OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON AT LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 731, 23 October 1876, Page 2

OPENING OF THE BOATING SEASON AT LYTTELTON.

The inauguration of the boating season of 1876-77 took place at Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon. The day was rather a gloomy one, with showers of rain every now and then, and a N.E. wind which was very puffy at times. However, towards the afternoon the weather looked much better, and it kept fine during the whole afternoon. Port was quite gay with bunting, the masts at the N.Z.B. Co.’s office, at Messrs Hawkins’, Cunningham’s, Forbes’ and the various hotels, and business places were dressed as gaily as possible, giving quite a touch of color to the scene, and the various vessels in harbor were well dressed, particularly the Merope and Waitangi at the Gladstone Pier, and the Camilla, lying just outside the breakwaters. Quite a number of visitors from Christchurch arrived by the midday train to see the procession, and no doubt had the day been finer there would have been a large attendance. As it was the afternoon seemed so gloomy that the visitors did not care to go on the water, and the Akaroa was so badly patronised that her proprietors did not proceed down to the Heads. A few gentlemen went round the course in Messrs Agar and Roberts’ steam launch Lyttelton, but the great majority of spectators satisfied themselves with a view of the proceedings from the wharf. Precisely at 2 25 p.m. the warning gun was fired from the Merope at the Gladstone pier, and the commodore ran his flag up at the masthead of the Fleetwing, three hearty cheers being given for the boating season of 1876-7. The vessels then got into order as speedily as possible, and at 2.30 the second or starting gun was fired, and the procession started. The veteran Annie Ogle, victor in so many a naval contest, led the way. She was sailed by her owner, Mr P. Cunningham. The L.Y.O, yacht Fleetwing came next, sailed by Mr J, 0, Boddiogtcm, the

vice-commodore of the club, and we must congratulate the committee on the very creditable appearance of the vessel, which with her new sails, fresh paint, and well set up tigging formed quite a pretty picture; next came the Advance yacht, which also looked in very good order ; she was sailed by her owner, Mr H. Allwright. The boats of the Merope and Waitangi followed ; then came the harbour boat with Pilot Reid in command, followed by the Brskine’s and a numoer of watermen’s boats, amongst which we noticed Messrs Walter and Newton’s Dewdrop, and Messrs Agar and Roberts and Vince’s boats. Messrs Rich and Kingsford were out in their canoes. The course was from the transporting buoy, round a flag buoy off the Gladstone Pier and all buoys off the wharves down to and round Peacock’s, keeping all on the port hand, then out across the harbor, round Parson’s rock and round reef. The yachts and boats went round the course inside the breakwater four times, and it was a very pretty sight, the basin being quite alive with canvas. The wind was very puffy, at times it was nearly calm, and then a gust would send the yachts and other vessels heeling over to it. Only two or three crafts went round Parson’s rock, the great maiority contenting themselves with going round inside, or taking a short tack across towards Dia. mond Harbor.

Altogether we may congratulate Lyttelton on the successful opening of the season, and hope it is one that will add laurels to the boating men.