THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 2, 31 January 1858, Page 1

THE AUCKLAND REGATTA.

The Annual Regatta was celebrated in the accustomed manner, on Friday the 29th inst. The morning was a dull one but gave little indication of becoming so wet and windy as the day ere long turned out to be. The harbour was pretty full of shipping, and at 8 o'clock the flag ship William Watson fired a gun, and displayed her colours, a movement which was followe 1 by every other vessel including Her Majesty's ship Iris which was superbly dressed in the colours of all nations. Precisely al # half-past 9, and just as rain began to fall, the first race, whi<h was for whale, boats, was started. Of th*se there were five, and two of the number manned by native crews who strove well and manfully for the victory, Unfortunately an oar in the boat, which promised the best, was broken and the chance of success wrested from the crew. This was a misfortune which could neither be foreseen or repaired. The struggle ended in the Napoleon, Matthieson, coming in first, followed by the New Zealander, Mc Leod ; second ; Australian, Paora, third; and tbe Tokerau, and the Maggie Lauder last*

Tlie Second Race was Tor small sailing boats, tinder three 'tons, ff -which no less than six-* teen were entered. They bad great difficulty in taking therr stations, and the race was started whiln many or them were trying to do so . The winner was the UnrJine, a boat built at Wahapu, the second boat being the Nora Creina which took the prize in the j same kind of race last year. The Third Race was -for trading "vessels owned by Europeansor Aboriginals, of from 10 to 2K tons. There were, eight entries, but only three came te (heir moorings. These were, Bennett's Triad—Austins Tay —and Spencer's Jane. At 11-1$ the signal gun was fired, and away they went on the starboard tack, the Tay leading and looking like a wkmer,-until she reached too far in towards tlie breakwater, took the ground and stuck hard and fast. A -keen struggle between Jane and Triad now ensued; but Triad a bran new and powerful boat, just out of NicoPs yard, had it all -her own way, coming in victoriously at 1-32, followed thi<ee minutes afterwards by the persevering Jane. The Race for War Canoes, although the tevenit) on the list became in reality the fourth, in consequence of no small canoes having come forward. For this race, eighr canoes were entered but ojily four made their appearance. These were fine canoes well manned and becomingly decorated; and, as usual much interest was felt in the contest. A few minutes alter 11 o'clock the start look place, and away they went, well together, straining every muscle and tearing through the water towards Judges Bay at a prodigious rate. The wet, which was now streaming heavily, was very much against the enjoyment which spectators invariably experience in watching the fortunes of the parties engaged in this exciting species of aquatic contest. The first and second canoes kept neck and neck together throughout the entire course which was run by the victor in fiftyfive minutes, the several canoes arriving at tfie flag-ship in the following order:—lst, Hurai, 2nd, Te Ture, 3rd, Pikiwabine, 4th, Tutarakanika. The Fourth Race, for open cargo boats, necessarily became the Fifth. There were four competitors which were started at noon. Teaser came in first at 2-1 p. m. Tarn CShariter was declared to be the second at 3-14, but the Tickler was so close aboard, that but for the more' weaiherly position of Tarn it would have been difficult to decide which was the leader, Mary Anne unfortunate! v took the ground; when leading, and

was thus thrown out of an exceedingly well contested race. For the Sixth Match, three competitors were requisite; and only two having been entered,—the Osprey and Acadian—there was no race. Neither was their any race between sailing canoes, although five were entered. The last race was between sailing boats above three and under fifteen tons. The pilot's cutter Falcon was entered for this race to compete with the Bay of tslands culler Agnes, which vessel however did not come to Ihe starling place. The Falcon though she sailed in ihe race, took no. position ; but starling alter her tiny competitors came in easily ahead of them, followed ten minutes afterwards by the Echo, and in fourteen miuutes by a fine new boat belonging to Captain Tautari called the I-Don'i-Know. But for the tempestuous state of the weather, (which, strange to say, became serene and beautiful almost immediately that the sports had concluded) the Regalia of 1858 would ;nost assuredly have been the best ever concerted in Auckland. We can only hope lhat that of the following year will be carried through under more favourable circumstances.

