THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 30, 1851.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 3, Issue 55, 30 January 1851, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, January 30, 1851.

Yesterday, being the eleventh Anniversary of the founding of the British Settlement of Auckland, was celebrated by its English and Native inhabitants with the tus'.omary demonstrations of joyThe day proved serene and beautiful, but nuieli too <a'm for the active exhibition of the .sailing matches that had been arranged to take place. Not a breatli ruflled the face of the witters, which shone like a polished mirror; and, in consequence, u considerable delay ( ccurrod I efore the three boats of the first sailing race could be got into their positions. It was twelve o'clock when they were started, nnd then with ft breeze so feeble and so variable that the race did not terminate until a quarter past five. The threo competitors for the prize (.£ls), were the Gnome, 9 tons. Dr, Pollen; Pilot Jiont, 10 tonsy Capt. Burgees; and the j Napi, 17 tons, sailed by her native Cap- ■, thin, James Tautxtri. These boats rounded, the flag ship in the order in which we i have placed them- •• The second prize (£3), for skiffs, Was won by the Enigrha, Adjutant Cooper, &Sth Regt., which ran away from the Sand' Flu, W. Hiy, ; and Union, Captain DnMy. For the third prize (*5), there was but one boat, the Union, entered, consequently no race took place. In the fourth race there were two

prizes— £2o for the first boat, and £5 for the second. Seven boats started, and after a keen and well contested race, arrived at the flag ship in the fallowing iTder:— John and liebicca, 10, tons, lli-n----dersoii; Kaka, 1G tons. Gordon; Jilue Bonnet, 15 tons, Onkcs; Phantom, 15 tons, Cromwell; Kaicai, 18 tons, Hickson ; Endeavour, 10 tons, Manuel; and Gipsy, 12 tons, Hammond. The hf h prize (XiO) was for whale bats, of which four competed for the stake —two of them belonged to the American whale-ship. Samml lluberlaon, one to Mr. Servantes. and the other to Air. Bulks. Thii was a very good race between ilirec of the boats which weiepul'ed with great spirit by their respective crews. The crew of Mr. Servantes' boat after pulling n short distance, reti:edfrom the contest. The course from the Flay Ship, n und the boat off the North Head and back, a distance of between four ami five miles, was rowed by the winning boat in fifty minutes,— the boats co.iiing in thus— Sam Stick, Dan Tucker, ami Paul Fry. The. Jlambler ingloiiously retired. The sixth race, was one which excited much interest, being by native canoes manned by twelve men each. For this two prizes were given, and to contest the stakes three small canoes were entered. The course to be run was the same as that for 1112 whale boat--, and ni the gun proclaimed the signal of the start, oft* they dashed with extraordinary energy and speed, the several ships cheering them as they passed, and all the spectators evincing delight at the alacrity with which their native brethren entered itto the sport of the day. The three racers kept renin* kably well together, the smallest and winning canoe performing the distance in liflv-six minutes. The prizes, X 5 and Xl, were immediately handed over to the winners on the deck of the Flag Ship Pti/.e Ist, awarded to Hemi Puteora, of Orakei, name of canoe, Tolaru ; prize 2nd to Pnora, of Orakei, name of canoe 77kovau, name of tribe Ngatiwhatua. The seventh ra<e was by four-oared f>i;»s, pulled by ninntfiir rowers. The prize was jslo, and the contest lay between the sJlphahel, C. Young, and the Sylph, of the Wnitctuam Boat Club, the A'ovelly, fllacdougall, entering nicely in compliance with the rules of the Regatta, The boats had a capital start, and away they bounded towards the Watchman, eaih crew straining and striving to urge their boats towards the destined point. The Alphabet was all along the favourite, and it was dear ftom the very moment of starting that she would prove the winner, livery stroke rent her onwards in advance of the Sylph, from whose energetic crew she finally snatched the prize, performing her distance in forty-two minutes.

The eighth was a very well contested .sailing mutch by bonis under live tons, for n prize of £5. Four boats entered, bnttlio 1 brunt of the coniest lay between the boats of Mr. J. D. Turner, and Lieut. Glad ivy n Wynyurd, which kept together ne. k mid neck,*the former winning by a very trifling distance. They at rived at the Flag-ship in the following order. Sylph J. H- Turner,— Vixen. Lieut. G. Wynyard— Jerry. J. Waiie—Pclrcl, Lieut. GrantThe ninth race, however, was the race of the day, and never was there a more beautiful or hotly contested race, on any water, or at any Regatta. It was a sight to lie seen and remembered. The ninth race was for canoes, manned by an tinli< mited number of natives. Five took up their position in admirable style. They were large and handsome vessels, beautifully caned and richly decorated with pigeon's feathers, and were manned by iiiimeious and nihletic crews. A deafening cheer arose from the shipping as these fleet and powerful oraft bounded towards the distant goal, tearing the water on either side with their swift and nervous padd'es, which kept rapid but equal time lo the voice and action of their several conductors. Their course was the same as that which the whale boats pursued; but their progress was infinitely more rapid; the distance was performed in thirty-seven minute?, minutes less than that which the whalemen had taken. The leading canoes came in almost side by side, the victor winning tho lirst prize (£S) by about half a leng'li of the second canoe, whiih obtained afc'3: the other three canoes were but a coiupa-

ratively trifling distance behind. We lee 1 cittite sure that there is no other country which could have shown such a race, aiul tlie heartv cheers of Hie approving throng, the thumler of the cannon Irom the Eng lish and American vessels, and the general interest expressed by every one, must have satisfied the competitors of the gratification whit h the manly skill ami prowess of the Natives had ntlorded to their European friends and brothers. Fits; eanoe, ffhnrepuluonjii, belonging to the celebrated chief Te Wherowheiu, of Wai kato, nnd paddled by his men. Second canoe. Tamahu, of the Thames, and paddled by the tribe Ngatipa.>:i, with their influential chief llaiin.ru at their head. The tenth race was for Watoi men's bo.ils, (or a /irize of JW. It was {rained by the Union, Lingley. of the boat* for the eleventh race, iiavinii become impatient for the time ul starting, pulhd 'owarils the shore as the crew of thu fourth boat were about 10 take tin ir places. The eleventh race did mil, therefore, take place. Such ate the results of the Auckland llegttta of 1851. Taken altogether it was a must successful one *, affording n 'lay of rational and manly recreation, and contributing not mciely to public enjoyment but to keep I alive n predilection lor aquatic spoils, itliich aiu so liaiuial and so beneficial to a inniitinic people. We have every reason to hope thai the lipgal'u of Ixs'.?, will prove superior to ah that h.ive preceded it, —that more perfect airangfinent-i will be nude, and that large*: prizes will be given. In these iiiraugenienls ! the natives will be sure *:o pnrticiptte ; and there is every reason to sappesa that in addi-tii-ii to the two canoe nmtchi-3 with pad lies, a ihiid race for canoes under sail will be established.