ROWING MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3783, 28 January 1908, Page 2

ROWING MATTERS.

To the Editor. Sir, —would you be good enough to spare a small corner in your valuable paper to allow me to express my sentiments on the all-important topic of the day, viz., the sculling championship of the world, to be rowed on the Wanganui River, on February 25th. between Webb (the present holder) and Tressider (the Australian aspirant). Excitement and enthusiasm is r .inning mountains high at Wanganui, but here in our quiet peaceful and dreamy little hamlet, which is only a boat’s length away, and so easy of access to Wellington, Picton, Nelson, and Wanganui, and yet, with all of these clubs in such I easy range, I am sorry to say rowing here appears to be at the lowest ebb. East year it was quite a pleasing feature to see the racing skiffs and pleasure boats out of an evening, and taking a casual glance in the shed one evening I noticed the membership board totalled over 50, and passed the remark at the time that everything about the place had the appearance that the foundation stone had been laid at last for Foxton to be in a short space of time one of the foremost-in the ranks of rowing in the Dominion. What has happened since?’ Have the officers got that tired feeling so prevalent, or are there no enthusiasts in the district? Fancy allowing a beautiful river to go to waste, and boats to lie in the shed and rot, when we could hold one of the 1 best regattas in the Dominion here W in Foxton. We have the water,. boats, and surely to goodness, the ' mere material—man-—is here, if he could only be prevailed upon to „ wake up from his lethargy and come forward and partake of this healthful, and I feel sure, more beneficial pastime than beer, ‘ billiards, and skittles, etc. Trusting you will excuse this humble effort on my part, and - give the matter ventilation, —I am, etc., Sightseer*.