ANNIVERSARY DAY AT AKAROA.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2403, 17 December 1881, Page 3

ANNIVERSARY DAY AT AKAROA.

The 7.30 train to port which left Christchurch yesterday morning carried a full load of eager excursionists tn route to Akaroa. Encouraged and delighted by the fineness of the weather, impelled also to undertake the responsibilities of a sea voyage by the pleasant pro-pect of spending the afternoon in the picturesquely charming town cf Akaroa, with its incomparable harbor, and induced by the liberal concessions made by the Union Steamship Company in respect to the-cost of the anting, the general public contributed more numerously to the festivities at Akaroa yesterday than upon any anniversary for many years past. Directly upon the arrival of the train at port, a lend whistle from the steamship Penguin—the steamer provided for the trip—sounded, and simultaneously all haste was made to secure seats aboard. The übiquitous agent for the company, Mr Robert Pnflett, had prepared for the reception of a few hundred, and his arrangements for the convenience and comfort of the exonrsioni-ts were in every respect unexceptional. At twenty-five minutes past eight o’clock the bridgebell sounded, " stand by below, ” and a few moments later the steamer shot nut into the bay, and the Lyttelton brass bund struck up “A life on the ocean wave.” With a grand decked steamer under them, almost a cloudless sky overhead, and some right good music on hoard, such a party could not fail to be happy and jolly. At that part of the trio it looked almost certain that those who had premeditated seasickness would be left to disappointment and despair, but after getting outside the heads symptoms of a swell set in, and before Pigeon Bay was opened up a very prevalent and suggestive apathy to surrounding scenery had spread among the party. After rounding Long Look out Point, however, a cool refreshingsoutherly wind was met, which brought tho brass baud again to life, and tho sea subsiding the conversational powers of the lately prostrated section again assumed treir normal and cheerful character. Before entering Akaroa Heads, and under the experienced guidance of that worthy providore, Mr Monkmon, who was specially on hand to see that none should go dissatisfied away, a very well laid luncheon was partaken of in the saloon. The table was really temptingly laid, and it-! management did credit to Mr Irvine, the chief steward, and his staff of urbane assistants. In exactly four hours and a quarter the Penguin touched the Akaroa jetty, the hand playing, and all Akaroa on the wharf cheering the five hundred passengers as they debarked The harbor of Akaroa looked at its best. Off the end of tho wharf the committee ship of the regatta, tho ketch Gatlin, was lying covered with flags. Yachts bending to a fresh S.W. wind were scudding about await ng the signal gun’s report to prepare for the race. A hundred small boats, sailing and pulling, were out in the basin and around the wharf, and well-dressed people thronged the shingly strand acd the pier. It was the day of the year for Akaroa, everybody and everything looked and felt it to be so, and the mnsio by the brass hand hut certified to the holiday. It was easy to ha seen that the preparations for the regatta were upon a scale of completeness surpassing former years, and in that connection a word of praise must ho here recorded to the hon. secretary, Mr H. G. Jacobson. He has the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts yesterday, in conjunction with the committee and other officers, resulted in producing tho most successful and best arranged regatta held at Akaroa for many years. That muck may ha said without any disparagement to the holders of the offices in past y- are. The particulars of each race will bo found reported below. The arrangements made by the hon. secretary, Mr Stephen Watkins, and the vice-president, the Eev. S. Stocker, for holding the Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition could not be beaten, and tho thanks of the press are due to those gentlemen for the very great favors they always bestow on representatives in the way cf .applying information. The Industrial exhibition of Akaroa. has become one of its institutions, and an estimable one it is. As a display of the arts of peace it is exceedingly creditable to the people of the Peninsula in general and the residents of Akaroa more particularly. It is only necessary here to praise it as a whole. Ail sorts of games were on hand for the amusement of the mukitnde, with any number of refreshment booths erected along the foreshore for the convenience of the peregrinating stranger. At six p.m. sharp tho Penguin’s whistle was sounded, and a few minutes later Captain Fdie, her popular and urbane commander, gave the word to the signalman, and the steamer glided from the wharf. She had barely got outside tho sound of the cheers from tbs crowds on the wharf when the cry went round the ship—“ A man overboard.” Instantly the vessel’s way was checked by an order from tho captain, who at the same time, from his position on tho bridge, seized a lifebuoy and throw it to tho man, who appeared to be then swimming upon his are. 'I ho buoy fell within a cuup’.e of feet from him, bat from some cause or other he took no nstice of it. Limnltaneonsly to throwing the buoy oat tho beat was dropped from the davits and manned by two men, who put off to rescue tho drowning man. By this time the relative positinrs of the steamer and the mnn had altered a little, owing to tho way on the steamer before shs was completely checked, and the boat, when lowered, had some three or fonr steamer lengths to go to the spot at which the poor fellow wa- the.! apparently strangling to keep afloat. All was breathless excitement on tho steamer, and e gerly did every eye on board watch whether too boat would reach in time to s-ivo. A puij.fal ohuduer run thro gh the breasts of all v.auu the foremost man in the boat, reaching out to wLat was suppoied to he the poor fellow's h ud to clutch him, hold un to view his empty cap. Tha recent owner cf it had gone down Two of tl n sailers of the vessel, who had jumped over the side in the vi.in attempt to rescue their lute comrade, and who wore getting preity wo 1 ** baked,” were theu picked up by the bo<t. and returned to the s'earner, which a few minutes later renamed her voyage. The young f alow, whose ucath caused a sadness to prrvi.de the demeanor of the passengers on the return j-.r.r.-.ey. little expected, was named "Lillian,- Um.n. JTe shipped *3 A.B. on tho 28. h of September in Dunedin, was about twenty-, ight years f age, and a -nilmaker. At the time he fell overboard he was filing the fall on one of tho davits, just aft-r helping to haul np the starboard ship’s boat All that possibly coulu have beou done to save his life was done, but le dhappeared too suddenly to adroit of help reaching him, and t»s lie neglected to catch hold cf tho life buoy 1 .3 no cue. was rendered quite precarious. After (our hours’ steady steaming the s earner reached Lytlelton, landing her excursionists in time the late tram for town.