Waiwakaino, Nov. 17, 1857. Friend Mr. McLean, — I have received your letter and I have ■era your kind expressions in reference lo what we have been doing for the-Govern-ment. Friend, Salutations to you. Your letter found me in distress on account of the death of my children. These are their names. Hone Kipa, Jloani, Mere, and liiwia. These all died in October, in the space of one month, and lam left alone: Ia in called now Hone Ngamoke (John Lonely). .Enough upon this subject* Friend, Mr- McLean, I wish you to give me your thoughts, as the people have now commenced selling land, and let you and I find some plan in reference to our work of land purchasing. On Thursday the men commenced their talk in the town. Rata tore, Te Kaipakopako, Te'Oropuriri, numbering together forty persons assembled in ihe house, and the talking commenced, Te Tahana said, Name the price to be paid for the land. Mr. Parris said, £3OOO, the boundary to extend as far as Te WhakaQgeremjer*. The men refused this, *nd said,

.what we desire is 60001. Mr. Parris then •aid, K you do not approve or this, well; .the land will be yours and the money mine. The men then said. The land shall never be given up .far 3000/. Kaiatore then arose, .and said, I agree to ihe 3000/., bat the meeting objected to this. Raniera said, No, I object to it; I have something to do with Ihe arrangement of my land. Are you to have it pll your own way? You propose lo dispose ofil to the Europeans, and also to accept'the £OOO/. Bull say, No, as 1 also have a voice in the arrangement. Upon this Kaiatore was silenced by the words'of the meeiing. I then-stood up and said:—Friends, Kaiatore is heie,anddoyou all consent to receive this 3000/. Raniera said, we Will not, Is the sunt 3000/. sufficient for all that, each may have a share? I replied, Let one thousand be- given to you, one to Mnhau, Karipa and Ilaeana, and one to Kaiatore. He said, But will there be sufficient Tor all? So ended that talk. Then Huirangt Te Waaka, MahoetaW, and Mabau began. They objected and were for holding the land, and not allowing the boundary la extend as far as Te Wbakangerengere. Mr. Parris said, Mahau, do you object r you wbo first proposed that it should go as far as Te Whakangerengere. He said, it should end at Waiungana* Mr. Parris said, No; let ft end at Te Wbakangerengere. I then stood up and said, let it reach to Te Whakangerengere; although yon object, yet come and receive part of the payment; although you object, still I will pay, that it may. reach to ibe end of the boundary lo the Whakangerengere, and run in a southerly direction to (he Tahuna Alutawa to te Pukaki o Mangoraka Although ii may not be surveyed, yet lei a clear plan Tor the sale of land be acted upon, lill ii is finished. As in IhecaseofPikipari which was closed up by Taranakt. The land selling svsiem was pursued up to Ihe time of the Pikipari and there were no difficulties. Let this system be followed wilh respect to te Whakangerengere. I said, Te Waka, this is bad, to consent first, and then to object: why did* you consent to the Ikamoana and now withhold the Whakangerengere? Let us break the lock or the land, that is the Whakangerengere, then ibe lock of ihe Ikamoana will be opened, and then I will consent lo the Ikamoana. I said this to those who made di Acuities, that is, to Huirangi. X said to lhaia, do you go to Arapala and talk about the land, in order that the part inland may

be soon completed; if those are not arranged, neither will the Ikamoana be so. Here end these words. Friend Mr. McLean, — Salutation to you. Do not the Governor and you be tired or my lengthy talk. Allow me to seek thoughts from you, because Ka la tore has consented to sell the Ikamoana, and also all the men, so that the land maybe properly settled, which will be done if you two send some instructions to Mr. Parris and to me, some rule for our guidance, on aceount of the obstinacy of the men with respect to the 3000/, as they are withholding: the land. We two are pleased with the Ihree thousand, but they are obstinate about keeping the land and we are obstinate and are not wilting to give more than the three thousand. What will smooth these two diiliculties? It will be for you to say. Enough, we are not hungry after the land. Friend, Mr, McLean, now let your and my thoughts respecting the purchase of laud be explained ; you are there and I am here, you and I between us arrange Pikipari; the bard lock of the land is broken, the men have given their consent; although the land is but small and bad yet their Obstinacy has departed and given place to softness; ihey have two thoughts and one is to be easy with us. This is a beginning for those hard lands or all the people to look at; when this is fcompleted, then the Ikamoana will be commenced with, I approve of the laud being acquired by us. This is the lock which has held the hnl, and which is now broken; our proceedings in refeience to the purchase of land will be talked about: although paid for, ihe seal will he broken, although the land that has beeu paid for may be scaled up, yet the sea! will be broken. Let this be an example wi.h respect to the 3000/. Let the seal be broken and something giveu to warm them, Lst they suffer from cold. Enough of these words. The pigce which you said was to be reserved forme, as consent has now been given for the disposal of the Ikamoana, do you now consent to give it to me. Here is another word let Mangaiaka be given to me; I do not require much, let it be 10 acres; the thoughts will be with you with respect to Te Muraiua. If you do not approve, enough. , From your loving friend. Hows Ropiha Ngamoke Tb Keeeu.