THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 21, 1850.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 50, 21 November 1850, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, November 21, 1850.

It will be seen, by our advertising page, that the preliminary arrangements for the Auckland Regatta of 1851 have already been made, and that the interests of the native tribes have not been forgotten i in those arrangements. In England, Regattas are not only among the most favorite amusements of the Inhabitants, but they are of that peculiar and national class of sports that arc naturally and ardently encouraged by a great commercial and maritime peop'e ; and for this reason, that almost every sea-port of any pretension has its Annual Regatta, which, besides the mere amusement of the day, gives considerable employment to the shipwright, boat-builder, rope and sail maker, smith, carpenter, and seaman ; the greatest skill being exhibited in the construction of the vessels, and the most eager rivalry being displayed in contesting for the prizes of the day. This is a spirit which cannot be overestimated in a country that aims at nautical superiority; because, independently of the better class of vessels which Regattas call into existence, they are the means of furnishing employment to a very considerable number of the best class of seamen. We have not the means of stating the number or capacity of the many mogiinccnt vessels which belong to the various Yacht Clubs of Rii"iand, —we' can only assure you that they are numerous, beautiful, nnd costly, from 000 tons burthen to 10 tons and under ; setting aside their superior qualities as racing vessels, many of them have engaged in long and arduous voyages, not merely for pleasure, but for the especial benefit of civilization oud science. Two of those yachts have, at different dates, visited Auckland—\\\cAlbntross of Mr. B'ackett, and the JVuntlcter of Mr. Renjamin Boyd. When Sir John Franklin, the celebrated voyager, was appointed Governor of Van Dicuicn's Land, knowing the peculiar benefits to be derived by the shipping interests from the establishment of Regattas, he at once took the matter in hand, and became the founder and the patron of the Hobart Town Regatta, one of his express objects being to encotirags the construction of a better and a safer class of river boats on the Dcrwent. To the accomplishment of this very essential improvement, Sir John not only paved the way, but the maritime enterprise excited ami encouraged by the splendid Regattas of his creation extended from beats to tall ships, until it hr.s grown so conspicuous that the ship yards of Tasmania have boriic away the palm of superiority not only by the number and the beauty of their vessel-, but by the character and the capacity of their construction. There is no reason, however, to prevent New Zealand from competing, if not of outstripping herenterprisingneighbours. The timber of her forests are no whit Inferior to those of Tasmania—the skill of her mechanics will not sullbr by a comparison; anil, when the vessel is once launched, she cannot only defy her rival to furnish such masts nnd spnrs as those with which her soil abounds hut she can surpass «liem by native and ample supplies of the material wherewith to rig and fit the vessels out-

The flax is a hoon which none of the j Austra'iau colonics can h' ast of: j Having thus attempted to exhibit a 1 few of the maritime improvements to which Regattas' lend a beneficial impulse, let us now direct attention to that to be held at Auckland on Wednesday the 29th January next. In that Regatta, the native tribes have beon afforded three opportunin'cs f«r the exhibition of their nautical skill; —the first in competition with their European friends, native ;argo boats being eligible to enter for he fourth race, and to test their sailing (tialities, and the practical seamanship ol heir crews with those of the Europeans, iloats for this race must measure not Ofs than six tons, but no objection will be '*m\c to those of n larger capacity. JWo-i will be two prizes for this race, should there be five boats to contend for it, and the third boat will save the entrance, money. If there arc not live boats to compete, then there will bo but one prize, and the second boat will save her entrance. Should the Native owncis. a 9 we hope they will, contest with the Europeans in this race, thoy will then, like 1 tho Europeans, have to pay a sum of money upon entering theit boats. The piizcs, however, wiU be made ns large as (lie funds at the disposal of the Committee will permit. The sixth race, in which no entrance money is required is for small canoes, to be manned by not more than twelve natives:—fortius two prizes will be given, but three canoes must start, otherwise 110 race will be permitted. It i» necessary also to apprise) our native friends that the conditions of the race will be strictly enforced —no large canoes will be allowed to run in it, and any canoe carrying more than twelve men will be rejected. At the last Regatta there was great confusion because canoes carrying fioin ten men to forty men, or more, presented themselves. At the next Regatta, wc repeat, only small canoes will be allowed to contest this race* In the ninth race, for which also no entrance money will be charged, canoes carrying any number of men may contend. There will be two prizes for this race, but three canoes must start, or no race will take phve. We have given this timely notice of the approaching festival, because wc are anxious that it should be generally known, so that all who desire to lest their nautical prowess may have an opportunity of doing so. In another paper we shall Btalo the amount of tho prizes, which we have every reason to bcliovc will be very liberal. The distance and tho course to be run shall also, in due season, appear, and every information will be aHordod respecting the sp ris of the day which we have no doubt will be far superior to any yet offered in Now Zealand.