such a race. It is not known whether the headquarters of the Union Company approve of the contest. It is stated that they deny that there is a race between the boats.

it is generally understood by the public that both boats are straining every effort to make the best trip.'