EXCURSION TO AKAROA.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1817, 17 December 1879, Page 3

EXCURSION TO AKAROA.

The very unfavorable state of the weather yestorday would have justified the Manager of the Union Company in putting off this excursion, but it having Deen advertised, the rule of the Company to keep faith with the public was, in his opinion, superior to the consideration of the limited patronage of the excursionists, and within half an hour of the steamer's arrival from Dunedin she left the wharf for Akaroa. It was half-past ten o'clock as she passed out of the harbor, and from there to Akaroa Heads the trip might be summarised by saying—a heavy beam tea, was experienced throughout. Off Le Bon's Bay the weather was so tempestuous that Captain Anderson was on the point of returning to port, but signs of the sea abating being observed soon after, the excursion was continued. A very tastefully laid luncheon was spread as the steamer passed into smooth water, Mr Grant, the excellent steward, with his staff, doing their best to make the excursionists as comfortable as possible. The steamer reached the Akaroa wharf at three o'clock, the passengers debarking to do their best with the limited time at command to see the regatta and show. THE REGATTA. Commodore ( !W. B. Toss will; Judge, J. Aylmer; Hon. Secretary, 6. Black; Starter, H. H. Fenton; Timekeeper, G. S. Le Coste. The moot, of the evonls had come off before the arrival of the steamer, and the facilities for obtaining the results of them, as well as the particulars of the unfinished ones, were exceedingly unsatisfactory. The following will, however, be found correct as regards the winners : Boys' Pulling Baca, under eighteen, pair oar—--Ist priz9, £2; 2nd, 10s. Entrance, 2a. Mollie. 1 Larrikin 2 Men's Sißgle Oar Sculling Race—Prize, £l. Entrance, 2s. Annie Wright 1 Terror 2 Men's Pair Oar Pulling Race, under 18ft. —

Ist prize, £i; 2nd, £l. Entrance, ss. Annie Wright 1 Mollie 2 Model Yacht Race, square course —Ist prize, £o ; 2nd, £2 Is. Entrance, ss. This race was held over until after the steamer's arrival, to allow of a Lyttelton yacht, the Livonia, to be entered. There were ten entries, two of which scratched before the race. The wind, if wind it could be called, was exceedingly baffling, and the race proved a most tedious one for those engaged in piloting and pushing the yachts around the course. Lavonia missed the course going to an outside buoy and was withdrawn from the contest, though her chance for a place up to the time of her mistake was good. The steamer left as the boats were making the flagship in the following order: —Hebe, 1; Mermaid and Lizzie about abreast, with Mermaid the favorite. Whaleboat Sailing Race —Ist prize, £10; 2nd, £2. Entrance, iOs. Avalanche 1 Edith Wynne 2 Boys' Single ScnlliDg Race, under 18—1st prize, £l. Entrance, 2. George 1 O'Watkina 2 Open Boat Sailing If ace, under 20ft—1st prize, .£8 ; 2nd, £2. Entrance, 15s. Alice Jane ... 1 Dart 2 Boys' Pulling Race, under 15—1st prize, £1 10n ; 2nd, 10a. Entrance, 2s. Mollie 1 Sailing Race, for boys under 18, in boats under lCft—lst prize, £3; 2nd, £l. Entrance, 2s 6d. Three boats, the Annie Wright, Cigarette, and Dart entered for this race, and were started just before the departure of the steamer. THE INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. This was held in the public schoolroom, which was tastefully decorated for the occasion. Aftor the judges had completed their duties, the Rev. Mr Stocker addressed those present. He reminded them that it was but the third year of their effort at an exhibition, and it was a source of very great satisfaction that there was an increase both in the number arid quality of tho exhibits of those of last year. He attributed this flattering success as duo in a great measure to the indefatigable hon. secretary, Mr S. Watkina. Mr Stocker then complimented the contributors to the show, particularly the young ones, referring to their perseverance and patience in flattering terms. He was followed by Juige Greeson, who regretted he had not been as often at Akaroa aa he had wished, but_ suggested that as the means of communication had so much improved he hoped to visit them moro frequently. He thought with Mr Stocker an exhibition such as this was could not be too highly valued, and referred to the first international exhibition instituted by the Prinoe Consort. It was very creditable to Akaroa to be the first in New Zealand, he believed, to follow the example of the old country. lie was both gratified and surprised at tho evidences bofore him of the progress made in that, as ho thought at one time, remote town — progress in art, in shell work, and in innumerable other useful branches of industry. It was very gratifying to find such good results from so Bmall beginnings, and he compli-

mented tho young upon the evidences on the table that they highly valued their manual and mental powers. Judge Q-res Eon then adverted to the natural beauties possessed by Akarca—its grand harbor, rich grasses, wild flowers and its many other incomparable natural attractions, and expressed himself much gratified to find that so many were able with easel and brush to sketch these beauties. He thoughtthe exhibition as a whole, was most creditable to Akaroa, and concluded by urging those who had tried and failed not to be discouraged, remarking that no great work tad been achieved without failures. Among the exhibits of art, Mr W. Watkinß* oil-paintings of local scenery drew many admirers, as did also Mr Geo. W. White's (Lyttelton) picture of the Union Company's s.s. Botomahana, a special prize for this latter being awarded by the judges. Mr Q-. D. Riches, a local worker in shelis, exhibited some beautifully designed samples of his work in paua or muttonfish shell. In the horticultural part of tho show the vegetables exhibited were both excellent in quality and in large variety.