AQUATICS AND CRICKET IN AKAROA.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 777, 16 December 1876, Page 3

AQUATICS AND CRICKET IN AKAROA.

[FROM A CORRESPONDENT. J Once a year the boating and cricketing men of Akaroa shake off their lethargy, and donning their flannels, they pull and bowl and bat as if their existence for the next twelve months depended on the amount of exercise they went through during the holidays. It is “ passing strange ” and must strike a boating stranger with amazement, that with such a harbor and such facilities for pursuing the manly art of pulling, there is not a rowing club in Akaroa. A few years ago one of the Christchurch crack boating men was in Akaroa, when some difference of opinion existed as to where the interprovincial match should be pulled, in answer to a question telegraphed to him on the subject he replied, “ He had seen no place equal to Akaroa.” But did this stir up our dormant energies ? Bless you, no ! We drag and drabble on, and getting into the wash of every other river, lake and harbor in the colony are notwithstanding our real or fancied superiority, quite contented to come in a glorious last, and then we metaphorically toss up our oars, give a few wheezing cheers, and go home quite satisfied that we are the inhabihabitants of the finest borough, in the finest province, of the finest colony in the world. It is nearly time this sort of thing was put an end to, and that a beginning of better things were inaugurated 5 but we have begun, over and over again. Take one instance, when the Lyttelton Club was sell ing off a couple of years ago, we, i.e., collectively and individually, bought a four-oar outrigger; she was brought over with a flourish of trumpets, the fife and drum band, under the the direction of a “ promising young Government official,” played high jinks the evening she was landed. Meetings were held ; a new club formed, or an old one revived, really it’s hard to say which; subscription lists opened ; a boat shed determined to be built; a site was procured ; but the club melted into thin air, the subscriptions if they were paid were In ever heard of, no boat shed was built, and the outrigger, and another boat that had in an enthusiastic moment been presented to the club, were left outside the fence of the Government school, without any covering or shelter, until they positively rotted to pieces, or at all events very nearly to pieces. Where the remains of that outrigger is, this deponent knoweth not, but it would take a volume to give a history of boating in Akaroa, some one who wants to distinguish himself can take up the subject; it wouldn’t be a very interesting history though; mismanagement, inactivity, and failure would be the subjects for the principal “ cameos ” which, though they might “ point a moral,” yet would not “ adorn a tale.” The curtain will again be raised on Anniversary Day, and a very fair programme is promised ; of course there have been all the usual growls about this one and the other one being left out of the committee, the wretched management that was shown on the day the boating season opened, &c, &c ; but for all that there is likely to be a very good day’s amusement. There will be first, the Sailing race for vessels trading to the port (tonnage allowed), with £ls for the first prize and £3 for the second. The Sailing race for open boats, 30ft over all and under, will bring a very creditable mosquito fleet to the fore, although this year has not the additional inducement of Mr Townsend’s cup. The yacht race will prob • ably, with its first prize of £3O, and its second prize of £5, attract competitors from Lyttelton and perhaps Dunedin. If this race is to be a popular one, and as it ought to be the attraction of the regatta, the committee would do well if the amount of the prizes were increased next year. It may be considered a certainty that a really handsome sum as first prize will attract owners of yachts that otherwise would not consider it worth their while to go to the expense and trouble of sailing their craft. The grand anomaly of the regatta, however, is a whale boat race, by boats that are not whale boats! What is a whale boat ? not an inrigged gig, but a boat actually used or capable of being used for whaling, and carrying all necessary gear for whaling purposes, there are no whale boats in Akaroa. Years ago there used to be at the annual regatta a bona fide whale boat race, boats and crews belonging to the whalers in the harbour, but now it is a mere farce to advertise a whale boat race ; indeed, the present race has been arranged for one boat (the Wrights’), and she is no more a whale boat than the moon is made of green cheese. Suggestion No 2 for the regatta committee next year— Have a four-oared race for inrigged boats, leave the construction, the beam, and the steering, to the owners, and if you want a whale boat race, let all competing boats carry the entire gear necessary for capturing a whale ; but it is simply ridiculous to call the race in the programme for Saturday a whale boat race. There are one or two minor alterations in the programme,— a duck hunt instead of a tub race, and a couple of pulling matches struck out. If the weather is propitious a good day’s sport may be expected. But will the committee take a word of advice from an outsider? Let every race start punctually at the hour advertised, and secure the services of a starter who knows something about his work, so as not to have the lamentable exhibition there was on opening day. Notices of cricket and other sports must be deferred till next week.