DISTRIBUTION OF REGATTA PRIZES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1834, 8 January 1880, Page 3

DISTRIBUTION OF REGATTA PRIZES.

The prizes won at the late regatta were distributed on Tuesday night in the large dining-room of the Canterbury Hotel. Before giving the prizes a meeting of the committee was held, at which the protest entered by the master of the Torea against the winning schooner Alert, in the Champion Sailing Race, was considered. The owners of the Alert, Messrs Cuff and Graham, were present, and Mr Cuff drew the attention of the committee to the regatta regulation, to the effect that all protests must be made within an hour of the finish of the race, whereas it was several days after that this protest was made. They did not wish, however, to take protection under that rule (No. 12), but preferred that that the protest should ba gone into on its merits. Evidence was then called. Captain Grundy, Mr Barbour, and Captain Curran gave evidence as to the existence of the addition to the keel, and a number of nautical men, shipmasters in port, gave their opinions as to whether suoh addition constituted a fin. The meeting went- into committee, and decided that the protest be disallowed, the addition not constituting a fin, such as contemplated in the regulation No. 23. The commodore, Mr H. AUwright, then handed to Messrs Cuff and Graham a cheque for £SO, and a very handsome cup presented by the New Zealand Shipping Company, which was suitably acknowledged by the recipients. Captain Grundy's name was then called, and the second prize of £2O awarded, Captain Grundy saying that he had. done his best, and hoped to have another ohanoe next year. [Cheers.] Mr Ockford was then handed the prize for the Friendly Societies race. Mr Ockford expressed his thanks. He asked that a good prize be offered next year fir this race, and was sure it would be well contested for, more especially if timely notice were given as to the class and length of boats to be allowed.

The second prize in this event was then handed to the winner, and the remainder of the prizes to such of the respective winners as were present to olaim them. Wine having been placed on the table, the the following toasts were duly honored:— "The successful competitors," coupled with the name of Captain Barclay; " The unsuccessful competitors," responded to by Captain Morgan, who made the suggestion that, if the course for the larger vessels were altered so as to give them more sea room, by placing a buoy five or six miles outside the heads, and leaving the reef up the harbor out, it would be an improvement, and he believed Jwould help to induce a greater number of trading vessels to enter. " The commodore" was next given; " The vice-com-modore," Mr R: Puflett; " The treasurer and secretary," Messrs McFarlane and Lanoe; "The judges;" "The starters and crews ;" " The flagship and Captain Jenkins ;" " The Christchuroh collector, Mr P. Cunningham ;" "The ladies;" "The Presß," and "The host, Mr A. McDonald," brought a very pleasantly spent evening to a close.