THE REGATTA. Upon the programme there were eight events, one of which lapsed for want of competition the Dingy Sculling Race. As stated above, the arraignments were admirable, and the races ■went off most sa* isfaotorily, and without a hitch. The wind fir the sailing races was not e steady one by any means, and the water tor the palling events might have boon, in some instances, the ontrigged sculling races to wit, smoother, but it w s by no means an unsuitable day taken as a whole, and certainly the interest Bhown bv the hundreds of spectators on the shore in the events, sufficiently proved that the regatta added much to the pleasure of the Yaoht'raoo, open to all comers. Two to start or no race ; entrance, X2 2s. First prize, X3O; second prize, £5. Dove, Mr H. Hutchinson, 24 tons 1 Xarifa, Captain Butt, 15.1 tons £ Chance, Messrs Black and Brown, 7 tons ... 3 Tbij race, in which considerable interest was centred, was contested by three yachts. The etarier got them well away together at 1.29.32, and the Dove rounded the flagship for the first time at 2.42 40, the Xarifa 2.51.40, and the Chance at 257 20. The wind fell away after that, bat the Dove came in a winner at 4.21.27, the Xarifa 4.42.55, and the Chance half-an-honr later. Bonb e Sculling Race, in stump outriggers : entrance, £2 2s. First prize, JBIS ; second prize, X 5. Ifo Name, Lyttelton Bowing Club—Crew, W Fitzsimmons (bow), George Graham (stroke) ... _ ••• 1 Onakn, Akaroa Rowing Club —Crew, A. L. Stuart (bow), W. Stuart (stroke), W. Koderigu»s (cox) • —2 JNikau, Union Rowing Club—Crow, Charles Stringer (bow), Fred Fuller (stroke), Charles Styohe (cox) ••• 0 Kea, Canterbury Bowing Club—Crew, C. M. Bonlton (bow). J. F. Grierson (stroke) ... 0 The four boats got away at 22 p.m., the •water being very lumpy. They passed the flagship for tho first time in the following order — The Kea, No Name, and Onnkn. TheNikau swamped just before reaching the flagship, and toe crew wore picked up by the steam-launch. The Onnkn, after rounding the flagship, went alongside the Antelope to bale out, and had apparently given in. On next rounding the buoy the Ken had to stop to bale, when the ■Onuku made a start again, in the hope of getting second place. They were not disappointed, as the Kea swamped about a quarter of a mile from home, tho Lyttelton boat coming in an easy first in 2 train 23seo, the Onnkn second. Sailing Race, in open boats ; open to allcomers; entrance, XI Is. First prize, Xls; second, X 5. . Pinafore, A, L. St art... ... ••• ~

Dream, W. B. Toaswill 2 Avalanche, T. S. Baker ... ••• ••• ® Blanche, Sinclair The race started at 2.56 p in. Pinafore came rn an easy winner at 5 32 p m., the Dream three minutes behind, and the two others nowhere. Pair-oar Dingy Race, for youths under eighteen. First prize, X 3; second prize, XI. Annie Wright -Crew, W. Glynan (bow), J. Williams (stroke) ... ... Black Bess—Crow. Brown (bow), Mnnro

(stroke) , i The race started at 3.21 p.m , and it was evident from the word “Go” that Black Bess crow were overmatched, their opponents being bigger and heavier “youths " The race was finished at 3.34.31, and immediately after a protest was entersd against the Annie Wright that her craw were over age. It has yet to be decided. _. . Canoe Race; entrance, 10s 6d. First prize, (jnp, presented by Messrs Coates and Co., and X 5 ; second priza, X2. Kathleen, J. O. Jones ... ... ••• j T.R.C. Canoe, William Lamb 2 T.E.C. Canoe, W. J. Wood .. ... ... 0 This race started at 3.31.38. Kathleen won easily at 3 49.45, with Lamb 85secs behind. Wood did not complete the course. Sailing Race in open boats, 20ft keel and under; eentre-boird boats to be sealed up, false keel allowed ; seven seconds per foot time allowance ; entrance, 10a. First prize, X 8 ; second prize, X2. Wainni, Joseph Bates ... ... ... ••• j Sausage Skin, F. Arming 2 Dauntless, Joseph Hammond JJ

Paul Pry, W. Glynan ... ... ... 0 The race started at 3.39.55, four boats getting away. The Waiaui came in first at 5,12 40, Sausage following close upon her, and passing tho ship at 5.13.7. Dauntless and Paul Pry •wore out o? it. Pair-oared Eace, in stump outriggers. Entrance, X2 2s; first prize, Xls; second prize.

X 5. No Name, Lyttelton Rowing Club-Crew, T. Harkiss, bow ; C. Fitzsimmons, stroke ... 1 Kea, Canterbury Rowing Club—Crew, C. B. Dobson, bow; L. M. Ollivier, stroke ... 2 The boats were started at 4,2.25. Lyttelton soon forged ahead, and passed the flagship first time round at 4 11.48, Kea fifteen secs, behind. The race was finished at 4 21.55, No Name having increased her lead so as to beat the Kea by 31seca. The race waa admirably palled.